Countach Downdraft 1985 to 1988.5

Two of the very best from Bertone SpA, we know a man with both

Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

I'll be happier when I get my hands on new Pirelli P7s!

Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

The famed Rallye Racing magazine featured the stuff of legends from F1 to Sports Cars, period magazines such as this one are a treasure trove of useful information, worth getting off EBay if you don't already have it.

BTW, speaking of magazine articles, this morning I have just seen the mock-up cover of the next issue of Octane magazine, and I daresay Countach Downdraft enthusiasts (& hopefully all Countach lovers) will find it a nice read, as will Ferrari 288 GTO fans, it's a major piece slated for @ 11 pages including image pages.

Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Generally-speaking, most book & magazine publications have more than one set of eyes that'll go over the entire text to edit the material, but, they are humans and mistakes can still get through.

Meanwhile, do you know which RHD Downdraft this one is?

Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

We know which one this famed RHD car is

Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Big wing on 1985 RHD Downdraft, note exhaust valance compared to the RHD car 2 posts above...

Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

As some know, Jay Leno has owned his Downdraft for almost 30 years, and for the first 5 years he used it as an everyday car.

His love for the car and regular use of it is one of the things that caused me to revisit the Downdraft and recall my own first car I acquired in the late 80s whilst production was still ongoing. I really enjoyed that Countach more than any of the the many other examples that have followed since - until the Mimran car - and I used that first car prolifically.

Meanwhile, I believe it was established somewhere that Jay's Countach was the next production car or chassis number after my first car.

Anyway, here in a series of images by Sandy Huffaker, Jay demonstrates perhaps the best way to get into a Countach, and takes his old faithful for a spin

Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

I think he purchased it exactly as it is when it was 2-3 years old circa 1988, so, the US side-marker lights may have been already done by Joe Nastasi.

Jay has been pretty explicit about the fact that he has done nothing with this car other than drive it and maintain it, the latter all routine without any issues.

 

Beautiful original Downdraft with long-term owner seen in Babylon, New York

Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

JLA12397

Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Still looking for the chassis number of this Hanau/Germany-registered Blu Acapulco 1985 or 1986 Downdraft spotted in August 1987 in Budapest

Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Another view of this car a long way from home!

Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Beautiful Downdraft, even better that he uses the car and shares it at events as seen in previous postings here https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/posts/144293635/

Regarding 100% original cars, there are actually a number of others which can in all fairness also lay claim to a Holy Grail award, the first one I can think of would be FLA12831 (below) which we helped the current owner acquire, another would be JLA12305 which has less than 100 miles on the clock and was sold by GTC for $1m. Additionally, I'm aware of at least two original cars with their first owners in Europe & Asia respectively, and I'm sure there are a few I don't know about which fit this description. But you are right, there aren't many like that

Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

It's hard to truly say how many such cars exist, but the car retained by the long-term Hong Kong dealer has never been titled or registered either, and it is essentially a delivery-mileage car with just over @ 100 miles.

Experience has taught me to always be open to the possibility that there can be more than just one that meets a certain criteria, considering how many were made.

Also, I have learned that just because a car has the aforementioned attributes does not make it a perfect example or a Holy Grail candidate. I visited Tom H's collection in California and there amongst his collection of @ 30 race cars still sits a brand new Countach with all the qualities you mention, but even he would agree it could use some love.

Meanwhile, the lowest mileage Downdraft I have seen in recent times is JLA12305 with just over 95 kilometers and it looks like I remember them when they were new.

The red RHD car on HR Owen's hoist is UK-registered LAM 443, perhaps that helps you.

Indeed, I vaguely recalled my car to be the "next production car or chassis number" to Leno's, this based on your findings a few years ago

 

Actually, the original Hong Kong car ticks all the same boxes (original paint & interior, immaculate unmodified condition, never titled or registered) and with @ 100 miles perhaps has less miles than the NY car which is driven. Unless we personally know the location & current disposition of all Downdrafts in existence, it's impossible to know how many tick all the boxes, my slightly educated guess is there are 3 or 4.

 

Today - Italy versus England! FLA12835 and gorgeous E Type

Image Unavailable, Please Login