Photo: Gooding & Company
Few cars are as iconic and emblematic of a bygone era as the Lamborghini Countach. Not all Countachs were equal, though: the LP400 Periscopica was a special variant made in a limited series of just 150 items, and one of them has emerged for sale.
The LP400 Periscopica, whereas the LP stood for Longitudinale Posteriore, was made between 1974 and 1977 in just 150 examples. The name, which bears variations like Periscopio or Periscopa, refers to the periscope-like mirror inserted in the roof to improve the appalling rearward visibility, a creative addition that was removed in later models.
This particular example available for sale with Gooding & Company is one of the earlier Periscopicas produced. Chassis 1120064 is the 32nd car to leave the production line and comes with a well-documented history. Despite its age, it remains in good, drivable condition. With its striking combination of metallic blue (Blu Metallizzato) and tan leather interior, it could very well be one collector’s blue something for Christmas.
As per the listing, this Periscopica was delivered new to Al Mansour Trading, the official Lamborghini concessionaire in Saudi Arabia, in early 1975. It remained in the country until the ‘80s, when it was bought by a collector in Mayen-Koblenz, Germany, and repainted black. In the early 2000s, it traveled to Italy to join the collection of another enthusiast, who also took the trouble to restore the original livery.
In 2015, the supercar moved to the U.S., where it also underwent maintenance and repairs with Restoration & Performance Motorcars. It has never been restored, for which reason it displays some signs of the passage of time. Those include chips and cracks in the paint, cracked leather in the interior, and some rust on the underside.
Still, the listing notes that it “could be enjoyed and maintained in its current condition for several years, then restored and debuted on the concours circuit.” Adding to its appeal is the fact that it still has the matching-numbers engine and hasn’t suffered any modifications. That's something that can’t be said about the Periscopica that fetched $1.2 million at auction in 2014, despite not being functional and having mismatched numbers on the engine, gearbox and chassis.
Chassis 1120064 is available for $850,000, after being initially listed for auction in October, with an estimate of anything between $900,000 and $1 million.
This particular example available for sale with Gooding & Company is one of the earlier Periscopicas produced. Chassis 1120064 is the 32nd car to leave the production line and comes with a well-documented history. Despite its age, it remains in good, drivable condition. With its striking combination of metallic blue (Blu Metallizzato) and tan leather interior, it could very well be one collector’s blue something for Christmas.
As per the listing, this Periscopica was delivered new to Al Mansour Trading, the official Lamborghini concessionaire in Saudi Arabia, in early 1975. It remained in the country until the ‘80s, when it was bought by a collector in Mayen-Koblenz, Germany, and repainted black. In the early 2000s, it traveled to Italy to join the collection of another enthusiast, who also took the trouble to restore the original livery.
In 2015, the supercar moved to the U.S., where it also underwent maintenance and repairs with Restoration & Performance Motorcars. It has never been restored, for which reason it displays some signs of the passage of time. Those include chips and cracks in the paint, cracked leather in the interior, and some rust on the underside.
Still, the listing notes that it “could be enjoyed and maintained in its current condition for several years, then restored and debuted on the concours circuit.” Adding to its appeal is the fact that it still has the matching-numbers engine and hasn’t suffered any modifications. That's something that can’t be said about the Periscopica that fetched $1.2 million at auction in 2014, despite not being functional and having mismatched numbers on the engine, gearbox and chassis.
Chassis 1120064 is available for $850,000, after being initially listed for auction in October, with an estimate of anything between $900,000 and $1 million.
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