I remember back in the day Jay Leno commented you could buy the best Countach in the world for a hundred grand. He thought they were underpriced too. But the guys right, it’s a generational thing. 80’s cars are vintage now.
Yep, a lot of collectibles are like that...when people get older and have more disposable income they buy the things they wanted when they were young but couldn't afford. As they get older that market matures and eventually peaks, plateaus, and then will decline. Its already happened with boomers buying classics from the 50s...the market for those is way softer than it was 25 years ago.
The Countach never stopped being an icon. When I was a teenager in the 90s A lot of kids had moved on to the Diablo in terms of their obsession but to me the Countach was still cooler and always made me more excited. I have a bunch of photos from Italian car day at the Lars Anderson museum in Boston (Brookline, MA) with Lamborghini Countach(es) And my 2 top memories as a kid are the guy who used to go to the Car shows who was probably about 80 years old in the late 1980s, He would always be eating a bucket of KFC chicken and sitting in the car with the doors up... It was a black 5000. The other memory I have is of walking around downtown Boston was my parents in the mid-nineties and Right as we were walking past the Hancock tower a red 5000 rolled up to the curb and stopped, A bunch of people were staring at the car but mostly just Rubber necking as they were walking by but I instantly walked up to it & I was taking in all those beautiful lines,... just gawking at it as if it was s lunar eclipse or an SR71. Absolute core memory.
100% on the 'previous generation', the guys with the 55 Chevys were absolutely obnoxious about anything made after 1980, they couldn't have gotten it more wrong.
Classic com up in value peak then the market dies "literally", and the next generation peaks. The 55 guys should of know from when the model t buyers died.
Absolutely. The question is, what’s next? The 90s and 00s suuuuuucked for cars. I’m sure Diablos and Gallardos and any Ferraris will see an increase in price
It’s not just 55 Chevy guys, if you like pre 80 cars you’re probably not going to like post 80 cars. One day car guys will talk about obnoxious guys that don’t like anything post 2030.
It's going to be the "performance" cars of the 90's and 00's next. Recently saw someone sell a 1994 RX7 for about 80k. They're going up. It's whatever the kids were dreaming of back then - now they're old enough to afford that dream car. Those mid-90's (E36?) M3 BMWs are going to skyrocket pretty soon as well.
I've had the great pleasure of knowing Tony for over twenty years. I was there to see this happen. In person. He was my first real exposure to exotic cars. He reads the market like a Sunday morning comic strip. He just KNOWS.
That's a bit of hyperbole. No one person can work 20 hours a day, for any sustainable amount of time, not even Gary Vee. Maybe you can do it once in a while if there's a deadline, but that's only 4 hours for sleep and eating and showering, commuting, etc. No time for living a "balanced" life, spending time with your kids, your wife, doing errands, working out, reading, etc. Simply unrealistic. Tony, the guy in the video, says he had over 50 employees at one point. That's the secret to getting more hours in a day: delegate.
@@komoru but it's not Hyperbole. I have personally known people who are willing to work 20 hours a day, and do so regularly. It's not healthy and no one can do it forever, but when there is a ton of money to be made anyone can do it for a while. And that was the whole point of the comment, it is a completely unbalanced life and has lots of negative life consequences.
It's not the 20 hour days, its the average yank woman. You guys need to see what's available outside of the US...the type thats available in your country is truly bottom of the barrel which is one of the reasons your divorce rate is over 50%, that and the biased courts.
I think the Delorean DMC12 and Detomaso Pantera were cooler. Sure they didn't exactly look like they could blast off into space like the wedge shaped Lambo but I bet the performance was probably on par.
Same thing is happening with the original NSXs. They got so cheap at one point, they became too attainable, that many started getting modded, wrecked, etc. Prices have climbed up dramatically in the last few years on nice, clean un-modded versions. Like he said, it's generational. Those kids in the 90's who loved NSX are now in their peak earning years, and if they got the money, want the dream car from their childhood and are willing to pay for them.
The Countach never stopped being an icon. When I was a teenager in the 90s A lot of kids had moved on to the Diablo in terms of their obsession but to me the Countach was still cooler and always made me more excited. I have a bunch of photos from Italian car day at the Lars Anderson museum in Boston (Brookline, MA) with Lamborghini Countach(es) And my 2 top memories as a kid are the guy who used to go to the Car shows who was probably about 80 years old in the late 1980s, He would always be eating a bucket of KFC chicken and sitting in the car with the doors up... It was a black 5000. The other memory I have is of walking around downtown Boston was my parents in the mid-nineties and Right as we were walking past the Hancock tower a red 5000 rolled up to the curb and stopped, A bunch of people were staring at the car but mostly just Rubber necking as they were walking by but I instantly walked up to it & I was taking in all those beautiful lines,... just gawking at it as if it was s lunar eclipse or an SR71. Absolute core memory.
In all these years I've seen a grand total of three of them. The first one stays in my mind forever - metallic turquoise, slowly cruising down George Street in Sydney on a Friday night.
The countach will always be someone’s dream. Even on my channel. I recorded a 1986. Dressed as a 1988. With real. OEM parts. Yes it is up for sale. Even with a few small things it needs. Just cosmetic. It’s still a great car to look at. Even just to sit in it. Poster dream accomplished
Similar thing if you bought Amazon early or google back in 2005 and held onto it. The guy in the video is a smart guy and I'm sure he has other investments besides cars, including real estate. But that's not the point of this video.
@@henrytang2203 Exactly. These simps are acting like they're geniuses when in fact pretty much everything went up in value due to zero percent interest rates over the past decade plus. The economy needs to crash and bring these people down a notch.
My craziest day working at the Maas Autowash (now Fuller's) carwash, driving a Countach onto the guide rails. I remember driving on the door sill while leaning out to make sure I didn't scrape the tires. The local import dealer brought in many cool cars to the carwash.
I’ve followed all the values of the cars he mentioned and sorry, but none of those values he mentioned check out…. Testarossa’s bottomed out at $50-55k for less than spectacular condition cars, and he claims he bought 10 of them for like $33k?! 👌 His 348/308 examples were only slightly less ridiculously off the mark. Not saying his story is complete BS but the passage of time has certainly had a severe impact on him remembering facts/data
Or he was buying from 2009- 2012, I found many great deals on Ferrari and Lamborghini in CA. I almost bought one until I noticed the running cost would bankrupt me ..
