Lamborghini Countach project car sells for over £250k

The recent Ascot Racecourse sale by Historics Auctioneers saw a number of rare supercars and classic vehicles cross the block.

One of the biggest-selling cars on the day was a 1982 Lamborghini Countach, which arrived in need of a little TLC.

Despite the LP500 S version of the Countach resembling an unfinished Airfix model, it still attracted a winning bid of £257,600.

That Lamborghini is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Countach in 2021 may have boosted interest.

Some assembly required

The Countach in question had been purchased by the auction vendor in 2000, with the car driven up until 2008.

A full rebuild on the 370hp 4.8-litre V12 engine was carried out in 2004, with an extensive overhaul of the chassis performed in 2006. However, the car was stripped down for a respray in 2008 that was never completed. 

The body shop undertaking the paint job and interior retrim was placed into administration, leaving the Countach untouched. 

For reasons not explained, the owner opted to keep the Lamborghini unfinished. This meant placing it in storage for a number of years.

Life-size model kit

Ahead of the auction, the seller confirmed that the Countach was believed to have all parts present and correct. This included an expensive new windscreen. 

When it first left the Sant’Agata factory, the car was painted black, and fitted with the optional large rear wing. Nine previous owners are recorded, with the original handbook and various records to demonstrate its provenance. 

In an earlier life, the Countach appeared on the cover of a 1996 book titled Lamborghini: The Spirit of the Bull. The car is also said to have appeared on the Fifth Gear TV show. 

The new owner will have a little work to do before it can hit the road again.

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