Discussion
Fessia fancier said:
. I still look at the pictures of the Countach and forty plus years after my Top trumps I still think it is the most fantastic car of the time.
I'm pretty sure that the Countach in my pack of Top Trumps as a toddler is the reason I became obsessed with cars and the Countach in particular!I still have that pack of Top Trumps.
And for me it is also still the best looking car of all time.
Fessia fancier]rat rod said:
No FF i think it's the fact that i'm the oldest one on this site, I was buying these cars when they were still a depreciating asset,
From memory i bought that glass car in either in late 1981 or 1982 ,being a late registered 1977 it was barely five years old,
What we forget is the glass GTB's wasn't really well received by Ferrari buyers associating them with Lotus's and kit cars
leaving the racers buying them at bargain prices
Maybe because the steel cars rusted badly and the world of the Ferrari collector who love low volume models
woke up and they suddenly became sort after even giving them a new Italian name, must admit that Vestoresina
sounds a lot sexier tha glass fibre or is it fibre glass ,never known which one is right.
If you did overpay at the time you must be in front by now if you've owned it a while.
.
/Hi Rat rod I was just joking. You are right they were unappreciated for quite some time. I got mine in 2005 or so and there was negligible premium then - I just wanted the lower weight for racing and the lack of rust on the body.
The peculiar thing about some of the newer stuff is they have not really depreciated as significantly as some of the older stuff did in the past which I struggle to understand. Anyhow I have veered off at a tangent. I still look at the pictures of the Countach and forty plus years after my Top trumps I still think it is the most fantastic car of the time.
2005 so your well in front, all this money we spend on turning them into a race car ,I'm not sure whether there worth more or less thanFrom memory i bought that glass car in either in late 1981 or 1982 ,being a late registered 1977 it was barely five years old,
What we forget is the glass GTB's wasn't really well received by Ferrari buyers associating them with Lotus's and kit cars
leaving the racers buying them at bargain prices
Maybe because the steel cars rusted badly and the world of the Ferrari collector who love low volume models
woke up and they suddenly became sort after even giving them a new Italian name, must admit that Vestoresina
sounds a lot sexier tha glass fibre or is it fibre glass ,never known which one is right.
If you did overpay at the time you must be in front by now if you've owned it a while.
. Edited by rat rod on Saturday 20th March 21:11
[/Hi Rat rod I was just joking. You are right they were unappreciated for quite some time. I got mine in 2005 or so and there was negligible premium then - I just wanted the lower weight for racing and the lack of rust on the body.
The peculiar thing about some of the newer stuff is they have not really depreciated as significantly as some of the older stuff did in the past which I struggle to understand. Anyhow I have veered off at a tangent. I still look at the pictures of the Countach and forty plus years after my Top trumps I still think it is the most fantastic car of the time.
a standard car , I suppose it all depends on what a buyer wants,
With four Italian exotics in your garage and they are the ones you told me about, is there more.
i'm sure you can make room for one more ,
The Countach is smaller than it looks .
PS - Just been watching Jack on his "Number 27" You Tube channel, don't know if you have been watching him, He runs a carb 308 GTS
and video's his love ,hate relationship with it,
But tonight he's driving Phil's from QV rally replica 308 GTB, Thought you may enjoy watching it.
Sorry can't link , not tecky and haven't got a clue how to.
Edited by rat rod on Sunday 21st March 00:12
Martin350 said:
About thirty odd years ago on a track day at Brands Hatch I was passenger in a fibreglass 308 which had uprated camshafts, carburettors, exhaust, suspension etc. and a very enthusiastic driver.
At one point changing up gear the clutch release bearing stuck so the driver effectively went back on full throttle in neutral.
The noise was immense, the driver said a very rude word, and I glanced over at the dashboard just as the rev counter needle came back down passed 10,000!
The engine survived with no issues at all.
A few laps later the clock fell out!
10,000 revs At one point changing up gear the clutch release bearing stuck so the driver effectively went back on full throttle in neutral.
