Maserati Khamsin

of course it was, I don’t know which car most likely some 60’s Fiat or Alfa. Maseratis of were parts bin cars, the only thing they made was the engines. Pretty much everything was sourced.

 

Hi, fellow enthusiasts! I just bought this US1000. Stunning car, beautiful design! I am
replacing the brake master cylinder due to leakage. Do I have to remove the left part of the dash, or is it just as easy (difficult) without? Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Pictures of the ashtray in 393.
Have you tried Pasquale Coppola ? I have bought a lot of missing parts from him.
Contact him on [email protected] . .
Neilk.
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Hello Berge!

-Welcome here, you will find a lot of tech expertise for this answer ( tech matters are not my specialty) and other matters. I wish you much enjoyment with #1000

-For other readers here FYI: AM120US1000 is the very first USA model Khamsin, it was used for a brochure shot in California in arid hills.

Below is a photo of it very early in its life in California someone kindly sent me years ago.

I almost bought it on Ebay in October 2001 off a seller in North Carolina at 17000$ (those were the prices back then when no one knew about them...) but was beaten by a 100$ higher bid at last second; I sulked all evening;-)! The car had a cracked windshield at the time.

It was later imported in 2004 to Norway by Tore N. and first registered there in 2005. After him longtime owner Rene S. had not only the bumper and sidelight conversion done but also changed the differential ratio from the short US one to the longer legged Euro ratio. For many years it was color changed to dark grey.

After Marius it was owned for few years by a major car importer in Haugesund, west Norway, who had it repainted in is original Celeste (light blue) and did not really drive it, instead displaying it in his personal museum, before Berge bought it recently.

It is one of three Khamsins in Norway as of now, the others being 0008 (yes the factory gave it one more 0 than usual for whatever reason) the first production car, and 385 a RHD car...converted to left hand drive! Both of these are owned by the same enthusiast. Another K; #380, was sold last year from Oslo to Stuttgart, Germany.


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#264 coming up in the Retromobile Paris Artcurial auction.

It is one of the very few cars delivered new with Velours interior, to Quatar in this case.

When I inspected it and rode in it with the old Italian owner in November 2014 about an hour north of Modena it smelled of mold and was in need of a full restoration.Here some poor 2014 vendor photos.

It was eventually bought by a Bavarian dealer collector who gave it a full €95000 resto. The estimate is realistic contrary to a lot of current ads.

https://www.artcurial.com/ventes/6144/lots/72-a


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Just doing a bit of googling, and this Fiat 130 ashtray looks pretty similar.... Image Unavailable, Please Login

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https://www.mcgrathmaserati.co.uk/cars-for-sale/1978-maserati-khamsin/

387 for sale at McGraths

 

A Google Lens search reveals similar equipment in period Ferraris.

 

Yes Michael Quinlan was a very nice old school gentleman, very successful in business. He hosted me in May 2012 in his superb ocean view Monaco apartment for a drink and we went for a ride in 387.

Here is the car years ago with his SM and his QP. He had all his cars in Monaco and in a villa in France nearby but kept them on UK plates and registrations. He had a Merak with huge bespoke valves too. In 2015 they moved back to the UK.

He alas passed away of a heart attack at the wheel of a 911 some months ago...so McGraths is selling 387 for his widow.

RIP.


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Yesterday it was my turn to be interviewed! This took place in Divonne les Bains near Geneva at the very helpful Domaine de Divonne by an Italian Television crew for a three part series on Maserati's history. This was done in English language and will be syndicated on various TV channels/networks worldwide next year.
It was focused on the 1968-1975 Citroen era as covered in my 2013 book and a friend came with his Khamsin so I could present it.
Edoardo and his team (6 of them with tons of equipment and make up lady!) were very friendly and professional.
I like video work, it seems to suit me and I might well do more!

The car was AM120US1052 which had been in eastern Switzerland for many years and was bought a couple of years ago by a Geneva owner who kindly made the car available to us all afternoon.


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Well, I look forward to watching the documentary, but—tangentially related question—if you’re the author of that book (ISBN 9780957397804), can you tell me where I can find a copy for sale?

 

Hello Joe, my publisher in the UK still has some copies, contact him directly he will sort you out.

https://www.eaurougepublishing.com/publications/detail/maserati-the-citroen-years

 

Can anyone clarify the differences in Khamsin interior rearview mirrors - ceiling mounted vs glass-mounted?

Are European spec'd with the ceiling mount style mirrors?
Are the glass-adhered mirrors a US regulatory response?

- Mine are both US spec Khamsins, and the rearview mirrors are glass-adhered with the 3M sticky pad (from Pelican Parts, Porsche 914 912 911 part actually).
- All the NOS Khamsin rearview mirrors for sale online, are ceiling mount via a screw. I suspect those are Euro-spec mirrors. Or do they mount to a glass pad?

