Autoblog

The Lamborghini Countach was everywhere in the 1980s. It was so often presented as the ultimate car, photographed with celebrities, and generally placed in the spotlight that even your grandmother could've recognized it. Because of its vaunted status, the Countach is an aspirational car that you might purchase to celebrate a milestone in your life. Oregonian Marlowe Treit spent two years tracking down the perfect Countach as a way of marking 60 years on the planet.

In May of 2006, Marlowe's 1985 Countach had an unfortunate meeting with an FBI-leased Cessna 206 at the Aurora, Oregon airport where Treit owns a business. The NTSB has investigated the incident and blames both the plane's pilot and Treit for not noticing each other. Nevertheless, the shredded Italian exotic will cost a considerable amount to repair or replace, and Treit is suing the United States for $105,500, claiming that the Cessna pilots had a clear view of his vehicle, and should have yielded the right of way. We can understand the heartache that having your dream car mangled must cause, but it looks like an uphill battle for Mr. Treit, with the NTSB essentially declaring the event as a "no-fault" accident. The big question we've got is will Mr. Treit replace his Countach with a Diablo, Gallardo, or Murcielago should he win? We'd probably go for an Islero, Jarama, or Series III Espada. Check out a video interview of Treit after the jump.

[Source: The Oregonian via All Cars All The Time]

Before there were the Lamborghinis of today, who's styling is an acquired taste, there were cars that were universally acknowledged as strikingly handsome. Now, you can own a piece of Lambo history and get one of the last not-so-hideous Lambos before they put all their chips behind the Countach and it's successors. For those of you who love the Miura, we know that the Urraco, Silhouette and Jalpa aren't quite the pinnacle, but they're still a darn sight better than the scissor doors, ridiculous scoops and space capsule styling of the Countach, which was sold alongside these cars. We're not sure how a development mule from an Italian manufacturer would end up in the frozen reaches of Alberta, but this is one very special Lamborghini. The Silhouette itself is rare, but this is a one-of-a-kind. The price right now is up to 55K, get your bids in now for Christmas!

Thanks to tipster Robert!

[Source: eBay]

Best Buy Corporation is exchanging its ranks of Geek Squad Volkswagen New Beetles for something a little faster in preparation for the release of Windows Vista. With an expected deluge of work brought about by the new operating system, the black and white VWs favored by Geek Squad cadets are being dispensed with in favor of a fleet of Lamborghini Countaches.

According to an official spokesman, the company anticipates being "'...busier than a spyware-saddled 486 processor... once that first Vista security patch hits the streets six to eight hours after launch, it's going to be like the Indianapolis 500 out there...'"

Click through to the link for more details

(*Warning: At Autoblog, we loves us some quality satire!)

[Sources: BBSpot.com; Ggaub.com]

Newport Beach millionaire Richard Moriarty has a thing for exotic art. How else to explain the fact that the Californian's gone and mounted a 1974 Lamborghini Countach onto a wall in his home?

No small operation, the Italian supercar was hoisted into place by a five-man crew using a 70-ton crane. The Countach's engine has been separated from Moriarty's new wall hanging, and now serves as a coffee table.

Check out the LA Times' photo gallery of the installation process here.

[Sources: Associated Press via SignOnSanDiego.com; Los Angeles Times]

(Thanks to Matt for the photo tip!)

Alright, so we’ve probably pegged our Tom Cruise quota for the month. That said, who can pass up on a star-laden train of 10 Lamborghinis?

The Italian supercar is set to make a prominent appearance in Mission Impossible 3, what is likely to be one of this summer’s highest-profile (and highest grossing) films. And to kick off the film’s world premiere at the Adriano Cinema in Rome, Cruise and company rolled up a brace of the angular beauties.

Not exactly a wallflower, Cruise was seen leaping onto one of the Lamborghini’s roofs in order to greet the assembled masses.

[Source: CarPages UK]