The noise was immense, the driver said a very rude word, and I glanced over at the dashboard just as the rev counter needle came back down passed 10,000!
The engine survived with no issues at all.
A few laps later the clock fell out!
Edited by Martin350 on Saturday 20th March 21:53
, Think the guy dodged a bullet .The 308 engine is very strong, a standard engine good for 7,700 rpm, my car is good for 8,700 rpm and have seen 9,000
when on a charge but not advised to do it to often.
Had mine for 26 years and wouldn't part with it but after saying that it's now covered over 150,000 miles so probably worthless.
I guess a very brief and unloaded over-rev wasn't much of an issue, but it must have been quite an unnerving moment for the owner of the car.
I was also a passenger around the same time in a Countach LP400, also at Brands Hatch, and remember seeing 9,000 rpm on the rev counter a few times despite an 8,000 rpm red line.
The car in question is known to be currently in very fine condition, it didn't seem to do it any harm.
Maybe the gauges aren't accurate, I don't know, but it was very exciting at the time!
I was also a passenger around the same time in a Countach LP400, also at Brands Hatch, and remember seeing 9,000 rpm on the rev counter a few times despite an 8,000 rpm red line.
The car in question is known to be currently in very fine condition, it didn't seem to do it any harm.
Maybe the gauges aren't accurate, I don't know, but it was very exciting at the time!
Edited by Martin350 on Sunday 21st March 00:52
rat rod said:
Fessia fancier]rat rod said:
No FF i think it's the fact that i'm the oldest one on this site, I was buying these cars when they were still a depreciating asset,
From memory i bought that glass car in either in late 1981 or 1982 ,being a late registered 1977 it was barely five years old,
What we forget is the glass GTB's wasn't really well received by Ferrari buyers associating them with Lotus's and kit cars
leaving the racers buying them at bargain prices
Maybe because the steel cars rusted badly and the world of the Ferrari collector who love low volume models
woke up and they suddenly became sort after even giving them a new Italian name, must admit that Vestoresina
sounds a lot sexier tha glass fibre or is it fibre glass ,never known which one is right.
If you did overpay at the time you must be in front by now if you've owned it a while..
/Hi Rat rod I was just joking. You are right they were unappreciated for quite some time. I got mine in 2005 or so and there was negligible premium then - I just wanted the lower weight for racing and the lack of rust on the body.
The peculiar thing about some of the newer stuff is they have not really depreciated as significantly as some of the older stuff did in the past which I struggle to understand. Anyhow I have veered off at a tangent. I still look at the pictures of the Countach and forty plus years after my Top trumps I still think it is the most fantastic car of the time.
2005 so your well in front, all this money we spend on turning them into a race car ,I'm not sure whether there worth more or less thanFrom memory i bought that glass car in either in late 1981 or 1982 ,being a late registered 1977 it was barely five years old,
What we forget is the glass GTB's wasn't really well received by Ferrari buyers associating them with Lotus's and kit cars
leaving the racers buying them at bargain prices
Maybe because the steel cars rusted badly and the world of the Ferrari collector who love low volume models
woke up and they suddenly became sort after even giving them a new Italian name, must admit that Vestoresina
sounds a lot sexier tha glass fibre or is it fibre glass ,never known which one is right.
If you did overpay at the time you must be in front by now if you've owned it a while.
. Edited by rat rod on Saturday 20th March 21:11
[/Hi Rat rod I was just joking. You are right they were unappreciated for quite some time. I got mine in 2005 or so and there was negligible premium then - I just wanted the lower weight for racing and the lack of rust on the body.
The peculiar thing about some of the newer stuff is they have not really depreciated as significantly as some of the older stuff did in the past which I struggle to understand. Anyhow I have veered off at a tangent. I still look at the pictures of the Countach and forty plus years after my Top trumps I still think it is the most fantastic car of the time.
a standard car , I suppose it all depends on what a buyer wants,
With four Italian exotics in your garage and they are the ones you told me about, is there more.
i'm sure you can make room for one more ,
The Countach is smaller than it looks .