@@anthonye3680 yep great deals are one thing, deals that didn’t exist are another. I have followed the used Ferrari martlet for many decades…..they never got to the numbers he claims
Maybe thats the prices before the insane dealer markups, and you were looking at retail pricing... although this guy definitely gives off the vibes he exaggerates his stories. He even said he had 80k sq ft facility and 51 employees but the screenshot they posted said 40 employees. 😂
" I didn't come from this line of business, my father sold chevrolets" LOL, it's like saying I'm a surgeon, but my father was a general practitioner (family medicine or whatever in the us)
“I don’t come from this line of business” making us think his dad was a blue collar welder, construction worker, or something like that. Literally the next sentence “My dad sold chevys”
@@deevizm8035 I once had a client with a gorgeous compound on Lake Michigan tell me he was, "self made". His proof was a black & white photo of himself as a teenager, working at his dad's supermarket. Nepotism is often missed as a concept by the people that benefit from it.
I purchased 4 Testarossas when they were rock bottom, I paid 32k for the cheapest car and the most I paid was 62k for a euro spec 512tr. I paid 35k for a 1989 25th anniversary countach that was a basket case from the widow of the original owner who started taking the car apart to restore it 10 years before he passed away. That car came from Flagstaff Arizona. I still own the Countach and I kept the euro spec 512tr. I wish I would have kept the 1991 testarosssa I had instead of the 512tr. I did pick up a 1988 testarossa with 71k miles for 65k last year to use as a restomod project.
This has happened with so many cars. The Toyota Supra, Buick GNX - Grand Nationals and even some of the Foxbody Mustangs have went way up in price. Yes they aren’t on the same level as a Countach but, people want the cars and dream cars of their youth.
Being one of the older Gen X kids, i too was a lover of these cars and in the late 80's i got the chance to drive one. Everything about it was exactly how i imagined it would be except for one issue. That issue was how close the pedals are to each other because of the footwell being pushed inward for clearance of the front tires and i kept hitting clutch/brake or brake/gas pedals. I finally just took off my shoes and drove in my socks and it was a whole different experience then. These cars are NOT "fluffy" friendly in any way shape or form but i still have a love for them.
would have really made some money ... for his ex to take away from him. If not for divorce and forced sale he would have continued to own them and been able to sell them, every one for one million plus.
There is a 1987 Countach in Queens, NY, never titled, with European bumpers, Red with Beige interior. I stored it for a while in my garage in Massapequa. I hear it may be worth close to a million today.
I live in the California desert about 1.5 hours east of L.A. In 2005 I started buying unwanted/miss-understood 1980 to 1992 Toyota, Mitsubishi Nissan etc 4x4’s and drive trains for pennies on the dollar. The only person supporting my crazy idea was my then girlfriend now wife, and my very patient parents. I started reaping my rewards and almost sold all of them except the Marty Mcfly ones.
Totally get it. When I saw that Countach and HEARD it in Cannonball, I was floored. Still to this day it's the coolest car I've ever seen. Nothing looks like it.
I don’t have too many regrets in life, however back in about 1998 I could’ve, should’ve bought a 1969 ? Dino for about $50k. They now sell in Australia if you can find one for about $1m. Not so much about the $ upside, just a life lesson in backing your gut feeling. If something speaks to you, if the beauty inspires you, and you move, do it.
Im 60 years old now and this is a very motivating story for me. I love Lamborghini cars as well, came from a not so humbled beginning back in Savannah Georgia and went in the US Army at 18 years old. Did 20 years of service, combat veteran and retired from the Army. I got in the car business after retiring and worked as a salesman for a local Honda dealership here in Atlanta, and without any sales experience, I became the best car salesman that dealership ever had. Won salesman of the month for 12 consecutive months my first year. As the time went on I was able to finally purchase my dream car back in 2019. It was a 2005 blue Lamborghini Gallardo e-gear with 26k miles on it. I was on cloud 9 just standing I'm my garage at my home sometimes just looking at it. Sometimes life has a tendency to set you back without warning and I ended up having to sell the car about a year later and it was a very sad day. I plan on retiring for good in 2 years at 62, and my goal is to reward myself with another blue Gallardo, and Lord willing, I'll make that dream come true again.
@DonRobinson-le6qp Thank you for sharing your story. First, I want to say I have the utmost respect for your service and the incredible journey you've been on. Your determination and success in both the Army and the car business are truly inspiring. Owning that Gallardo must have been a dream come true, and I know how much it means to have such a personal connection to a car like that. Life does throw us curveballs, but your resilience shows that you'll get back to where you want to be. I’m confident you’ll have that blue Gallardo in your garage again soon. Wishing you all the best on your journey, and I’m rooting for you! -Tony Rienzi.
A white with tan interior countach is the only one ive ridden in. It was a good 15 years ago at a dealer around winter park Fl that my father did busines with.
Also happening with g50 aircooled 911. Anything from 66 to 98 air cooled is going nuts. You have the naysayers, it won't last, bubble. However, prices continue to climb. The coupe has been the most desirable up until late. Look out for the targas!
I don’t always comment on these, but I just want to say that this is one of the best stories from a God-fearing man; and to tell the story the way you did, in a God centric way filled my heart. Great story!
😂 that made me lose all respect for him. I find it hilarious that you say sky daddy is so loving, yet you have to fear him. Heaven and hell aren't real champ, stop wasting your life following bullshit rules
@thesupergamer85 your parents love you, but if you break the rules you fear making them mad and getting in trouble. Not a foreign concept. Think of God as your Heavenly Father.
I remember them being £30,000 in the UK on Automart in the late 1980s but dont kid yourself, that would've been about the smallest cheque you'd write. Almost no -one makes proper money on cars if you take into account running and storage costs. Nick Mason maybe on his Ferrari 250 GTO
What do you do when you've done all? Ball, Cannonball. Its not what you do. Its how you do it. Be anything you want to be. Its not what you got. Its how you use it. You be you and I will be me. Its just a matter of style and you can't fake it. Famous words of Ray Stevens. The best intro ever! V12 baby Vrrrrm...
