We often talk about the fact that every great barn find seems like it could be the last of its kind. Surely, there can’t be any more significant cars or trucks locked away, waiting to be discovered. But time and again, we’re reminded that it’s simply not true, and there’s seemingly always another discovery around the corner. This time, it’s one of the rarest Lamborghinis of all, found in a shipping crate after an accident wiped out the front end. This Lamborghini Countach LP400 Periscopio wearing Blu Turchese paint is believed to be one of a kind equipped with the novel rearview mirror system and this rarely seen shade of turquoise paint. The details of the story reveal it was owned by a member of the Royal Family in Qatar, and it remained in their care for 40 years after the accident. Find the full story here on AutoEvolution.
Special thanks to those readers that shared links showing the car’s current status. It’s undergoing a complete restoration and we’ve added photos of it to the gallery below!
While the details that make this a one-of-one example are compelling, the earliest versions of the Countach are already quite sought after, known as the Countach LP400. Among certain circles of enthusiasts, the LP400 is more desirable than the later Countach because the shape is purer, with no additional wings or other aero enhancements to take away from the gorgeous original design. Finding an unrestored LP400 is almost inconceivable, given how few were made and because most surviving examples have already been restored. As you can see from this picture show it out in the open for the first time in 40 years, the body was quite rough, and this isn’t even the side with the accident damage.
This is where the big hit happened, and apparently, it was severe enough to break the driver’s leg. The owner of the Lamborghini was Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani, who was the Emir of Qatar between 1972 and 1995. Supposedly, he was not driving when the accident occurred, which immediately rendered the LP400 a paperweight. We don’t know what the family’s plans for the car were, but they put it into storage and didn’t touch it until Kidston Motor Cars, a Swiss company, got wind of it and acquired it as a restoration project. Kidston specializes in all sorts of insanely complex rejuvenations, so the Lamborghini definitely ended up in the correct hands. Check out Kidston Motorcars here on Instagram for progress pictures showing the LP400’s restoration work to date.
What a looker this car must have been when it was new, with its matching teal blue leather interior. The good news is that even with the extensive damage shown, the Lamborghini will be completely restored, and it still retains the correct drivetrain, which is presumably numbers matching. Shockingly, Lamborghini’s original chassis builder is still in business and will make the necessary repairs to the structure underneath the wrecked shell. Fortunately, the LP400 has since come back to life, and you can see where it stands now via the Instagram link above. Let us know if you’ve spotted a wrecked exotic locked away for a rainy day in the comments below!
What a story. Glad to see this gem in the rough getting restored by someone who knows what they are doing.
Not sure if this will work, but here is a recent photo of the restoration:
https://scontent-sjc3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/sh0.08/e35/p750x750/155396269_1649685982062619_8652738276520907140_n.jpg
Link expired, but here’s the post where you can scroll through several photos of the reconstruction in progress:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CL7Yfn-l8y-/
Wow. The car looks amazing now! I wonder what it will sell for when all is said and done
Wow!! Incredible. Won’t lose a dime.
Aw, c’mon! Tell me that you really want Gas Monkey to “restore” the car…
Yes, but only if they can meet the “Deadline”
I remember their F40 project, half an episode about special machines to get the frame into Ferrari spec then all of a sudden no word of that ever again.
I think it was sold to Reggie Jackson and later he moved it thru a big auction and lost money. Whoops!!!
Serious undertaking so kudos to whoever can pull it off. Seems like it would cost more to restore than what it could be sold for(?)
I must be in the minority but I always thought these things were ugly from the get-go.
A car that rare needs to be restored, no matter the cost. When it’s done it will be priceless.
If that’s a “Periscopio” then its periscopio definitely got sheared off. And maybe the driver’s head.
The periscope didn’t stick up above the roofline; rather, the trapezoidal indent in the roof had a tiny windowed slot at the front, allowing the driver to peer out through it via the inside rearview mirror.
They should have all come with that option. I wathed a guy one time back one of these up using the one-foot-out-the-door-facing-backwards trick.
He was dropping his daughter off at day care.
i saw the counts custom guy do the same with his, i guess it’s the go to to not reverse into something ….
Looks like a camel strike.
I would definitely go for a 318 Poly swap
Slant Six with EFI and nitrous!
Guess I’m a tad surprised that Gullwing Motors isn’t somehow involved.
Gullwing would just have sold it back as is, and at an expensive price.
and yet another once fine supercar is a victim of more money than brains……SMH
Proving once again, perhaps, that just because you have a lot of money, doesn’t mean you know how to drive such an exotic machine.
Ouch!
Should buff out.
Nice wheels…
My dad used to say that a car that has been in an accident is never the same again. Looking at this mess, I agree.
oof
That’s going to be some repair job, not to mention the interior is completely trashed as well. Sure doesn’t look like it’s been in a container for 40 years. Maybe the first 10 or 20 years outside.
Out in the desert just North of the city of Doha, there is a yard full off wrecked exotics. I see them every month and just wish I cold bring one home.
How much do you think it will cost to restore this car. Question number two. What will it be worth? I have absolutely no idea of the cost to restore it, but my guess it is north of 500 K.
Somebody is spending the money to resurrect it. It looks pretty good so far
i just looked it up, Average condition $330,000
the now pics are absolutely stunning
makes me wish i could win the lotto, lol
i still wouldn’t fit in it at 6’2″
It’s a scam. It just looks better because it’s on a color matched car hoist
Numbers matching or not, when you have to put that much labor and parts into a ‘restoration’ it’s no longer a Lambo, but a Kidston. Wanna pay big money for essentially a tribute?