PS - Just been watching Jack on his "Number 27" You Tube channel, don't know if you have been watching him, He runs a carb 308 GTS
and video's his love ,hate relationship with it,
But tonight he's driving Phil's from QV rally replica 308 GTB, Thought you may enjoy watching it.
Sorry can't link , not tecky and haven't got a clue how to.
Edited by rat rod on Sunday 21st March 00:12
In theory I'm in front on my 308 but the car is quite far from road spec (though still road legal) that it probably has a tiny audience. It is quite happy up to 8,500, or 9k on occasion. Anyhow, not planning to sell it. I did sell my 328 after 22 years just a few weeks ago, so I have a space..... been window shopping as ever.
I don't have my Top Trumps anymore, but I'd absolutely love a Countach, what could be better? I don't want to spoil this thread by going into values, if I debate that I'd start a separate one, so suffice to say it'd be a stretch for me and although I sell cars only rarely I can well see it sticking if I absolutely had to sell.
But it is the most amazing thing and I can't help looking at the ads.....
Martin350 said:
I'm pretty sure that the Countach in my pack of Top Trumps as a toddler is the reason I became obsessed with cars and the Countach in particular!
I still have that pack of Top Trumps.
And for me it is also still the best looking car of all time.
The reference to the Top Trumps reminded me that as a small kid mine had speeds in kph and I used to drive my Mum mad asking her to convert them to mph all the time. I was only about six, though!I still have that pack of Top Trumps.
And for me it is also still the best looking car of all time.
Fessia fancier said:
Thanks Rat Rod for pointing that out, I just watched him driving Phil's rally replica. I quite like that channel covering the 308. In a previous episode when he went to QV I spotted my TR in the background (in for work).
In theory I'm in front on my 308 but the car is quite far from road spec (though still road legal) that it probably has a tiny audience. It is quite happy up to 8,500, or 9k on occasion. Anyhow, not planning to sell it. I did sell my 328 after 22 years just a few weeks ago, so I have a space..... been window shopping as ever.
I don't have my Top Trumps anymore, but I'd absolutely love a Countach, what could be better? I don't want to spoil this thread by going into values, if I debate that I'd start a separate one, so suffice to say it'd be a stretch for me and although I sell cars only rarely I can well see it sticking if I absolutely had to sell.
But it is the most amazing thing and I can't help looking at the ads.....
Selling the 328 must have been a hard thing to do after 22 years unlike others who change their cars regularly, In theory I'm in front on my 308 but the car is quite far from road spec (though still road legal) that it probably has a tiny audience. It is quite happy up to 8,500, or 9k on occasion. Anyhow, not planning to sell it. I did sell my 328 after 22 years just a few weeks ago, so I have a space..... been window shopping as ever.
I don't have my Top Trumps anymore, but I'd absolutely love a Countach, what could be better? I don't want to spoil this thread by going into values, if I debate that I'd start a separate one, so suffice to say it'd be a stretch for me and although I sell cars only rarely I can well see it sticking if I absolutely had to sell.
But it is the most amazing thing and I can't help looking at the ads.....
So your dangerous at the moment freeing up some space and the cash burning a whole in your pocket.
A TR , you kept quiet about that one, what other jems are you hiding away,
When i bought the 430 it was a toss up between that and a silver TA that Rardley Motors was selling , Trying to be practical and
being a later car ( got enough older ones) i thought the 430 would get used more and easier to manoeuvre as our garages are a tight fit ,
The combination of no power steering and the wide rear on the TR would make it a two man job to get it in and out just like
the Countach was , I'm the only one here when my son's out and haven't trained the dogs yet to direct me out the garages .
Not sure if i made the right decision , the TR seemed so much more car for the money, Hay Ho maybe next time round,
Like you i find those adverts are addictive , wish i could stop looking ,it's a disease and i seem to be getting worse with age .
In fact i should be selling not buying as i'm had to garaged two cars a few miles up the road as i've run out of space .
I'll have to watch this space with lock down hopefully finishing soon the temptation may be to much for you..