It is an age thing. I burn for a Countach. My Dad thought Rolls Royce's were status and luxury. I looked at him like he spit on me and said "Do you have to wear a top hat while driving that million-dollar car or I could buy four Lamborghini's for the for the same money?" I know what an easy choice that is.
rolls royce is still status and luxury tbh. its kinda come full circle. so many flexers these days in lamborghinis especially the urus. seeing someone in a rolls is much more rich vibes than a lambo. but im a 2000s baby and also thirsted over lambos, gallardo and murcielago
A very good buddy of mine owns (and works on) a BMW Isetta and a mid 1970's RR. He said that the used RR's from that era are very $ to maintain, which is why he does much of his own maintenance. The Citroen suspension leaves much to be desired also-John in Texas
Awesome story, awesome storyteller, awesome believer of how the Universe moves... Just wondering how John Temerian (who I'm a fan of) would have to say about Tony's insight on the Countach market. Cheers from Portugal
A pack of cigarettes is over $50 for a 20 pack in Australia, but now there is no such thing as a $300 banga to drive for a few months till it dies that $300 bang in 2019 is a $3,000 now in 2024.
It’s things like the Honda type r 2018 that are just cars now, but there are kids dreaming of it now and in 20 years they have the money for them and the price starts to go up And by then a lot of bern wrecked or trashed and the few good ones left start costing money It’s an endless cycle
Most naturally-aspirated, large displacement powered Italian exotics will see a generous return - the hybridization and electrification and forced induction overcomplicated new technology is a race to the bottom.
Ferrari 360 is on the floor they will start climbing soon. Toyota Land Cruiser J80 will be the next big restomod thing. Expect the 25 exemptions see impreza and evolution prices go nuts by the end of the decade And smart money will start stashing abosloutly jewl early 00’s cars, especially cult “gotta have one” no body else will think of like early V series caddies, dodge magnum with a hemi… so forth.
BEST LOOKING CAR EVER F**KING BUILT............ HANDS DOWN...... IT JUST TOOK TIME FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT WAS AND IS TO THIS DAY....... I seen on a video channel on TH-cam one for sales for 2 Mill........ White on cream and it had like 2,000 miles on it...... not a ding or scratch on it and factory paint..... and it has people going crazy for it.......
I've always wanted a Testarossa. I remember when I was 14-15, buying the occasional dupont registry when at the mall, watching the prices drop down to like 90k, then to 70k, and thinking, "man, one day this might be attainable.." but no luck on that... Maybe one day, if I become alot more successful..
Met a guy who had a 25th anniversary countache decently high millage car but in great shape he bought the darn thimg for 60k Canadian. Times have sure changed.
My friend Arnie bought the first Countach sold in Canada back in 1976. I drove it several times, and should have known it would be one of the best car investments ever. I also bought three Testarossa’s when they dropped to around $65k and like the dummy I am, sold them for a few thousand over what I paid after driving them about a year each. Several 308’s and 328’s later, I still did not grasp how special these cars would become. Some guys like this one, have a special vision, and see the forest thru the trees.
And the woman who almost ruined his life, was nothing but a huge headache for several years leading up to the divorce, him having to work 20 hour days just to make ends meet, and yet, she still took half the shit he worked for. Welcome to our BS system. This guy would have been a billionaire if he didn't have to go through years of that bull shit, but she got half because "she was there while he was working".
I wish I had the money to buy every late 80s and 90s civic, integras, crx, etc. Not just Honda but for example all that I could find with no rust lol it's coming! Also hire the best possible workers like Kindig and crush that with a sick shop! DREAMS... my father sold a BUNCH of Mopars 20-25 or so years ago before the same boom for example... "too soon, Junior"
I've been following Tony since 2012. Initially I followed the Countach but loved Tony's story. He's a huge inspiration, knows what's cool and he's an all around good, humble dude. He doesn't care to hob knob with that elitist mentality that comes with this territory.
I knew someone that had a black Countach (in NJ) back around 1997 for sale. He wanted $50,000 for it. I didn't have the money then (or now! ha!) but man, what an investment it would have been!!
hmm actually the reason why the prices stayed so low is because the car is a claustrophobic's nightmare to drive, has exceptionally hard to drive clutch and lack of power steering, and was very very basic in the simplest sense, and the diablo and the murcie were still in production or had good parts availability with the same power plant, now with fuel injection instead of carboration, and were much more reliable, and easier to run now its the lotus situation, where drivers want less and the poster boy of their youth, the real people who would be laughing now are the people who had the 92 diablo Vt's that didnt come with 4 wheel drive, so it had more space in the cabin, and was far more fun to drive, given you didnt have that stupid 4 wheel drive turning it into a plow problem is that interior is god awful, same with the Murcie, the countach was the last of the true connololy leather cars in wonderful wonderful colors and what matters to a child with more bank then sense as your gonna find in 5 or 10 years when the hype wears off and the internet E celebrity thing wears off, people are gonna dump these things in droves, and be buying alot, and I mean ALOT of stero equipment, as the average DB level of the car is about 88 DB as your driving around with the sports exhaust the required amount for hearing loss, is 85, and that was just at driving around at normal speeds like when a farmer, car enthusiast, magazine creator and car lover extrodinare drives his cars with ear plugs on, and even the factory is like what you drove that thing over 1500 miles from the UK to italy, Yourself for the 50th aniversary of lamborghini?! are you mad man?! you know its too damn loud lol as theirs a rule with countaches, the first hour is heaven, as your like wow I'm driving a countach, the next is, god I'm in hell as I'm driving a countach in america, and not on the autostrata where the thing was build and designed to sing and typically driven by puerto rican drug dealers, like that guy with the mercedes in running scared although unlike casey I wont say their slow and that they suck just because he got the wrong one, a countach fuel injection prototype that was slow thanks to them having to mild the cam to get it to work and them trying to figure out how to federalize them for importing which he even said in his own videos about the early 80's stuff vs the old carbed ones, and he never put two and two together despite owning and driving the frigging thing their awesome, but you better be ready for a work out and wearing hearing protection, and put some cameras on as you need it when backing up, unless you like hanging your ass out of it to back it up also make sure the air con is working and charged up, as most have leaked, and are still using the old stuff, which might explain why they thought those old things were adequate the old CFC's stuff that blew ice cold back in the day also the tires are always out of production, so you have to stock up when they DO come into production about once every 5 years, and the motor is made out of alumiumn and steel that wears the more stressed it gets so you really have to let it warm up before getting on it or your going to be spending well over a quarter of a million dollars just to get it to run right in service bill costs alone for a rose jointed, tubular chassis car, with no give, interior space, sound deadening, that uses a mix of carbon kevlar, steel and fiberglass for its body hence why 90% of the people who owned them said no to the servicing, and sold them onto the next poor sucker if they could even hear you ask the question in the first place also the gearbox parts from lamborghini are wrong and of the wrong part numbers too apparently, so expect that same noise that plagued harry's to plague yours for the next 20 years and that also applied to diablos as well, something I told hoovie about but never got a response with that silver one as I'm pretty sure it was making that very same noise from its gearbox that his was, which it apparently had been doing for 20 years already although I must admit I do find it funny that one of the three C's loves eating up the posers who cant handle it just like the cobra and the cuda, and just like both of those, if you buy this, you'd better be a damn good race car driver hence why Hal Needham CANCELED the cannonball run to stop his friend from driving the black one from the first cannonball run movie like the movie that made the car famous, is literally featuring the same car that CANCELED the cannonball run in the first place lol
In 1983 I was in the gray market car business and imported a blue Countach from Germany. I wish I could have kept that car but couldn't afford to own it. The import tag inside the door jamb to show who imported it says "Image Imports". If you've seen this car or own it I'd love to hear from you.
