The big Countach tech problem is...

I've been pretty lucky in my experience. The car was already very good when I got it, and the 2 people I've had work on it fit all the things in your list.

Bobileff's shop does my major work. After 2 years of driving, I decided to get heim joints, alignment, engine out, clutch, trans seals changed, and syncros. Some small mistakes were made and some bugs were not worked out, but overall I'd give it an 8 out of 10. These cars are so hard to work on, that I think this shop does the best job that can be done, considering they don't have permanent access to your car.

The other guy works on my car right in my own garage. His work is outstanding. He fixes electrical bugs, does body work, fixes leaks, tunes the car, and does pretty much any job that doesn't require a massive shop (like an engine out).

The key I think is that he has endless patience and passion for the car. He takes pride in his work and will not stop until the job is flawless. Since he checks on the car all the time, he always knows what's going on, and keeps certain things under observation.

He has access to the car anytime and a set of keys, so he just works on it pro-actively, slowly improving things before issues arise. As a result, I feel my car is much improved from when I got it, and I've been able to do a lot of driving. I haven't gone more than a week or 2 without driving my car since the engine out, how many countach owners can say that?

If you're just bringing your car to a shop and hoping for the best, that is rough. Many jobs can take 2 tries to be fixed. Fix it once, test it, then try again. This is pretty normal for many automotive jobs. Auto shops dont do a good job of testing. They just try to get it out the door. A countach needs to be tested a lot to be sure the job is right. I test the car myself after every job and then we talk to figure out what's happening after the drive.

We also touch base with Chad Bolles sometimes to get input when things are confusing.

 

In 2000 I had a severe problem with the engine in my LP 400.
My friend and well known race mechanic Steve Hart from the UK offered his help and made a complete overhaul of the engine.
Great to see my car in his workshop next to a Ferrari 250GTO, 250LM, Maserati 300S, Maserati Birdcage etc.! He also sorted the connecting rod problem by using parts for the Ferrari Daytona Competitione which fit exactly.
Steve is also a very good driver and so tested the fresh engine on streets (and also on the dyno!).
The result of his work was FANTASTIC!

He drove the car himself from his workshop to my house in Germany, and arrived late at night: "I am so glad this is not my car - I would be constantly too fast....!"

After he checked in the hotel I took the car out by myself on the Autobahn at about 3:00 am without any traffic. The car ran like hell with all temperatures stable as a rock.
Little later I drove another LP400 that had got an engine overhaul in Italy. But the result was not very impressive compared to my car......

 

(perhaps a language problem from my side ) - no, I meant the bolts of the connecting rods to the crank are too weak and made of good quality by Lamborghinifor their LP400s.

 

God these cars can be such fun ...

Oh it's pretty much the same with anything you serviced these days. Things being terribly more complex doesn't help either.

I just hate having my cars (or anything else) serviced by anyone because mostly it never gets done correctly. You sound exactly like me. You want things set as best as possible. That takes commitment and it's not inexpensive. Getting that sort of commitment is easiest when you are doing the work yourself.

But on some things you have no choice. I try and get involved in how the repair is being executed which I know they hate but if done respectfully and if you have the right service person it can work just fine. If you can't establish that sort of relationship then just walk. Much better for everyone involved.

I remember the fuel tank stuff. Glad you finally got it sorted.

After all that your bank account must be deeply wounded.

My friends all have similar stories with bills that would choke a horse, ah er, bull in this case.

 

Agreed...there's a strange lack of competence across the board, for lack of a better term.
Maybe its a decline in critical thinking skills (diagnostics), distractions due to workload, budget constraints...Its certainly not limited to exotic car repair.

 

I took my car today after a check to Giancarlo. He is a great guy and he did a great job on my Countach! Thanks and recommended.

 

Surprised Claudio Zampolli's name hasn't been mentioned. Of course he's in California which doesn't help if you don't live here.

 

Alberto, I know one man who has many years man and boy working with Lamborghini Countach.

I need ask him if he interested to work on your car.
I do not wish to discuss on forum, so will PM if that's OK?

Ciao

Daniel

 

And that means it's full of beautiful women around his workshop?