The silvering on one of my glass-adhered mirrors is failing and I'm pondering getting a almost identical Porsche mirror.

Thanks,
- Art

 

Mine is a glass mount on UK 311. Could you get a replacement glass cut?

Cheers

 

Hi Mark, How are you?
It's not clear to me what you mean by getting a replacement glass cut. Could you elaborate?

My goal with the question is whether Maserati sourced the Khamsin rearview mirror such that it has a common interchange with another cars' mirrors - and based on the 'shared' adhesive glass-mounted base, perhaps Porsche?

Thank you!
- Art

 

Hi Art, I’m good. Sorry for the confusion. I was referring to the problem you were having with the silvering on your mirror. I wasn’t sure, if you could open up the mirror and use the existing glass as a template, and get a new one cut? Rather than replace the mirror.

Not sure about the commonality with other cars. I guess the foot would have to work with the screen angles so could be Porsche, or other Italian sports cars

 

Glued version looks like that from a Citroen DS, for which reproductions are made. Verify first.

 

Thank you Mark,
Aha, of course - now I get it, excellent idea. I have disassembled other (Alfa Romeo) mirrors in similar fashion for cleaning and refurbishment - I will see if I can do that here and get something from a local glass/mirror shop.
Cheers, - Art

Thank you, Hans!
That's an excellent possibility... I will ask Dave Burnham Citroen when I'm over there next week.. do you know if the external decal that covers the glue-pad on the OUTSIDE of the windshield is available as a reproduction also?
Best,
- Art

 

If the decal is the trapzoidal-shaped one then it, and a very similar DS mirror, are available from Franzose.de.

 

Khamsin Accumulator and clutch slave cylinder.
I need to swap over the accumulators in my car. AS i dont want to keep the car on the garages ramps for a week whilst they do a refurb I was going to buy some first and then return the old units.
Does anyone know if they should be 65 or 40? I know they are 3 pipe ones. Anything else needed other than the 2 accumulators and new seals?


Does anyone have a clear photo or specification for the slave cylinder which also needs an overhaul kit.

As always all help appreciated.

Regards

Paul

 

Hi Paul!

Hope you are well.

BlondeauDS near Paris request the cores so that would suit you.

Huge Citroen hydraulic providers and have supplied to Khamsin owners in the past. They speak English. Keep your sentences short and easy Mr lawyer;-) they speak enough but are not super fluent.

Just make sure of the exact sphere pressure setting, higher than on Citroens.

Someone else here will no doubt chime in with that spec.

Blondeau-ds.fr

 

Hi Mark
All well thanks. Just getting old and too many cars to keep on top of! I keep buying and not selling! I recently bought a 1994 E320 Estate Sportline and 2003 A2 1.4 SE. Both beautiful designs

I hope all is well with you? I will be at the Essen Classic next month if you are there?

I have used Pliedes in the UK many times for parts and found them reliable. It also saves the hassle of importing exporting and international carriage. We don't like Brexit in Scotland! When I spoke to their Mark, he said the pressure would be either 65 or 40. From what you say It is likely to be the higher. I will try and get some close up photos and see if I can see anything stamped on top but hoped so one would know. I could remove them in situ but that would incapacitate the car.

Regards

Paul

 

Hi Paul,
Maybe you are the type that keeps everything, I am like that too for all kinds of things

Four days at Retromobile, which I never miss, was enough for me, a much nicer, more international show than Essen which I attended twice that was enough....and Paris is juuuust a bit more interesting that Essen, built 1946, which is as insignificant and bland as say, Blackpool, UK.

I am sure Pleiades can sort you out.

You should drive the car down to Le Mans Classic this summer, July 3-6, I can get your K into the French Maserati club enclosure and also into the club parade lap on the 13,6km/8 mile long course.

Best vintage racing festival in the world, 700 cars brought from all over the world racing in many different groups from 1923 to 1980 (each group in three rounds of successive 40 minute races saturday 4 pm to sunday 4 pm, practice all day Friday), 8000 cars from all over Europe in the club enclosures. As my friend lady racer journalist Gabi von Oppenheim said "Woodstock for classic racing and classic cars". Oh and there is just one little auction, it is about PASSION RACING and DRIVING.

https://www.lemansclassic.com/en/

Yes Brexit stupidexit is a mess and hassle.

Please post some fresh photos of your handsome Khamsin #381 when you have a chance. Here some old ones you sent me ages ago.


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I think the brake accumulators are 40bar. According to a Citroen DS page which said they were always 40 bar for the DS. Does this sound right?

 

This is not my field (historian not technician). The pressure setting is higher in Khamsins than in Citroens. If no one here provides the answer speak to McGraths.