VIN: Mahdi Al Tajir's Lamborghini Countach LP400 S chassis 1121352
History of chassis 1121352
Chassis 1121352 was one of 82 Countach built to Series 3 LP400 S trim. Compared to earlier iterations, these Series 3 variants had taller ride-height (raised by 30mm) and no central roof tunnel (removed to free up a little more cockpit space).
This car was configured with Rosso paint, a Bianco interior and the optional rear spoiler. It was dispatched to the Swiss Lamborghini distributor, Lambor SA, on July 17th 1981.
The car;s first owner was Mahdi Al Tajir, one of Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum’s closest advisors. Sheikh Rashid ruled the Emirate of Dubai and when vast oil fields were discovered there in 1966, Al Tajir became director of petroleum affairs.
The second most powerful man in Dubai, Al Tajir brokered extraction deals with foreign companies and was given a percentage of Dubai’s oil revenues in return.
Al Tajir played a key role in the 1971 formation of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He was made the UAE’s first Ambassador to the UK as well as non-resident ambassador to a number of other European countries.
By the mid 1970s, Al Tajir was one of the world’s richest men and purchased a number of high end properties in the UK. His portfolio was bolstered by the acquisition of the Park Tower hotel in Knightsbridge and the site frequently played host to some of his personal exotics.
One such vehicle was this Lamborghini Countach photographed in 1982. Al Tajir was one of the first Countach owners to have his car customised with a Cannonball Run-style front spoiler.
Some of his other purchases (a Ferrari 512i BB and BMW M1) were even more individually modified.
Al Tajir kept a lower profile after his brother was kidnapped in South London and held by an Arab gang for eleven days during January 1986. Al Tajir arranged a $3m ransom paid by bank draft in Geneva and cleared in Beirut.
A Lebanese man with links to the CIA was arrested twelve days later in New York, but the money was never recovered.
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
