VIN: the ex-Barry Robinson / Dennis Prosser Lamborghini Countach Quattrovalvole chassis FLA12803
/ Ben Tyer
HISTORY OF CHASSIS FLA12803
Dispatched from Sant’Agata on March 12th 1985, chassis FLA12803 was the first Countach Quattrovalvole produced in right-hand drive.
Ordered through Lamborghini’s British distributor, Portman, by Hertfordshire-based demolition contractor, Barry Robinson, the car was configured in Rosso with Panna upholstery and the optional rear spoiler. This was a similar specification to Robinson’s previous Countach (5000S chassis CLA12550) with which he and co-owner, Alex Postan, had famously established eleven outright UK production car speed records at the Millbrook Proving Ground in October 1983.
Barry Robinson collected chassis FLA12803 from the Lamborghini factory and drove it back to the UK on the temporary Italian export plate, EE 005 AK. The event was covered in an eight-page article for the May 1985 edition of Car magazine. FLA12803 also starred on the front cover. Several of the photographs used in the feature were taken shortly after the car’s arrival in the UK and depicted the Countach on Barry Robinson’s personalised number plate, BR 33, which had also adorned his old 5000 S.
In August 1987, Portman sold chassis FLA12803 to another serial Countach owner, Dennis Prosser of Clyde Bank, Glasgow. Just over a year later, Barry Robinson took delivery of the first right-hand drive Countach 25th Anniversary (chassis KLA12462).
Ahead of its sale to Dennis Prosser, the Quattrovalvole was registered B888 MLN. In this configuration, the car appeared on the front cover of Great Marques of Italy by Jonathan Wood published in 1989.
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Dispatched from Sant’Agata on March 12th 1985, chassis FLA12803 was the first Countach Quattrovalvole produced in right-hand drive. Ordered through Lamborghini’s British distributor…
Ferruccio Lamborghini established his car building operation to manufacture the type of conservatively styled Grand Tourers that generally appealed to industrialists like him. Not wanting…
Chassis JLA12257 was one of the last Countach Quattrovalvoles built without the updated 1988 model year updates which most obviously included deep slatted side skirts. The car was ordered by…
As the Murcielago reached the end of its production life, Lamborghini decided to introduce a limited run special that revived the firm’s SV moniker previously attached to some of its most revered models.
During the early 1990s, Lamborghini offered arguably the ultimate two-car pairing by a single manufacturer: the Diablo and LM002. The Diablo was of course Lamborghini’s recently introduced…
Five years after Lamborghini had displayed the original production-spec. Countach (the LP400), an even more dramatic variant was revealed under lights at the Geneva Motor Show in 1978. Dubbed…
Is the Countach perhaps the most Lamborghini of all? Let's take a ride in the Quattrovalvole, not the purest, but the most powerful carburetted Countach. Twelve symphonic cylinders that still give incredible satisfaction today.
During 1970, Lamborghini development engineer and chief test driver, Bob Wallace, was given the go ahead by general manager, Paolo Stanzani, to construct a mid-engined hot rod more or less from scratch.
Ferruccio Lamborghini established his car building firm to create the kind of discrete Grand Tourers favoured by most European industrialists of the time. However, some of his eager young engineers…
A 5.7-liter V12 sits inches behind Derek Tam-Scott's head. Forty-eight valves, no turbos, nothing between the combustion and your ears. As the Lamborghini Diablo VT charges through the trees, it does what it has always done best: fill the entire world with noise.
Although Lamborghini debuted its 1971 Countach prototype with a five-litre V12, the cost associated with bringing what was still a highly experimental engine to market ultimately proved too great.
Chassis 3961 was dispatched on July 19th 1969 as a right-hand drive Miura S uniquely configured in Verde with dual two-tone Arancia / Bianco stripes and Nero upholstery. The car was ordered…
Chassis 1120004 was the third Countach LP400 built. It followed the Geneva Show cars from 1973 (chassis 1120001) and 1974 (chassis 1120002) from which point on Lamborghini adopted an even…
Arguably the most extreme Diablo to emerge from Sant’Agata was the one-off Roadster Prototype which Lamborghini presented at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1992. With its cut-down…
After the Mimram Group headed by brothers Patrick and Jean-Claude acquired Automobili Lamborghini in mid 1980, a plan to expand the firm’s one-car model range was immediately…
He's been the public face of Lamborghini, at least to many of their visiting clients and journalists, for decades through good times and bad. The factory even named a car after him, and he's still doing what he does best: test driving Lamborghinis.
Chassis 1121356 was a left-hand drive Series 3 LP400 S built for a Saudi Arabian customer who ordered the unique colour combination of Sahara Gold over White leather. Gold wheels were also…
From the late 1970s until the late 1990s, traditional Italian Rosso paint accounted for around half the Lamborghinis that left Sant’Agata. However, by the early 2000s, reds had dropped right off the radar…
Chassis 1120054 was a left-hand drive Countach LP400 signed off on February 14th 1975 and dispatched to the SEA Auto dealership in Rome. The handsome Tahiti Blue over Naturale Countach…
After a 15 year wait, during which hopes of an entry level Lamborghini were raised and dashed on multiple occasions, such a machine finally emerged when the highly anticipated Gallardo was…
Chassis 4818 was one of the seven Miuras built new to SV trim in right-hand drive. The car was ordered by renowned British singer-songwriter, Rod Stewart, who had previously owned two other…
Chassis 1121438 was the only Series 3 Countach LP400 S configured in Verde Abete with Bianco upholstery. Also optioned with a rear spoiler, the car was ordered through the Al Ayda Lamborghini…
Jonny Smith was contacted by the owners of The Manor in Ashby St Ledgers (the location of the Guy Fawkes gunpowder plot) to say there was a classic Lamborghini needing to be rescued in a stable...
One of 67 right-hand drive Countach Anniversaries built, chassis KLA12717 was ordered by London-domiciled Iranian real estate magnate, renowned watch collector and gentleman racing driver, Reza…
In 1984, Lamborghini started work on a Countach Restyling Prototype that could be assessed as a potential stop-gap model before a proper clean sheet replacement came on stream. The team…
Chassis RLA12122 was the 122nd Diablo SE30 built and one of 18 in right-hand drive. Completed on June 26th 1995, it was configured in Giallo with Nero / Giallo full leather upholstery and custom…
A selection of 1991 photographs from the Portman Lamborghini facility in Brentford. Featured cars: Lamborghini Countach Quattrovalvole: A8 FAN, Lamborghini Jalpa: F220 RHX, Lamborghini…
Having celebrated its 25th and 30th anniversaries with special editions of the Countach and Diablo respectively, Automobili Lamborghini’s 40th year as a car maker was marked in a similar…
At the Paris Motor Show in September 1998, French coachbuilder Heuliez unveiled one of the most spectacular Lamborghini-based design concepts of the 20th century: the Pregunta. Based on…
To celebrate Lamborghini’s 30th anniversary as an auto maker and homologate an uprated Diablo for GT racing, the limited edition SE30 was unveiled in September 1993. Significantly lighter…