A horrible mistreated Countach LP400S

Chelle, you rock!

Your Lambo banner is now lying on the front of my boat in the gf's garage!
House cleaning this week.

PM me an address to mail it!

 

My dollar estimates are based on restoring the car back to its original condition.
This is using as many factory parts as reasonably possible.
Sure you can go cheaper with aftermarket brakes and electrical components etc..... Paint ? That car has to be disassembled to do a 1st class paint job. The aluminum panels are held together with silicone. Do not forget that old hand-made Italian cars do not fit back together, the way a Ford or Mercedes does. I was told from two different quality paint shops that it
generally runs around 15K to repaint the car. I did not want to repaint
my car. I was just curious what it costs. That interior will cost a fortune
to have redone; if it will look exactly as the factory produced it. Stich for
stich. Chelle: you know by far, more about this than I do. NO. I am not
being a Smart -*ss. This is the problem with the "less" expensive exotics
that need a "lot" of money put into them. How can you come out ahead ?
That is why Jarama's, Espada's, 250GT PF coupes, GTC-4, Ghibli, some
Testarossa's, and others are quitely rotting away.

 

Ralph,
I'm not talking about shortchanging the car by using inferior parts... the stock brakes (and wiring) on a countach suck... one friend runs the wilwood setup and it was a substancial improvement over stock.. he track's his car regularly.. Kim, myself, and him spent 6 hours screwing with the relays in his trying to get the headlights working when they died last summer.
Paint? my lambo came pre disassembled - I had to put it all together - do the bodywork, then take it apart to paint it.. we turned kim's carriage house into a paint booth with $30 worth of plastic and painted it for less than $1000... I did admit that some people could hire out all the work but I was making the point that it could be done economically... the engine is gone - so why stress trying to do a 100 point restoration on a non matching number car...... I'm just saying there's no reason a do it yourself type can't make this a useful fun car again - it doesn't need to become a parts car.
I wish someone would get the car and do it for the fun of it - anyone who tries to make money buying cars, restoring them and selling is in for a big wakeup call.... roulette is a safer investment...if someone doesn't enjoy working on the cars and just wants to turn a profit they should buy a nice restoration that someone else has commited financial suicide with... personally I enjoy tinkering with cars... for some people that means changing their own oil.. for me it means saving some poor car everyone else thinks is only good for parts.

Also to each their own - but unless some car is a near perfect original I don't see any need to stick with an inferior part just because it's "original".. I replaced the AM cassette radio that was in our Lambo and put in an Alpine CD player... If I keep the Urraco much longer I'll get rid of the girling single piston brakes for Wilwood 6 piston units, the XWX tires for anything better, and the outdated struts for an adjustable Koni setup...

That's a big part of what made me leave the corvette crowd.. I would leave an L88 original, but for a mid 70's car with the wrong engine I refuse to hunt down original hoseclamps with the "proper" date code... The guys with Pantera's seem to have the right idea to me - an upgrade actually enhances the value of the car..
Chelle

 

Goodyear is #1 in Racing!

 

If Chelle is correct, and I think she is, then this car is rarer than your standard Countach - the front supports are a dead-giveaway. This car had a factory front wing. I believe there were a grand-total of ten Front-Wing Lambos imported into the US. That alone might interest Lambo collectors....

I, too, believe there's more to the restoration game than dollars - there's the love of the car or the brand. Why NOT restore it? There are many out there who have more money than they know what to do with, and if this car is what I think it is, then there are more Multi-Millionaires than there are Front-Wing Lambos cruising the highways of America. I've seen cars much worse off than this getting the full restoration treatment - personally, I can't imagine a more productive use of extra discretionary income. There are folks on this board who'd gladly spend $45,000 for a wristwatch......myself, I'd rather have the Triple-White Lambo in my garage. It, too, is a work of art. The value is in the eye of the beholder.

 

CHELLE, i cant quote ALL your cool posts in this thread ( i dont know how ) but you ROCK! i concur with what you said, do you have a fan club by chance???? ( j/k) ....grin..... michael

 

Yes you can restore it. As I mentioned do it from an emotional respect of
the car. Do not restore the car, drive it for four years, and expect to get 90% of your money back. It could work if you do not factor your time.

