Maserati Khamsin

That is so cool
To see the same cosmic bowling pattern as it originally appeared in the 70's
I'm jealous
Please save the carpet!!!
Good luck Richard
Andy in New York

 

Maserati sure had some funky ideas where colours are concerned!

The light blue is a proper 70-ies thing, maybe not to all tastes today, but if, for instance, the car is identical to the pics in the brochure, or perhaps even the very car photographed, I'd keep it that way for sure.

Also bear in mind that replacing the carpets with same quality is not a cheap proposition. Besides, they can be washed, and after all these years the result may surprise you. Mine came out looking like new after a good (hand!) wash.

If I am not mistaken, the carpets are Wilton and wool: if they are faded badly, one could also attempt to re-dye them, depending on what colour was used to noard them.

Best,

Jack.

 

Richard,

As several here have said and as we discussed a year or three ago, you should keep the car original, it is the 5th K built the third oldest in existence recognized as such ( I believe 024 is really 006 but that needs to be established formally with the factory and may or may not happen) so you have in your care a piece of history and it should be preserved as such. And yes it could very well be the interior shown in that brochure it makes complete sense since it is a very early brochure and your car is too, in fact Fabio Collina could determine in minutes if that photo was your car simply by comparing the respective production dates of your car and of the brochure and if no other car had that interior by the time the brochure was produced, we would have proof. Simple.

That is my opinion, I would never dream in a billion years of trying to impose my ideas, I hate such people. You are free to do what you want with your posession and we are happy to have here such a significant car shown to us by you but please keep it as original as possible.

Best regards,

Marc

 

Hello all,

A few weeks ago I alluded to big news and AMLC jokingly asked if Maserati was going to introduce a new Khamsin at the Geneva show, well you now all know that is not the case I was there Thursday and again last night and no such sight on the stand just two of the Elephante sorry Levante;-)

I recently posted some photos here of a true barn find or should I say outdoor find in gorgeous colours, as long lost as a car gets, Khamsin AM120399 in northwest Scotland near Aberdeen, a gold/tan 5 speed right hand drive about which almost nothing was known other than the fact that it was owned by a Tom Bell in 2001, when he was briefly a member of the UK club. This car never took part in any club events as far as I know, lived a private life in faraway NW Scotland (photo 4 shows it many years ago at Haddo castle but with rear springs and shocks already needing replacement). Then it sat under a tarp, outside, a stone's throw from the north sea for years as the owner's health deteriorated until he passed away: as catastrophic a storage situation as you could imagine...20 years ago, or even ten as someone mentioned this car would have been junked.

I nicknamed it "Nessie's pet" because it looks as though the mythical creature liked the way it shone and took it via the mythical underwater tunnel from the sea to its Loch Ness to hide it in its lair...before returning it feeling guilty when it stopped shining

I tried very hard to find a buyer and with a lot of negotiation. Firstly with a seller who recently bought it from the late owner's estate, is a truly very nice person with whom I had very enjoyable phone chats, was expecting a much higher price but had too many other projects to restore it himself yet really wanted to see it reborn. Secondly with a buyer who is a super enthusiast and really wanted to save this car but does not like, is too polite to negotiate.

So it was not easy but finally about ten days ago after a LOT of negotiation a deal was struck (the price was 60% lower than the original asking price but is confidential, don't ask) and the car was collected by the enthusiast who will slowly preserve it and fully restore it. He wishes to remain anonymous but has his own shop, is hugely experienced, competent, motivated and will restore it EXACTLY as it should be, EXACTLY as it left the factory. This should be food for thought for others.

Nessie's saviour was truly heartbroken last year when not able to acquire an important early Khamsin (I ask the owner of that car NOT to reveal his name when he realizes who I am mentioning anonymously) so he is very happy to tackle this project. He has another very nice Khamsin which he drives a lot so is not in a hurry, he will do it right including having lots of new body work made (none can be bought anymore as has been the case for years) and money no object. He is not a speculator he wanted to save this beautiful car and to him I say a big bravo! I think he deserves many bravos from Khamsinisti!

