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Obi Wan's Ghost · Jul 13, 2007, 06:04 AM

Lamborghini Countach - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I'm trying to fill out the Appearances in pop culture section. Someone help me out here. There was a TV series in the mid 80s about a young man who was friends with a kind of Tron-like character who could transform into a Lamborghini Countach and a helicopter. It was like Knight Rider meets Tron. What was the series call again?

Kevin · Jul 13, 2007, 08:40 AM

Never even heard of such a thing...

Sorry to not help you.. but I am not sure it was playing in America.

Paco500 · Jul 13, 2007, 08:50 AM

Originally Posted by Obi Wan's Ghost

Lamborghini Countach - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I'm trying to fill out the Appearances in pop culture section. Someone help me out here. There was a TV series in the mid 80s about a young man who was friends with a kind of Tron-like character who could transform into a Lamborghini Countach and a helicopter. It was like Knight Rider meets Tron. What was the series call again?

I understand that this in not useful at all, but I can confirm that I remember this series- it defiantely existed.

No idea what it was though.

Paco500 · Jul 13, 2007, 08:51 AM

nevermind, found it.

Automan - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Doofy · Jul 13, 2007, 08:53 AM

I remember it. Car was able to do 90 degree turns without slowing down and the youth had a poster of Heather Thomas on his wall.

Can't remember the name though. Nighthawk or something?

Edit: There ya go. Automan.

Obi Wan's Ghost · Jul 13, 2007, 10:14 AM

Cheers. Also found it on YouTube.

moonmonkey · Jul 13, 2007, 10:51 AM

Automan, should be few torrents about too.

IceEnclosure · Jul 13, 2007, 11:05 AM

sick ride.

Obi Wan's Ghost · Jul 13, 2007, 11:12 AM

Originally Posted by moonmonkey

Automan, should be few torrents about too.

After watching me some YouTube, Automan isn't as good as I remember it being. Funny how things are so impressive to kids.

Still it is incredible the Countach came out in 1974 with that design.

Dakarʒ · Jul 13, 2007, 11:30 AM

I just love how wide the rear wheel are. They're monstrous.

IceEnclosure · Jul 13, 2007, 12:04 PM

wide? detomaso pantera sons, that's wide.

Dakarʒ · Jul 13, 2007, 12:06 PM

Detomaso, there's a popular, well-known one.

Doofy · Jul 13, 2007, 12:18 PM

Alejandro de Tomaso was ill for the last few years of his life and spent most of his time in bed. A female interviewer went to see him and noticed that all of his nurses were extremely good looking.

Interviewer: "Why are all your nurses so pretty?"

de Tomaso: "Because ugly ones cost the same".

Can't argue with that.

IceEnclosure · Jul 13, 2007, 12:28 PM

popular enough

Doofy · Jul 13, 2007, 12:28 PM

Wow, they're hideous in black! First time I've seen one in that colour.

Give me the white with blue speed stripes every time.

Dakarʒ · Jul 13, 2007, 12:35 PM

Originally Posted by IceEnclosure

popular enough

To be what, photographed?

IceEnclosure · Jul 13, 2007, 01:21 PM

Originally Posted by Dakarʒ

To be what, photographed?

My comment was just a comment. It could have gone without the photo, ya see?

I see one at least once a week(granted, it's often the same one, but whatev). That's more than I see a Countach driving around. There's a few owners groups that get together around the country, pretty large turnouts for such a rare car.

Doof, no black? C'mon.. hideous? Take the hater goggles off!

Dakarʒ · Jul 13, 2007, 01:24 PM

Originally Posted by IceEnclosure

My comment was just a comment. It could have gone without the photo, ya see?

Don't mind me. How much wider were those suckers, anyway?

Originally Posted by IceEnclosure

Doof, no black? C'mon.. hideous? Take the hater goggles off!

Yeah, I think it looks pretty slick.

Kevin · Jul 13, 2007, 01:30 PM

I always loved those cars. Remember cannonball run?

The Cannonball Run 1980 Lamborghini Countach LP400S #1121112

Doofy · Jul 13, 2007, 01:55 PM

Originally Posted by IceEnclosure

Doof, no black? C'mon.. hideous? Take the hater goggles off!

