VIN: Albert Silvera's Lamborghini Countach LP400 Speciale chassis 1120222
History of chassis 1120222
Chassis 1120222 was one of five LP400 Countach originally built to Speciale trim.
Two were purchased by Walter Wolf (who commissioned the Speciale programme), one was sold to Ermanno Spazzapan and one was retained by the factory where it served as an R&D mule for the Countach S. The other Speciale was purchased by Lamborghini VIP client, Albert Silvera.
Silvera was a Haitian diplomat and businessman with close connections to the country’s notorious President, Francois ‘Papa Doc’ Duvalier.
Silvera served as Haiti’s Director of Tourism and reputedly had ties to the American CIA. During the 1960s, he built the El Rancho Hotel & Casino on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince. The grand project had started life as Silvera’s private residence.
Silvera had a reputation as a playboy. He owned homes in Florida and Paris, a private plane, a yacht and several high end European cars to include an array of factory customised machinery from the likes of Ferrari and Rolls Royce.
Chassis 1120222 was the third of Silvera’s Lamborghinis. It followed a 1972 Miura SV/J (one of four built, chassis 4990) and a 1975 Countach LP400 that Silvera had constructed with a variety of special equipment to include a blueprinted 440bhp engine (chassis 1120056).
Silvera collected his red LP400 from the factory in January 1975.
Nine months later, his second personalised Countach was ready: chassis 1120222.
This famous car was reputedly configured by Silvera’s wife, Gladys. It featured a special shade of metallic blue paint which was offset with metallic gold for the wheelarch extensions, front spoiler, front bumper, wiper, window frames, wing mirrors, wheels, ducts, vents, grilles, tail fascia and exhaust shroud. A gold pinstripe was also added along each flank.
Inside, much of the upholstery was bright blue alcantara. The dash, roof rails and seat centres were trimmed in special gold leather.
Like so many early Countach, chassis 1120222 later ended up in Japan.
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Lamborghini - https://www.lamborghini.com
