Go Mifune

I have accumulated a fair amount of seat time in my SE30 (US Spec) and had a bit of time in my friend's SV. The SE30 is clearly a more sharp, nimble driver's car and the brakes are not terrible (definately better than even the most optimized QV Countach, which I had for years). That said, the Brakes on the SV are definately noticeably better, and the euro SV maybe a bit more trim than the US Spec that I drove. In general the SV is probably a great compromise between weight / tossability and comfort & features, but don't underestimate how much sharper an SE30 is as a pure driver's car.

All this is true, indeed......... BUT.... I have come to realize that most Countach aren't actually too well set up unless someone knowledgable has been through them and properly set cam timing, valve adjustment, etc. HUGE difference in my car before and after doing this.... The wing cetainly has a drag value. It most certainly DOES improve high speed stability under braking and sideloads (140 mph + ). A euro downdraft Countach is capable of much better than 170 if, again, properaly set up (which I think most are not right from the assembly line). I have video in mine in the mid 160's (unreliable instrumentation keeps that number vague) and video of a buddy's downdraft with the wing on bouncing off the rev limiter in 5th (around 185mph) which we later verified to be cutting out at 7450 or so.... a tad premature. We always used methods other than speedos or tachs to figure true speed as they're so unreliable and inaccurate in Lambos of that era (sure wish we had GPS back then !!!!). Bottom line on the wing for me was the braking and lateral stability in the higher speed regimes were noticable, and I thought it looked cool. I would love to have felt the acceleration without it, even if just once.

They're ATE, same size as original Diablo (older, but with larger pistons, and different pad compounds - I think). Placid's Jota has the brake set up from the McLaren F1, which are also brembo calipers..... I'm very curious about that setup. I was thinking about just putting the Brembo setup from later Diablos on, but if you're going to bother changing you might as well explore all the options. There's a lot less mass to stop on an SE than other Diablos, so I'm not sure that not having the later set up hurts it as much comparitively as one might think.... but the one time I drove an SV I could tell immediately that the brakes had more bite.

Don't worry - it'll be that way again one day soon.

Hahaha !! yes - good guess ! I don't know who came up with that, it just showed up on my posts one day (pretty hilarious, if you know about the Diablo) - I've never uploaded an avatar. The car is my old Countach, taken from a photo I posted. One of these days soon, we'll have the paint done on the Diablo so it's back to it's plain purple, but I wanted the mechanicals done first so the dolphins are still there for the moment.

Extremely different. Every bit of fat has been stripped out.... actual weights varying from just under 3200 (with US exhaust replaced with aftermarket) to 3300 (I haven't scaled mine yet). Early 2wd Diablos, 3550lbs or so, later VT's 3700 or so. Roadsters.... 3900 lbs. Engine is a 91-93 Diablo block, pistons cranks & flywheel are lightweight version (compression is same as normal Diablo). Valves are larger and are titanium. Upper engine bits (intake plenum, cam covers) are magnesium. My engine builder (who went through mine pretty thoroughly) guestimates high 500's at the crank. All of it is in the last 2000 rpm, so you have to wind it up to get the juice. Long list of other little differences, mostly in the weight saving department. Brakes are decent... much better than standard older Diablo, but not as powerful as later Brembo version (though you have less mass to stop). Cockpit adjustable rear sway bar and traction control for different driving conditions. Car is lightning fast, and very long-legged. Acceleration pretty much the same at 140 as at 80... builds speed terrifyingly fast. Feels very light and nimble.

I observed about 3 mpg at a sustained 150-160 mph over 100 miles (emptied a full tank).

Always amusing to see that stuff. I do think that guys like this aren't really drivers, and I have also noticed that journalists spend just enough time with a car to see faults, and don't ever get used to the machine. I had my Countach for a year or two before I really melted in to it and felt like I could throw it around. The more and more I drove it hard, the better and better it felt. I would have dumped it in a heartbeat if it were a good looking dud that was not terrific on the road. This guy and his like would complain about making love to a supermodel because his ass cheeks were getting a cool draft (forgive me, any tender ears out there.....).