I dunno Icy. Something about it being all black just don't sit right with my old skool sensibilities. Maybe it's the wheels? Maybe it's the arch extensions? <shrug>

Still. Nicer than 90% of motors on the road.

Ado · Jul 13, 2007, 08:57 PM

How about this- YouTube - Turbo Teen
Its funny how every super hero that turns into something accidently stumbled on some experiment for matter moleculization.
Where is he now? Some Bernies second hand car yard?

Spliffdaddy · Jul 13, 2007, 09:21 PM

Gandini actually got something right.....way back in 1971.
Is it just me or does every great car start out perfect - only to be ruined by constant additions to its bodywork?
The series 1 and series 3 XKEs are a perfect example. See also; VW Golf GTi
Here's what the Countach looked like before it morphed into something downright laughable.

Rev-O · Jul 13, 2007, 10:19 PM

Originally Posted by Spliffdaddy

Gandini actually got something right.....way back in 1971.
Is it just me or does every great car start out perfect - only to be ruined by constant additions to its bodywork?
The series 1 and series 3 XKEs are a perfect example. See also; VW Golf GTi
Here's what the Countach looked like before it morphed into something downright laughable.

Agreed. The more the Countach aged the more ridiculous it became. Soon every panel was covered with a wing or a scoop straight from J.C. Whitney. Shame, because it started off nice.
The Pantera suffered the same fate.

vmarks · 10:45 PM

There used to be a yellow and black DeTomaso Pantera around these parts. It always looked a little neglected, but it could have been a lot of fun in the right hands.

It looked like:

IceEnclosure · Jul 14, 2007, 02:32 AM

what the hell happened to the images? This place is ****ed up.

Ado · Jul 14, 2007, 04:14 AM

I disagree that the only best countach was the very first one... upto the LP500 they were the only thing that occupied any italian child, as a matter of fact any car enthusiast of any background.

I still have a soft spot for this Lambo-

Doofy · Jul 14, 2007, 03:45 PM

Originally Posted by Ado

I still have a soft spot for this Lambo-

What's that? A Jarama?

(pic so small I can't make it out)

the_glassman · Jul 14, 2007, 07:34 PM

Originally Posted by IceEnclosure

wide? detomaso pantera sons, that's wide.

To be fair I think they both sported 345 width rear tires at some point.

Ado · Jul 14, 2007, 08:00 PM

Sorry didnt realise I posted the thumbnail..
Jalpa-

Doofy · Jul 14, 2007, 08:03 PM

Sweet!

analogika · Jul 15, 2007, 04:58 AM

Originally Posted by IceEnclosure

popular enough

They're *NOT* "hideous in black"!

That one is utterly hideous because somebody completely destroyed it (wtFACK is it with Americans and NO TASTE WHATSOEVER in rims?)

THIS is a Detomaso Pantera, and in black, to boot:

And yes, Dakar, they are quite well-known.

analogika · Jul 15, 2007, 05:03 AM

Originally Posted by Ado

Sorry didnt realise I posted the thumbnail..
Jalpa-

What's with the kid riding that robot in the background?

Dakarʒ · Jul 15, 2007, 01:53 PM

Originally Posted by analogika

And yes, Dakar, they are quite well-known.

Perhaps in Europe, or perhaps in their era, but as far as a legacy with pop culture goes, this thing doesn't have anywhere near the recognizability of a Countach.

Obi Wan's Ghost · Jul 15, 2007, 02:25 PM

I prefer Diabolik's Jaguar.

Jaguar E-type - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

analogika · Jul 15, 2007, 03:11 PM

That, or an old Alfa GT 1300 would be my sportscar, were I ever to buy and maintain one.

Though there used to be a saying: "If you want to get rid of your wife, buy her an E-Type."

Temperamental beasts apparently. Wives.

Jim Paradise · Jul 15, 2007, 03:12 PM

Originally Posted by Obi Wan's Ghost

I prefer Diabolik's Jaguar.

