South African Urracos

[slurpysi]

Hello,

I read somewhere that a few Lamborghini Urracos were assembled in South Africa during the 1970's - is this true, and if so would these cars be worth the same as Italian built examples ?

Any ideas

[XXVIII]

At that time many Lamborghinis, (probably any high-end cars as well come to that, I guess), would be built, disassembled, repacked in different containers, sent from different ports or airports to South Africa where they would not have attracted too much import duty and would probably count only as 'spare parts'...

Certainly, the then RSA importer of Lamborghinis would collect those 'spare parts' and then reassemble them into a Lamborghini which could then be newly registered as a South African built vehicle... the wonders of 'escape the extortionate import duty bills' workarounds!

In all honesty, they may not be considered as valuable as an EU registered car that never left Europe but, given the cars I've seen, one gorgeous Countach LP400 in particular, that would be like saying,

"it's not as valuable because it hasn't rusted, hasn't had sketchy repairs done by a horde of dodgy cowboys and hasn't had a massively expensive rebuild done..."

which is, clearly, nonsense...

If you've seen a Urraco like that and it's here in the UK, then it is certainly in good nick as far as I can tell - this would be the P300 near Derry, I presume??????

Edited by XXVIII on Thursday 15th January 13:43

[slurpysi]

Thanks - yes, that is the one. It looks good but no history, shame viewing is a little difficult !

[XXVIII]

In an ideal world, I might say that Mrs XXVIII is heading over to Norn' I'ron next weekend and I could just jump on the plane to Derry airport and go and check the car out for you...

Sadly, that ideal world is slightly out-of-kilter... she is off to see her folks as her dad is quite poorly, I'm not though for reasons not unlinked to needing to get a certain Club's magazine printed as soon as possible...

You could try asking the chap who's selling the car for more information, mentioning that you have some links with LCUK might help... well, here is your link now at least (!) and that you might be able to travel to see it soon... (RyanAir fly direct to Derry City airport from Liverpool for about £sod-all... although I do know that's still not too convenient for you...)

Be a shame not to get the car now it's in the northern hemisphere - I'm quietly sure it won't be at all bad!! 3 litre Urracos are the mutts nutts, believe me!

[urraco]

Are we talking about a gold car, imported about 5 years ago?

If so, I have seen it and driven it - it was one of the ones I looked at before I bought mine.

david s

Edited by urraco on Friday 16th January 22:35

[XXVIII]

It's this one David:


http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/832065.htm


it's over in NI, it's also on another website where it's RSA-built status is more obviously seen...

Although it could be the gold coloured car you mention with new paint, which would be a pity - the original colour is the best colour eh?

[orangeLP400]

DP is right but not quite....as South Africa wanted to protect its local car manufactuing industry ( BMW,UK RHD cars built there, and Ford, GM,MB,Nissan, Toyota, Alfa, etc) it imposed in the sixties severe import duties and even now the import duty in total is about 70% of value, BUT it wanted to encourage the manufacture of vehicles in the coutry so allowed vehicles to have a far reduced import tax PROVIDED they were "built" in SA and used some locally sourced components to help local industries ... now as many componets of cars built in SA over decades have some imported parts about maybe 10 or so Lamborghinis were imported in whats called "knocked down" form and some local parts were used...the cars built were 2 Countachs and a few Espadas and Urracos...this was completly legit and with the governments OK but the venture did not last i think because the cars arrived almost complete and i think only the engine was installed and the only locally sourced parts were the seat belts!!! So i think the compnay responsible may have taken a progressive view of the regulations and intentions....i know that both Countachs came to the UK, one in the '80s and one 2 years ago....i know at least 3 urracos came here and i know of 2 espadas, one now lives in Edinbough.... as for value it depends...cars from South Africa are generaly in far better condition than those that have been here as the climate is far dryer and cars just dont rust....but there are areas of SA which are humid and sub tropical such as Kwa-Zulu Natal and Durban in particular that would have rusted just as badly as here if not worse....but with no snow and no ice and little rain and low humidity and no salt, in most of SA the body work/chassis and electrics and interior ( the hot sun and high UV can wreck interiors and things like dashtops if exposed and dries out and cracks leather for instance) if the car is kept in a garage, can last almost indefinitly.....in general i would think an ex-SA car is likly to be in better condition than local ones as less chassis and bodywork needs or requires attention...what u do not get is as much history, as in SA if u buy a car new and keep it , it never needs an MOT so there is no official record of history , work done or milage ...SA is RHD too but the speedo is normally in kilometres....stephen

[XXVIII]

y'see - sometimes a little information is not enough - at least when the founder of the Lamborghini club in South Africa is at hand to clear up the matter, the issue can be cleared up for all - thanks Stephen!

I have a Photobucket account now and when I learn how to make it work with PistonHeads, I could upload the pix I took of your orange wonder, if you wish!!

Edited by XXVIII on Saturday 17th January 19:15

[orangeLP400]

XXVIII said:

y'see - sometimes a little information is not enough - at least when the founder of the Lamborghini club in South Africa is at hand to clear up the matter, the issue can be cleared up for all - thanks Stephen!

I have a Photobucket account now and when I learn how to make it work with PistonHeads, I could upload the pix I took of your orange wonder, if you wish!!

Edited by XXVIII on Saturday 17th January 19:15

Aaaaah DP, u know i can never get enough sightings/photos/pics of the orange wonder....my car was parked next to my office desk in a specially built room for many years so i stared at it for most of my working day, ( and also a few times at night with a cigi and whiskey as i worked from home) and i have never got tired of it...very sad i know, but i still have to pinch myself that i am lucky enough to own something of such significance and presence and i dream of the day when i have a lime green Muira too! Note to myself, do lotto, s

[XXVIII]

experimental attempt to post a picture of something orange from Italy via South Africa, seen here in Lancashire tho' the car lives in Yorkshire!!



further pictures of this wonderful car in their own thread soon!!!