whats that orange thing on the right side of the pic? dont tell me thats the MB C111? anymore pics of this remarkable museum? cheers hf
Hi Reddy, Formally there is no Series 1 or 2 Khamsin, this indication started for easy reference to distinguish the earlier from the later Khamsins. Not taking into account the much discussed US version bumpers and side lights...as far as my information goes these were only fitted to the later model change and specifically for the USA market as a "tribute" to Ralph Nader, starting late '74 early '75. Typical for the early K's; "Series1": No nose louvres, Integrated head rests in the back rests, 3 spoke steering wheel without the padded center, Hydraulic adjustable driver seat, although this feature was only dropped in the later production numbers. I have never seen one of these closed nose K's with the anti smog devices fitted to the engine. Anybody to add here something? Typical for the later version; "Series 2": Nose louvres, Head rests on top of the back rest, Steering wheel with the padded center. Hope this clarifies your question. Regards, Bart
Hi, The museum pics I have are not that good. Here is a picture of the "C111" I took at a classic car show held by the Classic Car Commitee of Iran's Motorcycle and Automobile Federation a couple years back. Enjoy RHS Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Hello all: Getting back on topic here are some photos of AM120366 which lives in Geneva. Its owner kindly brought it out for me to see on my way to the airport a few weeks ago. We had little time and the light was not right so not the best photos. It was sold new by long time Maserati dealer Bjärsch in Schlieren, a suburb of Zurich in Switerland. It was bought by the current owner 20 years ago in that part of Switzerland, it had been owned by an architect, had few kms : 36000 it now has 74000 as the current owner has never tired of driving it over two decades, locally and internationally. It has always been in good condition, though he had to repaint it some years ago as the paint had gone dull. He had to change the heads as they had become porous due to an overly corrosive antifreeze.He has had a leak on the right side of the windshield which has stained the top of the dashboard. I had never seen that happen. Other than that he has never had a problem. It is one of very cars in luci del bosco color (which loosely translates to half light of the forest -or thicket-) remaining, just like AM120130 in Tehran discussed here a few days ago, I had never actually seen one in this livery before. Too many cars with interesting sixties early seventies color have been repainted in resale red or silver. Many thanks to Marc C. in Geneva for putting me in touch. Oh and yes Nissan’s marketing on that showroom window is not in the best taste! Best regards, Marc Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Nice to see the old books all there! MS Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
One last shot: this is the one about Nissan's dubious marketing showroom window ideas! MS Image Unavailable, Please Login
Hi, To avoid getting off subject, one of the questions raised in this discussion was about the fact that the car was delivered via a dealer in Rome. I remembered that at least one of the ex-Shah's Miura ( I think it was the SV) was picked up from the dealer SEA (?) by the Embassy in Rome, so it should not be that uncommon if the Khamsin was picked up by the Embassy from a dealer as well. Now a quick off subject note about the "C111". This car was a gift from the German government on the occassion of the ex-Crown Prince's 12th birthday. It was a joint project between Mercedes, Porsche and VW, each contributing a part of the engineering, hence the "C111" resemblance. Best regards, RHS
Hello RHS: Yes that is it exactly, same method of ordering which is what makes me think that there is a very high probability of it having been ordered for the Shah. There was a man who ran the huge garage for the palace and I will be back in Geneva early May and will have access to all the contacts then so will update here if I get any headway. Speaking of which: Bob: sorry did not mean to tease you unduly, I only go to Geneva every two months, we decided to meet in front of this showroom as it was a place we both knew how to get to and the owner of the car just happened to have parked there and we had less than tem minutes before I had to go catch my flight so I did not really notice the apalling mktg until too late: I just wish Nissan had picked a Geisha as a theme instead best regards, Marc
To continue on the luci del bosco theme here is a photo of AM120341 in the paint booth....yesterday! Doug in the Uk is having it restored to the highest standards and I can't wait to see it This restoration to original color hopefully signals an enduring end for Khamsins to 1980's resale red color changes, there are numerous Khamsins such as AM120132 in France born "bronze" (which could be one of several factory colors) which would look sooo much better in their orginal shade... MS Image Unavailable, Please Login
Dear Graeme, Coming back to the steering problem on my Khamsin I would appreciate your comment on the following issue. I realized that when the engine has been turned off and the pressure in the hydraulic system has been taken away (through application of clutch, break, lamp), the steering still shows some play within the identified component as shown in the attached picture and can be moved +- 10° from the 0-position, without the tires moving (loose). Is this normal? I assume the steering should not show any play or loosening. I would appreciate your comments. Best regards, Armaz Image Unavailable, Please Login
Hi Armaz, Although you addressed the question to Graeme, I take the liberty to share my view with you: Absolutely nothing wrong with the play described by you as long as there is no pressure in the hydraulic system. I do agree, it feels kind of odd when you first experience this, in fact to me it was almost alarming the first time I experienced it! As soon as you start the engine and the pressure builds up the play should be totally gone. A similar strange experience: try to press the clutch pedal down when there is no pressure in the system: you get the impression you can only drive this car wearing shorts, a T-shirt and having big nostrils! Do not worry, this all comes for free with the extravaganza of the Khamsin design. However it all works like a charm under pressure and is more reliable then most people try to make us think. Take care, Bart
Hello. This is a RHD Khamsin (one of just 71 it seems) exhibited in a newly opened classic car museum in Athens, Greece. First time I saw one "in the flesh" and it looked even better than in the pictures - but you know that LOL! The info says it was acquired through auction in England. I did a search using the licence plate and found this car was auctioned in 1990. It looks good but there are details that need fixing (the door handle is one...).
