Countach Downdraft 1985 to 1988.5

Raymond should I grace the car with a finishing touch in the form of the EE plates from May 1986 (expiry stickers May 1987)?
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Thank you for helping Emilio, just what I wanted, I await news!
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I think he is bracing himself for my impending inspections.

 

Thank you.

This process is one way to know these cars, especially if you are hands-on.

 

Thank you.

I was always a little concerned that we don't end up with a car that just looks pretty but doesn't perform as well as it looks. So right now, my current obsession is over tuning, and we are messing around with Weber jetting, timing, etc. I don’t want this car to barely drive, I want it to go like the proverbial 'One Hundred Howling Dogs From Hell'

 

Thank you Mo, appreciate that.

 

Thanks, we certainly tried our best.

 

Courtesy of Patrick Mimram, the EE plates were used to drive the car out of the factory gates on May the 13th 1986, and straight home to Switzerland.

There, a few days later, the car was Vaude-registered VD.256925 for Mimran with its second set of plates.

As used by him, Patrick tells me his most memorable adventures with this car that still stick in his mind were epic journeys from Geneva/Switzerland to Sant Agata/Italy, and another all the way from Geneva/Switzerland to St Tropez/France. Let's just say he went fast

You know most of this already, but, in trying to assemble the car's full history, I have summarized it thus:

* Countach Quattrovalvole (LP112D) "Downdraft" ZA9C005A0GLA12997

* Specially-built for the CEO of Nuova Automobili Ferruccio Lamborghini SpA, Patrick Mimran, who is renowned for saving Lamborghini from bankruptcy and building it into the basis of today's global brand

* One-off livery: 'Bordeaux Speciale' paint with 'Panna' leather interior, and 'Oro' wheels

* Factory-tuned engine (Tipo L507 V4/73 carburatori, with sport cams and additional oil-cooler @ 470 bhp) N°1202, gearbox N° 1013, differential N° 909

* Factory-supplied with wilton carpeting, leather headliner, and special Alpine package (radio, CD, equalizer, alarm, etc)

* Completed & delivered at Sant Agata on May the 13th 1986 for delivery to Switzerland, where it was Vaude-registered VD.256925 for Patrick Mimran

* Featured in the December 1986 edition of Road & Track magazine (Exotic Cars Quarterly N° 5) showing the car coming down the Sant Agata factory assembly line prior to build completion

* Sold by its illustrious first owner after he sold his car company to American Automaker, Chrysler

* 12997 remained in Switzerland for 29 years from new till 2015, the last 15 years of its life there in the hands of prominent Lamborghini enthusiast Raymond Stofer

* Certificate of Vehicle Original Configuration confirming specification issued by Automobili Lamborghini SpA on September 1st 2015

* Ownership history, special livery, and factory-tuned specification confirmed & certified in writing by Valentino Balboni.

Maybe Ive left something out.

PS - As an aside, Ive responded to your email, thanks for taking care of that for me!

 

Thank you Rob, you do a lot for the community as well, I'm sure we will get together soon.

 

Very early production LHD Triple-white Downdraft UK-registered B 577 NAB, rolling on the A4

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbAGK7TnyMY[/ame]

 

Jay Leno: Avoid cars from the '80s

But he goes on to say: "Of course, the '80s weren't all bad ... the Countach would be my favorite '80s car."

The car featured in the piece is the UK-registered F 920 OYR, JLA12399.

 

Paul D's Downdraft looking good as always.

FWIW, that's actually a dark blue interior.
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I get the impression Patrick is not a sentimentalist, he kept his road & race-car collection for @ 10 years after selling Nuova Automobili Lamborghini SpA then auctioned the entire lot off in one go. But, he did use this Countach extensively and has fond memories of that, which is important.

As regards the EE plates, no holes needed! Double-sided tape, like FLA12835 below.
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A great number of Countachs left the factory on EE (Escursionisti Esteri) Touring plates. The reason is simply because the factory encouraged people to come and take delivery of their new Countach at Sant Agata and drive it away. Ive lost count of how many people I personally know who did this, and it was quite the getting-to-know the car experience.
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