AN INCREDIBLY RARE Lamborghini found abandoned after being lost for decades now sells for over £1 million.
The stunning 1975 Countach LP400 ‘Periscope’ tragically spent its golden years hidden away in a garage until discovered.
4
4
The luxury engine, one of only 150 ever made, sat gathering dust in a luxury chateau on a French island off La Rochelle.
Dubbed the “first modern supercar,” it was purchased in 1983 by a reclusive millionaire with a flair for luxury engines.
It was the first Lamborghini Countach shipped new to France, and is even one of the first models to be built.
It proudly sports the production number 9, which only adds to the allure of the elusive and exclusive Lamborghini.
The secretive owner is said to have bought it second-hand in 1983, before putting it through its paces for 30 years.
He then decided to store the supercar in a garage he owned after racking up just 54,406 miles on the clock.
With a 375 horsepower 3.9 V12 engine under the rear hood, six carburettors and a five-speed manual gearbox, the Periscope is a force to be reckoned with.
That’s why car fans are so surprised that it’s been sitting idle for almost a decade.
The bold, wedge-shaped design with fiercely angled lines proved a hit with motoring enthusiasts, even if its build meant reduced visibility.
Despite its ten-year respite from the roads, the silver sports car is still in “exceptional” condition, according to French auction house Artcurial.
The original interior of the cult Italian supercar also remains in “excellent” condition, making it a hot topic in the motorsport world.
Artcurial will auction it at an international classic car exhibition in Paris from February 1 to 5, 2023.
Fans will flock to the Rétromobile show to catch a glimpse of the extraordinary supercar, before the bidders go head-to-head.
Experts expect the Periscope to fetch as much as £1 million under the hammer.
Rod Stewart was previously the lucky owner of one of the 1975 Countach LP400 periscopes.
The British rock star bought the engine on a whim while on tour in Australia, before purchasing a Lamborghini Miura P400 S.
The latter was later auctioned for the incredible sum of £1.4 million after it underwent a £260,000 restoration.
4
4