Hello AMLC Sorry, must have missed something, but Marc confirmed it is 439 in South Africa. So 437 could be the one, I have nothing on 407.
No Marc to go back from a V suffix to an S is possible and would have been allowed by the government agency. Just a bit pointless as the current plate on Paul’s car isn’t what you’d call special in the UK. I seem to remember Paul saying his car had a quirk in that it had clear glass for the Australian market as it was possibly destined to go there originally. Could that be a clue ? As you say strange things went on in times of old..... Bal
If someone registered a car in January 1980 it would have got a V-registration with year of manufacture 1980 and Date of first registration January 1980. Let’s say he also has an unused S-registration and in 1981 he wants that on his car. He asks the authorities for permission and they agree. I think that S-registration will then get year of manufacture 1980 and Date of first registration January 1980, am I right? So the result will be an S-registration with dates that are not within the normal S-range (which is Aug 77-July78). If this theory is correct then the fact that the ALX registration of #381 has dates (1978 and June 1978) that are within the normal S-range is proof that there was never a V-registration on #381. But that doesn’t mean that the car with the LUE162V plates can’t be #381 because isn’t it possible that the LUE162V plates were only used for photos (of #381) to hide the real registration, and that they came from another car (the daily driver of the photographer for example)?
There are three Khamsins in this post from 2016 because the two next to each other have nose vents, see: http://bologna-ss.com/en/2016/12/09/2-maserati-khamsins-return-to-the-earth/
You are absolutely right. My records show only 9 cars identified but 34 ! where I have pictures but no clue to their VIN. They all seem different too. If somebody travels Japan extensively, please bring back some revealing info
Your theory is correct. The registration document (the V5) will show the date of manufacture and first registration as 1980. So I could just ask Paul to check his V5. As you say it could be for fotos also, but again both plates are run if the mill, nothing special so I can’t see why anyone would bother. Bal
Bal you are over analysing massively, when as a journalist you do an article you just need plates on the car, period. I can't remember how many times I slapped plates on a car I drove for articles. That's it. Nobody cares about the intricacies of UK bureaucracy, frankly.
Hello AM120 034 is for sale now in Germany, Ratingen https://m.ebay-kleinanzeigen.de/s-anzeige/maserati-khamsin/1508100056-216-1777
So the dark green (former yellow) car with the Rosso Bianco sticker in Japan can definitely not be #034. Now we know that #034 is still in Europe I looked again at a photo I have, see photo below, I thought it might be #034 at the Passione Engadina August 2014, but I was not sure about both. So I searched for more info and found the same photo on one of the lists of participants of that gathering in 2014, including the chassis number AM120034 (see https://www.altarezianews.it/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/auto2014agoEngadina_pini-115.jpg). But photos on lists of participants are of course often from before the event so I looked at the Passione Engadina 2013 and found this photo, the Khamsin is on the right side in the background with the same number 44 on the side (the 450S is #4511 according to the article): https://a-e.li/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/IMG_5764.jpg So I believe the photo below is #034 at the Passione Engadina August 2013. Image Unavailable, Please Login
I never used to be a fan of the Khamsin but I have to say , after following this thread for the last while , the design has really grown on me . Question to the owners , what does it drive like , I have had seat time in Daytona’s and Ghibli’s , I assume the steering feel in the Khamsin is better than the Ghiblis’s and that brakes feel similar to the SM . Is there a specialist in the northern parts of the US or Canada ? I would be curious to do a test drive as I think it would be an interesting car to own
Hello and welcome to the fold A Khamsin has more torque than a daytona, is far more agile; can be driven on track all day whereas the "Trucktona" will run out of anchors before you know it. I have done thousands of kilometers in my and other Khamsins and it is one of the most pleasant GT cars to drive ever built, incredibly competent with tons of charisma. It is a vastly modernized Ghibli yet retains carbs which ensure that fantastic V8 sounds as good as it can. A Daytona is exciting too but tiresome to drive, heavy not agile, I have driven hundreds of miles in them; no contest. I just sold a 5 speed Khamsin to a member here in upstate New York, perhaps, if he is so inclined, you can meet up with him. There is a Citroen specialist in the northeast who knows Khamsins very well. The only 5 speed I am aware of for sale in the US is the Chicago very late red car discussed here a few days ago. I have no connection with that. It looks really good....There is 1260, white, at Gullwing Motorcars but it is a rusty fossil, unused for decades needing full restoration. Also because it was stolen from Al Skolnick (not the musician, a namesake) in New Jersey in the 80's make sure the paperwork is as it should be if you investigate that route. They will take a five figure offer though but its restoration will be costly and should only be done properly, by the right shop. Servicing should absolutely not be entrusted to the wrong people. They are perfectly reliable if serviced by the right people and driven regularly: at KHAMSIN QUARANTA in 2012 27 came from all over Europe, just 3 trailered. So 24 cars drove an average of 1600kms total eachthat week back and forth and the touring rally. ONE poorly maintained car had a small issue, sorted out in 30 minutes. THAT is fact, not rumor. Also don't ask Ferrai folks about Khamsins, they don't know and carry old rumors like chewing gum under their feet. Would you ask Porche people about Ferraris? No then make sure you speak to the right people who really know these cars and don't try to sell you something else. There are less than 50 K's left in the US in my view, having started the Registry in 2004 I can confirm the clear and ongoing pattern; 9 out of 10 that come up for sale in the US get bought by Europeans who take them home. Of more than sixty test drive articles I have gathered (possibly far more I have not counted them), this is a very good one, done with AM120-381 in period in the UK by the excellent Mel Nichols in CAR magazine: enjoyYou may have to download the scans to read it. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Hello AMLC your photo is confirmed by this one below, the car was registered in the Starnberg region, and used those plates while doing the Passione Engiadina I was vexed about that picture as well... Image Unavailable, Please Login
#1082 will be for sale in London soon https://rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/lf20/london/lots/r0008-1975-maserati-khamsin-by-bertone/993765#/expandGallery one of my favourites among US versions, beautiful!
Thank you so much for going though the trouble to give me such a detailed reply , much appreciated. I am not at fan of the Daytona either for the reasons you cited above , I have been looking for a convertible 70’s or 80’s sports car and i have narrowed the choice down to a Ghibli soyder or Am DBS V8 vantage xpack . Either car is a challenge to find in the spec that I would like , so now the Khamsin enters the picture, not a convertible but way cheaper than the other 2 and just as much of a looker if not better . I will bring one in from Europe , we have no issues importing euro cars in Canada 15 years and older . I just have to score a test drive somewhere lol , will figure it out in due time. Silly question maybe , how is the air conditioning, does the cabin not get too hot . Thank you again
Thank you for this very interesting review (at least the las page which is readable, the others would require more effort...). The driver is enthusiastic on the handling! From that article, it seems that, even with the Citroen brakes, toe and heeling looks easy?
Need Close up photo of the Allen head bolts that attach the dash board in the door jams if any can help. If specs are possible that would be great. Thanks
Should not be too difficult. Iso Grifo uses similar metric Allen head bolts on the dash top and I was able to order them on ebay. Figure out the thread size and length using regular hex metric bolts and then look for countersunk hex black oxide bolts, such as these: https://www.ebay.com/itm/5mm-x-0-80-x-20mm-Qty-10-Flat-Head-Socket-Screws-Countersunk-Alloy-Steel-M5/110971624877?hash=item19d66c9dad:g:KtcAAOSw1NJfOs15 Ivan