For me it was not about the modest commission I made but about saving it, finding a good home for this orphan and I enjoy that feeling of mission accomplished much more than commerce I can tell you!!! After all creating the Registry 12 years ago was EXACTLY with this sort of thing in mind Now let me find a fly yellow tan 5 speed LHD car fully original in Europe....ah well no Euro cars were ever sold new as fly yellow but I can dream of a clerical omission LOL

This is a very nice forum thread with good, intelligent, positive people so it should not be necessary but I will regardless ask any pessimists and cynics to hold their venom, let's be POSITIVE, of COURSE the challenge is huge, the work is daunting and the task list enormous but Nessie's pet will roar and shine again, mark my word

Best regards,

Marc

Maseratikhamsinregistry.com
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Marc,

That is good news: A K in need goes to competent hands, It helps that the new owner has a functioning K to look at too. It'd be even better if the restoration would be documented somewhere accessible!

Good luck to the new owner!

A first word of advice: Campana have found a NOS roll of fabric for the interior in that dark brown, coded H2100, Buy some before they run out, it is unobtanium otherwise.

Best,

Jack.

 

Hi Jack,

Yes actually a friend of his who lives nearby has another K as well. He will take tons of photos don't worry about that and they will be shared.

I just told him about the fabric, thanks

So when do we go chase lions and giraffe's in yours or at least when do we get photos of the car with them in the background?;-) I did it with Gators in the Everglades with my K once...at a respectful distance! Not sure they would have come close as the heat of the engine and exhausts might have repelled them: it was just after some serious Khamsin leg stretching

All the best,

Marc

 

Hi Richard,

I have to agree with Marc's comment on keeping the car as original as possible.

The first few Khamsins had "close loop" carpets that was very different from the "open loop" carpets used on the later cars. I don't know when Maserati changed the carpets, but at least all the cars I have seen with the new seats also had the new carpets.

My car had the original carpet, but it was in bad shape. I have spent many hours trying to find a correct carpet, and finally found one I'm satisfied with. It's not 100% correct, but very close. Another very important consideration when it comes to carpets in cars are the backing of the carpet. It's hard to fit the carpet if it's too thick or stiff. The one I found is not too bad, and it's wool, not synthetic as the original.

As you can see on the picture, the small piece of carpet is the original with brown edges of skai (plastic). The chocolate brown piece covered with new mouse hair material is the cover over the rear gate lock. The darker pattern on the original carpet material is more visible on the picture than in real, and this is the only thing that differs from the new carpet I found.

The carpet is made in Denmark by Danfloor and the name of it is "London".

Kind regards
Marius 008

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Very nice to see what was there originally, as one, there are so few, and two how many of us other than "Ron Burgandy" get to see them with any regularity or so up close and personal.
My 20 year old laments about how our generation has found all the old Barn finds, but this thread proves their all still out there. When life slows down and good things matter it is nice to visit you all, Old Friends. Thanks for the life lessons. Bravo Mr Burgandy for all you have shared with us.
Andy in New York

 

Very nice to see what was there originally, as one, there are so few, and two how many of us other than "Ron Burgandy" get to see them with any regularity or so up close and personal.
My 20 year old laments about how our generation has found all the old Barn finds, but this thread proves their all still out there. When life slows down and good things matter it is nice to visit you all, Old Friends. Thanks for the life lessons. Bravo Mr Burgandy for all you have shared with us.
Andy in New York

 

Hello Andrew,

Thanks, I enjoy doing it It is Burgundy [spelling], and I am about to move to the Geneva switzerland area, so I certainly don't want any such nickname, please don't use it again, just call me Marc thank you
I don't get to see K's every day sometimes weeks go by without seeing one and the pleasure of admiring their lines never fades...while driving one seems to get more exciting each time since few cars have so much charisma...something few test drive articles ever mention and they are a lot faster than most people realize, I recall giving Ferrari barn finder extraordinaire Tom Shaughnessy a quick ride in Fort Lauderdale back in 2005, he was VERY surprised and he said he had forgotten how fast K's were

Good luck with your project and stay away from using forklifts;-)

M

 

The process, starting with the historical background followed by the actual A to Z, is now uploaded in the new version of the MKR website:

http://www.maseratikhamsinregistry.com/euro-bumper-kit-conversion.php

Here you can find the suppliers:

http://www.maseratikhamsinregistry.com/euro-bumper-kit-conversion-5.php

Note that I do not have any commercial involvement with these suppliers: I am just happy to help rid the world of these monstrous appendages which ruined the chances of the K in the US in the seventies. Every US version Khamsin which gets un-disfigured is like a pretty girl whose ugly 1970's dental apparatus is removed

Best regards,

Marc

 

Anyone know what the current pricing is?
That would help

Just got a Bi turbo spyder
Yea

 

Hi Marc, sorry i just saw your reply now, my car is369
i managed to find the engine code in the end thanks for the help, its so hard to find!

that would be great if you could give me any further info on the car!