Hello and thank you for posting: It seems the latest fashion is K's in museums recently, Cayman islands and Athens... Am not on my computer but that number plate rings a faint bell. Will post tomorrow on it if I have something. best regards, Marc
Dear Bart, Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge with me. I addressed this question to Graeme because he was the first person trying to help me with the steering problem. So, if this is the normal case on all Khamsins I need to search further for the origin of my steering problem. May be you could help me on this topic which I have raised. I know that the hydraulic pump is functioning properly. I do not have the possibility to check the pressure inside the accumulator, as it was proposed by Graeme in the previous sessions. The steering seems to be acting with delay. Thanks and best regards, Reddy
armaz, i don't usually post things here, but your interesting Tehran story brings back memories. i lived in tehran in 78 and 79, when i was a young guy an i clearly remember driving up saltanatabad ave (still called that?) when a khamsin passed me going south. it did not have the colour of your car but a distinct seventies hue and in the light there things looked different anyway. more interestingly though, in the street where i lived (in the takhte djamshid area) i spoke with a man who drove a rather beautiful dark green ghibli. it had therani plates. i asked him how he got it serviced? i had a ghibli preproduction model before i left europe, so i had an interest, he said that every couple of months some guy(s?) from the factory would come over and take care of this and also stamp his service booklet as if it were done at the factory.they would do the rounds of the few owners and take care of things. he seemed very happy with the arrangement. this story was confirmed for lamborghini by an Iranian friend of mine who had a miura. so maybe that explains your servicing issue. they were serviced officially by the factory without going to italy. i know that cars were sometimes transported by C 130 for the shah but do you know the range of these planes and the fact they would have to make at least one stop at a foreign military base? bit unlikely. when i went to tehran i drove down for fun in an "old" 1970 Z28, with all my stuff in the back. it was as i remember on german oval export plates. i had to change these (by importing, very dear indeed) to iranian plates after i think six months (maybe three). so if your khamsin was still on ee's, it says to me some one must have had connections.any car on foreign plates was regularly stopped. the green ghibli was definitely on tehran plates. tehran was a great car town at the time and i saw numerous interesting cars there. last car i got there was a hemi challenger bought off some one who considered it undriveable, i sadly had to leave it in a friend's garden. hope this is of interest paul
Hello Reddy, In my search for a Khamsin I have seen 27 examples and driven the majority of them. From real buggers up till fantastic examples with a variety of different experiences on the hydraulics. Yet, never came across the problem you describe, so I can only guess: The play in the steering we described is because of the hydraulic valve in the steering. If this valve does not open and close properly and directly in time this may cause your problem. I suggest you check if the steering wheel moves "frictionless" when you test the play. Any friction in that part may cause the valve to open and close too slowly. Just a hint from a privateer that does all the work himself on his cars. Hello Paul, Interesting story on the servicing. My1973 Ghibli SS was originally delivered to Lebanon and service during its 10 year stay out there was carried out by factory mechanics who would fly in every one or two years or so. First time I learn this from another source then the original owner! Thx for posting. Regards, Bart
Paul: Thank you for your very interesting contribution. So you think you saw a different Khamsin in Tehran? Interesting and entirely possible of course, will ask our friends at the factory to scour the logs: am going there mid May so that and many other questions will hopefully be resolved. I have interviewed one of the mechanics who went on these trips: Giancarlo Martinelli. These were certainly colorful experiences for him. Have to talk to him again, though I am verrry happy to say I have at last finished the book interview transcripts: 110000 words...which I am now cutting and editing. Speaking of Iran the yellow dismantled complete project AM120US1230 was last driven when owned by an Iranian in Massachusetts. The car and boxes left their long time base in Sweden yesterday and are right now heading for England. best regards, Marc
Right so British number plate 3200KR is AM120313: According to data given me by Andy Heywood: Sold new by Citroën Slough (Uk headquarters) on April 16, 1975 first registered LKY 578P. Data given by Walter: Offered at auction by ADT auctions in May 1990 in Solihull GB 1989-99 stored in the USA(?) June 18.,1999 BROOKS Goodwood/UK, sold for £13.995 July 30.,1999 COYS-auction -Silverstone/UK, sold for £13.995 Again thanks for the photos. best regards, Marc Image Unavailable, Please Login
Hi Paul, Thank you for sharing your memories with us. Tehran has changed a lot since those days. Today Tehran has a population of around 15Mio. and we can only bring these cars out on early Friday mornings. The street names have changed and Saltanatabad is now called Pasdaran. Coming back to Maserati Khamsin, I have the confirmation of Maserati that the first and second service were both done in Modena at the factory. They even provided me with the name of the person who brought the car in. Unfortunately I have not been able to find this person. Furthermore, the car was at the customs in Tehran as the revolution began and the clearance did not happen. With regard to the Maserati that you mentioned in different color, are you sure it was a Khamsin? Can you recall the color? Today was a gathering of American Classic and there were quite a number of Camaros. I will post some pictures for you from a Z28 in action. Take care, Reddy
