Countach LP400 & Valentino Balboni

Well you lucky guy, this is not a early LP400, this is the first LP400 ever produced, I found this car in 2000 and informed Vale that the factory should buy the car back after it was sold in 1974 to Switzerland.

 

Gentlemen, this is 1120008.

Raymond, check the doors. Its not your car....

 

yes . it is not the prototype. It was the said 1st supplied thou. I am sure Raymond knows this if he spends 30 secs with the pictures. The windows is the abvious giveaway. That is the car that was for sale at the same period for the "stagerring" amoount of $175K... I recall the horror displayed on the boards at the "outrageous" price..

Car left the country in 2006 to go where Valentino drove it.

Still a unique example...

 

Oh shame, it was very early this morning when I looked at these pictures :-(

 

Although i prefer the "S", this green LP400 is really great.
Excellent pictures, great event: thanks for posting.

ciao

 

Cris:

Yes, all the silver trim on this car should be black.

Here is a picture of 1120008 taken in 1974 when being tested by English journalist Doug Blain for CAR magazine near the Sant Agata factory.

As you can see, it has standard satin black window trim and bumpers. So, this car should not have the silver trim. The funny thing is that the Prototipo in the Museo is the exact opposite! It SHOULD have the silver front bumper, but instead it remains black.....

Hope this helps.
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Another pic of 1120008 in 1974 when being tested by Doug Blain. You can just about make out the PROVA.BO.328 plate...
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Another frontal shot of 1120008 in 1974 showing trim
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Ditto
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The resultant article in CAR magazine with Doug Blain behind the wheel.

Note aluminum shift gate, per a few early cars.

It was the first Countach properly tested, but, no, it wasn't the first off the 'line or the first delivered.
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i liked it more as it was born (black trim ecc)
i think this car trim, bumper... were painted silver since they looked cool on the proto,
i would not go that far to say it was purposely made that way to pretend it is that car because any countach guy know the proto is at factory museum

it is a sort of "proto" tribute, as the lime green LP400 in Japan (that has now a replica of the LP400 proto unique front bumper)

 

I would.

The silver trim was done by a gentleman who owned it in the early 90s long before Raymond discovered the whereabouts of the Prototipo. Yes, he tried to pass this off as the "First" LP400.

Unfortunately, the Supercars we love attract a lot of unethical people & worse.

I agree it looks cool, but its not original.

 

eh...what? According to my humble memories it was me who brokered the car to its current owner Mr. M.S. in Argentina!

 

Independly from the others comments, the 1st Countach couldn't be at Techno Classica Essen untill sunday night and at the same time in Argentina....

 

Nicht genug Kaffee heute Morgen.

 

I have a reprint of this article in a book, but all in B&W...sadly.

 

Correct!!
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There are much differences between these cars i have seen, the rearlights, dashboard, windows in door, brown leather in the museo car and many other small details.