Jaguar E-type - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Jaguar E-type was a very classy car. It's certainly one of my favs.

Obi Wan's Ghost · Jul 15, 2007, 03:19 PM

Originally Posted by analogika

What's with the kid riding that robot in the background?

That's Rocky and son in Rocky IV. It was the 80s. People did crazy ****.

Obi Wan's Ghost · Jul 15, 2007, 03:26 PM

Originally Posted by Jim Paradise

The Jaguar E-type was a very classy car. It's certainly one of my favs.

I was also head over heels in love with the Testarossa when Outrun first came out (the sit down and shake version). I pumped so many coins into that game I didn't have anything for sweets. Outrun and Testarossa were the first thing I ever drew digitally on a computer. I saw a screengrab in a magazine and copied it pixel by pixel in Amiga Deluxe Paint.

Which Testarossa do you like better?

1984 512BBi

Or the original 1958 250TR?

Dakarʒ · Jul 15, 2007, 03:39 PM

The 512tr.

Ado · Jul 16, 2007, 05:28 AM

WARNING- PORN 18+

My dream vehicle.

Obi Wan's Ghost · Jul 16, 2007, 05:33 AM

I like a car that smiles. All Austin Healeys are happy.

Wiskedjak · Jul 16, 2007, 08:13 AM

Originally Posted by Obi Wan's Ghost

After watching me some YouTube, Automan isn't as good as I remember it being.

They never are. Makes you wonder if our parents were rolling their eyes when we were watching that stuff, or if it was actually good in the context of the '80s

KisforKennedy · Jul 16, 2007, 11:43 AM

If you haven't heard of a Pantera, you obviously know dick about cars.

Anyway, I remember reading about some guy who had a poster of a countach above his bed, and it was his dream car. Finally he was given the chance to drive it, and after 30 minutes he hated the car. Apparently they're completely awful to drive.

Spliffdaddy · Jul 16, 2007, 12:08 PM

Originally Posted by Ado

WARNING- PORN 18+

My dream vehicle.

oh hell yeah. I'd take a Miura over pretty much anything. Except for one of those mid-50's Ferrari 410 SuperAmerica thingies. Also, a Maserati Bora would be cool. Realistically, I'll never own any of those cars. So, I'm leaning towards a Ferrari 400i. Kinda the red-headed stepchild of Maranello. Four seats....but awesome styling and that priceless V12 music - and dirt cheap.

Doofy · Jul 16, 2007, 12:17 PM

Originally Posted by Spliffdaddy

So, I'm leaning towards a Ferrari 400i. Kinda the red-headed stepchild of Maranello. Four seats....but awesome styling and that priceless V12 music - and dirt cheap.

Make sure your garage reserves you a space. You'll need it.

I actually tried to buy one of these from my local garage. The bloke wouldn't sell it to me because he knew I was local. Apparently, if I'd have bought it, it'd still be in his garage most of the time (being fixed) and the idea behind his selling it was to get shut of it. So he'd only sell to folks from 150+ miles away (and let it be resident in some other sucker's local garage).

Spliffdaddy · Jul 16, 2007, 12:33 PM

pfft. I don't plan on driving it. I just want to sit in it and blip the throttle a couple of times.
I'm sure it drives like crap. But until Pink Floyd releases a new album I need some sort of ear candy.

IceEnclosure · Jul 16, 2007, 02:26 PM

I'd buy this right now if I had the loot:

Superformance Complete Replicars

Spliffdaddy · Jul 16, 2007, 02:55 PM

That's still tough to beat for a mere $25,000.

KisforKennedy · Jul 16, 2007, 07:18 PM

I don't see any cars in this thread that only cost 25k. ???

Spliffdaddy · 07:57 PM

Lots of good examples of the 400i for under $30,000. The one in the picture I posted has an asking price of $28,000. It isn't an excellent example, because of the re-paint, but a 400i isn't the sort of car that you would want to spend big money for an excellent example.

edit, the window tint can be removed, but hey at least some doofus didn't bolt on some chrome 20" rims.

edit again: Hell, you can find a 400i that's a bit rough but drivable for about $10-12,000