2500 replies: this forum is certain going well, always positive, very international and high quality without pretense...just like a Khamsin! This is in fact the perfect time to announce the dates of KHAMSIN QUARANTA (quaranta means fourty in Italian) to celebrate that fourtieth anniversary milestone in the life of an extraordinary yet far too often forgotten macchina. The event will take place June 14 to 17, 2012 in the Dijon, Beaune area in France. Further information will be supplied in the next few weeks and months. It will be a private event by invitation but I hasten to say that there is no one owning a Khamsin I know whom I intend to refuse: it s simply the way I have to structure it due to French law. The location was chosen for two reasons: the first is a consequence of the primary goal of the event: to gather as many Khamsins as possible in one spot. After 6,5 years of doing the Registry with a lot of help (thank you, merci, danke, tack, bedankt, obrigado, gracias, arigato and...grazie to all for the much appreciated help!) I have determined that there are -at least- about 110 Khamsins in private hands in Europe and islands thereto attached by tunnels, not counting dealer cars. Among those cars there is a very high percentage in the following four countries/areas: Germany, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and the Benelux, i.e. Holland & Belgium mostly. There is a big handful of cars in Austria, small handfuls in France and Scandinavia, a smaller one in Italy, yes surprising but so it is, a couple in Spain and a few more here and there. The Dijon area is at the heart of western Europe and easily reachable by a fairly short motorway trip for almost all of the 110 owners. Secondly it is a beautiful area with scenic countryside, great castles, famous vineyards, challenging low traffic back roads more attractions than you can cope with and, yes truly excellent food and wine. In a nutshell there will be a touring rally on the Friday, castle and winery visits, spectacular yet genuine locations for lunches and dinners some free time shopping/visiting truly beautiful historical Dijon (yes you can buy mustard!) for those who want to get away from the cars, the concours on the Saturday afternoon in a truly spectacular site, a gala dinner that evening with VIP's of Khamsin history, special Khamsin historical presentations, an optional tour on the Sunday and lots more which will be presented in the next few weeks. It will be a mostly English speaking event but translation/interpretation will be available through yours truly and hired staff. No one, whatever their language, will feel isolated and no one, whatever their origin, will either: this will be a friendly convivial festive occasion! I will be assisted in making this an impeccably run event by a top notch agency the name of which will be announced soon. An extremely competent company is already lined up to do the technical assistance -not that any Khamsin will have a problem of course. There is already very keen interest from across Europe and I want to thank all who have expressed their desire/intent to participate. There will be a package for those wishing to bring their cars from the United States with group shipping from either coast and 30 days secured storage in Europe. I will, separately from the event, help those US Khamsin owners who wish to come, with their European travel plans beyond KHAMSIN QUARANTA if they wish. I want to give Graeme in Australia a special salute as he once mentioned thinking of coming with his car, anyone in a far off country can contact me and I will do my utmost with my shipping contacts to make it possible for you to attend. The event will be structured in such a way as to be prestigious and worthy of the Khamsin yet with different levels of expense (two or three days, various levels of hotels) fitting all needs. To be clear the event is independent of all Maserati clubs, yet all club members are welcome. I also want to make it clear I have no intention of starting a club. The event is a one time celebration of the Khamsin and also not affiliated with the Maserati factory or its importers and distributors. Finally allow me to say this is about the Khamsin and celebrating it, I will just be the humble organizer and this is something I am doing for the beauty of it: it will be a lot of work for yours truly and the team but in any case memorable and hopefully a special date in Maserati history. The goal is 30 to 50 Khamsins and with all the feedback received from opinion leaders and numerous enthusiasts in the classic Maserati community I am very bullish about attaining or exceeding it! Here is a teaser photo of the Concours site and host hotel taken this Thursday: more details soon. Voilà: hail the Khamsin and hopefully see you there! Marc Sonnery Maserati Khamsin Registry Image Unavailable, Please Login
Hi All Thanks for the dates of the the Meet Marc Hmmmm I need to think about working out if I can get there. Ivan I too got 65bar from some where but not sure where. I wouldnt be to concerned about the busrt pressure of the unit as it with stands 2700PSI or 180+ BAR in normal use. The main reason for the precharge is as a backup pressure and supply and smooths thing out in the system. the Pump will push 3000 PSI - 204Bar ( I have tested it ). It may be to increase to minimim reserve, also as a thought the regulator may be set to the standard amount as the DS the prechange may not have any bearing on the internals of the reg. All Good things to explore. Graeme
Hello all: Thank you for all the messages and emails of encouragement, much appreciated! Needless to say I will be contacting each owner that I know personally early June (am traveling a lot now) however I would appreciate each of you letting me know by email or PM (not here please) whether you would like to come and how certain you are at this early stage: it helps us to have an idea. Many thanks! In other news I was informed that AM120US1082 which was for sale in Belgium has been adopted by new parents in the UK: the family is doing well best regards, Marc
Hello Bart... Regarding the Light switch rebuild on your K... I believe Ivan Ruiz posted a process to rebuild the switch either in this thread or possibly in another thread... If he reads this perhaps he will post it again or point us to where it is at... Mike
Hi Guys Yes an extra joint between the elbow and wrist would be of assistance. it a vey awkward place. RHD cars there is two small 8mm AF nuts . The Knob im my switch just pulls off s I cannot help but wonder if its been glued on at some stage. Speaking of geting the switches rebuilt. I would be intereted to know peoples experiences with this. I had not had much luck getting the seals in the Staple fittings made and after many attempts gave up and fitted electric units. I would put the originals bach but I cannot see the point if all I get is wet carpet especially after just getting the carpet replaced. I fact I have a spare handle and am considering making a Microswitch unit to replace the Hydraulic one. I currently use the Euro emergency lights to trigger the headlights. Regards Graeme
