|
Particular Jarama #10684 Even if I was focusing on my #10522 tale, I’ve been so intrigued by an add on www.mobile.de in beginning 2004 : “Jarama S for sale, limited production of 5.0 litre engine was done post production”. Belonging to Harry van Bakel – the Netherlands in 2004, this particular Jarama GTS sustained my breath over 5 weeks until I changed my mind and didn’t buy it. That kind of Jarama was slightly reaching the Bob Wallace Special in another way, so after exchanging many emails with the middleman I took a purchasing option on the car and went to Harry ‘s place to discover it. The old man, suffering from cancer, was selling all his Lambos & Maseratis, many cars were standing in a small workshop. Yes the car was pretty nice, its price was too…for something that I wasn’t sure to believe. The immediate detail jumping to my eye was the Weber carbs : 45 DCOE. Driving it after Harry warmed it up in traffic jam, its engine was smooth with lots of torque in lower rpm compared to a standard GTS. I didn’t push it in higher rpm respecting Harry ‘s recommendations. My problem was to get a factory confirmation that 5.0 litre engine was really fitted at Sant’ Agata Bolognese and not later by someone else. Valentino Balboni reply was forwarded to me : Yes, 5 cars were post production built with some special specifications. But he wrote also all Jarama left factory with 4.0 litre engine. There is no statement recorded about these cars… the following letter is clarifying only as “custom-built” model
Therefore with the lack of official confirmations, I declined my purchasing option and continued my #10522 quest. Later, Harry posted me a letter in order to draw my attention on his last Jarama for sale #10182, that didn’t catch my interest. Actually that very nice 400 GT is for sale at www.maranello.nl Harry passed away in 2006, all guys who met Harry should remember him as a true Lambo enthusiast and a good story teller.
Recently, I have noticed an add in “Lambo’s roar” Australian Lambo Club magazine, April 2000 issue where it was offered for sale in New Zeeland. But in fact, it was advertised by Hans in NZ, one of Harry's friends. #10684 belongs since June 2004 to a clever man in the Netherlands. Here is his owner ‘s report : “Of course Harry had a lot of stories about the car. Telling me that a previous owner was some Sheik from the Middle East. I can not verify if that story is true. But Harry also claimed that it was a 5.0 litre Jarama, and that is true! During the complete rebuild of the engine, we found out that it was indeed a 4,7 litre Countach 5000 S engine. And it was an engine without a #number, it was completely blank. So, the engine was directly bought from the factory (at least that is my assumption) or it was installed at the beginning. There are stories that say that after the production of the Jarama was stopped still some Jarama (5x cars) were produced. They used all kind of components they could find in the store. My Jarama is a strange one. The engine is from the Countach 5000s, the bumpers are black and are from a 400GT (not the S type), also the antenna is black and not chrome, the ignition is an electronic one (like on Countach), the carbs are 45mm (according to the Countach specs), Jarama also has an oil cooler. There is an extra oil-pump mounted on one of the camshafts like on the LM002 (for use in the dessert). I invested a lot of work and money in this Jarama. I started with all the technical stuff: 1. Complete rebuild of the engine; 2. Gearbox (new synchromesh, new plates); 3. Radiator is a racing aluminium block now, and the cooling is perfect, no more high temperatures in some occasions; 4. Cooling fans (Spal); 5. Michelin XWX tires (225) 6. A lot of small parts : temperature sensor, fuel tube, speedometer (also that small thing mounted near the left wheel (www.eurospares.co.uk)), and a lot more.”
2007 Copyright by Jaramaregistry - N Club Sport - NCS |
