Forgive me for I have sinned
Discussion
After the cannonball thread where I posted some of the info I remember on the history of the countach replica, I thought I'd spill the beans. I built 3 in the mid 90s straight after uni. Here is two of them.
Go easy on me.;) I was proud of them at the time. Well over ten years ago. I was a young impetuous fool (now just a fool) with very little dosh. Tried to get them spot on. One is a koenig style countach by GB racing with a Jag V12, the other a Conan 88 1/2 QV. I bought a real anniversary H2 HOT after the 3rd rep.
Amari has the genuine car for sale that the first one I had (bottom left) was modelled on. The other pics, my 3rd car was modelled on the famous Koenig poster many had including myself.
Bracing myself.
Go easy on me.;) I was proud of them at the time. Well over ten years ago. I was a young impetuous fool (now just a fool) with very little dosh. Tried to get them spot on. One is a koenig style countach by GB racing with a Jag V12, the other a Conan 88 1/2 QV. I bought a real anniversary H2 HOT after the 3rd rep.
Amari has the genuine car for sale that the first one I had (bottom left) was modelled on. The other pics, my 3rd car was modelled on the famous Koenig poster many had including myself.
Bracing myself.
diablo_pete said:
After the cannonball thread where I posted some of the info I remember on the history of the countach replica, I thought I'd spill the beans. I built 3 in the mid 90s straight after uni. Here is two of them.
Bracing myself.
Not at all Pete, dont need to brace your self. When ever i see a Countach i can never tell if i am looking at a replica/kit or a real one. Its what they always remind me of when ever i see one, kitcar/replicas Bracing myself.
I will brace my self as well i have always liked one of these, but i dont have the 100K or can afford to run it, however where is the best place to get a replica? As stated above, i wouldnt be able to really tell much difference. I think its one replica that is just spot on, rather than some dodgy MR2 355's I have seen. 
Firstly very nice work and I would never be embarrassed to own a copy esp. if it were built exactly and better all around than the original. I was looking at these many moons ago before heading down the Lotus path but figured I would get one of these Countess Mouldings Ltd jobbies later on when funds allowed me to. This is worth a read http://www.countess.co.nz/index2.html I would have one of these in a flash, modern electrics and engine management for easy DIY tuning and nice range of V8s to choose from that would fit and still sound tops!. Better handling too. All SS fixings and quality parts.
I think the rubbish ones that stand out for me, is where people cut corners on the cost, put small engines in them, rubbish interior fit out, body join lines and doors fitted poor etc, which gives any replica a bad name. So get this right and you could have the perfect supercar IMO. I love how white shows off the shape the best but then theres yellow, purple, orange, blue, silver how could you choose the colour, that would be toughest part!
I think the rubbish ones that stand out for me, is where people cut corners on the cost, put small engines in them, rubbish interior fit out, body join lines and doors fitted poor etc, which gives any replica a bad name. So get this right and you could have the perfect supercar IMO. I love how white shows off the shape the best but then theres yellow, purple, orange, blue, silver how could you choose the colour, that would be toughest part!
My last rep fooled some real countach owners at a Carrera Sport day one year so it was very convincing. Many were let down by the interiors. Most never installed opening windows or the correct dash layout, switches, clocks, gear gate etc.
The rear exhaust box needed to be shaped to cover the gearbox. That used to be the real telling point, if you could see the gearbox hanging out the back.
I sold the last one for 28K in the 1990s and got a real one for 42 at the time. At that time, good reps made quite good money due to rarity. Fun times, the challenge was also part of it.
These days I have no knowledge of the kit car market so couldn't advise where to go. Think there are lambo rep web sites though. Also Prova and Mirage are probably still around? They used to deal in after market cars.
The rear exhaust box needed to be shaped to cover the gearbox. That used to be the real telling point, if you could see the gearbox hanging out the back.
I sold the last one for 28K in the 1990s and got a real one for 42 at the time. At that time, good reps made quite good money due to rarity. Fun times, the challenge was also part of it.
These days I have no knowledge of the kit car market so couldn't advise where to go. Think there are lambo rep web sites though. Also Prova and Mirage are probably still around? They used to deal in after market cars.
burriana said:
Prova have been going for years! I used to work for the publishers of Kit Car Mag many moons ago.
Those look pretty good reps to me Pete and you're right, it is always the interiors that let them down. On your interior pic I would not know it was fake.
Yeah I used to collect that magazine from an early age. Prova were by far not the first rep maker, but the first really professional outfit along with mirage.Those look pretty good reps to me Pete and you're right, it is always the interiors that let them down. On your interior pic I would not know it was fake.
