A celebration of well filled arches

[mik]

that is very pretty, though I'd still have a qv with all the wings!

A QV is very much "my" Countach spec.

Like any self-respecting genuine CG, mine would not have the dealer-fitted rear wing which we all know was (some say cynically) "designed" by the marketing as opposed to the design/Engineering team, wasn't honed a wind-tunnel, and therefore not only wipes 15mph off the top speed, it also creates so much downforce that the nose lifts at speed and ruins the handling (as widely reported by a number of proper drivers such as Pierluigi Martini : who in addition to his F1 duties was a test driver for Lambo at the time).

[Rich B]

that is very pretty, though I'd still have a qv with all the wings!

A QV is very much "my" Countach spec.

Like any self-respecting genuine CG, mine would not have the dealer-fitted rear wing which we all know was (some say cynically) "designed" by the marketing as opposed to the design/Engineering team, wasn't honed a wind-tunnel, and therefore not only wipes 15mph off the top speed, it also creates so much downforce that the nose lifts at speed and ruins the handling (as widely reported by a number of proper drivers such as Pierluigi Martini : who in addition to his F1 duties was a test driver for Lambo at the time).

I'd imagine that Pamela Anderson in her day could have run faster before the boob job, but 15 year old me (and 42 year old me looking back) still wanted Pamela Anderson with boob job. Same goes for the awesome rear wing on a countach!

[jamcg]

This is why I dislike squares off arches. They look alright in some angles but wheels being round things means there’s always awkward gaps.

Prove it

Worst offender I can think of for this:



Makes it look like it’s running a 19” front wheel and a 15” rear

[Mito Man]

Look at the last gen Silverado, that’s truly odd, then they gave it normal arches for the current one but gave it a face only a mother could love.
Still I think it looks more awkward on something with a low ride height because it’s impossible to get a consistent tyre/arch gap.

[dinny_g]

Wibble....

I don't care how bad it was. To the 10 year old me in the mid 80's, leafing through my brothers book of cars, this was what a Super Car should look like.

[mik]

@dinny_g They were not bad at all - Fast Lane magazine did several drives/tests and spoke very highly of the GT5/GT5S at the time. I love them (and ironically always would have a rear wing on one of these)

There was a red GT5S (pretty much as per that pic) that prowled the west end of Glasgow whilst I was at Uni. I only actually saw it once, but heard it half a dozen times. Epic cars.

[ZedLeg]

Yeah DeTomaso made good cars. I think people god sniffy with them due to the engines, a Ford small block isn't a match for an Italian V12.

[jamcg]

I’m going against mik here, I prefer the narrow body pantera

[mik]

I’m going against mik here, I prefer the narrow body pantera

Unlike the Countach (with the awful Anniversary) there is no bad Pantera.

@ZedLeg You are correct, and I think the fact that DeTomaso asked pretty much 308/328 money for something with Testarossa performance levels ironically also caused people to look down on it.

I remember one Fast Lane comment about the car’s “Party Piece” - as “recommended” by DeTomaso - stick the car in 5th when stopped and without touching the throttle, just slip the clutch slightly until it could be fully engaged - it would rumble along at walking pace and only a few hundred rpm. One of the best sounding cars ever for me - hugely bassy.

Now look what you made me do - speakers or earphones only!

[Mito Man]

I love the Pantera, I think it's arse must be in my top 5

Ahhhh

[DeskJockey]

None of my cars have well filled arches

Galaxy would need 19s or 20s and to go from 225 to 245 or more. But it is a family bus, so no point.

Zoe would be 18s with 225 width or more. But that would kill the range. So, no point.

[dinny_g]

That is interesting - I always recalled them getting a bit slated but I suppose that may be the V8 V12 thing. Being a Ford V8 probably didn’t help with the EuroSnobs

[ZedLeg]

TBH the main thing I remember about the Pantera is that Vince Neil from Motley Crue went to jail for killing the drummer from RATT in a car crash in one.

[duncs500]

Let's settle this debate once and for all, both the Pantera and Countach need wings. Pantera can get away with not having one, but it's essential on a Countach.

Now we've cleared that up, let's move on to the thread at hand. #topicclosed #endof #fact

[duncs500]

Still I think it looks more awkward on something with a low ride height because it’s impossible to get a consistent tyre/arch gap.

I really wish you hadn't posted this. It's harmed me greatly.

[ZedLeg]

It's not the worst Lamborghini

[mik]

(something went wrong with this post - weird!)

[mik]

Let's settle this debate once and for all, both the Pantera and Countach need wings. Pantera can get away with not having one, but it's essential on a Countach.

Now we've cleared that up, let's move on to the thread at hand. #topicclosed #endof #fact

This has already been fully explained by @Rich B : A Countach without a wing is natural Pamela Anderson, whereas a Countach with a wing is surgically enhanced Pamela Anderson, but the chest enhancement was only possible if they removed all of her toes.

[Mito Man]

You don’t see her her toes when you’re making love though.

[Mito Man]

Just seen a Urus go past and it seems like Lamborghini is the only cardinal sinner.
Even the Aventador, they really wanted to square it off more, then thought no, lets make it round, then compromised in the middle so it just looks wonky.