Great video! Back in the 70's when I was a teenager I would buy the SWAP sheet for 50 cents, and just lust after all these cars that were so inexpensive looking back! Cheers from the Finger Lakes!
I owned two LP5000Ss 15 yrs ago, back when they were $70k, and passed on one at $35k because it needed some work. Stupidly I sold both. Will never be able to get another now that they are $500k. :(
After Ed shared this story on Inspired Money, I had to watch it being told first hand. Amazing story of generational demand, price changes, and having faith!
How could anyone divorce this guy, he is a gem and seems a great person Jesus, I am a bloke and I am attracted to him...nothing to do with his Countachs, until 15 minutes ago I was straight as an arrow.
I remember back in the day Jay Leno commented you could buy the best Countach in the world for a hundred grand. He thought they were underpriced too. But the guys right, it’s a generational thing. 80’s cars are vintage now.
Yep remember how expensive a woodie was in the 90s? Car prices are generational
Yep, a lot of collectibles are like that...when people get older and have more disposable income they buy the things they wanted when they were young but couldn't afford. As they get older that market matures and eventually peaks, plateaus, and then will decline. Its already happened with boomers buying classics from the 50s...the market for those is way softer than it was 25 years ago.
The Countach never stopped being an icon. When I was a teenager in the 90s A lot of kids had moved on to the Diablo in terms of their obsession but to me the Countach was still cooler and always made me more excited. I have a bunch of photos from Italian car day at the Lars Anderson museum in Boston (Brookline, MA) with Lamborghini Countach(es) And my 2 top memories as a kid are the guy who used to go to the Car shows who was probably about 80 years old in the late 1980s, He would always be eating a bucket of KFC chicken and sitting in the car with the doors up... It was a black 5000. The other memory I have is of walking around downtown Boston was my parents in the mid-nineties and Right as we were walking past the Hancock tower a red 5000 rolled up to the curb and stopped, A bunch of people were staring at the car but mostly just Rubber necking as they were walking by but I instantly walked up to it & I was taking in all those beautiful lines,... just gawking at it as if it was s lunar eclipse or an SR71. Absolute core memory.
Someone should start hording gallardos and R8s
@@blackrippinpeople have manuals mostly
When he started buying these cars, they were truly sale-proof. Great insight and execution!
Like the f40s am sure...perhaps...maybe
Luv u Ed🤜🤛
Love these stories inspires me to keep pursuing my dream !
Watching this show gives me the true belief I will own a supercar b4 I die. ..
It was just like Realistate back then if you had the money to get in it and hold out for a little bit, you made millions!!!
100% on the 'previous generation', the guys with the 55 Chevys were absolutely obnoxious about anything made after 1980, they couldn't have gotten it more wrong.
Classic com up in value peak then the market dies "literally", and the next generation peaks.
The 55 guys should of know from when the model t buyers died.
Absolutely. The question is, what’s next? The 90s and 00s suuuuuucked for cars. I’m sure Diablos and Gallardos and any Ferraris will see an increase in price
It’s not just 55 Chevy guys, if you like pre 80 cars you’re probably not going to like post 80 cars. One day car guys will talk about obnoxious guys that don’t like anything post 2030.
yeah, but a 2006 F150 will never be desirable, the trucks looked cool in the 80s and 90s, after that, na
It's going to be the "performance" cars of the 90's and 00's next. Recently saw someone sell a 1994 RX7 for about 80k. They're going up. It's whatever the kids were dreaming of back then - now they're old enough to afford that dream car. Those mid-90's (E36?) M3 BMWs are going to skyrocket pretty soon as well.
I've had the great pleasure of knowing Tony for over twenty years. I was there to see this happen. In person. He was my first real exposure to exotic cars. He reads the market like a Sunday morning comic strip. He just KNOWS.
Moral of the story is that working 20 hour days makes you a ton of money but usually gets you a divorce. Great stories though!
That's a bit of hyperbole. No one person can work 20 hours a day, for any sustainable amount of time, not even Gary Vee. Maybe you can do it once in a while if there's a deadline, but that's only 4 hours for sleep and eating and showering, commuting, etc. No time for living a "balanced" life, spending time with your kids, your wife, doing errands, working out, reading, etc. Simply unrealistic. Tony, the guy in the video, says he had over 50 employees at one point. That's the secret to getting more hours in a day: delegate.
@@komoru but it's not Hyperbole. I have personally known people who are willing to work 20 hours a day, and do so regularly. It's not healthy and no one can do it forever, but when there is a ton of money to be made anyone can do it for a while. And that was the whole point of the comment, it is a completely unbalanced life and has lots of negative life consequences.
It's not the 20 hour days, its the average yank woman. You guys need to see what's available outside of the US...the type thats available in your country is truly bottom of the barrel which is one of the reasons your divorce rate is over 50%, that and the biased courts.
Moral of the story is that these people have no morals so for them money is their god and wife.
@@davidgalea6113 not many women in any country would last for a long time with a husband working 20 hour days, sorry.
So… don’t get married, because if you get a divorce, you’ll have to sell all your Lamborghinis
Yep, signing a state contract is moronic
If you have Lambos when you get married, make your partner sign a pre-nup.
