Sometimes people come into your life and you just never know what's going to happen. That is what my friend Jeff said to me today. Four years ago when I opened my DeLorean restoration business: www.dmcflorida.com , Jeff came into my life as my very first customer. Who knew he would turn into one of my great friends. Jeff has seen my Countachs over the years and when he was ready to buy one I essentially unloaded 27 years of Countach knowledge upon him. His search ended with a beautiful 1980 S2. Jeff founded the Celebration Exotic Car Festival in 2004. Last year he was able to secure the Cannonball Countach for the event. After the event I tried to purchase the car. I thought I had a deal with the then owner so I sold my pristine Countach S1 #1121036 to make the deal. The owner backed out and said "I'll wait and get $500,000 at the auction". I was devastated. As the auction approached Jeff and I spoke at length. He wanted the car as well and was in a better position to make a run at the car so I agreed to bow out of the auction and wished him luck. The car did not meet the reserve at the auction and Jeff was able to put a deal together in the weeks following. I have done most of the work on my Countachs over the years and when Jeff asked for my help restoring the car I was floored! So I started a website to document the restoration. I will take on Countach projects on a case & time basis after the Cannonball car is done. That brings us to today March 16th 2009 when the Cannonball Countach arrives at my shop. After checking the car in it was time to take it for a road test to make notes of things that need tending to. A thrill and dream come true for me as well. Jeff says he has no plans to sell but does give me "dibs" if he changes his mind. The car will be at the Celebration Exotic Car Festival this year and I promise you will not recognize it as the same car from last year! Please support the show at: www.celebrationexoticcars.com And check out: www.cannonballcountach.com Tony Ierardi
Im saving it to my favorites, how often do you think you will update the pages? This is such an exciting story. I am number 11 to visit the page, woot woot
Damn Tony! I never knew you sold the Series One for that car....and he backed out....devastating, vomiting feeling.
Didn't the car have a Lamborghini badge on the hood in the movie? I remember seeing that at Celebration last year and thinking it looked strange without it. Is that how you are going to keep it, or would you make a concession to movie accuracy in this case? I seem to remember it had one, but that may have just been the movie poster i am recalling! Image Unavailable, Please Login
I watched the DVD again just to make sure, and no, there was not a nose badge. You can see this best in the opening chase scene, if you pause just after the "Terry Bradshaw" credit I never really understood why the poster showed the car in red either. I assume that red just showed up better on the poster than black. Here's a bit of trivia. The poster artwork was done by Drew Struzan. Drew also did the artwork for the Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Back to the Future, and Harry Potter series of films, ET, Coming to America, Johnny Dangerously, and countless others.
Thanks Peter. Yes I felt the same way, but in the end the car is in my life anyway. Glass half full Tony
just figured i'd post, that this countach also appeared (very briefly) on Smokey and the Bandit 3. http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/3111/smokeyandthebanditii042nj7.jpg http://imcdb.org/vehicle_80264-Lamborghini-Countach-LP-400S.html oh, and im happy to have helped with some of the pics on the website lol
...and to Jeff and Tony, all the best with the restoration, we're all behind you and watching with keen eyes as you drasitcally reverse the ageing process of this beauty.
oh, and Jeff, if you are reading this....... you might want to get in contact with LamborghiniRegistry.com and update them http://www.lamborghiniregistry.com/Countach/CountachLP400S/1121112.html and eh, also give these guys a holler, im sure they would be extremely interested with thats happening. http://www.lambocars.com/choice/editor_choice_january_february_2009.php
The white Countach in the opening scene was in Cannonball Run 2, although it was really red as seen at the end of the opening. Here is the video..... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hi4ccVBsZEM
Tony, Your one of the good guys!! Jeff, Sounds like it fell into good hands. I'm happy for the both of you, and tell 112 116 says hello.
