Maserati Khamsin

Regarding Johan Helenius’ racing Bora things are not so straightforward as one might guess. From the Swedish Journal Nostalgia no. 9, 2009 I cite that totally about 500 cars were made between 1971-78.
Two of these were Le Mans-prepared. Johan’s car is the 10th made the first year.
It was sold new in Belgium, but later went to England where it was driven as a club racer.
It was already then rebuilt with part from one of the Le Mans-prepared Boras that had crashed.
Later it came to Sweden. When Johan bought it in -91 the parts were spread out over the entire country and the restoration had started, but the parts were in fairly bad condition.

Greetings

Ulf

 

Hello Ulf:

Thanks for your post.

While there have been mentions of Johan's Bora being raced in the UK if it was -there is no evidence confirming it- the races were minor club events or just track days: some people are confused about what racing means.

I interviewed a year ago all the factory and former factory people who had to do with 1173000 and 1173001 the two Bora Group 4's.

3000 had a nose end danaging crash in the hands of Azelio Cappi, head of the engine department at the Modena Autodromo but was very quickly repaired before heading to Le Mans for test days on the bugatti circuit. There were only two built that is a certainty as verified during numerous interviews (for my book and for my test drive for Classic & Sports Cars) with Ermanno Cozza, Cleto Grandi, Guy Malleret and the late Dominique Drieux.

Hence any statement that Johan's car has Bora Gr 4 parts - mentioned by English sources, not by Johan- is more than doubtful.

The wheels maybe. However he did an amazing job on the car, that is clear and the real Bora Gr4's, now both in France, are not really for sale and the price would be eye popping...so this is the next best thing.

best regards,

Marc

PS: Now let's try to get back on topic and yes true I was the guilty one for mentioning the Bora to start with!

 

Ulf,
thanks fr your info. But only 2 true Gr4-Boras were made! All "others" are more or less bad replicas. Some standart Boras also "raced" (one of them in Macau, Asia) but without any significant results or drivers! Driving around the circuit on track days is not serious racing....!

Ciao!
Walter

 

...can`t agree more!

Ciao!
Walter

 

hi

thanks again for the advice. the fans are cutting in OK. No water under car or in car. Water levels were low but could have boiled off before i stopped car although am pretty sure i caught it very quickly and then cruised the car down hill to a stop possible max 2 miles. Am pretty sure wasnt for long as oil temp was still just above normal. Blets all in place and no strange noises from front of car.
Is a refurbished pump as was over hauled during rebuild and got kit form MIE.
As live in UK seldom get over 24c and in scotland it's colder and last night was lucky if it was 12c!!
Paul

 

Yes back to Khamsins,

I have found a Khamsin in the April 2002 number of the club paper Maseratibulletinen, and don’t know if it is already known.
However, it seems to be dark green and according to our register it is a 1975 model with chassis number AM1201156, which to me seems strange.
Perhaps a US is missing in the middle or perhaps a 1 has been doubled.
Side-ligths are missing but could have of either sort.
The drivers seats seems to be of the older type and the hand-clapping-type of wipers.
The Maserati emblem seems to been replaced with a decal.
The roof antenna is probably not original (but as usual one can not be certain).
The wheels seem vaguely familiar although I cannot place them.
The back tires seems somewhat wider than the original.
The same with the external mirrors.
I think these wheels fit the car, especially the reducing the general “fakery” by doing away with “centre-nuts.”
It should have looked so in original.
The fake aluminium at the front bumpers has also been removed.
I also think the mirrors fir the car with about the same angular style as the body.
Gandinis design?
In 2002 this car was in Karlstad.
I don’t know if it is still in Sweden.


Ulf
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Perhaps better resolution

Ulf
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Yes we discussed this car in 2008 with Magnus: here is the info he provided then:

1156 togs in till Sverige av en bilfirma i Stockholm som hette Skanitalia bil. Ratt sa fyndigt namn ser jag nu det har jag inte tankt pa forrut.Det drevs av en skandinav och en italienare i Skandinavien och de importerade bilar fran Italien.1156 var silver nar den kom hit till Sverige 1977.Den blev sedan ombygd och blev da bla gron.Nu ar den renoverad och champagne-fargad. Den var Milano registrerad innan den kom till Sverige. (so 3 different colors!)

Jag hittade daremot en annons fran Skanitalia bil om1156. Kanske for liten for att scanna sa jag talar om vad det star. 1976a 1800 mil 1 agare i Italien servostyrning elhissar servokoppling 2 ex i Sverige silver 145 000 svenska kronor 1 ars garanti 08-846484.

1156 ar vad jag vet kvar i Sverige

Info kindly supplied by Magnus Andersson May 2008,

In a nutshell it was imported to Sweden from Italy (even though it is a US version) by Skanitalia an importer run by a Swede and an Italian. It had Milan plates when it arrived.