Pretty much.
If you marry the wrong one.
Im single ,never sold ONE Lambo, NEVER will.
He is 100,000,000% more believable and likable than PJ ever was. This guy I believe.
If you actually knew him you probably wouldn’t believe him
I know him never bullshitted me. If you’re selling a high dollar car he will find a buyer.
Who is PJ?
@@cameronmcpherson6364 Guy that only wears Pajamas.
To an 80s kid, nothing was cooler than a Countach. Nothing. I remember my Countach trapper Keeper and the poster I had in my room.
Still have my Countach poster hidden away someplace I'm sure.
Me too, but my dad brought me the Vector Sidepanel sticker one day. Never put the sticker on anything and still have it!
I think the Delorean DMC12 and Detomaso Pantera were cooler. Sure they didn't exactly look like they could blast off into space like the wedge shaped Lambo but I bet the performance was probably on par.
All white one?
Really enjoying these 15+ minute videos. The longer format is better for sure, keep ‘em coming!
Yeah, this guy sounded like he had another 2+hrs of tales and they had to cut it down quite a bit to make it short an sweet.
Same thing is happening with the original NSXs. They got so cheap at one point, they became too attainable, that many started getting modded, wrecked, etc. Prices have climbed up dramatically in the last few years on nice, clean un-modded versions. Like he said, it's generational. Those kids in the 90's who loved NSX are now in their peak earning years, and if they got the money, want the dream car from their childhood and are willing to pay for them.
Yes but the prices climbed because so many were modded and taken out of the clean car market. One creates the other.
I know theres a clean nsx in Collinsville Oklahoma... The Bangladeshi owner of the Citgo on mainstreet has owned it since 1995.
Even NA Miatas are going up. They got really cheap, they got tastelessly modded and wrecked, and now clean ones are bringing good money.
@@bwofficial1776 They will go way up soon because they are good driving cars.
Same things with the ae86 I own both of them coupe and hatch bought it when I could because they are ridiculously priced
“There’s no way I can buy 14 of my dream cars” 😂
Same, I always wanted just one Countach, still drive a Dodge
The Countach never stopped being an icon. When I was a teenager in the 90s A lot of kids had moved on to the Diablo in terms of their obsession but to me the Countach was still cooler and always made me more excited. I have a bunch of photos from Italian car day at the Lars Anderson museum in Boston (Brookline, MA) with Lamborghini Countach(es) And my 2 top memories as a kid are the guy who used to go to the Car shows who was probably about 80 years old in the late 1980s, He would always be eating a bucket of KFC chicken and sitting in the car with the doors up... It was a black 5000. The other memory I have is of walking around downtown Boston was my parents in the mid-nineties and Right as we were walking past the Hancock tower a red 5000 rolled up to the curb and stopped, A bunch of people were staring at the car but mostly just Rubber necking as they were walking by but I instantly walked up to it & I was taking in all those beautiful lines,... just gawking at it as if it was s lunar eclipse or an SR71. Absolute core memory.
Mr. Bean was the 80 year old. I have that event on VHS. Did you see the champagne cooler he had next to the driver seat??
@@Mo-zm6hqI need to see this video now. Sounds hilarious.
In all these years I've seen a grand total of three of them. The first one stays in my mind forever - metallic turquoise, slowly cruising down George Street in Sydney on a Friday night.
"Because I can't afford 14 of my dream cars" is a very profound statement
Awesome story today, I like this guy. Thanks Tony & VinWiki.
The countach will always be someone’s dream. Even on my channel. I recorded a 1986. Dressed as a 1988. With real. OEM parts. Yes it is up for sale. Even with a few small things it needs. Just cosmetic. It’s still a great car to look at. Even just to sit in it. Poster dream accomplished
This is what I hear "I had 50 employees, but I wanted more money, so fuck the 50 employees"
Crazy part is 10k in apple stock would have made you 23 million same time frames.
Similar thing if you bought Amazon early or google back in 2005 and held onto it. The guy in the video is a smart guy and I'm sure he has other investments besides cars, including real estate. But that's not the point of this video.
could put it up his noise too
Pretty much. Stocks and luxury goods both go up simply due to currency devaluation.
If we're talking hypotheticals. You could have bought bitcoins when they were 5 cents each.
@@henrytang2203 Exactly. These simps are acting like they're geniuses when in fact pretty much everything went up in value due to zero percent interest rates over the past decade plus. The economy needs to crash and bring these people down a notch.
great story teller. didnt jump around. easy to follow. Thanks Ed another inspiring person. cheers
My craziest day working at the Maas Autowash (now Fuller's) carwash, driving a Countach onto the guide rails. I remember driving on the door sill while leaning out to make sure I didn't scrape the tires. The local import dealer brought in many cool cars to the carwash.
I’ve followed all the values of the cars he mentioned and sorry, but none of those values he mentioned check out…. Testarossa’s bottomed out at $50-55k for less than spectacular condition cars, and he claims he bought 10 of them for like $33k?! 👌
His 348/308 examples were only slightly less ridiculously off the mark. Not saying his story is complete BS but the passage of time has certainly had a severe impact on him remembering facts/data
Might be fudging a little to match his IRS paperwork lol...
Or he was buying from 2009- 2012, I found many great deals on Ferrari and Lamborghini in CA. I almost bought one until I noticed the running cost would bankrupt me ..
@@anthonye3680 yep great deals are one thing, deals that didn’t exist are another. I have followed the used Ferrari martlet for many decades…..they never got to the numbers he claims
Maybe thats the prices before the insane dealer markups, and you were looking at retail pricing... although this guy definitely gives off the vibes he exaggerates his stories.
He even said he had 80k sq ft facility and 51 employees but the screenshot they posted said 40 employees. 😂
Agreed, I was skeptical too. Not for runners, for sure. Any TR that sold for 30k was either a salvage title or gray market sketchy. Or a non-runner.
" I didn't come from this line of business, my father sold chevrolets" LOL, it's like saying I'm a surgeon, but my father was a general practitioner (family medicine or whatever in the us)
He started as out detailing cars. Did you watch the video?
"I was the apple of my dad's eye."
2 minutes later...
"I was the black sheep of the family."