Hi Graeme, Pleiades rebuilt the switch, which as been as good as gold since. My drivers footwell was awash with LHM, but it wasn't the switch in the end but the junction box on the inside of the A post that had started to leak. I read somewhere that the seals in those connections where the pipe is held in with a circlip could be replaced but when I looked into it I thought it better getting them done as I didn't have access to a press. (I even bought seals from Bary Barisiac that I still have) The seals are behind a brass ring/ collet that some descibed could be removed by tapping a thread down it and then pulling with a suitable bolt fiited. Looking at the rebuilt items this appears to be the way that Pleiades carried out the work. I also had the seat switch rebuilt at the same time, though they altered the rocking bias on it and it is not as fluid in movement in one direction. So far all of the LHM items on my car have now been rebuilt apart from, steering rack, steering governor, seat ram, and LH headlight ram. I'll let you know how things are as soon as the engine is back in the car, which I must chase up..... Bal
Hi Bal Thanks for the insight. I have all but the regulator done in my car and When I do the accumulators (soon) I will have that done. When You get the system back in the car. Remember to bleed the regulator first a few times. It wasnt some thing I was all that happy doing with a freshly rebuilt engine as it requires the engine to be run at 1500RPM ( No load) and crack open the 12mm valve on the body of the regulator and this needs to done a few times. then bleed the brakes then the clutch. For those with a right had drive car a bent spanner and piece of string is a must!! if you have done it you know what I mean!! Keep the up dates comming Graeme
Thanks for the advice Graeme, I remember the last time the system was bled, it was a pain to get to. Am I correct in thinking that the whistling should stop when bleeding regulator a few times? Bal
Hi Bal the whistle does take abit to get oit of the reg anout 3 time cracking the valve via the 12mm valve head. The Citroen people I get assistance from suggest it can take a few times to bleed the system starting at the regulator brakes clutch etc. and dont forget to cycle the steering lights seats etc. I recon nsing a hoist to take the wheels off and after the system has got clean fluid in it I would keep returning any fluid bleed off back to the tank vis a long clean clear tube. Just remember if you let air back in your back to scratch. Cheers Graeme
Cool, Thanks for confirming the info I had to hand. I may actually get to that point sometime soon if the guys rebuilding my engine don't keep having accidents and injuring their backs. Bal
Hi Bal There is another way to remove the switch buts its probably equally as bad. The end panel of the dash can be removed. You need to remove the speedo and tacho panel ist then there are two bolts on the side of the dash and another hidden nut and its above the headlight switch and the end panel comes off with the switch attached but still connected to the hydraulic lines. Bit of, 6 of one, Half dozen of another situation as to how to get it out. Question has any one found a LED peanut bulb for the instruments? Graeme
Hi Graeme, Like you say 6 of one and half dozen of the other. I managed to do it in a cramped garage where I couldn't open the car doors and sticking my head under the dash. The hydraulic lines I put some plastic air hose from an airbrush over the ends and crimping the open end of the hose. That way fluid loss due to garvity etc was limited while the swicth was mailed for rebuild. The alternate way sounds like you have to disturb to many items on an old car for my liking. But it may work for others..... Bal
Hi All I had the miss fortune of being out at night recently, and it reminded me how dull the instrumentation light is. Has any one replaced their's with LED? Regards Graeme
There is a thread about LED and where to get them in the Lambo section, Countach thread. I think the same bulbs will work.
Hello all: Had a wonderful though brief Modenese trip with factory visits and interviews (not for Maserati book but for a fourth one thereafter yes I must be masochistic!). One very special moment was when Maserati factory Historian and his successor Fabio Collina brought out for me the one off 90cm long clay model of the Khamsin which was on the boardroom table in 1971 when Guy Malleret and Giulio Alfieri gave the Khamsin project the production go ahead: an absolutely unique piece and I suppose the holy grail of Khamsin memorabilia. Went down in a 456 with a Khamsin owner friend, too much traffic to do a full top speed run though photo of the GPS at 159mph and yes that is a lot more precise than a Khamsin speedo best regards, Marc Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Hi Marc Great picture well done Just meeting the people is a privledge, and as for the model could we talk the factory into replicating it I want One! Magic stuff should have painted my car Yellow!!! Graeme
Hello Graeme: You are the second one to mention interest in one (not counting yours truly) and I have already emailed the factory to say that this might be worth doing. Anybody else interested? Let me know and I will relay. Am still working on trying to convince a 1/18 scale manufacturer to do one but the response from Minichamps was not so good: "We need an order for 8000" (imagine the cost!!!) I think he was a Porsche only man having a bad day and took it out on me I have someone talking with other model manufacturers and will let you know if anything materializes. best regards, Marc
Marc, I would love one too. Been thinking of trying my hand at moulding a body but it's finding the time. Most of my modelling is done in plastic so to translate to resin or metal would be a challenge. It may be that waiting for one of your contacts might prove quicker. I've even bought a second blue IXO model to respray up as my car. Bal
Hi Marc I would rather like a "Concept Replica" identical to the factory one and limited number release. A collector item, as apposed to a dust collector. Regards Graeme
Morning Bal, Graeme: Yes I am gathering information from several sources, I was told there is a group of people in Finland who can do amazing things for large scale models at a much lower than expected cost so will pursue that route as well. I wonder if a scale modem can be scaled down from the master, I suppose that is possible, the factory's is huge. Have a good Sunday (Graeme I am rooting for your man Webber this afternoon) MS