It was originally silver, was then repainted green, now it has been restored and is champagnë colored so 3 colors.
Magnus found an ad by Skanitalia: 1976, 1800 miles (or Swedish miles which are 10kms to be clarified) spec details 2 in Sweden, silver 145000 Swedish Crowns 1 year warranty.

Magnus beleives it still is in Sweden.If so I would love to see it, will have to ask Johan if he knows it.

It is AM120US1156 as AM120156 is accounted for in Benelux now and in the past. 1156 has simply had a Euro bumper and sidelight conversion -actually it appears to be missing the front wing/fender sidelights-.

I saw a Khamsin in Zurich in 1982 that had the Ghibli nose grille trident on the hood instead of the oval Maserati emblem so this one with the sticker -and wheels!- is another odd one.

Right have to pack, back to the forum after Le Mans Classic: early next week!

best regards,

Marc

 

Thought I would just state the obvious
100 pages Well done everyone

I quite like the mods on the Green Khamsin the wheels are english Compomotive wheels TH series which they dont make any more in anything other than 13"

They also make replacement Khamsin wheels
http://www.comp.co.uk/wheels/wheels.asp?size=15%22+Classic+and+Special+Order+Wheels


Cheers
Graeme

 

HI All,

I need a good to very good Khamsin for one of my customers. Please note that my customer only wants a genuine EU-car!!! Also - no red cars, please!

If you have a car within Europe on offer, please contact me offline with clear photos, history and description of the car:

[email protected]

Many thanks!

Ciao!
Walter

 

I was wondering if any one knows whos Khamsin is written up as part of Road Rally in the current Issue (in Australia) of Octane

 

Well the lump is out as they say.

Went to visit the car today and after a couple of months waiting the engine is out of the car and ready to be dismantled. Just waiting for a bracket to be made to mount the engine to the stand before they start the dismantling process.
After which I shall know what to put on my shopping list and start ordering parts.

Let's see where I can get the best prices from. So far from enquiries, MIE seem the best value for money.

Just sad to see her having open heart surgery, just hope Alfieri's reputation for making strong engines applies to my car...

I'll keep the updates coming as the guys make progress.

Bal
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From the Artcurial website:

Lot 138 1975 MASERATI KHAMSIN €73,123 (incl premium and taxes) Sold

 

Enjoy

http://www.maserati-alfieri.co.uk/enthusiast195/lorenzo_le_mans_classic-10a.jpg

 

Hello all!

Had a busy week so just now able to renew my fchat membership and post photos.

There were four Khamsins at Le Mans Classic which is now undeniably the best event in the world bar none: 7000 classic cars all in one place (no Monterey grid lock), the greatest circuit in the history of endurance racing (13,6km 8,5 miles as long as Goodwood laguna Seca and the small Nurburgring combined) 460 cars racing over 1000 drivers including dozens of former winners. Don't miss the next one in July 2012!

-AM20188 which as AMLC pointed out sold for 73000 plus Euros including commission in the Artcurial auction. I am very happy about this not in terms of speculation (if prices go too high I won't ever be able to buy another one!) but in terms of people beginning to perceive that these cars are now worth restoring: the one good effect the 80's had is to get many cars restored which would otherwise have vanished. One of the French classic car magazines has apparently just upped value after years of not even remembering that they were mentioning the Khamsin in their value guide(!) from 30K Euros to 45K.

The car was spectacular, the chrome bumpers are in fact not chrome but a special material on the rubber bumpers which looks lile chrome, the red interior was quite something and quite...blinding! I was told by Artcurial's staff that it was bought by a German.

-The second Khamsin there was the spyder AM120US1030 brought by owner Jean Pierre Lhomer as seen in the photo posted by Bob. This car has been discussed here extensively before.

-The third car AM120392 was brought by owner Fritz Harms the president of the Maserati club Holland, one of the best Khamsins which he and his wife drive all over Europe, alwaysw looking great in its burnt orange original color.

-The fourth car had me confused. At first I thought it was AM120358 which I showed here around June 7 or 8 as it was the same canna di fucile gun metal grey but as I discovered it parked away from the Maserati club paddock by itself amidst Lancias I saw it did not have the nose vents and had a red interior (whereas 358 is tan) so it was another car...of course the owner was not there this was a mystery and while someone promised to give him my card I had little hope of ever hearing back from him. So the next day on Sunday despite painful feet from walking miles around the paddock and track I went back and found the same chap who knew the owner and after a few minutes of talking he explained the owner used to work for Tata in india and is now back in France, bingo! I then knew it was Mr C. a car designer who had bought the ex François Gauchenot (former French club president) AM120148 which used to be light green with a tan and green interior. I had actually met Mr Gauchenot the day before when talking with Mr Harms.

There is a video of 148 in its new colors which I will provide a link to but first some photos starting with 188.

best regards,

Marc
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More 188 with paint code on back of fuel flap and the chassis plates including the additional one that restorer Lecoq puts on cars...
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Last shots of 188, interior, inside of sealed off rear trunk window and motore...certainly one of the best Khamsins out there now, I hope its owner uses it and congratulations if he follows this forum!
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Here is AM120148. This is how it sat with the car cover protecting the interior.

