Why Haven't Countach Values Climbed Like their Supercar Contemporaries

Aside from maybe the periscopio, why haven't Countach values climbed into the same realm as its contemporaries? I've wondered this for a while. Think about it. If you're anywhere near my age (I'm 50, so give or take a few years) it's safe to say that no other car was as much desired when we were kids and teens as the Countach. We constantly hear the "poster on the wall" anecdote, and for it was true (although I had 5 or 6). On the other hand, the 288 GTO, the F40, the 959, all have climbed well into the millions. As amazing as all those cars are, it never made sense to me that the most desired of all of them hasn't jumped as high, or higher. I'd be curious to hear opinions.

 

Supply and demand. These cars were made in collectively larger numbers than your examples.

 

You also have to take into account that both Ferrari and Porsche have a great racing history.

 

You are not comparing like with like. The appropriate Ferrari comparison for the Countach would be the BB and the Testarossa.

 

Maybe not quite the same for the periscopo though.

It could be a lot worse value wise though. The Maserati Bora is a far superior automobile in terms of construction and comfort on the road and most Countachs weren't really all that much faster in real world driving either. The Countach is very truck like by comparison but admittedly also quite the wild child the Bora was never meant to be. The Occasional hot date versus the one you marry scenario.

 

Although neither is on my shopping list, I reckon I would sooner have a Bora than a Countach. Unfortunately value and ability are at best loosely connected. Although I have driven neither, I do not imagine that a Persicopo is vastly superior to any other Countach. If value was solely about ability, one wouldn't be able to buy five E-types for the price of one DB5.

 

I can appreciate the aforementioned comparisons, but, come on, the Countach was on a whole different playing field from cars like the Testarossa, BB or the Bora. Sure, one can argue that this car performed better or that car was faster or another company has racing heritage - all valid. But, the Countach took the automotive world by storm. It was truly iconic. No car before (and one could say since) ever had the presence the Countach had/has.

 

I think the catch with the 288 GTO, F40 & 959 is that they have never been cheap, in comparison to other cars, at any given time. If your really fair about a comparison, look how poorly the Testarossa has done. Most don't seem to sell for what they did new back in the 80's.

 

The Countach gets non-car people to wake up and notice every time. It’s like no other car I know. It’s surprised me a few times. People and often females see it in person for the first time are left virtually speechless.

 

One of my favorite stories is just after I purchased mine and drove it into work. I always stopped at a local Starbucks outside of the Boeing plant to pick up a latte. When I pulled up to the drive-through window the Barrista went to hand me the latte but I had to raise the door since you can’t fit anything through the window and she said: “That is the coolest car I have ever seen in my entire life”. LOL!

Mike

 

I always figured it was because a bunch of car critics who seem to have lost their nut sack in their wife's purse make a bunch of whining complaints about the Countach, like "wahhhh the clutch is too heavy..." or "wahhh I am not strong enough to turn the steering wheel." This scares off some car collectors and affects supply vs. demand. James May, if you are reading, I just want you to know you are a true wussbag.

 

This is a complicated subject, but I have to point out that there are Countachs that have sold as high as @ $2 million (LP400) and others have sold @ $1 million (LP400S & Downdraft) at the peak, in the not too distant future, some of the aforementioned will be back up there again and beyond.

Correct.

The Fuel-injected Countach should be compared directly with the Testarossa.

The Countach is only beginning to be understood & appreciated, the same thing that I saw happening with Miuras 10 years ago is beginning to happen with Countachs.

Agreed, the sissies did create years of negativity that is only just beginning to be universally rejected.

 

A well sorted Countach will deliver the very top of incredible driving experiences. And I’m including F40, Carrera GT etc. There are so many variants to break that experience down even further. All of them have such fantastic differences. A long production run will do that.

And the response on the road and when you stop is unparalleled . If you are not smiling while driving one, seek professional help.

Many collectors don’t understand the breakdown of LP400, Lowbody, Downdraft etc. Time will change that for those collectors/drivers wanting to explore .
It’s a fun and interesting trek, lots to learn.

 

I 100% agree in your Driver/collector example, to me ,it is in that order, and also understand the real world differences/similarities between the variants, there Is only one way to buy a Countach: Drive and experience the different variants,ask questions to non selling owners, then go for it.

 

I missed this correct & undeniable observation, as I always say, Motorsports linkage is important and often translates to both performance & value.

Totally agree with that, when a Countach is running like it should run, and you are driving it like it should be driven, you feel like something special is happening.

Every time.

 

I say racing heritage also. Lamborghini in the Countach days had no race track proof to back up the look

 

I have a feeling some collectors aren't in it to learn, or even fully experience driving their machines.

Which makes sense why people that truly love driving will love the Countach after driving it as yall have said above

 

Racetrack heritage maybe more for a certain generation . 60’s Ferrari’s are the most valuable obviously representing mostly heroic drivers and dangerous cars and plenty of unfortunate injury and death.

The Countach was pure fantasy representing an incredible era of living everyday LIFE to the extreme. That’s when I was a teenager. Thats the car I care about.

And I’ve driven Ferrari’s on the track many times , been to Cavallino multiple times and most of the others so it’s not a one sided view. Just my opinion after a wide ranging sample.

 

Not me. I drove my friends quattrovalvole downdraft specially prepared for him by Al Burtoni. Yes it's amazing to look at and sounds great but it's a truck to operate.
My Espada is an absolute joy by comparison though the steering is very heavy.

My friend didn't enter his Countach in the Nevada Silver State but he did his Bora and I played copilot. A shame the event was spoiled by a big crash with a fatality.
He traveled from Kansas City to that event and then on to Las Vegas, Sendona and back to Kansas city. He had his wife along and substantial luggage for a mid engine car.
Hard top do that in a Countach. But he also absolutely loved the attention that car garnered. At the time he got into a huge dispute with Audi and the local leadership over some serious issue with whatever their top of the line sedan was. So when he really wanted to torque the dealership owner he'd go down there to talk and go in the Countach. Then the entire shop would empty for about 45 minutes to look at the car ... LOL He utilized it well in that regard.

 

Funny, I find them very easy to operate, relaxing actually.

 

I have to agree. As compared to what kind of truck ?

 

Well, I found the car not much truck-like and in particular not the LP400 on its much thinner XWX.
I owned a Ferrari BBi in 1983. Nice driver on the straights but in corners hopless! At the same time I owned also a BMW M1 and could drive circles around my own BBi in corners when driven by a very good friend of mine.

 

Sorry, but I do not agree reg. the F40 which was a very difficult car to handle but incredibly fast. It clearly would be much faster than any Countach.

 

The Bora was a much more reasonable car than the flashy, eccentric Countach. But the word reason is not very important when it comes to supercars!