Maserati Khamsin

I thought you may have had a sniff of it already! As you say, the dealer website is a mess. I found the interior picture eventually. Let's hope they are better at restoration......
I see they also have a very poorly Bora which merits inclusion in 'offer of the day'

All the best.

Mark.

 

Well this is exciting: I just spoke to the dealer and the chassis number is very surprising: the Belgian broker had said the same thing but I had thought at the time that he just got it confused with a Ghibi but no, the chassis number is...AM115.392!

Emailing the factory now!

MS

 

But this is 70's Maserati!

 

Well...just had a very nice chat with Fabio Collina of Maserati Classiche at the factory who is always helpful be it for my book or Registry and he is as puzzled as I am becasue AM115.392 was a normal Ghibli delivered new to Rome...

He looked on the factory log list to see which K's were sold new in south and central America and I was surprised to hear that one sold new in...Guatemala!
This also helped solve the mystery gold K which had been seen in period on the French island of Guadeloupe: it is AM120356. The mystery is explained by the fact that even though Guadeloupe is French territory and the car should have been sold by Thepenier it was not and in fact was bought directly by its owner.

Getting back on topic I will now ask the dealer in Holland to see whether he can read the chassis number on the chassis itself.

Best regards,

Marc

 

Well just spoke to the dealer again and the chassis is stamped...AM120392 as well!

This is very bizarre and I might just go and see it!

best regards,

Marc

PS: Just to avoid any confusion this has nothing to do with the well known Khamsin AM120392 which was owned for years by Fritz Harms then president of the Maserati club Holland. AM115 is of course a Ghibli chassis number which is what makes this so bizarre...I will see what I can find out!

 

Just pondering over a coffee.
Am I right in thinking that Khamsins had engine stampings beginning 115? I wonder if the chassis plate was re stamped at some point to match the number on the block.
What do your files say about 120/392 Marc.....?

 

Apologies Marc, should have refreshed the page before posting!

 

Sorry, need to correct myself it is stamped AM115392.

 

That's strange with the Tipo 115 prefix for that Khamsin chassis number

 

You'll need the engine number, hope that the engine is original to the car, and you know which car this is.
South America is known for all kinds of tricks where border-crossing cars are concerned, as some countries have high import duties, and paying taxes is last on anybodies' list.
Look into the history of early Ferrari's and be in awe of the creativity.
Another possibility is of course that the car is not from Venezuela at all, but just a re-stamped Euro Khamsin.

Where is Ghibli 115.392?

I can't believe the factory would have stamped it as a tipo 115.

Waiting for Marc's findings!

Best,

Jack.

 

Some more news on this mystery car.

Having seen the photos the chassis plate has AM115 392 stamped on it...but the engine number, on the bell housing, finishes with 136: AM115/10/49*0136.

Guess what: according to Fabio Collina the factory records state that there was only one K actually delivered new in Venezuela: yes AM120 136.

So ti is likely that this is in fact AM120136.

It does not however explain why there is this chassis numbering discrepancy.

More in the next episode!

Best regards,

Marc

 

Marc,
The answer is probably related to the above mentioned tax issue.

 

The answer will be found where the history of both cars coincide. Can we compare the timeline fo the Ghibli with the Khamsin? My guess is that both cars share a country of registration somewhere in the past.

Best,

Jack.

 

Hello all,

Yes tax related skulduggery was commonplace with south and central America, c.f. a crashed Miura P400 or P400S sent back across the ocean to the Lamborghini factory in period...who sent back a new SV...but used the initial car's chassis plate so the owner would not have to pay taxes again...

Bart told me that Cozza had mentioned something about a Khamsin with a Ghibli chassis number years ago so I will ask Fabio to ask Cozza what he remembers.

Best regards,

Marc

 

Hi Marc,

To be precise, Ermanno Cozza mentioned that during the development of the Khamsin one of the early prototypes was somewhat looking like a Ghibli. I think he was referring to the baroque prototipo with the long overhang tail-end storing a conventional spare wheel. It could well have been carrying a 115 number since that is what was used as a basis to start from.

I think you even know a Ghibli SS lately sold from CH carrying a 116 number...
At Maserati everything was possible in those days!

For the rest is the manipulative chassis number game known all over the globe, even by high placed officials...

Ciao,

Bart

 

Hello to all

I've been following this thread for some time with lots of interest.
No I am not an owner of a K, so far, but keen none the less.

Here is a pic I found that I cannot attribute to the known ones in France
or elsewhere except maybe to 194 which should live in Brasil and has White
turn indicators instead of orange White.

It was taken at some recent Display together with many other Maseratis.

