i know they are all great....
but what is in your opinion the better countach to buy ?

i think early lp400 and Qv are the nicest and probably the better investment
but i'm not sure about it, so i would like to have some opinions

A completely private choice really. I love my 84 LP500S but I am sure the 4v cars are quicker but I think they ruined the lines when they added skirts.

Just my 4 pennys worth

Terry, the side skirts came on the 1988,5 QV just before the Anniversary came into production.

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RaymondQV
Countach QV Ex-Mimran #GLA12997, Urraco P300 #20530 sold in August 2008, Jalpa #FLA12203 sold in May 2006
www.countach.ch
www.jalpa.ch

When Frank Sinatra got his Miura S in 1970, he said: “If you wanna be someone, buy Ferrari - If you are someone, you own a Lamborghini”.

Hi Raymond, yes I knew that, I think the 85 4V non skirted version would be the most popular, however I still love my baby

Emilio,

When I was in the market (in Italy) for my Countach 5 years ago I was undecided between the LP400 or the QV downdraft 4 valve (although the level of finish is probably better for the 25th it always seemed too refined for a Countach, moreover all the fiberglass additions seem added on rather than belonging). An LP400 Countach was difficult to find for sale - I actually found only one. a light blue one that had suffered a small electrical fire and was not running.

At the end I opted for the QV downdraft. It has been a great car – extremely reliable. I carried out preventive maintenance (such as brake callipers, brake lines rubber seals for the master cylinders, fuel lines, plugs, filters, oils etc) as soon as I bought it and have no significant issues since.

In choosing a QV you can take into consideration some differences:

·Wing or no wing.

·The second most obvious difference is the injection or carburated version. The carburated engine has milder overhead cams, and other small engine components are also different – as the engine cover. Rated HP is 455 for the downdraft and 420 HP for the injected version.

·Bumpers, OK, the USA version have those rubber boxes – Lamborghini should offer a reward to all owners that remove them – some cars have the small rear bumper around the tail lights. Mine has no rear bumper what-so-ever.

·USA version had side markers

·Some downdrafts are set up for leaded fuel while others are set up for unleaded (with or without catalectic converter). The Italian cars were without the catalectic converter. All the Injected cars are with catalectic converter??

·The 1986 model year onwards has the ZF transmission while the first QV cars still had the Lamborghini transmission

·With model year 87 (after Sept. '86) the dash layout is different - has air outlets on the side (probably a welcomed addition) - mine is one of the last 1986 MY.

·With model year ’87 the downdraft engine cover changes, it no longer has the cooling ducts on the sides of the Kevlar engine cover.

·Some QV cars had the lighter Kevlar front hood and possibly the injected cars had the aluminium hood????

·From MY 1987 the electrical relay box was moved to the rear trunk compartment. I have read that many MY '87 and up owners have had problems with the radiator replays in the trunk. Also the layout of components in the front compartment (near the spare tire are different, water bottle, fan blower, etc.

·The last lot of QV cars had the side skirts, I personally think that the rounded under-body is one of the best design features of the Countach.

·The 88.5 model years has the 25th climate control electronics.

Can’t think of any other differences – am sure Raymond can come up with at least 10 more!

Alex
GLA12988

My 04/86 US FI car has an original front hood made of kevlar!

__________________
Cheers,

Bjoern

anybody out there with a QV with an aluminum front hood? Is the FI engine cover in composite material also?

At least my 04/86 US FI car also has an original engine cover made of kevlar!

__________________
Cheers,

Bjoern

Alex,
Are you sure about the cams, I always tought it was the opposite!
Secondly, from what QV chass.number did they start using the ZF?
From 1. January 1986 or 1. Sept. 1985?

__________________
Cheers,

Bjoern

Alex is right with the different camshafts but which one was milder is hard to tell without knowing the exact timing, only the factory could tell us the exact timing over the whole 360 degrees rotation.

IME the power loss of the US FI models had more than one reason, one could be the camshaft, another the fuel quality (less ignition advance, for sure -1 degree) and also another mixture to keep the catalysts running for the emissions.

If you ask me what CT I prefer I'm biased, on one hand an engine like Chad is building with a racing FI/Ignition system otoh I just love the sound of the weber battery. I'm sure with Chad's setup you will make some additional hp but IME this would no longer be THE raging bull we all love.


One word to the composite front hood, last meeting in Germany was a 1987 QV carbed with an alu hood, then is also a red in my mechanics garage with a leaking waterpump, it's from 1986 and has also the alu piece.
I really don't know how and when the alu/composite version was used, perhaps Valentino could tell us.

__________________
RaymondQV
Countach QV Ex-Mimran #GLA12997, Urraco P300 #20530 sold in August 2008, Jalpa #FLA12203 sold in May 2006
www.countach.ch
www.jalpa.ch

When Frank Sinatra got his Miura S in 1970, he said: “If you wanna be someone, buy Ferrari - If you are someone, you own a Lamborghini”.