Is the actualy body of the car a different shape? bigger? or is it just the suspension that makes the car look higher? The actual body is different in some areas. The distance from the floor to the roof is increased to make more interior room. Most of this happened in the sills. You can measure the sill height and see it is different on the high-body cars. The chassis still sits on the suspension the same way, but the body is mounted higher on the chassis, with higher sills, to give more room inside, hence low-body vs. high-body.
Okay I see what you asking... but the factory build and year is what is important for history and collectability of that car, not the errors or scam made by an importer. So if they pawned it off as a 82 to try and sell it as a "new one" they had no way to get cought until the 17 digit VIN numbers came out a year or two later. My 84 5000S had a 17 digit VIN, I'm not sure if they started it in 83 or 84. You car should have a "F" for the year if it is a 85 as in the 8th digit from the right: My 84 was ELA12706 the "E" is for 1984. They started with "A" for 1980 (not Lamborghini) so a 86 is GLA12XXX. Then in the year 2000 they repaced it with a "0" so a 2005 car has a "5" in the year location.
I agree. The "model year" for a vehicle should be defined by what the manufacturer deems it to be. My car is indeed erroneously titled as an '82 according to WA state dmv. Actually, now that I look at the VIN/Federal compliance decal on the door jamb, some place called "C & I International" in West Palm Beach, Florida imported the thing. They even list 3/22/82 as the date of manufacture. That must be when the car entered the US and they "federalized" it.
you are right. My car is FLA with lambo certif as 1985 but yet all US papers show an 1986 model. I remember also looking at an 88 to buy and the vin was 'H' for 87 (july) but all US papers said 88. I think people need to be aware of this when buying a car. VIN prevails not the year on the car title or import papers.
That is an act beyond the limit. My car does indicate the correct manufacture date. Only my US papers indicate 1986 model. However your change that seem a bit off the lawful side. Titling an 81 as an 82 model in the US can be argued for a new car as long as you have some indication of the real make date. The factory put that stamp. Unless the car sat for over 12 months there, how could this stamp be from the factory? An importer is not supposed to change that. Is it possible that during the troubled 80s cars sat for along period and were backdated at the factory? A picture of that label may indicate if it is factory or someone else changed it. Joe's info should be regarded as referential.
This is not a factory label/decal on my car in the door jamb. It is something made and applied by the importer, C & I International in order to federalize it. There is no way the Lamborghini factory placed this decal there. The factory labels are actually aluminum plates riveted to the body on the left side of the engine compartment and a completely different style. Those are all still in place.
Possible?? Si signor... Youd be surprised at what was possible. But I cant seem to remember any specifics ;-) Joe www.joesackey.com
I also agree with it being repainted in its original color when the time comes... and you are very lucky (imo) that it was silver to start because that's the best Countach color.
I also agree with it being repainted in its original color when the time comes... and you are very lucky (imo) that it was silver to start because that's the best Countach color.
Thanks to Mr. Sackey's investigations, it looks like silver (argento) was the original color and thats what she is going back to. I was concerned for a bit as I could not find one bit of silver paint on this car. Someone did a very thorough color change back in the day. Finally, a friend came over (he owns a large body/repair shop) and took a paint sample from a damaged/dinged area and found some argento.
Thanks Joe. Seems like I've been saying Bravissimo! a lot ever since this 'lambo was dragged in here. I can only imagine what will happen when I actually drive the thing. Picking a person/shop for bodywork/paint has been a painstaking process. I know lots of people in the local industry, and every person I ask has their own opinion. After speaking with the boys at Dennison International (they prepare/restore cars that make it to Pebble Beach and other places) they recommended the shop that does some of their bodywork/paint. That shop is another local place called Byer's Custom and Restoration http://www.byerscustom.com/ . Looks like they can get my car in around July (they have cars right now to finish up and get to Dennisons for Pebble Beach) and get her done. By July my plan would be to have the drivetrain out and on the way to being done. Also, I have another local friend/shop owner who I can trust to have the suspension/brakes/whatnot all done in the meantime while I wait for the paint shop to be ready for my car. I'm not saying my car will end up looking like Pete Lovely's Testarossa as pictured below, but is nice to know I'll be following the recommendation of the shop that was responsible for it: Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
argento? GREAT NEWS!! looks superb on countach! and Greg's car is an example of how cool the silver S2s look
Amazing. Silver is going to look absolutely drop dead gorgeous when its done. I can remember seeing a silver Countach for a while.
Correct. There was a thread on here somewhere where a few of us actually measured the cars and showed the differences on the two. Does anyone have a better memory than i do to find it? I tried searching, but I think it may be in the 800 page countach reunion thread
One for $15k. One for $22k. One for $25k. Lots of variables. What if the windshield breaks when coming out, etc. Picking a painter/shop has been crazy. I know lots of people in the local industry, maybe too many. One person says "Yeah thats the guy!" and the next person says "Are you insane? That guy is crazy and can't tell a paint gun from a pez dispenser!". Then there is the question of the big, professional shop with a whole team of people vs the one-man show at his house/shop. Each has their pros and cons. As a one-man show myself, I rather like that idea and am ready for the extended amount of time that might take. I like one person taking it apart and putting it back together. So far the "big shop" contender is Byer's Custom that I linked to earlier. Professional, experienced, by the book, etc. Booked until July 2007. In a recent development, the one-man show contender I was really hoping to get an interview with is coming to have a look and give me his thoughts. His name is Marv Engstrom (Magic Customs) and has quite the reputation here in Seattle for this sort of thing. The problem is getting in there of course. Just got off the phone with him though and as it turns out his 3 large projects he has going are ending in the next couple weeks and my car is on his short list of possible jobs. Fingers crossed.
I started a thread (in the past), on the possibility of that problem. Almost everyone assumed the windshield would break.
I have all the exact dimensions between an S1/S2 and the S3 in CAD. I will put them into a Jpeg and post them soon. Brian
