After 16 years with his Lamborghini Countach, he takes it for one last drive before selling it—but it breaks down, and the repair bill is going to be huge

After sixteen years behind the wheel, Harry Metcalfe knows his Lamborghini Countach QV down to the last detail. Now that he’s considering parting ways with it, the founder of Harry’s Garage has decided to give it a major overhaul. But before entrusting his Italian supercar to the experts, he treated himself to one last long drive on the roads of northern Wales. Unfortunately, the trip didn’t end as planned.

A Countach That Has Become an Old Friend

Sixteen years with the same one Lamborghini, naturally, that creates a bond. Harry Metcalfe estimates that he has driven between 30,000 and 40,000 kilometers in this Countach QV and makes no secret of his attachment to the car, which he now refers to as a «friend.».

Mechanically, the Italian car has already received a lot of attention. In particular, its V12 engine and transmission have been overhauled, and the suspension is in very good condition. Now it’s the bodywork that needs attention. The paint shows signs of age and, above all, mileage: stone chips, small cracks, and early signs of corrosion are visible in several places. The rear wing is also affected. With Countach values skyrocketing, the owner wants to restore the car to pristine condition before considering a sale.

One Last Ride to the Sound of the V12

Before leaving it at the shop for a costly body repair, Harry decided to take it for one last drive. He headed for some of his favorite roads in northern Wales, a region he has frequented since childhood.

The Countach seems to remind us why it became an icon. Its 5.2-liter carbureted V12 responds instantly, revs furiously, and delivers a driving experience that modern supercars struggle to replicate. The steering feels pleasant once you’re up to speed, and the soundtrack is almost enough to make you forget the brakes, which are far out of step with today’s standards.

So everything seems to be going perfectly. Or almost. As the kilometers go by, one detail begins to worry the driver: an unusual noise occurs when shifting into second gear. Harry notices it immediately. This transmission—which he knows inside and out—didn’t used to do that.

An unpleasant surprise happens at the workshop

Once I arrived at the mechanic's shop, my doubts gave way to real concern. Shifting into second gear now produced a creaking noise loud enough that it couldn't be ignored. After a quick test drive, the mechanic confirmed that something was wrong. Reverse gear was also behaving abnormally.

Even more concerning is that the breakdown appears to have occurred suddenly. The specialist therefore suspects that an internal component has failed or broken and recommends not driving the Lamborghini any further until the exact cause of the problem has been identified. To make a diagnosis, the engine and transmission assembly may need to be removed from the Countach. This is a major undertaking that comes on top of a paint restoration that has already been described as particularly costly.

That last drive was supposed to be just a prelude to a tune-up. It might ultimately mark the start of much more extensive work. As Harry sums it up, standing in front of his immobilized Lamborghini: «Cars, huh? Why do we get so into them?»