He sold his Lamborghini with the promise that he could buy it back—except that 26 years later, the price is a problem

In the world of classic cars, contracts are sometimes drafted by armies of lawyers. Yet the story of this Lamborghini Countach A 1979 LP400 S proves that a simple handshake can sometimes be worth more than a signature.

In 1999, Bill Su put his Countach up for sale. Not just any Countach: an exceptional example with barely 1,600 kilometers on the odometer, in such remarkable original condition that it is now one of the best-preserved Countachs in the world.

A Promise Between Two Enthusiasts

Bill isn't just looking for the best price. Above all, he wants to find someone who understands the importance of preserving this Lamborghini. After much discussion, he settled on Canadian collector Fred Phillips, whose passion for classic cars won him over. Then, when it came time to finalize the sale, the two men made a verbal agreement. If Fred, the new owner, ever decides to resell the car, Bill, the former owner, will have the first right to buy it back. No official document mentions this clause—just a promise between two men.

For the next 26 years, Fred remained fully committed to this promise. The Lamborghini Countach was carefully preserved and hardly ever driven. It made only a single trip around the neighborhood before being put on display in his collection.

Still like new, and its value has increased 25-fold

When Fred finally decided to sell the car in 2025, he didn’t forget his promise. He immediately called Bill before taking any other steps. Bill would have liked to get his old Lamborghini back, but he had to give up on the idea. Over the past quarter-century, the market for classic supercars has skyrocketed. In his own words, the value of the Countach has risen by about 2,500 % since he bought it in 1999. The dream is now financially out of reach for its former owner.

Today, this Countach has been entrusted to CURATED, a Miami-based American specialist in collectible European supercars, renowned for unearthing and telling the stories of the rarest models before finding them new owners. It is currently in this auction dedicated to Lamborghini, estimated at between $2.2 million and $2.6 million. But beyond its now-astronomical value, it is above all the story of two collectors who kept their word for twenty-six years that is so fascinating. That handshake has ultimately become almost as rare as the Lamborghini itself.