Does anyone know more?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/87731987@N07/13793196575/in/pool-10057652@N00

 

I don't see too many posts on here of people out driving their cars. So I will persist in posting about using mine!
The weather forecast for Central Scotland for today was good, or at least a couple of days ago it was. Typical of Scotland however, as the saying goes, "If you don't like the weather, wait 20 minutes, it is bound to change"
I decided to go and see one of my daughters up on the east coast so thought would take the car out for the run. My wife had sensibly suggested we use her modern Nissan instead. However I insisted we take one of the old cars out. Predictably, the weather turned really bad with very strong (30mph + gusts) and very heavy rain. I was saying to my wife that 40 years ago these were the GT cars for trans Europe blasts and nowadays most family cars can do the basics better. Sitting at or about our national speed limit of 70mph, well when I slowed down, the car is the same as any other. When one inadvertently stretches ones leg to the floor and holds it there, 160-180kmh comes so quickly. Only a new merc AMG E class seemed to be on the pace with me.
I still wonder if a new electric ignition with high power coil, would smooth out the top end revving? Anyone got a modern system? Any difference?
I have done a lot of mileage in similar conditions, and am surprised how stable the car is in hitting standing water at high speed. I am still never fully happy about the braking compared to a modern car and lower profile tyres. Does anyone run their K on 60 profile? Does it make a big difference?
Now we are in what we call, British spring, (read, snow could return at any time till June)
I am planing on using the old cars as my DD.
Subject to Doctors being able to remedy a problem with my knees, I am hoping to get to the 100th in September. If I do, I will try and get to that bit of Autobahn, south of Cologne, and see what the max speed is in the car. I would be surprised if it gets to 155mph/250kmh. I will try and video this anyway. So far only got it to 140/225 approx, but definitely not today!
Paul

 

Does anyone know more?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/87731987@N07/13793196575/in/pool-10057652@N00[/QUOTE]

Welcome Roger

The guy to ask is Marc

Are you looking for a car ?

Cheers

Mark

 

Hi Bart,

Nice talking with you on the phone as always however the white protoype with the long tail and full size spare under the rear was AM120.002, of that there is absolutely no doubt, see my book. As per its file it was destroyed for the crash test in Dec ember of 1973.

Best regards,

Marc

 

Hello Roger,

Welcome to the thread

This car is AM120.042 and you are right it is one which has remained tucked away for many years, all I had about it was its details when sold new by Thepenier the French importer, one of the 29 K's they brought to market in France:

13/11/74
New to Mr Rocca
Radio Blaupunkt
Vert metal (metallic green), blanc (white) interior.
Sold 25/2/75 to Winterstein at 10200kms
Seen at Avignon Motor festival 21-23 March 2014.

It has apparently just finished its restoration and while the fire engine red is unfortunate at least it is another Khamsin back to life!

Oh and yes AM120194 is still in Brazil as far as I know.

MS

 

Hi Paul,

Thanks for your driving reports yes they are all too rare!

I am seriously game to put myself as ballast in your passenger seat on the Autobahn if that works, let me know! As you may recall I want to know what a good Euro 5 speed will do with a GPS reading. If you are not traveling alone we can just meet somewhere and do a back and forth run, only a few miles are needed.
I can find out what the best stretches are but Sunday mornings are best, I was able to cruise at top speed in the Giulietta diesel I drive now last month south of Karlsruhe (only about 210kph on the GPS but there was almost nobody around at 9 on a Sunday and 3 or 4 lanes all the way). The previous day in a Khamsin with its new owner we easily did 160, 180kph in medium traffic and it was very uneventful due to the excellent road manners fo our German friends on their Autobahns, in fact those are just commuting speeds there as you know.

You need fresh enough tires, a well tuned engine and carbs...and a camera

Let me know!

Oh and best of luck with your knees.

Best regards,

Marc

 

Marc

I remember your offer and also of visiting you in your area. That is still part of my plans.
It would be good to find out what they do and have it on video.

Depending on the doctors it is still my plan.

Paul

 

Hi Paul,

The offer still stands I can host up to two guests, two Khamsins have stayed here already. Here is a preview of my "office" today and the view from it

Best of luck with your knees and let me know.

Marc
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Welcome Roger

The guy to ask is Marc

Are you looking for a car ?

Cheers

Mark[/QUOTE]

Hello Mark

got the answer in a flash, (thanks Marc)
looking is the right word, like window shopping, still saving for one
of those nice steering wheels (with engine attached)

Yours is a nice car!

Regards

 

Hello Marc

I just found another one of Thepenier's cars, it is 172 on sale in Poland !

Still with its french yellow headlights. Fair price too if it is not rusty.
And in its original color combination.
Have a look at the Homepage of the seller, strange companions on his parking lot!


Maserati KHAMSIN als Sportwagen/Coupé in Jaros?aw

Roger