Discussion
'ello there Anni the Rak!
There were never more than 14 or perhaps 15 built - some are ex-UK cars or about to become ex-UK cars, others have been the victim of accidents and all are ridiculously undervalued (imo, which is worthless, according to some).
The hype behind these cars is of such power that many people actively dislike the earlier QV and the later Anniversary, which is just bloody nonsense, (again, just my opinion and again, what do I know).
As you may already realise, actually acquiring an 88.5 spec Countach could be almost as difficult as removing your own appendix especially as there can't be more than 10 left in the country, if anywhere at all
There were never more than 14 or perhaps 15 built - some are ex-UK cars or about to become ex-UK cars, others have been the victim of accidents and all are ridiculously undervalued (imo, which is worthless, according to some).
The hype behind these cars is of such power that many people actively dislike the earlier QV and the later Anniversary, which is just bloody nonsense, (again, just my opinion and again, what do I know).
As you may already realise, actually acquiring an 88.5 spec Countach could be almost as difficult as removing your own appendix especially as there can't be more than 10 left in the country, if anywhere at all
There is a black 88.5 in the same establishment just south of Norwich that I found and indeed purchased my Guara from.
Like most of the owners cars its in pretty damn good order and for the Lambo minded this is the very same establishment that did most of the assembling and finishing work on the Miura Jota recreation, all in all an interesting establishment.
Vario-Rob said:
There is a black 88.5 in the same establishment just south of Norwich that I found and indeed purchased my Guara from.
Like most of the owners cars its in pretty damn good order and for the Lambo minded this is the very same establishment that did most of the assembling and finishing work on the Miura Jota recreation, all in all an interesting establishment.
having been privileged to witness the creation of the glorious, magnificent, mighty 10 TA (via a good number of phone calls with the owner and some photos, which I'm sure I've still got somewhere!) over many a year, that company have far too small a reputation for the fantastic quality of the work they do... but then, that's undoubtedly what keeps them so good... Like most of the owners cars its in pretty damn good order and for the Lambo minded this is the very same establishment that did most of the assembling and finishing work on the Miura Jota recreation, all in all an interesting establishment.
black 88.5 Edited by XXVIII on Tuesday 3rd July 20:43
XXVIII said:
Vario-Rob said:
There is a black 88.5 in the same establishment just south of Norwich that I found and indeed purchased my Guara from.
Like most of the owners cars its in pretty damn good order and for the Lambo minded this is the very same establishment that did most of the assembling and finishing work on the Miura Jota recreation, all in all an interesting establishment.
having been privileged to witness the creation of the glorious, magnificent, mighty 10 TA (via a good number of phone calls with the owner and some photos, which I'm sure I've still got somewhere!) over many a year, that company have far too small a reputation for the fantastic quality of the work they do... but then, that's undoubtedly what keeps them so good... Like most of the owners cars its in pretty damn good order and for the Lambo minded this is the very same establishment that did most of the assembling and finishing work on the Miura Jota recreation, all in all an interesting establishment.
black 88.5 Edited by XXVIII on Tuesday 3rd July 20:43
His recounting of a meeting with Bob Wallace made me chuckle, apparently when he asked bob Wallace to build an exact replica of the engine used on the original Jota he suggested “It was c--p then and it would be even worse now, what the hell do you want to that for?” or words to that affect anyway.
Recently I asked him whether he fancied doing ‘Son of 10 TA’ in the form of a recreation of the Urraco ‘Bob’, a wry smile crept across his face. Something to have a proper look at once the current projects are completed I think
Actually on my last visit he was putting some HID lights into the 88.5 after having equipped the beastie with power steering so I suspect it will be getting some proper use shortly
I heard tell of a man that lived in North London in the Eighties that used to export quite a lot of them. I was told by someone who sold him a 5000 and there were 5 others outside his house and they were all going overseas. I think this would have been about 1985 so there may not be as many as we think locked away! I'm not sure where they all went though!!
Sorry for this slow response!
Countachman: I really don't have a clue how many Countachs of any sort there are in the UK!
Despite the amount of 'traffic' of them sales-wise, all I know is that a large number of them are bought and sold within a market that's practically invisible and many leave and enter the UK over any given amount of time. For example, an Anniversary has just come on the market that's in desperate need of (candy apple rosso metallic) paint, a bloody good service and tyres but that's been mostly invisible for some years now and another LP400 has just arrived from South Africa as well as many another movements of one sort or another.
BUT, according to my (slightly out-of date) Club database, there are at least 45 of them within LCUK at the moment - nobody owns more than 2 of them and they are mostly red!
If I had absolutely nothing else to do, I could tell you how many of any particular Lamborghini there is within the Club (ie, 3 Jarama's - all S's, for example) but now I have to do some
w o r k
Countachman: I really don't have a clue how many Countachs of any sort there are in the UK!
Despite the amount of 'traffic' of them sales-wise, all I know is that a large number of them are bought and sold within a market that's practically invisible and many leave and enter the UK over any given amount of time. For example, an Anniversary has just come on the market that's in desperate need of (candy apple rosso metallic) paint, a bloody good service and tyres but that's been mostly invisible for some years now and another LP400 has just arrived from South Africa as well as many another movements of one sort or another.
BUT, according to my (slightly out-of date) Club database, there are at least 45 of them within LCUK at the moment - nobody owns more than 2 of them and they are mostly red!