Edited by rat rod on Monday 22 March 10:51
lazylobster said:
It's never a quick visit to Mike's ;-)
Tea and chat aplenty. Always interesting to see other Countach being worked upon.
Always a feeling of excitement when visiting Mike, even after all these years, Tea and chat aplenty. Always interesting to see other Countach being worked upon.
Love the premises, it's like time stood still which is so rare these days,
It's amazing how he can stop for a chat ,sometimes for hours
Edited by rat rod on Monday 22 March 19:27
rat rod said:
Selling the 328 must have been a hard thing to do after 22 years unlike others who change their cars regularly,
So your dangerous at the moment freeing up some space and the cash burning a whole in your pocket.
A TR , you kept quiet about that one, what other jems are you hiding away,
When i bought the 430 it was a toss up between that and a silver TA that Rardley Motors was selling , Trying to be practical and
being a later car ( got enough older ones) i thought the 430 would get used more and easier to manoeuvre as our garages are a tight fit ,
The combination of no power steering and the wide rear on the TR would make it a two man job to get it in and out just like
the Countach was , I'm the only one here when my son's out and haven't trained the dogs yet to direct me out the garages .
Not sure if i made the right decision , the TR seemed so much more car for the money, Hay Ho maybe next time round,
Like you i find those adverts are addictive , wish i could stop looking ,it's a disease and i seem to be getting worse with age .
In fact i should be selling not buying as i'm had to garaged two cars a few miles up the road as i've run out of space .
I'll have to watch this space with lock down hopefully finishing soon the temptation may be to much for you..
Indeed post 328 I am armed and slightly dangerous, though my armoury looks a bit like going into battle with a peashooter. But I don’t start defeated.So your dangerous at the moment freeing up some space and the cash burning a whole in your pocket.
A TR , you kept quiet about that one, what other jems are you hiding away,
When i bought the 430 it was a toss up between that and a silver TA that Rardley Motors was selling , Trying to be practical and
being a later car ( got enough older ones) i thought the 430 would get used more and easier to manoeuvre as our garages are a tight fit ,
The combination of no power steering and the wide rear on the TR would make it a two man job to get it in and out just like
the Countach was , I'm the only one here when my son's out and haven't trained the dogs yet to direct me out the garages .
Not sure if i made the right decision , the TR seemed so much more car for the money, Hay Ho maybe next time round,
Like you i find those adverts are addictive , wish i could stop looking ,it's a disease and i seem to be getting worse with age .
In fact i should be selling not buying as i'm had to garaged two cars a few miles up the road as i've run out of space .
I'll have to watch this space with lock down hopefully finishing soon the temptation may be to much for you..
Edited by rat rod on Monday 22 March 10:51
I don’t have any other cars beyond my profile, but the TR is certainly a super thing. It is blooming wide though, a narrow garage is a definite problem. I quite like them in silver, or blue (though mine is red).
Fessia fancier said:
Indeed post 328 I am armed and slightly dangerous, though my armoury looks a bit like going into battle with a peashooter. But I don’t start defeated.
I don’t have any other cars beyond my profile, but the TR is certainly a super thing. It is blooming wide though, a narrow garage is a definite problem. I quite like them in silver, or blue (though mine is red).
Ha Ha , very funny, Ye this one at Rardley's looked good in silver and the usual black sills and front spoiler had been colour coded silver which I don’t have any other cars beyond my profile, but the TR is certainly a super thing. It is blooming wide though, a narrow garage is a definite problem. I quite like them in silver, or blue (though mine is red).
some how made it look even sleeker ,also had the mandatory sports exhaust, they had it for ages, should have gone to look at it ,may of had
a better deal than i got at Maranello's. My GTB is silver ,good colour for not showing the dirt and marks.
I'll give it a mouth and your garage will be full again.
rat rod said:
lazylobster said:
It's never a quick visit to Mike's ;-)
Tea and chat aplenty. Always interesting to see other Countach being worked upon.
Always a feeling of excitement when visiting Mike, even after all these years, Tea and chat aplenty. Always interesting to see other Countach being worked upon.
