Countach Downdraft 1985 to 1988.5

Yes, I think you are right about the plates. Makes sense. And about the owner of the "black" car. But I will get conformation of the whole story later this week and report back. Expect to be heading over with a friend in the next couple of days to have a look at progress on his FLA 12817.

 

I think that one of these plates was on a black Porsche Turbo, seen at a Windlesham pub meet, but maybe I am confusing with B1CEP...

 

As I understand it, HLA12104 had had quite a life even by the end of the 80s!
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Another period image.

Besides the polished wheels its also got black tinted windows these days I believe.
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I was asked to take an offer of $750,000 to my client the owner of this Bianco/Bianco Downdraft. Emails on file. I don't think he will sell. That said, this is by no means meant imply that all Downdrafts now have this value!
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Yes the owner of the black car had A 6 GRD and then sourced A 6 GRO and swapped. Perhaps this is why we see A 6 GRD on the red Countach in an earlier photo, which is a later photo as I didn't get to attend those later events when Diablos were much more common place.

Also I recall when chatting to the owner of the black car, I picked him up on having to two fog lights. He said he liked symmetry so had the left hand one added. Don't know though if it was a factory request, done by Portman or someone else.

Will be great to hear of it's current existence if Mike knows.

And jb21 - as for the pearl whites - D421 and 185 EXY - I am sure they are different cars. As said before, 99% sure I saw them at the same Castle Combe event and as per post 5360 this was also documented by a car magazine who were sponsoring the event and did an editorial.

I may ask Mike Perry if he can recall. I do remember him saying a little while back on Twitter that pearl was the 'brochure' colour which always meant it would be the most popular one. That said, I can't recall a brochure featuring pearl cars. Anyone got one they could scan?

cheers

 

Ohhh exciting times John. Let me know how 12817 is coming along!
R

 

HLA12104 was definitely delivered with just one foglight as the top image shows http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/145143285-post5423.html

 

Just to clarify ( I think )

HLA12104 was white with red inside, then changed to black with black

HLA12308 was pearl with white inside (piped red I think Joe said above), and was definitely D590GCD and 18 5EXY

There is another pearl car D421HYP, which is white inside, which we're trying to figure out whether it is HLA12308 or not.

Can anyone sharp-eyed see a difference between 185EXY and D421HYP in the photos posted?

I can't - radio antenna in the same place, exhausts look the same, mirrors both pearl, fog light the same, same wing etc etc. Is the red piping visible or not in both?

It's like a spot the difference puzzle!

 

I'm with you on all this.

Clearly HLA12104 was white/red as D 530 TFC > XOI 76 > black/black as A 6 GRD.

IMHO, I have good reason to belive HLA12038 is D 421 HYP > 185 EXY > D 590 GCD > EBK 1.

Although its been suggested that D 421 HYP and 185 EXY are different cars, I'm not seeing any evidence of this and I think they are one-and-the-same.

That said I'm always open to revising the received wisdom if something else can be corroborated!

 

Joe, obscure question: in one of the photos of 185EXY taken of the rear of the car with the doors open, I can see the white leather trims on the inside of the doors, but there seems to be a red line round the bottom and edge of the white leather. Is that the red piping? Is that normal or unusual

Reason I ask is that I have a photo that someone has sent me in confidence of D421 from the rear with the doors open and it has the same red line....

 

Yes it is piping and it is unusual.

The piping that runs the perimeter of the door-panel was not usually piped in cars ordered with piping, but in the instance of HLA12038 it was.

Both D 421 HYP and 185 EXY have the same added protective film on the lower leading surface of the rear wheel arches/spats, other Perlato Downdrafts do not have this...

 

I have another photo of D421 from the rear with the doors open and you can see this red line clearly. I'd say this proves D421 and 185EXY are the same car....

 

Anyone know the gentleman owner or the chassis number of this beautiful Downdraft in the USA that's Colorado-registered "TAZIO"?
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Well, that and the protective film (an unusual thing at the time which I personally noticed) certainly strongly suggests it, not irrefutable, but, hardly refutable!

I was personally there at the time both as an enthusiast and then as a Countach owner, so I do recall quite a bit of what went on.

That said, I was struck by how many Bianco Perlato cars there seemed to always be in attendance at these Supercar events, D 351 GYX, C 596 MGO, D 421 HYP and more besides, so its easy to confuse them as our memories fade.

You know what I think 'proves' that D 421 HYP and 185 EXY are the same car? The stunning girl that always accompanied Rob Capp on these jaunts, she was seen by me getting out of both cars, of this my mind's archives possesses a photographic record!
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One-and-the-same?

D 421 HYP and 185 EXY, I assume these are your images.

You can see the protective film on the lower section of the rear wheel arch/spat, and what struck me at the time was that although fairly new it was slightly yellowed, which I didn't care for.

Even the mirror positioning is uncannily the same.

You'll note that by the time it was 185 EXY (assuming they are in fact the same car) Rob had painted the wheels Pearl White to match the body.

Now here is where I am really feeling like the 2 cars are the same because I also recall Rob appearing with his new Downdraft at Goodwood and noticing that the wheels were silver and not color coded Pearl White.

Later on I saw the car at Castle Combe with Pearl White wheels, which is where the second image was taken - I was probably there that day.

A year or two later, I recall Rob Capp getting a Rosso Perlato 25th Anniversario, and selling the Downdraft via Mike Perry.
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Speaking of Bianco Perlato/Bianco cars, here is the Scotland-based HAL12138 which I belive does have red piping, although black caulking and silver wheels.

I have noticed for years that this car is a bit more Perlato with a gold tint than the others
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Yes and no - here is 185EXY at Mike Perry's Connaught Chelsea showroom 27th June 1990, and Rob Capp's pearl white (not Rosso Perlato) Anniversary (later registered D111MAT) here at Brands Hatch 9th June 1992.

Rob Capp has his back to the camera- he is on the right hand with a white t-shirt and blue jeans.

There were at least 3 pearl white Countach Anniversaries of the 67 UK RHD cars.

Robert
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Interestingly, I was there at Mike Perry's showroom the very day Rob Capp delivered the Downdraft there in anticipation of his new 25th.

I did mean to say Bianco Perlato 25th, not Rosso Perlato 25th, you are correct of course.

 

I learned that this is the Rod Stewart 88.5 Countach Downdraft (with dark blue interior piped in white), and that even though it was a RHD car, he had someone drive it down to southern Spain so he could use it there.

This image is of the car after Rod owned it, purchased by a couple from Scotland.
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Fun image of ZAGC005ADFLA12863
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Another fun one with Paul's car - bath-time!
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Correct, saw it on Wednesday. Along with the Kool and the Gang 5000S.

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Kool and the gang...? WHICH car is that. LH door is open, so I assume it is LHD?

 

In the interests of data consistency, how about I post info on that one on the Countach thread, where it has been mentioned in the past?