Countach Downdraft 1985 to 1988.5

Sublime Blu Tahiti 88.5 again
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Each to their own, this is why options existed

 

Testing of the venerable quattrovalvole Downdraft engine commenced as early as 1983 under the auspices of Alfieri, at places such as Nardo where this Monospecchio Muletta is shown
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GLA12942 by talented photographer GF Williams
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JB when you get GLA12942 it is my hope you come on here and recount your experiences with Vale, and with driving the car.

As we spoke, I just sold my personal F40 to a famed Indycar race driver and I am even more excited to extol the virtues and wax lyrical about a Downdraft, to be its stablemate. There too, I'll elicit feedback about the experience to be shared with all, hopefully to our collective benefit
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One I haven't seen before of Harry on the 50th Tour
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Awesome, I took that image when I owned it @ 20 years ago, I had that engine bay minty, I'm easy, I like them all!

 

White caulking was available for any white QV from 1985 to 1988. You could also have black caulking. I suspect if you said nothing, you got black caulking which is more prolific. All the white-caulking cars I know of (such as Hiunghaus' car) were collected at the factory, so were likely special ordered. Essentially, you could have the caulking either black or white on a white car. Of course, many people didn't even know the option existed at the time they were in production, and clearly, all these years later, some still don't know!

Here is a skirted car http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/144654411-post2773.html, there are others I know of also.

As for which is better or preferable, that's purely personal. I suspect most owners will tell you they like what's on their car!

 

To answer more directly, here is a well-known RHD 88.5 Downdraft delivered with white caulking.

When the cars were new, I barely noticed this.
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Here is a nice comparo in Portman Lamborghini's London showroom @ 27 years ago, the first car is pop singer Del Pearson's 1986 Downdraft and the bottom car is Vahe Melkonian's 88.5 DD.
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And of course how can we forget the famed EE.481.AK Downdraft imaged in front of the old factory circa 1987, in repose with white caulking
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That's why this thread exists!

 

Factory Launch Brochure image for the Downdraft given out @ Geneva 1985, white with black caulking.

I must say: I really don't have a preference one way or the other, my thing is simply imparting or sharing hitherto not-widely-known information, that's all.
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UK RHD Bianco Perlato DD with white caulking, there were at least 2 BP cars with white caulking delivered to the UK, AFAICR
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This car exhibits the other issue we were talking about http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/144654315-post2769.html where a car is repainted and the painter does not bother to finish the sill with blackout

 

Indeed, when looking out for white caulking, you notice more & more cars with it
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I think for the 88.5 cars the caulking became thinner, more refined, as delivered from the works
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I forgot to mention that after a repaint one should feel free to do whatever because unlike the basic paint & leather colors, I doubt the factory ever recorded what caulking color was used. Unless a car is renowned for having it from new, such as Hinghaus' single-owner original car below, it doesn't matter too much
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