Maserati Khamsin

This is probably the article:
http://www.autolife.se/page/28575/?MessageStart=11

Henrik

 

Thanks Henrik but...det fattas minst en sida (at least a page is missing: 19) Magnus had sent it to me at the time and the page was missing then too: will have to contact Automobil and get an issue when I have a minute.


best regards,

Marc

 

I had forgotten about that photo of 1156 kindly supplied by Magnus! It is in post 638 page 32 (a good excuse to go foraging deep in the thread and much more fun than reposting it here

best regards,

Marc

 

To be clear that article shows a US car so it can not be 398 and I beleive it is 1134.

best regards,

Marc

 

You´re right, I didn't notice that before. However, it is only part of the picture that is missing. The text follows through from p14 to p16.
I might still have a copy of this magazine in my parents house. Will check next time i visit. This article was actually was first sparked my interest in Maserati in general and Khamsin in particular.

Best regards

Henrik

 

Hello Henrik:

Look forward to seeing the complete article eventually: thanks!

Amazing how an article can strike you at a young age: for me I think it was this one:

http://www.maseratikhamsinregistry.com/art_201.html

in France's L'Automobile Magazine: despite the poor photography and the unusual orange color I still have the copy all fossilized decades later!

best regards/halsningar,

Marc

 

Since last here, I have had 1222 on the road a couple of times, enjoying the last of the swedish summer. I have also taken a thorough look at the interior. As you pointed out before, it is ofcourse impossible to know for certain, but this is my conclusion about the interor on 1222:
I am quite sure that the leather is original. Parts of the driver seat has been changed, but all other is well maintained, but old. The carpets however, may well have been changed. If this is true, the pictures of the car in all black could well be correct. Only questionmark is how the strange pinstriping was removed, as the black part of the paint is original.
/Henrik

 

Hello Henrik:

Thank you for your comments.

nothing siginficant I can add other than these stripes may just have been stickers or painted superficially and been buffed out perhaps. I saw a chap paint stripes like that at an event in Boca Raton Florida, by hand -a very sure hand!- with a brush on top of the car's normal paint. He did it mostly on motorcycles.

I am sure I am not the only one who would appreciate seeing more photos of your car!

best regards,

Marc

 

What I really needed to do to elucidate which car the other two tone Khamsin is (shown a few posts above -post 1144- in a huge parking lot with Euro bumpers) is to contact Oliver Kuttner who owned that one then: I just found an email for him so we shall see if he can provide the magic number!

best regards,

Marc

 

Been looking for one for a few years and just arranged a purchase this week. Is a gold with cream interior, 1978 manual RHD car. paperwork in office but think chassis number is 381!
Still to go pick her up as is 450 miles from me on the South coast of England!
Well any tips, warnings and referals to a psychiatist welcome!

 

This is my car anyone know what this pic is from???

 

got too excited there! Read on and realised is in the Top Gear Video! The car is just the standard gold bronze colour!
It has a full history but if anyone can tell me more would be glad to get some information.
I know it was the UK maserati heritage collection car
Paul
xx

 

Paul:

Many many congratulations on your Khamsin!

The car was used in an article by Thoroughbred and Classic cars together with a Merak and an SM, it was a well written story by a lady journalist.

Below are three photos and the history details the previous owner: E.C. had sent me.

I would appreciate getting any updates on history and major work.

Regarding psychiatrists we are all lunatics here trying to hide from them so can't supply you any such contacts sorry

best regards,

Hi Marc,

I just chanced across your website so thought I should give you a few details on my Khamsin.

Its chassis AM120381 which is a 1978 RHD car (5 speed manual gearbox). It was first owned and registered by the Heron Motor Group (Maserati dealers in London, UK) in June 1978 who sold it to Eurobook Ltd in June 1979. It had two further owners (G.W.Padley Ltd and Mr P.Harman) until 2001 when it was purchased by Maserati UK for use in their museum collection and was exhibited at various shows and Maserati events. When this collection was disbanded in 2004 it was purchased by Mr.M.Wheeler, and I bought it in June 2007. Interestingly enough the Ghibli SS from this collection has just come on the market again.

My car has a light gold exterior with cream colored leather with a dark brown suede dashboard. It is in superb (museum quality) original condition and has never been restored. Current mileage is approximately 38,000.

Annoyingly the cassette player has just broken (the radio still works) and no one repairs them (difficulty with finding parts apparently). I will just have to source a working radio/cassette from the late 1970's to keep the correct look/feel.

For your general information there are a couple of Khamsins for sale in the UK now and both can be viewed at the Maserati uk club website (www.maseraticlub.co.uk). One is the same colour and specification as mine (and was the last RHD car produced) and the other is a white car with an automatic gearbox. Take a look.

I hope that this is of some use/interest.

With best regards,
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Hi
thanks for the info. I bought the car from E.C.
He has had misc. bits of work done to it and not covered too many miles with her.
She is looking well but needs a few things done to her.
Will update after I pick her up.
What specificaly do you want to know?
Paul

 

Can anyone tell me in which edition and year the Article on my Khamsin appeared? I have back issues of Classic Car magazine and could search through them all, but some help would be appreciated

Paul

 

Hello Paul:

Regarding any history updates you have covered them thank you.

The issue came out between 2001 and June of 2005: that is as close as I can tell right now from memory. I have it in my boxes in Florida, am in France so can't access it until next winter.