Love the premises, it's like time stood still which is so rare these days,
It's amazing how he can stop for a chat ,sometimes for hours
Edited by rat rod on Monday 22 March 19:27
Had an engine out service late last year, and it came back on the truck with a very reasonable invoice on the driver's seat - he hadn't even asked for payment before sending it back to me...(I obviously paid straight away!).
It's not easy owing a Countach at times, and if Mike ever stopped looking after them, it might even make me rethink the whole thing.
footsoldier said:
Mike has looked after my car since he first inspected it for me, pre-purchase a few years back.
Had an engine out service late last year, and it came back on the truck with a very reasonable invoice on the driver's seat - he hadn't even asked for payment before sending it back to me...(I obviously paid straight away!).
It's not easy owing a Countach at times, and if Mike ever stopped looking after them, it might even make me rethink the whole thing.
Funny you should say that, i made a post sometime ago saying what would we do or go if he retired, Had an engine out service late last year, and it came back on the truck with a very reasonable invoice on the driver's seat - he hadn't even asked for payment before sending it back to me...(I obviously paid straight away!).
It's not easy owing a Countach at times, and if Mike ever stopped looking after them, it might even make me rethink the whole thing.
but health permitting i don't think that is likely, he enjoys it to much, even when busy finds time for his customers who often
end up as friends.
Alone with the premises and the way Mike conducts his business is very much old school in stark contrast to the
largest Ferrari main dealer in the UK who both for buying and service work asked to be paid way before i collected my
car so they could meet their target for that mouth's bonus .
Yet another clinical accountants run dealership.
Edited by rat rod on Tuesday 23 March 02:54
Both correct chaps! Mike is a proper old school garage. No accountants or management to please. He is always a busy bee and has some great cars in the shop. Bits all over the place, compared to the "dealer experience" where everything is so clinical. What I like is that he's not one for doing something just for the sake of doing it. Only if it needs doing. Where others would just see it as an excuse for a cash cow. And he has trust element that Mr. Footsoldier and others have experienced.
I agree, he loves to talk and I suspect this is why it can take a bit longer to get the car back. But I'm cool with this, it's not a daily runner and I'd rather have him look after madam. In fact Daisy would not let anyone else look after her than Mike.
It's also a question I've also asked myself. When Mike kicks it into touch, who will I turn to to look after my car? Hopefully not a question I'll need to answer anytime soon.
I agree, he loves to talk and I suspect this is why it can take a bit longer to get the car back. But I'm cool with this, it's not a daily runner and I'd rather have him look after madam. In fact Daisy would not let anyone else look after her than Mike.
It's also a question I've also asked myself. When Mike kicks it into touch, who will I turn to to look after my car? Hopefully not a question I'll need to answer anytime soon.
Colin Clarke is similar to Mike. And only works on older cars. Recently did a bunch of work on my Jalpa.
Dave at Pangbourne loves working on the older cars too - he’s worked on my Countach. He’s much closer to me than, Mike or Colin. Seems to get parts from the factory quicker sometimes.
Dave at Pangbourne loves working on the older cars too - he’s worked on my Countach. He’s much closer to me than, Mike or Colin. Seems to get parts from the factory quicker sometimes.
rat rod said:
Ha Ha , very funny, Ye this one at Rardley's looked good in silver and the usual black sills and front spoiler had been colour coded silver which
some how made it look even sleeker ,also had the mandatory sports exhaust, they had it for ages, should have gone to look at it ,may of had
a better deal than i got at Maranello's. My GTB is silver ,good colour for not showing the dirt and marks.
I'll give it a mouth and your garage will be full again.
Blimey I'm busted! I'm hoping to extend the month out to at least 32 days in an enormous display of self-control!some how made it look even sleeker ,also had the mandatory sports exhaust, they had it for ages, should have gone to look at it ,may of had
a better deal than i got at Maranello's. My GTB is silver ,good colour for not showing the dirt and marks.
I'll give it a mouth and your garage will be full again.
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