Fantasy Junction

Description

1985 Lamborghini Countach 5000S
s/n ZA9C00500FLA12740, engine no. 12740
White with Beige Interior

There is perhaps no more widely recognizable or iconic car than the Lamborghini Countach. Much has been written about the car, sometimes positive, sometimes negative, but the one thing that is impossible to do is ignore it. Developed as a successor to the remarkable and stunning Miura, the Countach created an equally large, if not larger stir when first introduced. The idea that such a totally futuristic and over the top car could possibly be intended for production was inconceivable, but in Lamborghini’s tradition, the car was readied for production largely unaltered. The car was produced for about 15 years in various forms, with later cars gaining fuel-injection and aesthetically intrusive US bumpers which dulled performance. Although they were ignored by collectors for decades, they have recently emerged as highly collectible cars thanks to their tremendous cultural significance as a genuine 1980s icon. Certainly there are few cars that are more instantly recognizable or have spent as much time on the bedroom walls as the Countach.

This particular car was imported to the US many years ago, and has a DOT federalization plate as well as an old style California BAR sticker suggesting that the car has been in California for decades. The car’s most recent owner purchased it from a dealer in Southern California in 2013 and spent over $30,000 on mechanical work including engine out service, complete engine overhaul, and new clutch. The work was done by Italian car specialist FastCars Limited.

The car is cosmetically attractive with a nice quality repaint that remains in excellent condition overall, with a few small surface blemishes including a handful of chips, some surface cracks, and two small scratches below the left front turn signal. The body is straight, the paint glossy, and the panel fit is consistent with how these cars were originally delivered. The trim is excellent throughout, as are the wheels. The glass and lights are also in excellent shape overall, with only a few light marks on the front windscreen. The car has Carello fog lamps.

The interior is in excellent shape and appears to have been completely retrimmed. The leather on the dashboard, seats, center console, sills, and door panels is in excellent shape and has the appropriate fresh leather smell. The carpets are also excellent. The original instruments, switches, and controls are in excellent shape and the air conditioning blows ice cold. There is some puckering to the leather on the shift knob. There are a few cracks on the steering wheel leather but it is in very good condition overall.

The engine compartment shows much evidence of the recent work. The engine itself is spotless, with excellent presentation of the valve covers, carburetors, and other components. The brackets have been replaced and while certain ancillaries were not restored, the overall presentation is not far off that of a show car. The trunk appears to be unrestored and the carpet shows some aging in a couple places. The trimmed panel on the rear trunk wall is not currently installed but is included with the car. The front compartment looks as it should with nice black paint and no obvious evidence of accident damage. The undercarriage presents similarly with a nice honest and solid presentation with no evidence of accidents or corrosion.

The car runs and drives well. Certainly these cars have reputations for being difficult to drive, but they are actually relatively straightforward to use. The motor is well-tuned and tractable, and a recent compression check reveals it is in excellent health, with 135-140 psi and 3% leakdown on all 12 cylinders. It sounds great and the car is equipped with a stainless steel exhaust system. The gearbox shifts well, with good synchromesh. The clutch is heavy but progressive, and is no worse than that of a contemporary Boxer. The brakes have good bite and are effective, while the suspension controls the car well, with sure-footed handling and good body control thanks to the wide stance, low center of gravity, and huge contact patches. The car’s control inputs lighten considerably at speed, and the car really starts to come into its own.

This is an excellent opportunity to acquire a great driving high end driver level carbureted Countach. Finished in an evocative and period-appropriate color and no wing, the car has a stunning presence. It has been the recent recipient of extensive mechanical work and has also had cosmetic freshening to bring it to its current condition. A fundamentally sound and unmolested example, this car is an ideal example with which to enjoy the truly unparalleled Countach experience. Certainly the marketplace has finally awoken to the exceptional significance of the Countach and their continued appreciation is a testament to this.

The above vehicle information is complete and accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time it is posted to this website. Corrections or additional information is always appreciated. All advertised prices exclude government fees and taxes, any finance charges, any dealer document preparation charge, and any emission testing charge. Vehicles are subject to prior sale. All advertised to be true but not guaranteed. We assume no liability for errors or omissions.

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Fantasy Junction  •  510-653-7555  •  1145 Park Ave, Emeryville, CA 94608