“I don’t come from this line of business” making us think his dad was a blue collar welder, construction worker, or something like that. Literally the next sentence
“My dad sold chevys”
@@deevizm8035 I once had a client with a gorgeous compound on Lake Michigan tell me he was, "self made".
His proof was a black & white photo of himself as a teenager, working at his dad's supermarket.
Nepotism is often missed as a concept by the people that benefit from it.
He is a good story teller
@@kasen84 a good storyteller knows not to contradict their own statements.
Automatically makes me not believe anything else he says
I purchased 4 Testarossas when they were rock bottom, I paid 32k for the cheapest car and the most I paid was 62k for a euro spec 512tr.
I paid 35k for a 1989 25th anniversary countach that was a basket case from the widow of the original owner who started taking the car apart to restore it 10 years before he passed away. That car came from Flagstaff Arizona. I still own the Countach and I kept the euro spec 512tr. I wish I would have kept the 1991 testarosssa I had instead of the 512tr. I did pick up a 1988 testarossa with 71k miles for 65k last year to use as a restomod project.
I hope you have him back. I know he has more stories to tell...!
This has happened with so many cars. The Toyota Supra, Buick GNX - Grand Nationals and even some of the Foxbody Mustangs have went way up in price. Yes they aren’t on the same level as a Countach but, people want the cars and dream cars of their youth.
Being one of the older Gen X kids, i too was a lover of these cars and in the late 80's i got the chance to drive one. Everything about it was exactly how i imagined it would be except for one issue. That issue was how close the pedals are to each other because of the footwell being pushed inward for clearance of the front tires and i kept hitting clutch/brake or brake/gas pedals. I finally just took off my shoes and drove in my socks and it was a whole different experience then. These cars are NOT "fluffy" friendly in any way shape or form but i still have a love for them.
Jay Leno said he drives his the same way.
If he would have just held onto those cars a couple of years he would have really made some money 😂
would have really made some money ... for his ex to take away from him. If not for divorce and forced sale he would have continued to own them and been able to sell them, every one for one million plus.
There is a 1987 Countach in Queens, NY, never titled, with European bumpers, Red with Beige interior. I stored it for a while in my garage in Massapequa. I hear it may be worth close to a million today.
What a fantastic story of a kids wish.. how can you not be anything but smiles after having this knowledge.. 👍 Excellent!!!
I live in the California desert about 1.5 hours east of L.A. In 2005 I started buying unwanted/miss-understood 1980 to 1992 Toyota, Mitsubishi Nissan etc 4x4’s and drive trains for pennies on the dollar. The only person supporting my crazy idea was my then girlfriend now wife, and my very patient parents. I started reaping my rewards and almost sold all of them except the Marty Mcfly ones.
What a great story..I can remember when Testarossas were $70k. Nobody wanted them.. different story today.
That was awesome. Lived in Philly for 25 years. God bless.
Dealer: You can’t sell these cars for 100000+
Tony: hold my beer
Love that he gives glory to God for guiding him to achieve his dreams!
God definitely loves giving some people Lamborghini's and letting others struggle to find food.
Sky daddy didn't do shit!
I love that he went all-in and bought dozens of these, knowing they were awesome and people would come around on them.
Awesome!! Love to hear him giving God the glory for the timing and his success! Great story!
Totally get it. When I saw that Countach and HEARD it in Cannonball, I was floored. Still to this day it's the coolest car I've ever seen. Nothing looks like it.
I don’t have too many regrets in life, however back in about 1998 I could’ve, should’ve bought a 1969 ? Dino for about $50k. They now sell in Australia if you can find one for about $1m. Not so much about the $ upside, just a life lesson in backing your gut feeling. If something speaks to you, if the beauty inspires you, and you move, do it.
Im 60 years old now and this is a very motivating story for me. I love Lamborghini cars as well, came from a not so humbled beginning back in Savannah Georgia and went in the US Army at 18 years old. Did 20 years of service, combat veteran and retired from the Army. I got in the car business after retiring and worked as a salesman for a local Honda dealership here in Atlanta, and without any sales experience, I became the best car salesman that dealership ever had. Won salesman of the month for 12 consecutive months my first year. As the time went on I was able to finally purchase my dream car back in 2019. It was a 2005 blue Lamborghini Gallardo e-gear with 26k miles on it. I was on cloud 9 just standing I'm my garage at my home sometimes just looking at it. Sometimes life has a tendency to set you back without warning and I ended up having to sell the car about a year later and it was a very sad day. I plan on retiring for good in 2 years at 62, and my goal is to reward myself with another blue Gallardo, and Lord willing, I'll make that dream come true again.
@DonRobinson-le6qp Thank you for sharing your story. First, I want to say I have the utmost respect for your service and the incredible journey you've been on. Your determination and success in both the Army and the car business are truly inspiring. Owning that Gallardo must have been a dream come true, and I know how much it means to have such a personal connection to a car like that. Life does throw us curveballs, but your resilience shows that you'll get back to where you want to be. I’m confident you’ll have that blue Gallardo in your garage again soon. Wishing you all the best on your journey, and I’m rooting for you! -Tony Rienzi.
A white with tan interior countach is the only one ive ridden in. It was a good 15 years ago at a dealer around winter park Fl that my father did busines with.
Love this guy. Can we get more videos?
Also happening with g50 aircooled 911. Anything from 66 to 98 air cooled is going nuts. You have the naysayers, it won't last, bubble. However, prices continue to climb. The coupe has been the most desirable up until late. Look out for the targas!
Truly a "salt of the earth" guy! I can totally relate with that whole posters on the wall thing, too. Great story!
I don’t always comment on these, but I just want to say that this is one of the best stories from a God-fearing man; and to tell the story the way you did, in a God centric way filled my heart. Great story!
😂 that made me lose all respect for him. I find it hilarious that you say sky daddy is so loving, yet you have to fear him. Heaven and hell aren't real champ, stop wasting your life following bullshit rules
@thesupergamer85 your parents love you, but if you break the rules you fear making them mad and getting in trouble. Not a foreign concept. Think of God as your Heavenly Father.
@@thesupergamer85 damn who hurt you?
The most important thing he said was getting rid of 50 employees then becoming a trader with an auction prep cash cow - great guy great story ❤
I remember them being £30,000 in the UK on Automart in the late 1980s but dont kid yourself, that would've been about the smallest cheque you'd write. Almost no -one makes proper money on cars if you take into account running and storage costs. Nick Mason maybe on his Ferrari 250 GTO
What do you do when you've done all? Ball, Cannonball. Its not what you do. Its how you do it. Be anything you want to be. Its not what you got. Its how you use it. You be you and I will be me. Its just a matter of style and you can't fake it. Famous words of Ray Stevens. The best intro ever! V12 baby Vrrrrm...
