Countach Downdraft 1985 to 1988.5 | Page 74 | FerrariChat

Countach Downdraft 1985 to 1988.5

Discussion in 'LamborghiniChat.com' started by joe sackey, Oct 25, 2015.

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  1. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ

    May 23, 2006
    57,525
    Southern California
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    Joe Sackey
    #1826 joe sackey, Feb 19, 2016
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Vahe Melkonian's Bianco/Bianco 88.5 DD when new, or nearly new in the Portman London showroom. I had significant passenger seat-time in this car, on the streets of London, and at Goodwood circuit. He could drive a Countach.
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  2. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ

    May 23, 2006
    57,525
    Southern California
    Full Name:
    Joe Sackey
    #1827 joe sackey, Feb 19, 2016
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  3. EMILIO

    EMILIO F1 Veteran

    Feb 23, 2006
    6,854
    Italia
    Joe,
    i want one Hammer since i was 10 probably 10 or 12
    how much are these now? where could i find one?
     
  4. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ

    May 23, 2006
    57,525
    Southern California
    Full Name:
    Joe Sackey
    #1829 joe sackey, Feb 19, 2016
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    This Nero Tenebre DD was owned by my friend the tire industrialist Greg Solomon (not Khalid M as I have seen erroneously posted on Pistonheads), and in fact the car was in my care during his frequent sojourns abroad. Somebody had to exercise it, and I was only too happy to oblige...

    Although delivered & registered in the UK, Greg ordered the car in LHD so he would feel comfortable driving it down to the South of France, which is what he did.

    That's Fred, Portman's detailer with the car at the back entrance of the George Street showroom.

    We kept Fred very busy!

    FWIW the Blu Acapulco Countach you can barely see in front of black DD is Yinka Ojora's car.

    Those were some days.
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  5. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ

    May 23, 2006
    57,525
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    I think @ late 1987.
     
  6. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ

    May 23, 2006
    57,525
    Southern California
    Full Name:
    Joe Sackey
    #1831 joe sackey, Feb 19, 2016
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Emilio,

    To be frank, it was this magazine cover below from 1987 that inspired me to buy the Hammer. I thought an everyday car as fast as the DD was very cool - at that time.

    I had my Hammer special-ordered via a UK authorized Mercedes Benz dealer, and took delivery of it as a new car. I kept the car 3-4 years and sold it circa 25 years ago, and my life has been filled with 911s since, so I'm not sure what the market is.

    These days I drive a 991 GT3, and it is much faster than the Downdraft in every way!
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  7. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ

    May 23, 2006
    57,525
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    Joe Sackey
    Tadek, welcome to this thread about the cars we love, you have come to the right place, where else can you get your original warranty book back? :)

    Please feel free to grace us with information & images of your beautiful 88.5 DD.
     
  8. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ

    May 23, 2006
    57,525
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    Joe Sackey
    #1833 joe sackey, Feb 19, 2016
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  9. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ

    May 23, 2006
    57,525
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    Joe Sackey
    #1834 joe sackey, Feb 19, 2016
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Here is the same car, Barry got one of the very first DDs.

    This May 1985 CAR magazine issue was very inspirational for me, as magazines were at that time.
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  10. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ

    May 23, 2006
    57,525
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    Joe Sackey
    #1835 joe sackey, Feb 19, 2016
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  11. Tadek

    Tadek Rookie

    Oct 7, 2013
    6
    Buckinghamshire
    #1836 Tadek, Feb 19, 2016
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  12. Tadek

    Tadek Rookie

    Oct 7, 2013
    6
    Buckinghamshire
    #1837 Tadek, Feb 19, 2016
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  13. Spyder-Man

    Spyder-Man Formula 3

    May 11, 2004
    2,097
    UK
    Full Name:
    Rob
    Hi Tadek. great to see you on this site. Plenty of Countach content, might take you a while to get through it all. This picture of your car is epic. If ever a photo shows the appeal of these amazing cars, its this one.

    Very glad the warrenty booklet was found for your car and hopefully be reunited with her soon. interestingly, I was contacted by a Dutch garage ( Thanks Wim!) who by the power of the web contacted myself and sent me, my cars original warrenty booklet too. What goes around, comes around my friend!

    All the best
    Rob
     
  14. Spyder-Man

    Spyder-Man Formula 3

    May 11, 2004
    2,097
    UK
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    Rob
    Goodness Joe, not a bother. You do enough ( and more ) for this site and the community!

    R
     
  15. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ

    May 23, 2006
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    That is an epic image, showing the adulation these cars receive.

    Interestingly, people went just as wild over them in the late 80s when they were new!
     
  16. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ

    May 23, 2006
    57,525
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    Joe Sackey
    #1841 joe sackey, Feb 19, 2016
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    November 1985 issue of MOT magazine, Valentino pilots a fabulous Triple Bianco DD.

    Lots going on @ Sant Agata, by then the Mimran money was beginning to show
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  17. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ

    May 23, 2006
    57,525
    Southern California
    Full Name:
    Joe Sackey
    #1842 joe sackey, Feb 19, 2016
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  18. bb4635

    bb4635 Formula Junior

    May 18, 2006
    482
    France
    Hi Joe,
    Can you please clarify us the "notorious Gang of Four" ?

    Thank-you !
    Bruno
     
  19. Maser

    Maser Formula Junior

    Jun 2, 2011
    254
    UK
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    Harry Metcalfe
    #1845 Maser, Feb 20, 2016
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    My QV is currently on display at the London Classic car show. Octane and evo magazine have assembled the cars that tell the story of the Supercar, starting with the Miura. Next comes Countach, then F40, etc.
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  20. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ

    May 23, 2006
    57,525
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    Joe Sackey
    #1846 joe sackey, Feb 20, 2016
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Thanks for sharing Harry, I see the EVO sticker still in the window, here below is another cellphone shot of your car on display.
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  21. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ

    May 23, 2006
    57,525
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    Wow, those are awesome period images!

    Thank you for posting them.

    Our car was finished around the same time, and it too had a yellow-topped FIAMM battery which we are going to replicate.
     
  22. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ

    May 23, 2006
    57,525
    Southern California
    Full Name:
    Joe Sackey
    #1848 joe sackey, Feb 20, 2016
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  23. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ

    May 23, 2006
    57,525
    Southern California
    Full Name:
    Joe Sackey
    #1849 joe sackey, Feb 20, 2016
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Bruno,

    This expression was coined by someone who posted it up on Pistonheads!

    In reality, there were 3 friends who owned Countachs at the same time who would spontaneously get together for drives, very impromptu gatherings with no particular agenda other than to enjoy the cars.

    Sometimes there would be 4, 5, 6 or even 7 of us, driving around London, or to the countryside, and even to track the cars at the Goodwood circuit.

    That's my DD at left below.
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  24. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ

    May 23, 2006
    57,525
    Southern California
    Full Name:
    Joe Sackey
    #1850 joe sackey, Feb 20, 2016
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017

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