VIN: Walter Wolf's Lamborghini Countach LP400 Speciale chassis 1120202
History of chassis 1120202
Chassis 1120202 was the second LP400 Speciale built for Walter Wolf.
Wolf was a Canadian oil trading magnate who also created his own successful Formula 1 team. Between 1977 and 1979, Walter Wolf Racing won three Grand Prix. and scored 13 podium finishes.
Prior to going it alone in F1, Wolf had collaborated with Frank Williams Racing Cars.
1120202 followed chassis 1120148 which Wolf had sent to Gian Paolo Dallara for conversion to Speciale trim in mid 1975. Dallara had replaced Giotto Bizzarrini as Lamborghini’s Chief Designer but left the firm in 1969 to follow his racing dreams.
At Dallara Automobili, 1120148 was re-engineered with parallel link suspension, wider Campagnolo wheels shod with state-of-the-art Pirelli P7 tyres, an adjustable rear wing, a front spoiler and fibreglass wheelarch extensions. As Wolf was Lamborghini’s best customer, the factory loaned him a special five-litre engine for installation.
Chassis 1120202 was one of three copies built by Lamborghini in 1976. Unlike 1120148 (which was Rosso with Nero additions), this latest example was painted Blu Metallizato with Nero additions. Wolf specified a Senape interior.
Further customisation included gold pinstripes to the flanks, rear spoiler endplates and tail fascia. The Teledial wheels and bullet exterior mirrors were also gold. Trunklid fasteners were fitted along with a public address system, an F1 steering wheel and Willans harnesses. A Walter Wolf Racing emblem was applied to the tail fascia along and Canadian flags on the pop-up headlights. The rear spoiler was electronically adjustable from the cockpit.
The special five-litre engine was transferred to this latest machine.
Chassis 1120202 was dispatched from the factory on August 6th 1976 (a year and five days after Wolf had taken delivery of 1120148). It was initially registered on the Italian tourist plate EE 60925 and later the Basel registration BL 97786.
Over the next couple of years, chassis 1120202 was often seend at F1 paddocks around Europe and in the motoring press.
Precisely how long Walter Wolf retained the car is unclear. It was later returned to the factory, fitted with a standard four-litre engine and sold to Japan.
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: unattributed
