1978 Lamborghini Countach LP400 "Periscopio"

description General Information Car History We are pleased to offer 1978 Lamborghini LP400 “Periscopio” Countach s/n 1120298, the 149th of only 150 LP 400 “Periscopio” Countachs built, from new in Luci del Bosco (dark brown metallic) with Champagne (light tan leather) interior, and now obsessively restored in the original colors. Unveiled at the 1971 Geneva Motor Show, the Countach redefined the parameters of exotic car design. The low profile, the outrageous cab-forward architecture, the aggressive geometric design and the longitudinal V12 engine, turned front-to-back, with the 5-speed trans between the seats, stunned the public. In 1974, after three long years of refining the design to make it functional for production; without compromising the Marcello Gandini concept; assembly and sales of the first production cars began. An automotive legend before production began, the Countach was featured on posters, in advertisements, movies, and exotic car showrooms and collections throughout the world. Arguably the LP 400 “Periscopio” Countach was Lamborghini’s father of all modern supercars, with the clean and uncluttered lines of the Lamborghini LP400 “Periscopio” still making a truly stunning presentation today.While the Countach was in production for approximately fifteen years, the pure shape of the original LP400 “Periscopio” Countach, devoid of fender flairs, wings and later bumper modifications, is a masterwork of industrial design. These earliest production cars were true to the original Gandini concept, making them a visually stunning yet drivable exotic. Among the many innovative details featured exclusively on the early cars is the “Periscopio” roof configuration, meant to resolve the low profile of the rear window in relation to the roofline and driver position. A traditional inside rear view mirror was simply not enough to allow a clear view of the rear of the car. In response to this problem, the roof panel was recessed, allowing a periscopic view of the rear through a cleverly dropped roof section between the driver and passenger. Only 150 cars were built with this unique and collectable feature.LP400 Countach s/n 1120298 is number 149 of the very first 150 original Periscopio cars and so features all the refinements and construction improvements learned over four years of production, and was delivered new to Monaco Motors, the official Lamborghini dealer for Monte Carlo, on 19 Dec., 1977. Countach LP400 s/n 1120298 was sold new to Robert Katz, West Orange, New Jersey and later to Norman King, St. Augustine, Florida. As of March 2001 the mileage was a mere 11,888 kms. In 2003 LP400 s/n 1120298 was sold to John Kyle in Miami, Florida, and in 2005 was sold to Steve Claasen, still in its original dark brown metallic with a champagne interior. In 2014 s/n 1120298 went to Greg Manocherian, Katonah, New York who had Gary Bobileff complete a down-to-the-bare-tub, every-nut-and-bolt resto at a cost of $226k. Books, tools and a fitted four-piece luggage were included. In August 2016 LP400 s/n 1120298 was shown at Concorso Italiano at Monterey and was judged by the Lambo Club, giving it the award for Runner Up Best of Marque. The Gary Bobileff restoration summary invoice is on file, e-mail us for a copy.In January, 2017 Countach LP400 s/n 1120298 was sold by Mike & Colleen’s Ferraris Online LLC to the current owner and was next shown at the fifteenth annual La Jolla Concours in April, 2019, winning First in Class and then shown at the San Marino Motor Classic, Lacy, Park, San Marino and was again judged First in Class. In January of this year LP400 s/n 1120298 was serviced by Dugan Enterprises, Oceanside CA, with a safety check; a new junction box for the starter motor; a repair to the headlight mechanism; a paint touch up the driver’s door window opening; a pedal adjustment; a rebuild of the clutch hydraulics; a rebuild of the steering rack; a four-wheel alignment; a refit of the battery tray; a sublet repair to the amp gauge and tach; a rebuild of the clutch hydraulics; a clean of the idle jets; a new fuel cross-over tube; a compression and leakdown test and a new door seal. The total parts and labor invoice was $20,886.60. In February and March of this year LP400 s/n 1120298 was further serviced by Dugan Enterprises with an engine-out service. The clutch assembly was rebuilt; the engine bay was comprehensively cleaned, painted and detailed. The headers were heat coated and all new engine bay hardware was fitted. Two new airbox covers were sourced and painted. All oil lines were replaced or cleaned and fitted with new hardware. All new braided cloth heater hoses were installed. The muffler was repainted. The A/C was serviced and recharged. All six Weber carbs were tuned and synchronized. The shifter and shifter gate “fingers” were aligned. All electrical, headlight and turn signal lights plus the engine bay light were checked. New door support struts were installed. The paint on the rocker panel lower lip was touched up. The fuel level sending unit and fuel gauge reading were coordinated. The alternator connections were cleaned and charging was confirmed. The speedometer drive cable was checked and repaired. LP400 s/n 1120298 was again safety inspected and all safety and operating systems were checked on multiple test drives. The total parts and labor invoice was $36,279.08 at 19,483 kms (12,106 miles).This comprehensively restored Countach LP 400 Periscopio presents as a stunning example of brilliant design and outrageous engineering. This earliest body design is clean, uncluttered and the crisp lines and geometric forms show well in this unique yet original color. From the razor thin front bumper to the four menacing exhaust pipes, the LP400 is true to the original Gandini design, unlike the later year, heavy bumper, flaired and winged Countachs. Thanks to extensive (and expensive) restoration work by two of Southern California’s best shops, the Luci del Bosco (dark brown metallic) p