If I had absolutely nothing else to do, I could tell you how many of any particular Lamborghini there is within the Club (ie, 3 Jarama's - all S's, for example) but now I have to do some
w o r k
I reckoned there were 200. If you think that nearly 2000 were made, and the UK market accounts for a fair proportion of worldwide Lamborghini sales after the USA, then 10% wouldn't be an unreasonable assumption, even allowing for those that may have been subsequently exported.
You also have to remember that there are quite a few Lamborghini owners who are not members of LCUK (shame on them). Given that LCUK has approx. 250 members (not all resident in the UK), what proportion do LCUK cars represent of all those present in the UK? If there are 45 Countaches within LCUK, it's reasonable to assume that there are at least double that number, probably more, belonging to non-members.
You also have to remember that there are quite a few Lamborghini owners who are not members of LCUK (shame on them). Given that LCUK has approx. 250 members (not all resident in the UK), what proportion do LCUK cars represent of all those present in the UK? If there are 45 Countaches within LCUK, it's reasonable to assume that there are at least double that number, probably more, belonging to non-members.
Edited by Lambochick on Wednesday 4th July 22:13
XXVIII said:
The hype behind these cars is of such power that many people actively dislike the earlier QV and the later Anniversary, which is just bloody nonsense,
why is that? the Anniversary I can understand as IMVHO the bodykit is naff and ruins the shape but my dream Countach would be a black 87, ie before the side strakes were addedwere there other improvements on the 88.5? My distant memory recalls a car mag that reviewed a 88.5 and saying they had improved a few details like aircon etc.
Fast Lane? / Performance Car? V12 special reviewing the 88.5 (a metallic dk grey car - loooked lovely) belonging to a biker who previously had a black Countach that had done proper high miles but then been vandalised.
Vario-Rob said:
Recently I asked him whether he fancied doing ‘Son of 10 TA’ in the form of a recreation of the Urraco ‘Bob’, a wry smile crept across his face. Something to have a proper look at once the current projects are completed I think
I'd had a similar thought, a while back. The main difference between the Jota and Urraco Bob, was that the Jota was damaged and burned. Whereas the Urraco Bob, is supposed to still exist. Last I heard it was in a private collection in Japan.Or am I out of date?
The 'approximately 10% of Lamborghini production' rule probably applies - as ever!
The UK has historically been where 1 in 10 of all the Lamborghini cars ever made has been - some years slightly less a %age, some years more, but as a rek' o' th'ee, it's accurate enough.
I sometimes wonder how much the 'known' amounts of any given car actually maps against the true situation???? Mind you, there are always the 'barn finds' in the world - long may they continue to collect dust and await the 'miracle' of (re-)discovery!!!
We really, really should try and get a proper authority involved, on the LCUK forum at least. A lot of LCUK people will know the guy's name, he's just retired to Spain and probably has a good amount of time on his hands to give near infallible information on all kinds of Lamborghini - not that he'd want me to build him up too much!
Whilst his thoughts on some of the cars may not be too well received by anybody who thinks they know better, he worked with the various official and semi-official UK concessionaires from the very early 1970's until the recent 00's and is hugely knowledgeable and is, of course, Derek Hopkins.
No less a luminary than Ubaldo Sgarzi said of Del that, "he was one of the best mechanics and engineers Lamborghini ever had" and I'm sure there are a great number of people who would confirm that to be the case!
The UK has historically been where 1 in 10 of all the Lamborghini cars ever made has been - some years slightly less a %age, some years more, but as a rek' o' th'ee, it's accurate enough.
I sometimes wonder how much the 'known' amounts of any given car actually maps against the true situation???? Mind you, there are always the 'barn finds' in the world - long may they continue to collect dust and await the 'miracle' of (re-)discovery!!!
We really, really should try and get a proper authority involved, on the LCUK forum at least. A lot of LCUK people will know the guy's name, he's just retired to Spain and probably has a good amount of time on his hands to give near infallible information on all kinds of Lamborghini - not that he'd want me to build him up too much!
Whilst his thoughts on some of the cars may not be too well received by anybody who thinks they know better, he worked with the various official and semi-official UK concessionaires from the very early 1970's until the recent 00's and is hugely knowledgeable and is, of course, Derek Hopkins.
No less a luminary than Ubaldo Sgarzi said of Del that, "he was one of the best mechanics and engineers Lamborghini ever had" and I'm sure there are a great number of people who would confirm that to be the case!
Adam: there are big differences in spec. of the pre 88.5 cars and the 88.5 spec. - more engine power being one of them, I believe! The same power increase applies to the Anniversary and the idea that the extra grammes of a few electric motors for the windows and seats dints that performance advantage from pre 88.5 psec to 88.5 spec. is, imo, utter wodscollop.
Simon: Urraco Bob, if it's anywhere in Japan, will almost certainly be part of the collection of Mr. Isao Noritake, the president of the Japanese Lamborghini Owners Club (JLOC). Mr. Noritake is very 'acquisitional' and likes all Lamborghini cars, rare or not-so rare!
Simon: Urraco Bob, if it's anywhere in Japan, will almost certainly be part of the collection of Mr. Isao Noritake, the president of the Japanese Lamborghini Owners Club (JLOC). Mr. Noritake is very 'acquisitional' and likes all Lamborghini cars, rare or not-so rare!
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