Countach Downdraft 1985 to 1988.5

JLA12397 in London today

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Power Dome & Big Wing, that's quite a view

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LHD car in the USA so this is the passenger's view, not much, but some things are worth the sacrifice!

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Standard Countach Downdraft engine used in the MCA sports car

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It's a 25th DD engine, not a DD QV to be accurate.

 

Correct, EL002 is a 1990, using the same standard 44DCNF Weber Downdraft specification engine.

 

Cockpit dimensions

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This one is for Leo, I believe this is the image taken in the 80s of the car that now has polished wheels?

Looks sinister in Triple Black.

FWIW as with some German Countachs it has spacers in the front wheels.

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1 of 2 Countach Downdraft sold by Mimran to Detroit, this one featured in the Corvette Ad of 1986.

The Ad refers to the fact that the Corvette employed a superior braking system, ironic that amongst sports cars the focus was on stopping!

The Countach Downdraft beat all the cars present in 0-60 acceleration and lateral g-forces pulled through the handling course, and because the Countach was superior in handling, when the TV promo Ad regarding the Corvette's handling aired on TV, General Motors conveniently had the Countach absent from the lineup

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Still discovering press on the Downdraft from the period, Automania magazine, March/April 1987

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The brakes were a big jump and in reality that Corvette had better brakes than a Countach. One not mentioned is the 930, which was back in the US market.

 

Yes it´s the car i meant some pages before! Thanks for sharing.
Do you think it´s the example with the polished wheels? (don´t have my files here to name the VIN)
But anyway it will be difficult to proof, unless someone can confirm it 100%.
Never noticed the front spacers on german Countachs. But i assume its to compensate the smaller front wheel gauge to the wider rear wheel gauge.

For example on Diablos until MY99 this was a well known problem for the handling, the balance of front/rear wheel gauge was to big.
Thats why the Diablo 6.0 got wider front fenders and a wider front wheel gauge too.

 

Joe,
did any owner of those exotics care about that what a Corvette could do or not do in those days ?

 

I am not entirely sure, but, how many wingless black-black 88.5 Countach are there in Germany with spacers in the wheels? Coincidence? I think not. I think the black wheels were polished and as you can now see they left the black paint inside the portholes, ergo this is the same car currently in Dusseldorf.

The Countach QV has the wider front wheel gauge so there is no reason for them and they just look goofy, and, on the LP400S, the smaller front track is an asset to steering and handling.

No

Great question by the way, as an astute man once observed: there are other cars, but you could drive through life in a Countach and never notice them...

Or words to that effect.

 

Black paint in the portholes as mentioned, otherwise the car looks original

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registered in the city of Osnabrück, Germany.

 

It's JLA12378

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Smog pump belt missing.

 

£90.000 for an engine. Expensive stuff.... : https://www.eurospares.co.uk/parts/lamborghini/countach-5000-qv-1985/all/crankcase-38049/001820990

Probably from the total loss DD Eurospares broke for spares ?

 

On low speed corners you are right, but on high speed corners a wider front track helps to get the car more stable.

 

The DD engine airbox looks like it comes from a 25th anni car. Interesting to know the engine build number

 

Yes i assume too. The airbox looks like 25th! Black wrinkle finish and silver painted Lamborghini sign.

 

Nice downdraft for sale for USD 400'000:

https://www.autoscout24.ch/de/d/lamborghini-countach-coupe-1988-occasion?index=0&make=43&model=654&sort=price_asc&st=1&vehid=5724999&vehtyp=10&returnurl=%2fde%2fautos%2flamborghini--countach%3fmake%3d43%26model%3d654%26sort%3dprice_asc%26st%3d1%26vehtyp%3d10%26r%3d5

 

A makeshift leather boot to cover the shift gate?? That's the first time I have seen that vandalism applied to a Countach. (Yes, I realize the first prototype didn't have the exposed gate) Also, the "More beautiful than flying" plaque on the dash... Does ANY Countach lover need a sign on the dashboard to remind them? To each their own.

 

Why oh why did they put these side skirts on these cars?!!!! The rounded body is an essential part of the beauty of the design.


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