Either way it is impossible to come out ahead. That car would have trouble
bringing more than 50K; if it was not an original collector grade car. Having
been modified with aftermarket parts; it will not be a 70K car.

 

Great daily driver & something to restore slowly...makes a great track racer as well.

 

My own perspective on points already made;

To me, bringing the car back to life, original or not, possibly at a loss(or not) is feasable. I've done it to a few.

From an emotional standpoint it is better than letting it rot.

From a financial standpoint it would be very risky if looking for a profit.

From a practical standpoint, forget it. If we were practical none of us would own the cars that we do and put up with the maintenance we do.

From the standpoint of the challenge it creates, IT ROCKS!

From the standpoint of what the finished product would be, IT ROCKS!

Even if it was assembled with a more dependable, lower maintenance, non-Lamborghini running gear there is a person out there that would buy it because it is still a real Lambo, a rare one at that.

If I had the discressionary funds and the resources for the parts and skills I don't have, I would do it knowing in the end that it WAS SAVED from being buried out in a cow pasture somewhere because nobody thought it was worth saving.

Chelle, It takes guts to consider such a thing but I see the approach you have is the only one that would make it work with out it being a total financial disaster.

Keep us posted!

Like my motto says................................

 

Here is another one in pretty bad shape. Maybe someone could piece one decent car from these two piles.
http://www.lamborghiniregistry.com/Countach/CountachLP400S/1121054.html

 

MAYBE a couple of body panels, suspension pieces etc.

The engine and trans, if savable is the redeeming factor on this one.

I'll 'Buy it now!' for 3,000.

 

Actually that one you linked to is being restored : ) the owner is on the Lambo list I'm on and he purchased it in the condition you see it in on the Lambo Registry... He got it January 2002.
It's now for sale, but here's some proof a guy with a lot of drive and some spare time can bring back what most would insist is a basketcase..
Chelle

In November 2002 he had posted the following info:


I didn't think it would take this long, but nevertheless, I feel
like I've made good progress, given my lack of free time. However, in
pictures it won't really show. Here's the summary:

*trailered the car home (that was an adventure all by itself)
*made wooden dollies to roll it around
*inventoried all parts I had - noted what I needed
*removed all interior
*removed brake master and servo
*removed all suspension
*removed steering rack
*refinish all suspension incl. arms, hub carriers, new ball joints,
rod ends, nuts & bolts, etc.
*fiberglass repair to front trunk floor, wheel wells (tire rub
through)
*new aluminum adjustable shocks & new Eibach coil springs (14 lbs.
lighter)
*new complete Wilwood brake system (59 lbs lighter)
*bought 4 original Bravo wheels from owner of car #1121056 (next one
off the line after my #1054)
*complete strip and repaint of Bravo wheels
*install brand new Yokohama AVS rubber all around (I still have a set
of new P7s that I'll sell soon)
* sold my O.Z. wheels
*cleaned & refinished complete front trunk chassis and floor
*refinished & reinstalled steering rack w/ new boots & lube
*refinished & reinstalled brake servo
*installed brand new brake master (same as Land Rover 109 part)
*strip old undercoating off wheel wells and brake lines
*refinished front wheel wells (working on rear now)
*reinstalled complete front suspension
*removed spark plugs, inspected engine cylinder bores
*cranked engine over with starter - turns freely no problems, in gear,
axles turn correctly so tranny & diff appear ok
*about to install brand new red Cavis plug wires
*removed all old window tint
*installed new door struts
*removed then reinstalled & lined up doors better by adjusting hinges
and striker plates
*strip paint off front hood

There, that's probably 3/4 of what I've done, the rest I'm forgetting.
All the while, I've been watching ebay and other sources for parts
that I needed/wanted. I now have EVERY part I need with the exception
of the right door lower window and the rear trunk lid skin. Mine is
tattered and I'd rather use a clean straight one rather than fix mine
with body work. I just got two brand new front fenders and some other
body parts, and will install those after I get the rear suspension on.
At this point, I have not done any body work yet, so the car still
looks bad. That's why I've been shy with the pictures. Financially,
I've spent more than I expected, but now I'm through buying and it's
all just manual labor. And I'm still going to end up with a total
cost below what I would have had to pay to buy the car in the
condition it will be in.
Over the weekend I finished re-installing the left
rear suspension. So now I have 3 out of 4 corners done. I'm working
on putting in the right gas tank after installing new tank gaskets for
the filler and float guage sender. The tank is a tight fit, and
connecting the vent hose while it's in place is a royal pain! After
that's in, I'll repair the right rear inner fender fiberglass and
reinstall that suspension. Then I'll do some preliminary ride height
adjustment (considering the weight of the front bumper and flares,
windshield, rear wing, lights, and 180 lbs. of fuel will make it squat
down some, I'm sure I'll need to adjust it again when I'm
completely done). Then it's on to the body work!
David