You're not likely to get it to smooth out too much - that's what you get with lightweight flywheels and lightweight internals. It's a good thing.... like the lopey idle of a hot cam or something. Unless its really rough, I'd check out another SE30 to compare it with and see if it's just the way they are. Mine is noticeably rougher than other cars at idle, and it's exactly what I'd expect with a lightened flywheel and racing pistons.

YES - There is DEFINATELY a difference. BTW, mine was stiff too before it was lubed a little bit. Then it was not as stiff, and would slide okay if you were gentle and not forcing it. When in the position back toward you it makes your rear a little wobbly from softer stance, but allowed to slide forward it makes everything more sensitive and creates uncontrollable shudders with your rear end dancing all about...... OH - You mean the rear anti-roll adjustment !!!!! oops..... hahaha - above all applies..... basically the rear position is the softest with the rear end exhibiting a little more body roll, forward stiffens up the back end and creates sharper turn in at the expense of snap oversteer if you aren't good at managing it. Middle position I find to be the best nuetral spot and produces slight understeer with the ability to provoke the right amount of tail movement and oversteer. When it's wet or raining, I run the lever back and turn up the traction control. BTW I wasn't kidding about lubing it up - that freed up mine a bit but I still have to let the car run and the grease on the cable warm up a bit brfore I can move it too easily.

I will dig around one of these days and see if I can't find some of my old notes. To consider: - When I was shopping, though it took a couple of years to do it I compiled a list of about 7 or 8 (not all of which were ovetly for sale, mind you). After I bought mine, a few more popped up that I kept some notes on (and even helped some friends of mine buy). - Through Mike and George (see post above by Mike), I know of some that have passed through Evans shop - MIke's count in at about 40 that he has seen. Extrapolating from the above, plus the random photos or acounts I have seen over the years (many of which I did not keep record of) I am guessing near 100. There definately are some that were brought in via the "midnight ways and means commision" and will likely stay under wraps until the 25 year limit expires on DoT and EPA.

I followed this sorta close when I had my downdraft (and when I spent years shopping, too). There are a great many more than 14 in the States. My guess is between 50 and 100 (and probably closer to 100). I don't know if I have any of the notes any more, but I personally knew of over 30 of them. That still is a pretty slim market, so they are still exceptionally rare. The whole story of the "original 12" or 14, or whatever the number was that were the only ones to make it into the USA was never founded in any kind of truth whatsoever. Nastasi grey-marketed 12 of them, as did lots of others that brought them in. Somehow everyone got the idea that the Nastasi cars were the only ones, or were factory official, or something like that. My old downdraft (and KenQV's too for that matter), are completely US legal cars that were grey-marketed by folks other than Nastasi. I am finding it's a whole lot easier to track the SE30 's !!!! Thee are only 23 or 24 of those left in the States.....

Beyond fantastic! I have fallen totally in love with that thing. Mike up at Evans' shop went through the drivetrain, and it is a monster.

Udo - The gentleman who now owns your old Countach wants to learn its history.... I'm having technical problems wiht the member search function. Can you drop me a PM ? Thanks

That's what I was remembering - I'll drop him a PM. Thanks !

Met a gentleman at the Columbus, OH Italian gathering over Labor Day weekend who has a black on tan 2V FI Countach that I am sure used to belong to one of the LP members (somewhere out west, I thought, like Arizona). Went through a couple of auctions in the last year or so - anyway the guy bought it himself at an auction and is looking for whatever history he can dig up on the car. I told him I'd throw a post up and see if we got any info. Must say - photos didn't do it justice.... it is cosmetically very very good. Deep black paint in great shape. I didn't get the VIN or a good close photo, but this car was all over this forum and I think was owner by a regular poster. 1983 (IIRC) with Euro nose and the single US rear fairing covering the taillights and rear fascia. No wing, silver wheels. Ring any bells anyone? I'll see if I can get a photo or two. Thanks

That is Tony / John's ex DD.... They're not BACK fires, they are AFTER fires on the overrun, which is to say "letting off the gas after being on-throttle". It's basically unburned fuel in the pipes hitting the hot exuast tips and getting oxygen and combusting. This is common on cars that don't have cats to burn up the unburned fuel.