It never comes up on ebay for some reason, even ebay.co.uk

If you contact the backup issues sales department at Thoroughbred and Classic cars and harass them long enough and politely enought they will eventually figure out which issue it was in and allow you the "privilege" of buying one. They called me two or three months ago with some questions for another article on another Khamsin due out now or having just come out and I have asked for a copy 10 days ago but no news so far....

best regards,

Marc

 

Hi
The current issue is out now and has a feature on the Khamsin. do you want me to scan it and email it to you? You are mentioned in it?
The magazine was called Thoroughbred and Classic car in the 1980's but has been called Classic car since then!
That was why i was a bi confused!
I will check through my back issues. Sadly they dont have an archive faclity on their web site
Do you know how many are still alive in the UK? I asked the maserati club guys at the classic show at NEC in Jan 09 and they thought about 20-30.
Happy for any input or advice
Paul
xx

 

Wonder if anyone can shed light on this
I have been trying to buy a Khamsin for a few years. I have had three compression tested by garages on my behalf. Chased after a few more.
The strange thing is that cylinder no.2 has always produced the lowest reading on all three cars! Seems to be too consistent to be a coincidence!
The compressions should be 160 and in the cars i have had tested is 110-120 approx
Any ideas?
I just bought a car and for my own peace of mind have figured in an engine rebuild although it goes well and pulls strongly. Just scared of driing any car home over 450 miles!
Any advice or views about no.2 cylinder would help
I wont give details of the other two cars as I never bought them, so please dont ask
Paul
xx

 

First, test it when warm but 110-120 is not likely to improve quite that much when warm.
That being said, a low compression issue is very unlikely to leave you broken down and stranded.

 

Thanks for the scanning offer Paul: yes since I can't find it around where I now live I would appreciate that very much: please send it to my email:

[email protected]

Thanks to Pascal for identifying the magazine issue we were discussing.

Regarding the number of Khamsins alive and well in the UK I am working on further consolidating my files and should be able to have a fairly accurate number soon.

This one shown below for example I have no info on at all: anyone familiar with it? Nice tag it has!

Regarding the long drive....it should be allright considering it is in good condition but it depends how much driving the seller has done recently: if he hasn't driven it much or at all you may want to truck it. Better safe than sorry. Regarding your engine rebuild the thought may be premature: drive it for a few weeks during increasingly longer and more spirited drives and see how it behaves then check your compressions again. Also isn't there a product of some sort -a serious one I mean not one of those frauds- that can help compressions (Bob perhaps you know about this?).

best regards,

Marc
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There are a few causes for low compression readings:

A bad battery: make sure the battery is fully charged when you test, if the engine spins too slowly, you will also get low readings. Test with warm engine and WOT, all plugs out.
Bad valves: Burnt exhaust valves will give low readings, and no 'wonder' liquid is going to help you there.
Worn rings/cylinders: This will show up if you do a dry and then a wet compression test. There is no 'wonder' liquid to help you there either.
Stuck rings: A car that has sat unused for a longer period of time may have its' rings stuck in the piston grooves. This may correct itself with some use, if not, well, it's engine open time. There may be an additive meant for this, I don't know and have never tried. If you are patient, you may want to soak with something like ATF and see if it frees up the rings.

What is the approximate cost of a complete gasket set for a Khamsin 4.9?

 

Hi
I have had three compression tests done on different Khamsins. All had two cylinders which showed a lower reading and no.2 was always the biggest problem.
We did the tests properly and used oil to check and then did a leakage test to identify that it was the rings and not the valves.
What I am wondering is if anyone can explain why it is always no.2 which is the problem? it is too much of a coincidence that it has always been this one which is the problem?
I appreciate that the cause is lack of use hence why I have always had the tests done as it is a well known fault on these cars as with any low usage cars. I understand that it may free up with use and as i will be doing the cars usual annual mileage to get home it could work out or shed the ring! | have budgeted for a complete engine rebuild!
Knowing my incredibly bad luck with cars what can go wrong usually does big style!
Its an odd problem!
Paul

 

Jack:

A complete set of gaskets can't be too costly. MIE or campana or Bill Mcgraths would be able to tell you that right away.

Yes I was referring to a product which helps freeing up engines that have sat for a long time rather than one which miraculously improves compressions: sorry. I was once told to go do 100 miles in a daytona and happliy ventured west from Ft lauderdale into the Everglades: that was fun but what a heavy car.

Paul: what you state about cylinder two is very interesting and perhaps someone much more mechanically minded than yours truly could help: for example Mike D aka Mexico 074 are you there?

Henrik: On another topic when discussing AM120US1222 your two tone colored car in Sweden and the mystery car that Oliver Kuttner had, here is the answer I got from him a couple of days ago:

I do not remember all the khamsins I had. I do know I killed a silver early
one I also know I had a two toned burgundy/red one as well as the silver black
one.
Further I know i HAD AT LEAST TWO RED ONES (ONE WAS SOLD TO p S IN
fREDERIKIA dENMARK
oNE WAS SOLD TO j W in West VA.
I had a nice black one I had a metalic light blue one.
That is all I know.

sorry I did not keep records.

I also know that they had different characteristics from slow to very fast.
I remember one with a cloth interior but do not recall which one.
I also know that at least two were killed by Randy's motors which I bought out
(and the remains of which were sent on to Jaque de Borgo
Also I remember that Kyle Fleming parted out one and sold me a corner to fix
one of the ones I had.

That is it for what I remember regards and good luck


oliver Kuttner

 

Hi,

New to the forum, but have been reading the Khamsin threads with interest. I believe the red Khamsin pictured with the Lambo was owned by a chap near Hastings when the picture was taken. When I met him to buy a new windscreen off him via Ebay it had been sold on without the plate and spare brand new windscreen. I can contact him and see if he has further details on it that may help with the registry if that helps.

Oh and if you haven't guessed from the name I own chassis 433 and yes I have been lazy in registering the info on the khamsin website. My car was registered in the UK in 1982 and is silver with a magnolia (described Bianca) interior. I know the name as that's what is written on the reverse of the interior panels when I removed them to restore the leather.

Let me know if you need further info on the red khamsin.