Along with being one of the UK’s most successful singers and a known party boy, Sir Rod Stewart is also a car lover. The man behind hits “Maggie May” and “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” has a massive collection and has owned not one, but three Lamborghini Countachs throughout his life. His first is one of the most revered – the Lamborghini Countach LP400.
Nicknamed the “Periscope” for its periscope-like mirror installed into the rooftop to provide rear visibility, only 157 of these Lambos were made. This particular model found its way to Australia in 1977 at the behest of Lamborghini concessionaire, Tony De Fina.
While touring Australia, Stewart happened to come across the car in the Lambo dealership and decided he must have it. He kept the car in his Sydney studio while recording the album Blondes Have More Fun. He then had the car shipped to his home in the UK at the end of his tour.
Finished in Rosso with a Tobacco brown interior, the car eventually found its way to Stewart’s American home in Beverly Hills. Here it was slightly modified, with Stewart adding wide Gotti wheels and fitting a mini-rear spoiler. He later updated the front and rear spoilers and added wheelarch extensions.
The Lamo was flown back to the UK in 1987 and registered as “RMK 651R”, with the “R” added to reflect its 1977 build year. Stewart eventually sold the LP400 in 2002. The new owner completely overhauled the engine and converted it from left-hand drive to right-hand drive.
The current owner took possession of the sports car in 2013. It’s been given a cosmetic makeover, with the Rosso paint touched up, retrimming the cabin in magnolia, and finishing the wheels in gold.
All restoration and authenticity documents are included with the sale, while there are hundreds of photos of the Periscope from over the years for anyone who doubts Rocking Rod once owned this beautiful automobile.
This truly is a special car and one any Lamborghini collector would love to have in their collection.
For more details about the sale visit RM Sotheby’s.
