VIN: Saudi arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi's Lamborghini Countach LP400 chassis 1120204
History of chassis 1120204
Chassis 1120204 was built in the most popular colour for an LP400 Countach: Giallo Fly with a Tobacco interior.
Signed off by the factory on July 17th 1976, it was ordered through Maltin Car Concessionaires of Henley on Thames by billionaire Saudi industrialist, Adnan Khashoggi.
Khashoggi was a well-connected intermediary for Western companies and the Saudi government. Most infrastructure and arms deals done with the Saudis went through Khashoggi who typically charged a 5-15% commission. Between 1970 and 1975, Lockheed alone paid him $106m.
The Countach was collected from the factory by Ken Wheeler who worked for Chris Maltin. Ken takes up the story:
“I went to the Lamborghini factory twice for Maltin’s, once for the Khashoggi Countach and the other time to collect a silver three-litre Urraco to be on the stand at that year’s London Motor Show.
I arrived at the factory and was walked through the tractor assembly plant into the area where the Countach were being built. I was taken out for a test drive with one of the mechanics who insisted that I was not to take the engine beyond 6000rpm. The car was handed over with the paperwork and off I went to Khashoggi’s office in Geneva. It was an absolute beast to drive; the stubby gearstick and a tight new gearbox were no joy at all and took a great deal of getting used to. Rear vision was extremely poor and driving in any built up area was a nightmare.
The people I met in Geneva were astonished to see the car and said I couldn’t leave it there. You can imagine my disappointment when they told me I’d have to take it onward to Khashoggi’s home in the south of France!
It was after lunch and they booked me into a posh hotel on the bank of Lake Annecy. I hardly slept a wink, worrying about the car parked outside; it attracted great excitement wherever I went.
From Annecy I drove down through the French Alps to the Med. I was a great rally fan in those days and decided to follow some of the Monte Carlo route through Gap. To say that driving this car on those roads was exhilarating is a huge understatement. In many respects I probably enjoyed driving those super cars more than their owners.
When I arrived at Khashoggi’s villa in Cannes I was greeted by the two old retainers, husband and wife, who seemed bemused but not overly surprised at their employer’s latest purchase. I was directed to a huge garage where white sheets covered a dozen other prestigious cars, which the folk were delighted to show me. Nor were they at all coy about showing me round the house and the master bedroom where life size photos of Adnan and Soraya Khashoggi filled one wall, while another wall was floor to ceiling with Betamax film videos which were state of the art in 1976!”
1120204 was registered to Khashoggi’s company, Triad International, headquartered in Geneva. The Swiss authorities issued licence plate GE 614Z.
Khashoggi retained the Countach for a little over four years, during which time he became one of the richest men in the world. By the early 1980s, his fortune was estimated at $4bn. However, the decade saw him get caught up in several slush fund scandals as well as the Iran-Contra affair.
1120204 was sold via Rallye Auto Sport on William Street in Knightsbridge.
It went through the hands of several UK owners before appearing at auction with Bonhams in 2007 showing 28,500km.
The Countach has more recently been subject to an exhaustive restoration at Lamborghini Polo Storico.
Notable History
Giallo Fly / Tobacco
Right-hand drive
17/07/1976 signed off at the factory
Sold to Adnan Khashoggi
Swiss registered GE 416Z
1980 sold via Rallye Auto Sport, 12 William Street, Knightsbridge, London
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