It is an age thing. I burn for a Countach. My Dad thought Rolls Royce's were status and luxury. I looked at him like he spit on me and said "Do you have to wear a top hat while driving that million-dollar car or I could buy four Lamborghini's for the for the same money?" I know what an easy choice that is.
rolls royce is still status and luxury tbh. its kinda come full circle. so many flexers these days in lamborghinis especially the urus. seeing someone in a rolls is much more rich vibes than a lambo. but im a 2000s baby and also thirsted over lambos, gallardo and murcielago
A very good buddy of mine owns (and works on) a BMW Isetta and a mid 1970's RR. He said that the used RR's from that era are very $ to maintain, which is why he does much of his own maintenance. The Citroen suspension leaves much to be desired also-John in Texas
I get it. I had the poster. I know the feelings/passion you describe as a kid about that car. Thanks for the story!
Awesome story, awesome storyteller, awesome believer of how the Universe moves... Just wondering how John Temerian (who I'm a fan of) would have to say about Tony's insight on the Countach market. Cheers from Portugal
I remember buying English Ford Cortina parts from a car dealer at his home in 1977. He showed me the backyard. It was full of ‘65 Mustangs.
How down to earth can you be? Hats off to this guy
Sold my Downdraft Countach in 1999, long before the price rise. Glad I got to enjoy it for many years and be part of it's history.
I was born way too late… no more cheap cool cars, no more houses for a pack of cigarettes no more good music
There are even more. You just have to see them. There is always a future for dreams.
If you were born in that time period, you would have died from lung cancer or heart disease.
A pack of cigarettes is over $50 for a 20 pack in Australia, but now there is no such thing as a $300 banga to drive for a few months till it dies that $300 bang in 2019 is a $3,000 now in 2024.
It’s things like the Honda type r 2018 that are just cars now, but there are kids dreaming of it now and in 20 years they have the money for them and the price starts to go up
And by then a lot of bern wrecked or trashed and the few good ones left start costing money
It’s an endless cycle
What car do you think is the next to pop in value?
F12
Long shot but I think 1st gen vipers will see a big increase. It’s the 90s equivalent of a AC cobra.
Most naturally-aspirated, large displacement powered Italian exotics will see a generous return - the hybridization and electrification and forced induction overcomplicated new technology is a race to the bottom.
Ferrari 360 is on the floor they will start climbing soon.
Toyota Land Cruiser J80 will be the next big restomod thing.
Expect the 25 exemptions see impreza and evolution prices go nuts by the end of the decade
And smart money will start stashing abosloutly jewl early 00’s cars, especially cult “gotta have one” no body else will think of like early V series caddies, dodge magnum with a hemi… so forth.
Not the next but the 458 will be a collector car in the relatively near future.
BEST LOOKING CAR EVER F**KING BUILT............ HANDS DOWN...... IT JUST TOOK TIME FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT WAS AND IS TO THIS DAY....... I seen on a video channel on TH-cam one for sales for 2 Mill........ White on cream and it had like 2,000 miles on it...... not a ding or scratch on it and factory paint..... and it has people going crazy for it.......
The man's a character. I just remember that old video of his detailing the red Countach with the emotional music, etc. It was pretty cool.
That's why vintage restored Bronco's are 250k. Insane. Nice job 👍
Great story and a nice guy. 2012 wasn't even that long ago and now those cars are $1.5 million and more.
Wow, this was mind-blowing! Thanks for the insight.
Hey... awesome story and its awesome to hear him give the glory to God...love that
Putting cars and money first in his life, yeah I'm sure God is happy for him
Tony- you are the man! Great business passion.
My favorite car is the Countach.
Keep up the great work!
I've always wanted a Testarossa. I remember when I was 14-15, buying the occasional dupont registry when at the mall, watching the prices drop down to like 90k, then to 70k, and thinking, "man, one day this might be attainable.." but no luck on that...
Maybe one day, if I become alot more successful..
Amazing stories Tony, just amazing!
Met a guy who had a 25th anniversary countache decently high millage car but in great shape he bought the darn thimg for 60k Canadian. Times have sure changed.
This guy is awesome and I have to say I am very happy for him - I too thought Countach's and Testarossa's were underpriced after the financial crisis.
I've said it a million times if I've said it once. Be careful what you wish for. If you set your mind to it, it will happen.
I remember a Honda accord was $21,000 and a used Muria was going for about $18k. Would have should have . He did hope you still have one to drive
Damn! This guy hit the market at the right time. I always say i wish i knew these cars would skyrocket in value
Everyone knew we just didn’t have the money for a 100k lambo
Of course they were going to go up they were the holy grail poster car.
It was bound to happen
@@VenomRoadRacing been saying this, everyone knew it for years just not everyone had 3 million aside to invest in countaches lol or we all would’ve
@@StarWarsReels Capital is everything.
Auto tempest was around back then?
I caught that too. I didn’t get the warm and fuzzy feeling from this guy that everyone else did.
@@peejayhartthey started in 2008 if you google it
I believe it was called searchtempest iirc, and was used primarily for cars.
I had the countach poster on my wall as a teen. Still love the car to this day and I'm 54.
What a great story, and what seems to be a down-to-earth nice guy. Happy for his success.
My friend Arnie bought the first Countach sold in Canada back in 1976. I drove it several times, and should have known it would be one of the best car investments ever. I also bought three Testarossa’s when they dropped to around $65k and like the dummy I am, sold them for a few thousand over what I paid after driving them about a year each. Several 308’s and 328’s later, I still did not grasp how special these cars would become. Some guys like this one, have a special vision, and see the forest thru the trees.
Cars were exotic. Nowadays more cars and rarer cars exists but Indimt feel them are as special as classic cars, I mean those ones that set an era
This guy was way late. I remember in the mid 90s being so tempted to get a countach. They were readily available around $30k.
And the woman who almost ruined his life, was nothing but a huge headache for several years leading up to the divorce, him having to work 20 hour days just to make ends meet, and yet, she still took half the shit he worked for. Welcome to our BS system. This guy would have been a billionaire if he didn't have to go through years of that bull shit, but she got half because "she was there while he was working".
