Have you ever looked at a Lamborghini Countach and thought, “I wonder how cool it would be if this spectacular sports car could swim?” Well, maybe not. But that’s exactly what the folks from Searoader—a British firm that specializes in creating amphibious vehicles—had in mind when they produced the sea-worthy Countach now listed for sale on UK eBay.
Of course, there’s a catch or two. The Z1A that’s for sale isn’t technically an original Lamborghini. It’s a recreation, also known as a kit car.
The faux-Lambo has a distinguished history, having appeared in a number of magazines, TV shows, and movies—including a stint as a left-hand drive Hollywood stunt car. Now back in its original right-hand drive configuration, the seller claims that the Z1A has been sitting unused for more than 15 years.
The car features a composite body that replicates the Countach 5000QV model, sitting on a tube frame and motivated by a Ryan Rover V8 engine. The coupe rides on 15-inch rims, offers a leather interior, and was reportedly once able to hit 150 miles per hour on the road.
What really sets it apart from the rest of the kit car crowd, however, is its ability to drive straight into a body of water—and keep on going. That’s made possible by a push-rod suspension system that draws the wheels up into the body and a twin-prop drive that provides enough forward thrust to make use of a front-mounted hydrofoil. It even features a so-called smoke ejector system to add extra drama to the already pulse-pounding experience of piloting a replica exotic into a lake, canal, river, or ocean.
A close reading of the eBay listing itself reveals that the Z1A, in its current state, is still a project. The Lamborghini replica needs door repairs, new mirrors, new carpets, and seats, with the latter apparently having gone AWOL. The engine spins but no mention is made if the car runs under its own power, despite the presence of a working clutch. The fuel lines need to be replaced, as do the tires and brakes.
There’s no word on what might be necessary for aquatic action in the Z1A, but an in-depth consultation with Searoader or other amphibious vehicle builder is probably in order before testing out the Countach’s buoyancy. Once that’s out of the way, however, you’ll soon be ready to recreate that famous scene from “The Spy Who Loved Me,” but with distinctly Italian style.
See Lamborghini Countach Cars & Trucks for sale on eBay.
