One to Buy: ex-Brunei Royal Family 1988 Lamborghini Countach Quattrovalvole
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A few months after Chrysler took control of Automobili Lamborghini from the Mimram Group, a subtly updated version of the formidable Countach Quattrovalvole was released.
The most obvious new detail was the addition of ventilated side skirts down each flank which perfectly reflected taste of the era. Elsewhere, Lamborghini added central locking, better cockpit ventilation, an improved heater, ZF as opposed to Porsche synchromesh and reconfigured brake geometry to improve initial bite.
Production of this revised Quattrovalvole lasted less than than a year as, in September 1988, Lamborghini unveiled the last-of-line Countach 25th Anniversary which was itself brought in as a stop-gap until the all-new Diablo was ready.
Only 17 side skirted Countach Quattrovalvoles were produced in right-hand drive, a particularly interesting example of which is currently on offer at the Joe Macari showroom in London.
Configured in Blu Acapulco with Blu leather, the optional rear spoiler and gold tail fascia badging, chassis JLA12420 was dispatched on August 3rd 1988 and supplied via Portman Lamborghini in London to Transcar UK who were acting as an agent for the Brunei Royal Family. However, it seems likely the car never made it to Brunei; in 2000 it was purchased out of an Italian warehouse owned by Pininfarina who managed various special projects for the Brunei Royals.
Today, this superbly presented Quattrovalvole, the last right-hand drive example produced, has covered a little over 9000km from new.