They will never be "affordable". What will surprise you, though, is that if you work hard in school, find a good career track (or business track if you are the entrepreneur type) you will be able to "afford" more than you ever thought. If you have the passion, use it as your motivation to succeed and buy your dream car (just don't dream of Veryrons or S7's....... if you do then start buying lottery tickets). In the end, unless you are hopelessly affluent, you must love these things to death to spend the money on them that we all do. If you want it bad enough - you'll have your car.

Oh, how I wish I could've kept both. I still lay awake at night thinkng about that Countach. BUT, the SE30 - wow. All I can say. Ralph is right, it is not the untameable beast that the downdraft is - but it deadly fast and pretty baudy in all its own ways. We've been all the way through the engine and drivetrain - learned a lot of interesting things about SE30's (got to the bottom of what's really inside those engines). Let's just say, that's a pretty special Diablo. I'm not sure I'd say any more or less fun to drive than a Countach, but I am definately in love with it. Now that the mechanicals are done - I'm saving up for the belt sanding to get rid of the Dolphins !!!

From my perspective, the point is that Billy Boy shouldn't yap his mouth regarding items he doesn't have full knowledge of in ways that insinuate damaging or derogatory things (such as mis- or unerrepresenting facts about damage history). That's pretty serious stuff IHMO. I wouldn't say a thing other than that was MY CAR, and I have first hand knowledge of the UNTRUTHFULNESS that was said. I usually stay very far away from the "monkey poop" fights I see on internet boards. I will respond however, when someone directly or indirectly says damaging untrue things about me or something I have represented - and maybe I have more than a little emotion left over that fabulous car. Billy Boy, you are a COWARD if you are willing to say such things and then shrink down to saying " Again, only what I was told". So I guess you haven't seen Al lay down the BS before, eh? GUess you didn't pick up on it like everyone else who got sick of his stories. If it's only what you have been told, then STFU. Steve Gleaner did the actual work - ask him if there was anything behind the forward edge of the front wheel arch that even got touched. I am NOT saying it wasn't expensive sheet metal work, nor that it wasn't real damage. I'm just saying your characterization based on heresay is BS. Anyone legitimately interested in buying that car from whoever owns it now or later - I have a vault of photos, documents, etc. I am happy to discuss and share. I may go to the effort of scanning some of it and posting it here just to show your mischaracterization and your bullshit.

Then either Al is a big fat liar or you are a big fat liar. Maybe we should ring up Al and see if he'll stand behind those words or if maybe you are embellishing a little ? Would he do that just to have me post a copy of the bill showing a very different number? I'll dig some photos out when I get a chance. Go tell stories about things you know for facts and not heresay stories. If you don't know for sure, keep you damn mouth shut. -Steve

Joe - remember years ago, when I was looking at the pearl white Paris show car that you had once owned ? The story came up that "that's a bad Countach - A BOAT FELL ON IT AND IT HAD TO BE REBUILT FROM THE GROUND UP !!! " ..... Well, I remember when I went to research that and talked with the shop that did the work. All I remember is the howls of laughter when, after catching their breath they said - "YEAH - A KAYAK FELL OFF A GARAGE RACK AND PUT A DENT IN THE QUARTER PANEL.... HHAHAHA !!! A BOAT INDEED!!" I have no idea if you owned it when the boat incident happened or not, just goes to show how huge STORIES come out of such little items. If these people have questions, let them be asked and let the HONEST answers be forthcoming, rather than this BILLY BOY throwing mud on a car HE DOESN'T KNOW on a PUBLIC FORUM. Shame on you, Billy Boy. -Steve

