One to Buy: ex-Stanislaw Zagorski 1985 Lamborghini Countach Quattrovalvole
/
While 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. As a consequence, the production Countach emerged in late ‘73 equipped with a familiar four-litre unit.
A torquier 4.8-litre engine subsequently arrived in 1982 following the introduction of the 5000 S, but this significantly enlarged unit was still quoted with an unchanged 375bhp albeit at 1000rpm less than before.
The big breakthrough came in 1985 when Lamborghini debuted its Countach Quattrovalvole at the Geneva Motor Show. In addition to four instead of two valve cylinder heads, the QV motor was most notably stroked to 5.2-litres, equipped with a higher compression ratio and a set of downdraught as opposed to sidedraught carburettors.
Conservatively rated at 455bhp and with gobs more torque, the Countach Quattrovalvole offered performance on a par with the limited run Ferrari 288 GTO and Porsche 959.
Heading to auction at RM Sotheby’s Monterey sale taking place between August 15th and 16th is a Countach Quattrovalvole that appears to be in close to new condition: chassis FLA12877.
Dispatched on July 26th 1985 to Lamborghini’s British distributor, Portman Garages in London, FLA12877 was configured in the striking combination of Nero Tenebre with matching Nero upholstery. A left-hand drive European market QV, like a good number of Lamborghinis handled by Portman, the car was earmarked for export. Reputedly sold to New York-domiciled Polish graphic designer, Stanislaw Zagorski, Portman shipped the car to the United States on September 5th 1985.
By late 1986, chassis FLA1277 had been acquired by one Whiteford Bean of Norwood, Massachusetts. More recently, the car has been the subject of an exhaustive restoration costing in excess of $800,000 completed in 2023.
Today, this immaculate Countach is showing a little over 33,000km on the odometer. It is being offered with two sets of wheels (gold and silver) and two sets of trunk lids (with and without spoiler).