Thanks for the compliment. At the time, it was a labour of love. In many ways more satisfying at that time than owning the real thing. Guess the hobby side of it and the challenge was enjoyable. Don't have that energy anymore though
my best mate used to build them in the 90s (early) also, a guy set up after the company he owned (GTD developments in Poole, well known for GT40 replicas) went bust.
They did a few convertible versions too (think they called it the Monte Carlo), all were much better built than the originals
had more power in some of them to.
Loving the pictures, white n white looks ubber
They did a few convertible versions too (think they called it the Monte Carlo), all were much better built than the originals
had more power in some of them to.Loving the pictures, white n white looks ubber
Edited by Pvapour on Saturday 21st February 08:52
Edited by Pvapour on Saturday 21st February 08:52
whenever I've seen 'fakes' they tend to be one of two kinds...
a) rubbish efforts that make me think, "why do some people bother, they're fooling nobody but themselves..."
or
b) well done efforts that make me think "great work, why can't they build a great car that doesn't look like something it's not instead?"
and at least your kitcars look well made based on these diddy pictures!
Which Goodwood meeting did you go to with one and did you take a check on who was actually fooled...
a) rubbish efforts that make me think, "why do some people bother, they're fooling nobody but themselves..."
or
b) well done efforts that make me think "great work, why can't they build a great car that doesn't look like something it's not instead?"
and at least your kitcars look well made based on these diddy pictures!
Which Goodwood meeting did you go to with one and did you take a check on who was actually fooled...
Not at all Pete, dont need to brace your self. When ever i see a Countach i can never tell if i am looking at a replica/kit or a real one. Its what they always remind me of when ever i see one, kitcar/replicas I will brace my self as well
[/quote]
I kind of know what you mean. Many years ago, a friend of mine bought a "Ferrari" and visited me at a relatives parking on a hill nearby because it wouldn't always start. Great excitement as we weren't that old and he was very proud of his, I think, Dino look-a-like. The exposed fibreglass interior was a bit of a disappointment and the racing seats looked a bit odd. What really made me cringe was when the Beetle engine roared into life.
I'm not anti kit car, but that definitely dimmed any enthusiasm I had..scarred for life....
I will brace my self as well [/quote]
I kind of know what you mean. Many years ago, a friend of mine bought a "Ferrari" and visited me at a relatives parking on a hill nearby because it wouldn't always start. Great excitement as we weren't that old and he was very proud of his, I think, Dino look-a-like. The exposed fibreglass interior was a bit of a disappointment and the racing seats looked a bit odd. What really made me cringe was when the Beetle engine roared into life.
I'm not anti kit car, but that definitely dimmed any enthusiasm I had..scarred for life....
Pete out of interest did the replicas use the same windscreens as the originals?
The reason I ask is that I understand the origial screens are hard to get hold of and cost a bl00dy fortune. It would seem to be a pretty expensive part to use an original scren on a replica and if it was a different screen would be a pretty good give away.
The reason I ask is that I understand the origial screens are hard to get hold of and cost a bl00dy fortune. It would seem to be a pretty expensive part to use an original scren on a replica and if it was a different screen would be a pretty good give away.
lol Davey S2 said:
Pete out of interest did the replicas use the same windscreens as the originals?
The reason I ask is that I understand the origial screens are hard to get hold of and cost a bl00dy fortune. It would seem to be a pretty expensive part to use an original scren on a replica and if it was a different screen would be a pretty good give away.
They were replica screens but just like the original and curved including the sun strip. In fact there was 2 version, as some cars had wider windscreen pillars than others (another tale tell for some reps). Was the main difference between the Mk I and Mk 2 Mirage.The reason I ask is that I understand the origial screens are hard to get hold of and cost a bl00dy fortune. It would seem to be a pretty expensive part to use an original scren on a replica and if it was a different screen would be a pretty good give away.
Pete
paulqv said:
Pete
are all the pics of a fake?
The interior shop looks so convincing I couldnt tell it apart from my real one! Possibly I am driving a replica?? Or possibly you are taking the piss! lol
Paul xxx
hi Paul. Yes all fakes. Had another rep not in picture too. I wanted to get them spot on inside and out. Glad you appreciate my efforts. Enjoyed it so much at the time. My cars looked spot on from the rear too which was the main way to tell.;)are all the pics of a fake?
The interior shop looks so convincing I couldnt tell it apart from my real one! Possibly I am driving a replica?? Or possibly you are taking the piss! lol
Paul xxx
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