Countach Downdraft 1985 to 1988.5

not my first choice,Perlato white, but my choice would be to the silver side.

 

Agreed on the sticker.

Not at all, it's what he wants, he's seeking the cleaner, simpler unit as shown below.

Having driven 1985 through 1988 Downdrafts, I'd say that in theory with the later dash you get a very small increase in air overall and the air-flow is more spread out in the cabin, but in the earlier dash the concentration of air being pushed through the central vents is stronger and benefits the driver. Either way, no Countach is going to blow air like your modern-day daily driver SUV, so with that in mind I don't think it matters much whichever dash you have.

As I've posted here before, I like to take my car out in the cool early morning air down by the coast and in those instances and over the course of the cooler 6 months of the year, I don't even switch the air on at all, the car runs better for it

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I don't love those stickers but they are original and purists like that stuff so I say leave them

 

They are factory original on USA spec Fuelies, but not on Downdrafts, in the latter's instance they would have been applied post-production by the importer Joe Nastasi or by a USA Compliance agent such as Amerispec, after the car arrived in the USA

 

The shape of the weekend to come

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They are not original

 

The factory Unleaded Fuel Only sticker beneath the gauge illumination adjustment for a Fuelie, Downdrafts did not have these affixed at the factory

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Closeup - its a decal

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Joe, Raymond did confirm that the Mimran car was the first with the added side vents, correct? (want to make sure I’m remembering correctly)

 

The wingless downdraft is ZA9C005A0GLA12979
The one with wing is ZA9C005A0HLA12085

 

Thank you Kevin!

Lamborghini's owner's manual states on page 25 that a different ventilation system starts from Mimran's GLA12997, I can tell you the dash is unlike any other I have seen, it's a prototype or interim unit

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Interesting. Thanks, Joe.

 

The owner's manual is actually incorrect, it suggests that the climate control panel commenced from the point of GLA12997 onwards, but we now know that system wasn't implemented until the following year.

 

Options.

80s Superstars from Lamborghini & Ferrari, on days like these

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Vents

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No garage queens in my home!

 

Joe - the leather work on your DD is exceptional. Who did the leather for you? I believe I saw the name Luis in some of your threads. Can you share more? Beautiful work.

 

Joe,

Broke the inside, passenger door release mechanism today. Looks like the nut attached to the handle sheared off. Luckily, chromed handle still intact. Is this a common issue?

Best,
Jude

 

I've actually never heard of this before, but that's just me.

 

Thank you.

Luis Meza, California-based master upholsterer, he's been upholstering Italian & British cars for 40-plus years, he's probably done @ 20 Countach and 15 Miuras.

The finish of the Mimran Downdraft's interior was the result of a number of discussions I had with him, I wanted the correct leather with sheen, I wanted the piping properly skived, I wanted the padding to be correct and the leather stretched tight, and I wanted to remain faithful to original spec (no seat insert perforations).

Upholsterers are artisans, it's all done by hand, so naturally they perform better on some projects than others, having worked on @ 5 prior projects with Luis on other cars I've restored, I did my best to convey to him that this time I wanted a special effort.

He brought his A-game

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FLA12835, very early Downdraft, heading into a prominent collection after a long period of refurbishment and then much fettling & tuning, this one is a loaded cannon, JC please enjoy in good health

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It shows

 

Thanks again.

 

What a beast!

 

I can also tell you that the pictures do it no justice.