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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
“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 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.
" 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)
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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 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'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..
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 RUclips 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.......
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.
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...
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!!
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 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.
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
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!
I never saw Cannonball Run. I was born in 90. But I played the hell out of Need 4 Speed 3 and 4 on the Playstation 1 at my aunt and uncles house. Those games had the last versions of the Countach and my dad knew what that car was. I would take that or the Diablo and we would play split screen where one of us was the cop and the other was trying to get away. It was the best. And the Countach, Mercialgo, and Ferarri F50 have always been my halo lottery cars because of that. Basically my Cannonball run poster cars from 1999-2001 days. Love you dad.
I looked all over during the time period he refers to, I NEVER saw a car in the price range he talks about. Only cheap one was a Dino that sold for $36k needed engine work, paint, upholstery; at the time with perfect restoration maybe $80k and 100k with low miles mint unrestored (400k probably now.) He had access to people I didn't, good for him.
Yes, there was a time to capitalize on this when the internet was still considered "too new" and "too risky" by baby boomers and older folks who were used to selling in traditional media like classified ads. I also remember seeing ads for Ferrari F40's for under $500k and thinking they were great buys, but not too many folks have Leno type of money and nor can many people afford to sit on that money for 10+ years while the prices appreciate.
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.
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!!!
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.
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.
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.
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.
Awesome story today, I like this guy. Thanks Tony & VinWiki.
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.
"Because I can't afford 14 of my dream cars" is a very profound statement
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?
great story teller. didnt jump around. easy to follow. Thanks Ed another inspiring person. cheers
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.
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
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.
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.
“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 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
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.
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.
What a fantastic story of a kids wish.. how can you not be anything but smiles after having this knowledge.. 👍 Excellent!!!
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.
I love that he went all-in and bought dozens of these, knowing they were awesome and people would come around on them.
That was awesome. Lived in Philly for 25 years. God bless.
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.
I hope you have him back. I know he has more stories to tell...!
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.
"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 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.
" 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?
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.
How down to earth can you be? Hats off to this guy
Dealer: You can’t sell these cars for 100000+
Tony: hold my beer
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.
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!
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.
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.
Truly a "salt of the earth" guy! I can totally relate with that whole posters on the wall thing, too. Great story!
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.
I get it. I had the poster. I know the feelings/passion you describe as a kid about that car. Thanks for the story!
Love this guy. Can we get more videos?
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.
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.
Wow, this was mind-blowing! Thanks for the insight.
What a great story, and what seems to be a down-to-earth nice guy. Happy for his success.
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.
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
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.
Great story and a nice guy. 2012 wasn't even that long ago and now those cars are $1.5 million and more.
I had the countach poster on my wall as a teen. Still love the car to this day and I'm 54.
That's why vintage restored Bronco's are 250k. Insane. Nice job 👍
What a great story..I can remember when Testarossas were $70k. Nobody wanted them.. different story today.
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.
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
Awesome!! Love to hear him giving God the glory for the timing and his success! Great story!
What a guy. What a story. There's Someone watching over him.
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.
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’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 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?
Good for this guy. Hard worker, takes pride and SMART! I can’t imagine having 14 Countach’s. Awesome.
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..
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 RUclips 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.......
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.
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...
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!!
This is what I hear "I had 50 employees, but I wanted more money, so fuck the 50 employees"
Amazing stories Tony, just amazing!
This guy was way late. I remember in the mid 90s being so tempted to get a countach. They were readily available around $30k.
Saw this coming with the Porsche 964. At one time they were 20k, now close to 6 figures for a decent 1.
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
Every kid in the 80s either had poster of a countach or testerossa
This man is not a salesman...
...he's a conservationist with a profit margin.
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!
Tony- you are the man! Great business passion.
My favorite car is the Countach.
Keep up the great work!
This was a beautiful story man very smart dude
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.
Id like to have been friends with this dude during that time , how awesome it must have been having all the Countachs
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
wow great story !!!!! cheers from miami
That's about right: buy low sell high. Awesome coverage, Team VinWiki 👍🏼
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!
I never saw Cannonball Run. I was born in 90. But I played the hell out of Need 4 Speed 3 and 4 on the Playstation 1 at my aunt and uncles house. Those games had the last versions of the Countach and my dad knew what that car was. I would take that or the Diablo and we would play split screen where one of us was the cop and the other was trying to get away. It was the best. And the Countach, Mercialgo, and Ferarri F50 have always been my halo lottery cars because of that. Basically my Cannonball run poster cars from 1999-2001 days.
Love you dad.
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
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
What a Great story! Did it your way Brother!
My goodness this guy loves to tell you how amazing he is.
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.
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.
I looked all over during the time period he refers to, I NEVER saw a car in the price range he talks about. Only cheap one was a Dino that sold for $36k needed engine work, paint, upholstery; at the time with perfect restoration maybe $80k and 100k with low miles mint unrestored (400k probably now.) He had access to people I didn't, good for him.
Yes, there was a time to capitalize on this when the internet was still considered "too new" and "too risky" by baby boomers and older folks who were used to selling in traditional media like classified ads. I also remember seeing ads for Ferrari F40's for under $500k and thinking they were great buys, but not too many folks have Leno type of money and nor can many people afford to sit on that money for 10+ years while the prices appreciate.
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.
one of the best episodes to date! i need this guy to collab with Curated!
This video truly felt very short. I very much enjoyed it. Thank you.
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.
Awesome bro! God bless you man!
“Its a family business, im the youngest of 4. Everybody was working for me”
Nobody was working for you lmao
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.
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.