*Ahem*....... Mr. Billy Boy - Since you ae passing along SUPPOSED stories, I will fill you in from the OWNERS perspective, since that was my car, and I sold it to Roy. It was never a secret to anyone that this car had some front end damage history. I have photos, documents, etc. When you say "supposedly the owner lost control and went off the road "THROUGH SOME FENCE, POLES, SOMETHING LIKE THAT I WAS TOLD", maybe you'd like to know that a brake master cylinder failed, and the car went into a ditch at a T-intersection at about 15 mph. The car did not go through anything, let alone poles or fences. The car was driven out of the ditch and driven back to the house, and driven through town to get to the transport truck (albeit with a spongy brake pedal). The car sat in que at Burtoni's place for a year, then Joe and Steve put on some new sheet metal (starting at about the forward edge of the headlights) and a new fiberglass nose bumper. The actual work took place over a month or two. The front bonnet was never even touched (and remains original). Obviously a new master cylinder was installed, and the rest of the brake system had since been totally rebuilt over the years at George Evans' shop. There was no mechanical damage, and other than the master cylinder, nothing else was done at that time (I even still have the Gotti wheels that were on the car at the time - showing no evidence of any major impact). I have photos and video of the car for years after that point in open road rallies and other events doing what Countaches do best, cruising along at high speed with nary a shake or warble. Car ran beautifully. Over the years I spent probably $60,000 on rebuilds, updates, refreshings, etc. I have never been in another Countach yet that is the mechanical equal of that car. I have never been in a Countach yet that develops the power and drives as well as that car. Obviously, I have probably hundreds if not thousands of photos, receipts, documents, etc., through the years of what was done to that car and what that car would do. The (mostly original) paint shows the wear of being owned by an enthusiast driver, but FLA12830 is probably mechanically the best downdraft in the country. You can get in, light her up, and drive it hard and it will repsond in spades. The air blows hard and cold, it starts and idles perfectly, and develops monstrous power. Strong clutch, all fluid lines, all ac lines, all rubber, moany suspension joints NEW over the last few years. SO many more little things were done I couldn't begin to lost them all, but if any prospective buyers had questions about its history - I still have a full file and good memories. If not for my desire for an SE30, I never would have let that car go. I doubt I will see one in as good mechanical shape til I buy another one and do it all over again (or get that one back one day). Mike at George Evans' shop did most of the work on that car over the last 6 years or so (when the major work was done). Ask him how torn up or crappy or damaged it was. While I would concede that the paint is a LITTLE worn (though still quite good), the "best" examples of downdrafts around aren't half of what that car is. I would personally stand on stage and claim it to be a "primo" example and would happily debate anyone who questions that. Maybe you shouldn't shoot your mouth off til you have FACTS.

Close, but no cigar. Those are the Vitaloni "Baby Turbo", very similar in appearance, non-powered, and the mounting ahgle is a little different. I grabbed a few sets of those a while back just as emergency reserves, but it is a whole different mirror.

HAHAHA !!!! Holy Crap - that happened to me too !! My wife and I were on our way back to the garage where we stored the car at the time (a friends house), late one Sunday night....we got caught in the rain. Driving down these back woods winding roads at night in the rain, then....POOF !!! TOTAL PITCH BLACK. We were headed right for a tight corner (we weren't going that fast) so all I could do was brake as hard as I could and keep the turn about where I thought it was. I'm still farting bits of seat leather from that moment. So there we are, at night in the rain in the woods with no power to anything but the red battery light, but the engine is running fine. There was just enough ambient light that if I had wipers, I could have limped along, but not in the rain. SO, I hopped my but on the door sill with the door open, and drove it the rest of the way to my friends house (about another 2-3 miles). At night, in the rain, with no lights. That was my entre into the world of correcting the Countach relay panel !! George spilt up the circuits and added more relays (to split the load on any one circuit) so the problem is now permanently fixed, but this has become a known age related design problem with the Countach.