Tony’s Take: 👍👍👍👍👍 In 2012, a dealer wouldn’t pay $50k for a Lamborghini Countach. Today, they’d sell their first born to inventory one at ten times the price. Over the past year alone, prices for some models of Lambo’s poster child have risen 30 to 50 percent. A low-mile 5000s carb car like this one at RM Sotheby’s Monterey mingle hasn’t hit the market since last year.
Great model, color and collector miles – it will set the bar for on-market examples. I say it does $900K’ish. I wouldn’t be shocked if it hammers for $1.1m. Downside: Wrong time to buy? The exotic car tulip craze is wilting. While A-list cars may be relatively immune, the new owner could wait years before the price recovers.
| Make | Lamborghini |
| Model | Countach 5000S Carb |
| Year | 1984 |
| Total Produced | 321 |
| Number of Owners | NA |
| Mileage | 5495 |
| Condition | ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ |
| Price When New | $120k Inflation Calculator |
| Highest Previous Price | $720,000 (08/13/2021) |
| Auction House | RM Sothebys |
| Auction Date | 08/19/2022 |
| My Prediction | $900K |
| Hammered At | $960 plus fees |
This is the car that will answer the question…….what is the 2V carbureted 5000S worth? A vast majority of the recent sales have been QV injected cars. Values post 2015 have always favored the 5000S, although just barely. I debated this heavily when buying my QV FI. Personally, I think that the QV is a better car. I find it faster, more reliable, and you can even get the A/C to work if you try hard enough. Kind of. The main disadvantage to the US car is the ugly bumpers. You can remove them and have a substantially identical car (other than the hood). You then get into debates about “originality” when it comes to collectability. Some will argue that the car should be kept as it left the factory, others will argue that this is how the car was meant to look when leaving the factory. So, what is the car worth?
In my opinion the QV car is a better car and should be worth more. They are lower volume (circa 200 FI cars vs 321 2 valve 5000S). The ONLY argument that I can see for the S is the lack of US bumpers. Sure, the lowbody 400S are arguably more attractive, but the 5000S and QV are very similar looking. Because of all of the above, I cannot see why the 5000 S would trade at a premium to the 5000 QV FI. I guess that this auction will help answer the question of where the car belongs in the Countach hierarchy value wise. $900k would be a good number. However, anything can happen in Monterey.
A rising tide raises and lowers all Vessals. It will correct the market on over priced Countaches as well. Downdrafts and Lowbodys will Booom if this car does 7 figures.
Hey Scott, Thank you for you comment!
@ TONY Solid call on this one. Right between the 900 and 1.100
More horses, I really like the anniversary edition Countach or 1979 Lamborghini Countach LP 400 S that was posted more recently.
They will be the talk of Monday blogs Im certain.