It’s all too easy to think everything was better in the old days. Because that was when we knew, cared, and worried a whole lot less, so everything was rosier. But while it is true that some things really have gotten better over the years, we can all agree that there’s one aspect of being a car nerd that’s got a whole lot worse: motorsport liveries are crap.
When budgets were bigger and rules laxer, one or two sponsors could dominate and create simple, beautiful racing cars. Nowadays, when there needs to be an official beer, an official coffee, an official printer and an official sock (probably), racing cars resemble subways daubed in graffiti, everyone determined to leave their mark. Most of them are a right mess. And with pretty much every motorsport faster than ever, there’s less chance to see what you’re being marketed anyway.
Look at this 1990 Formula 1 car as proof. Back when everyone smoked (or so it seems), of course it made sense for Camel to sponsor the Lotus F1 team. There is an assortment of suppliers also alongside the driver, but there’s no doubt who’s the main sponsor here. The blue graphics look as good against the Lotus yellow as they ever have. But it’s a whole lot more interesting than just a great livery. Because this is a Type 102, the only Lotus F1 car ever to be powered by a V12. A Lamborghini V12, no less. And, fresh from Polo Storico restoration, it’s being sold as a pair with the only RHD Countach QV ever painted in yellow. Which also gets the Camel camo. Usually, road cars with race car graphics tend to look a bit naff; it’ll come as no surprise to find that the Camel Countach may well be the exception.
The Grand Prix car is Lotus Type 102 #2. It competed in 37 races during the early '90s, with drivers including Johnny Herbert, Derek Warwick and Martin Donnelly. It wasn’t actually tremendously good, with a best finish of eighth, but as a classic racer it offers up that iconic V12 sound and a manual gearbox. With turbos prior to this and V8s and V10s after, 102/2 offers a rare opportunity to experience a pretty magical F1 era without needing an entire pit crew in tow.
And it’s a movie star, having appeared with Brad Pitt in the recent F1 movie - just in case a Lamborghini-engined Lotus F1 car couldn’t be any cooler. Maintained and run by the selling dealer (who can also provide race support), it’s the kind of motorsport sale dreams are made of.
Especially with a bloomin' Countach to go alongside. Imagine turning up to a historic F1 event, to race your Lotus Type 102, in a Countach 5000QV. Now, for someone, that could be a possibility (though it might be slightly harder work to drive a Countach than an old F1 car - just imagine the fuel bill.) This Countach is a 1985 example, with chassis FLA12848 delivered new to Cornwall. Giallo over Naturale is the original spec, and this QV featured in both Autocar (against a superbike, obvs) and Chris Bennet’s book, ‘Lamborghini Countach’.
Having been in storage since the mid-'00s, it was bought by the dealer now selling it. They’ve recommissioned it mechanically, resprayed the wonderful yellow paint, and outfitted it with the Camel tribute. It’s all reversible for those who prefer factory spec, complete with original wheels, but surely those contemplating ownership of the so-called Camel Collection would be tempted to go all in. This is still a yellow Lamborghini Countach, of course, with the wing - it’s not going to go unnoticed, camels or not.
Heaven knows what buying the pair will cost; these days a Countach on its own is half a million and upwards. A Lamborghini-engined F1 car, with actual competition provenance and a recent factory restoration, surely isn’t going to be any less. There could be a fun game in seeing which V12 costs more to keep on top of going forward. For Lamborghini lovers the world over, the Camel Collection is surely an unrepeatable chance, with a unique example of perhaps its most famous supercar on sale alongside a fascinating bit of its motorsport history. And a livery that’s always, always going to be brilliant.
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