Then Nov 2003 he updated us with this post:
Basically, I'm beginning the bodywork now, working tediously to get
the new front bumper/spoiler to fit the nose perfectly. Overall,
the aluminum bodywork on the car is pretty straight (with a few
notable exceptions). It's hard to find time to actually work on it,
so it's slow going now. Plus, other hobbies continually seem to
creep in and take over my available Lamborghini time.

Anyway, I'm going to do the bodywork up through primer, which could
be finished in about 1-2 months at the rate I'm going. Then I'll
send it out for showcar paint. I have all the new leather,
headliner, dash suede and carpet to finish the interior (the
stitched items I'll send out, the plain "glue-to-panel" pieces I'll
do myself).

Bottom line: it's probably another 4-5 months before I'm done. I'll
keep you posted.
David

And most recently he posted to us this in Feb 2004...

Circumstances have arisen which require me to sell my 1979 (titled
in Florida as a 1981) LP400S, serial number 1121054. An early car
#27 off the line according to the serial number. One of 50 to get
the sought after magnesium Bravo wheels. Car is in mid restoration,
with some work remaining including bodywork, paint and interior. I
have all parts necessary to finish the car, and then some. Brand
new connolly leather, wilton wool carpet, and suede dash and
headliner material, all in original colors. The suspension is all
new, with aluminum double adjustable shocks and Eibach springs.
Brakes are all new with Wilwood custom aluminum calipers and
rotors. The stock calipers and rotors come with the car. Also
includes a custom designed and fabricated Electromotive
distributorless ignition system. Original equipment distributors
and coils, etc. come with the car. New custom Griffin aluminum high
performance radiators and also original radiators. Several sets of
new oem Pirelli P7s and 1.5 sets of Yokohama AVS tires in oem size.
Much more I'm forgetting to mention.

The work remaining to be done is very straightforward. I have dealt
with the surprises already. I just have too many things going on
and cannot finish the car. Looking for reasonable offers.
Email with any questions: [email protected]
David

 

Chelle...I thought I remembered that car being purchased by someone on the "List" as well. Almost seem to recall that he lived here in the Jacksonville, Florida area (or Northeast FL)? At any rate, he's sure put a great deal of time, money, and effort into it from reading your post. My hat's off to him, yourself, and the many others who save these marvelous machines from extinction!

 

Damn shame

 

So that's not the way a Lambo comes from the factory ?

 

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/newreply.php?do=newreply&noquote=1&p=247551
...So it's been almost 1 year since this thread died
does anyone know whatever happened to that Countach?
Hopefully it was brought back to life.

 

I'm curious too, I just re-read the whole thread. Anyone?

 

very, very sad. makes you want to cry.
but the shifting gate makes me laugh.

 

Poor girl she had so much life in her when she was young

 

Wanna see something incredible?
Before:
http://www.carsinbarns.com/Classics/Images/57customline1.jpg
After:
http://www.carsinbarns.com/Classics/Images/57customline2.jpg

 

holy smokes! thats cool!

 

I would buy that Countach if the price was right....

 

Stand in line. Those carbed C/T's are getting alot of attention moneywise. Myself included. Those make me drool. I even have dreams of all six of those webers dancing around in my head at night.

 

I read the thread, and though I don't have any info on the Lambo pictured, I live very close to Burleson, TX and if the poster from last year can help pin donw the location some, I could go investigate. I have no interest in the car, as I already have a Lambo, but if we can do a bit more locating, I would assit with a PPI for an interested buyer.

PM me needed.

Docmirror

 

Looks like someone can do their own PPI just from the pictures. I can see all I need to see.