1976 Lamborghini Countach LP400 'Periscopica'

The car’s specification of Oro Metallizzato Longchamp, with Senape (mustard) interior was rare: sources suggest there were only seven gold LP400s, with only four in this combination. Marque and model enthusiasts believe that the other Oro Metallizzato Longchamp cars were repainted or, in the case of possibly three, crashed and written off.

Recent specialist research has revealed that the first owner was Jean Pierre Duquesne, whose family firm was connected with the American Purina pet food business. Duquesne was an established connoisseur of Italian cars and already owned a Ferrari 365 GTB/4 ‘Daytona’, Iso Grifo and Lamborghini Miura. His new Countach replaced an earlier car with a recorded 9,100km, accepted by Thépenier as a trade for ‘1120176’.

Later, Jean-Jacques Bally, a car dealer in Cannes, bought ‘1120176’ and subsequently sold it – most likely in the 1980s – to the noted collector Charles Jorion who appreciated its fine condition and low mileage. Based in Brussels, Jorion’s ‘Palais de l’Automobile’ also displayed other Lamborghinis including a Miura S and Espada. For fiscal reasons ‘1120176’ was still registered in the Cannes area, ‘2470 TP 06’.

On 20 September 1989 the entire ‘Palais de l’Automobile’ collection was sold at auction. Its new owner, François Besson, wisely chose to entrust his new purchase to renowned Lamborghini expert Edmond Ciclet’s Parisian garage for a check over. A contemporary photograph shows the gold car at Ciclet’s bearing the handwritten (it was a museum exhibit, so never needed original plates) registration ‘2470 TP 06’. Ciclet was impressed with the Countach and stated that it only needed minor service for full road worthiness.

Exactly a year later, 20 September 1990, Besson registered ‘1120176’ in Paris ‘777 JBH 75’ and the gold supercar became a regular sight in the French capital until 2010 when he sold it. Jacques François Joubert – 42 rue Saint Charles, Versailles – was the next owner. According to a copy of a Certificate d’Immatriculation dated 1 June 2010, ‘1120176’ bore the plate ‘AT 352 DS’. It was mainly used by Joubert in the Bouche de Rhône region, department 13 which includes Marseilles and Aix-en-Provence.

And it was in this area in 2017, parked at the provincial racing circuit of Grand Sambuc, Jouques, that a local dealer spotted ‘1120176’. He bought the car and subsequently sold it to our client, only its fifth private owner.

The ‘gold standard’ in every sense, ‘1120176’ has never been fully restored. When recently inspected by leading Lamborghini specialist Luca Salvioli for Kidston SA, it was judged to be a very good original car. The paintwork has been refreshed; there is no sign of accident damage; the leather appears original, with some re-Connollising; the mechanicals are very clean and the engine runs well. The odometer reading of 32,700km is believed to be correct.