Thanks,

Alex

 

Bonhams : 1978 Maserati Khamsin Coupé Chassis no. AM120 409


I just noticed this Khamsin for sale, doesn't the estimate seem quite low?

Alex

 

Nice price for a well restored car

Yes looks low. A similar car came up at Coys last week but I don't knowing it sold. It wasn't in a a good state.

 

Very nice to see the photos of this Khamsin and the other celeste example (#010, in Canada).

Talking about celeste chiaro: as my car (#090) is also celeste (with senape/beige leather) I found it very nice to see that Touring selected a similar combination for their latest creation: https://www.classicdriver.com/en/article/cars/exclusive-inside-story-tourings-new-disco-volante-spyder

@010: maybe the car in the Indonesian magazine (poster antik »» jual buku bekas murah novel komik murah) is your car? Early car, smooth nose, same wipers (not parallel).

 

UK Classic Car Magazine of april features Khamsin 178 in 'The Collector', see pics,
Cheers,

Tom, Belgium
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Khamsin at Autoclassica in Milano, with 6CM, March 2016: https://barchetta.mediacenter.pro/MCIMG_2956664_1168_777.jpg?V=0

"The three Maserati classics on show are very interesting: an exclusive Tipo 6CM, an amazing single-seater racing car dating from the late 1930s; an elegant, glamorous 2+2 3500GT Spyder from the late 1950s, and an aggressive Khamsin, the 2+2 coupé designed by Marcello Gandini and created by Bertone in the 1970s." (source: Ferrari and Maserati at AutoClassica 2016 ... The exhibition runs at the Fiera di Milano until March 20: Anamera)

 

Hello all,

Will catch up to the various recent posts later on but the white car in the Milan show referenced above by AMLC is AM120.270 which live in Modena and was at KHAMSIN QUARANTA 4 years ago.

409 sold at the Bonhams Goodwood members meeting sale this weekend but not very well, surprising as it is a fully restored car (2011) but the incorrect color may have hurt its prospects, mind you this is not a huge event like the Goodwood Revival or Festival, so not the same density of bidders actually in attendance either.

Sold for £91,100 (€116,342) inc. premium

It is also a reality check for speculators.

Bonhams : 1978 Maserati Khamsin Coupé Chassis no. AM120 409

Best regards,

Marc

 

Looks like it sold for £80k including not excluding premium... very low compared to recent sales.

Compare this to the £116k paid plus premium paid exactly a year ago at Brooklands (which needed a full respray)

The result for the other red K at Coys still isn't on their site but it was in a very bad state so I expect it didn't meet reserve if this car made just £80k a few days later.

 

I went to the auction particularly to see the K.
I am sure I remember seeing this car somewhere.
Recently it has had a spray job. It looked very much like the car had been dressed to sell. There also was a natural leather dash, which I noted and the interior was not in good condition.
I did not see the engine to check it out.

The auction was interesting as most cars sold for well below there estimate...

 

I also was at the Brooklands auction and the buyer was German with the intention of fully restoring the car, I spoke to him only briefly as the auction was running behind and he only had the time to bid before leaving and getting the flight home

 

Yes I remember that as well at Brook lands. Big price for a car needing a bare metal spray plus a lot of other stuff. Was the K at goodwood better than the one at Brook lands? UK market seems all over the place at the moment

 

Catching up after a busy week: Andrew the Biturbo is discussed else where on other threads in this forum not the K thread, best of luck with it.

Marc

 

Hello Alex and sorry for the delayed reply.

Thanks for the info, alas all I had on this car is that it was sold new on 12 October 1977 by MTC (Mario Tozzi [Condivi] cars which took over as importer after Citroen Slough. We can therefore hail your car AM120369 as another one that has come out of the woodwork!

We would all love to see some photos o it and hear what you know of its individual history.
Congrats for your purchase!

Best regards,

Marc