Good for this guy. Hard worker, takes pride and SMART! I can’t imagine having 14 Countach’s. Awesome.
I wish I had the money to buy every late 80s and 90s civic, integras, crx, etc. Not just Honda but for example all that I could find with no rust lol it's coming! Also hire the best possible workers like Kindig and crush that with a sick shop! DREAMS... my father sold a BUNCH of Mopars 20-25 or so years ago before the same boom for example... "too soon, Junior"
I've been following Tony since 2012. Initially I followed the Countach but loved Tony's story. He's a huge inspiration, knows what's cool and he's an all around good, humble dude. He doesn't care to hob knob with that elitist mentality that comes with this territory.
What a guy. What a story. There's Someone watching over him.
one of the best episodes to date! i need this guy to collab with Curated!
I knew someone that had a black Countach (in NJ) back around 1997 for sale. He wanted $50,000 for it. I didn't have the money then (or now! ha!) but man, what an investment it would have been!!
hmm actually the reason why the prices stayed so low is because the car is a claustrophobic's nightmare to drive, has exceptionally hard to drive clutch and lack of power steering, and was very very basic in the simplest sense, and the diablo and the murcie were still in production or had good parts availability with the same power plant, now with fuel injection instead of carboration, and were much more reliable, and easier to run
now its the lotus situation, where drivers want less and the poster boy of their youth, the real people who would be laughing now are the people who had the 92 diablo Vt's that didnt come with 4 wheel drive, so it had more space in the cabin, and was far more fun to drive, given you didnt have that stupid 4 wheel drive turning it into a plow
problem is that interior is god awful, same with the Murcie, the countach was the last of the true connololy leather cars in wonderful wonderful colors
and what matters to a child with more bank then sense
as your gonna find in 5 or 10 years when the hype wears off and the internet E celebrity thing wears off, people are gonna dump these things in droves,
and be buying alot, and I mean ALOT of stero equipment, as the average DB level of the car is about 88 DB as your driving around with the sports exhaust
the required amount for hearing loss, is 85, and that was just at driving around at normal speeds
like when a farmer, car enthusiast, magazine creator and car lover extrodinare drives his cars with ear plugs on, and even the factory is like what
you drove that thing over 1500 miles from the UK to italy, Yourself for the 50th aniversary of lamborghini?! are you mad man?!
you know its too damn loud lol
as theirs a rule with countaches, the first hour is heaven, as your like wow I'm driving a countach, the next is, god I'm in hell as I'm driving a countach in america, and not on the autostrata where the thing was build and designed to sing
and typically driven by puerto rican drug dealers, like that guy with the mercedes in running scared
although unlike casey I wont say their slow and that they suck just because he got the wrong one, a countach fuel injection prototype that was slow thanks to them having to mild the cam to get it to work and them trying to figure out how to federalize them for importing
which he even said in his own videos about the early 80's stuff vs the old carbed ones, and he never put two and two together despite owning and driving the frigging thing
their awesome, but you better be ready for a work out and wearing hearing protection, and put some cameras on as you need it when backing up, unless you like hanging your ass out of it to back it up
also make sure the air con is working and charged up, as most have leaked, and are still using the old stuff, which might explain why they thought those old things were adequate
the old CFC's stuff that blew ice cold back in the day
also the tires are always out of production, so you have to stock up when they DO come into production about once every 5 years, and the motor is made out of alumiumn and steel that wears the more stressed it gets so you really have to let it warm up before getting on it
or your going to be spending well over a quarter of a million dollars just to get it to run right in service bill costs alone
for a rose jointed, tubular chassis car, with no give, interior space, sound deadening, that uses a mix of carbon kevlar, steel and fiberglass for its body
hence why 90% of the people who owned them said no to the servicing, and sold them onto the next poor sucker if they could even hear you ask the question in the first place
also the gearbox parts from lamborghini are wrong and of the wrong part numbers too apparently, so expect that same noise that plagued harry's to plague yours for the next 20 years
and that also applied to diablos as well, something I told hoovie about but never got a response with that silver one
as I'm pretty sure it was making that very same noise from its gearbox that his was, which it apparently had been doing for 20 years already
although I must admit I do find it funny that one of the three C's loves eating up the posers who cant handle it
just like the cobra and the cuda, and just like both of those, if you buy this, you'd better be a damn good race car driver
hence why Hal Needham CANCELED the cannonball run to stop his friend from driving the black one from the first cannonball run movie
like the movie that made the car famous, is literally featuring the same car that CANCELED the cannonball run in the first place lol
In 1983 I was in the gray market car business and imported a blue Countach from Germany. I wish I could have kept that car but couldn't afford to own it. The import tag inside the door jamb to show who imported it says "Image Imports". If you've seen this car or own it I'd love to hear from you.
Great video! Back in the 70's when I was a teenager I would buy the SWAP sheet for 50 cents, and just lust after all these cars that were so inexpensive looking back! Cheers from the Finger Lakes!
I owned two LP5000Ss 15 yrs ago, back when they were $70k, and passed on one at $35k because it needed some work. Stupidly I sold both. Will never be able to get another now that they are $500k. :(
If he was the countach king and knew the market so well, he would have waited to sell them till they were a million each and made 12 mill not 3mill.
wow great story !!!!! cheers from miami
Saw this coming with the Porsche 964. At one time they were 20k, now close to 6 figures for a decent 1.
That's why I've invested everything in the Skyline GTR market 📈
Im the black sheep of my family respect brother from England
This man is not a salesman...
...he's a conservationist with a profit margin.
Id like to have been friends with this dude during that time , how awesome it must have been having all the Countachs
Great content loved his passion
“Its a family business, im the youngest of 4. Everybody was working for me”
Nobody was working for you lmao
This video truly felt very short. I very much enjoyed it. Thank you.
After Ed shared this story on Inspired Money, I had to watch it being told first hand. Amazing story of generational demand, price changes, and having faith!
Makes me regret being poor. I wanted a few of them when they were cheap but I couldn’t afford a $2000 car let alone a at the time $20k countach.
How could anyone divorce this guy, he is a gem and seems a great person Jesus, I am a bloke and I am attracted to him...nothing to do with his Countachs, until 15 minutes ago I was straight as an arrow.