Top Hits from the Gas Monkey Garage at the Barrett-Jackson Northeast Auction
June 14, 2016
Posted by Barrett-Jackson
Written by independent automotive journalist Steve Magnante
This 1989 Lamborghini Countach 25th Anniversary Edition (Lot #638) will be among the dozen cars that Gas Monkey Garage’s Richard Rawlings will be bringing to the Northeast Auction block.
“Get you some of that!” If you watch TV, you know those words are part of a national Dodge Challenger and Charger advertising campaign starring Gas Monkey Garage boss, transcontinental road rally warrior and all-around automotive TV sensation Richard Rawlings. Connecting with audiences of all ages with his hip attitude and rebel yell, Rawlings’ Gas Monkey Garage has been a regular consigner – and buyer – at Barrett-Jackson for several years.
Here are two machines from the Gas Monkey Garage that will cross the auction block on Saturday, June 25 in search of new homes. And there’s not a Dodge among ’em. That’s because Gas Monkey loves all cars. First up is Lot #638, a sleek, sinister 1989 Lamborghini Countach 25th Anniversary Edition that was purchased brand-new on October 30, 1990, from authorized Lamborghini dealer F.C. Kerbeck & Sons in Palmyra, N.J.
Presented in virtually all-original condition, including the Window Sticker, Bill of Sale, all purchase paperwork, payment check stubs, factory tool pouch, tire jack, insurance paperwork and all service records to 2015, this one-owner example has been respectfully driven, protected and maintained by the same man since new.
And while any 1974-1990 Countach is a brilliant blend of technology, excitement and art, the 25th Anniversary Edition – built to celebrate Lamborghini’s first quarter-century – was the most popular member of the Countach family, with sales of 657 units. As the final version of the Countach produced before being superseded by the Diablo, the 25th Anniversary was the ultimate evolution of the model and featured engine cooling that was a big improvement over its predecessor, the 5000QV. Cockpit comfort was also enhanced via upgraded air conditioning system for these final-round icons.
A matching-numbers example with its factory-installed 414 horsepower 5167cc V12, 5-speed manual gearbox and massive four-wheel disc brakes, the 25th Anniversary Edition is said to be the most refined Countach, and with its more streamlined air intake ducts, it is also the most rapid, hitting 0-60 in 4.7 seconds and topping out at 183 mph.
One-owner cars — regardless of make — are very special discoveries. One-owner Lamborghinis stand above all others, and this 25th Anniversary Edition has been lovingly enjoyed. It has a clean CARFAX report and would stand proud at the country club, boulevard or exotic car show.
Another headliner in the Gas Monkey collection headed to Connecticut is this 2005 Ford GT Custom Coupe (Lot #643) – also known as the GMGT, or Gas Monkey GT.
The second Gas Monkey offering is a very special car that was driven when it shouldn’t have been. Confused? Let’s explain. Longtime viewers of Rawling’s “Fast N’ Loud” hit TV show on Discovery will recognize Lot #643 as the Gas Monkey GT (GMGT), a 2005 Ford GT Rawlings and his business partner Dennis Collins featured on not one, but two episodes of the show. Apparently the exotic Ford supercar was being serviced at another garage when a mechanic took it for a spin and accidently stuffed it against a solid object.
The car’s CARFAX Report says the unfortunate crunch happened on April 20, 2012. When it arrived on the Gas Monkey set, the guys figured they could repair the damage and flip it. Well, if you saw the show, one thing led to another and by the time the dust settled, the GMGT was born. Completely revived and ready for road and race track use, Aaron Kaufman and the Gas Monkey team took it even further than stock with a set of MMR cams specially ground to let the 5.4-cammer make the most of the upsized Whipple 4.0-liter supercharger. The stock Ford exhaust manifolds gave way to a set of Borla long tube headers. With horsepower elevated to 808, attention was then focused on improving handling.
As if the GT’s stock cornering and braking prowess wasn’t enough, RideTech helped design a unique air suspension for the car that allows various ride height settings without any compromise in handling. The stock four-wheel disc brakes were also replaced in favor of oversized Brembo units, and then one-off staggered-offset 20” and 21” (front / rear) forged aluminum rims from HRE were wrapped in supercar rubber.
The cool thing about the GMGT is how you can show all your friends the many modifications and improvements just by watching reruns of the two episodes of “Fast N’ Loud” on which it was featured. And being a Ford GT, one of the current darlings of the collector car world, you’ll be the center of attention wherever you go. Think about it: when you buy a car, you also buy the car’s story. With connections to one of the most successful automotive reality shows, these “Fast N’ Loud” Gas Monkey Garage offerings would be prized in anybody’s garage. Why not yours?
For up-to-date information on these and other vehicles on the Northeast Auction docket, click HERE.