The short youtube video of it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UyI4s0rkTo

Note that the comment by the video poster that this is an ancient video is an exageration, the work was clearly done within the last few years.

I posted photos of the car the way it was before light green /tan-light green a year or two ago.

I did not retake photos of 392 or of the spyder as they have been shown here before.

best regards,

Marc
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Well done Marc

Rather taken with the auction result.
A recent Australian magazine had some prices on Maserati's and didnt even mention the Khamsin.

From the reviews of the LMC I will put it on a future trip wish list.

Cheers Graeme

 

Hi Marc,

Do you know if this Khamsin on sale on the maserati club site was the one previously owned by Adrew Hunt ?

http://www.maseraticlub.co.uk/carsforsale.htm

I almost went to look at Andrew's ex car but was put off due to the bodywork needed. When it did sell I remember pictures of it on ebay (being sold by the purchaser) showing holes in the widnscreen pillars etc. It also needed sils, and door repairs from what I was told by McGraths. I remember it because it was a shade of pale yellow (originally dark gold) as is this particular car for sale. This one is described as being near concours, which the one I was considering wasn't anywhere near.

Anyway another for you records if you don't already know about it.

Bal

 

Hello Bal:

Yes it is the ex Andrew Hunt car.

It has been years apart in two auctions, used to be bronze new apparently according to the data that walter gave me, then went through the hands of Bristol cars, was green as in the Coys 1997 auction catalog shown here, was then shown in an Auto Italia article ten years ago at a time when there were almost never any Khamsin articles.

In the data that Andy Heywood of BillMcGraths kindly gave me there is another Andrew S. D. listed as owner as well.

This light butter yellow is not bad looking but does not as far as I know correspond to any official Maserati color of the Khamsin's era or before.

It was then auctioned by Coys again in 2005, here is the part of the description concerning the actual car:

"This example is a very late production model fitted with manual transmission and originally registered in 1979. It was bought by its current owner in 1997 who then undertook a restoration in 1997/98. It was stripped back to bare metal, repainted and mechanically sorted by Bill McGrath Maserati. The hydraulics and air conditioning are all reported to be in good order. It has been used regularly with half the total mileage has been done by the current owner. The car is entirely original, except for the coachwork colour (originally bronze) and the addition of a cd player. It has been properly maintained at Bill McGrath Maserati with regular services and expenditure whenever required. There are 4 nearly new tyres and the complete exhaust was replaced in 2002. Complete with the original spacesaver spare and tools, this represents a great opportunity to bring some life back to this fabulous Bertone styled car."

It did not sell at that auction.

It seems the car has received some good work and deserves a good home!
It did have some rust as you say and as can be seen in the first yellow photo the question is how has this been addressed, if properly fine, if not opportunity for negotiation!

Since it has had three colors the option is there to keep this one, go back to original or pick a third one.

best regards,

Marc
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Hi Marc,

I didn't realise it had been green at one stage. I know from Andrew Hunt that the body work was undertaken by Corley motors before they went under. I should have the pictures somewhere when it came up on ebay, but the holes in the a Pillars were big enough to put a small fist through. So I thought the purchaser was trying to bale out of the project.

I contacted Andy Heywood about it and he advised me to leave alone due to the rust damage needing more than patching which is what they had been doing up until then.

Mechanically and interior were in excellent condition, though I think Andrew had been trying to sell it for quite a while after restoration, maybe he was hoping to make a buck or two on it.

I went off and bought 433 soon afterwards more with heart than mind and I'm glad I did.

Like you say if it's been done properly then it shoud make a very good car, but that is a big if......

Bal

 

"but that is a big if......"

Ohhhhh yes!

If anybody is going to go see the car I would be thankful to get feedback.

I noticed that the photos used to advertise the car are 2006 photos (click on them and the data comes up) and that the rust still shows. Not the best marketing...

I spoke with Ermanno Cozza yesterday and he gave me the info on your car: you have an email. Thanks for updating us on 433's progress!

best regards,

Marc

 

358 is for sale: http://www.autoscout24.nl/Details.aspx?id=liueamict4bk#

 

Hello All:

A special landmark in this thread, a veritable lighthouse in the dark for Khamsin owners, enthusiasts and future owners.

I want to thank all who participate as it is an intelligent, positive, educated, useful and very international forum dedicated to one of the most misunderstood and also one of the greatest cars ever to come out of Italy or anywhere else.

one can only wonder what its success and cult status might have been had it not:

-Come out one nanosecond before the energy crisis, i.e. fuel costs, speed limits, social unacceptability of these cars.

-Received no advertising from de Tomaso who was concentrating on other things.

-Received the worst US bumpers of any Euro cars ever.

-Therefore under the radar of history for 30 plus years.

I believe some perhaps excessively hailed cars such as the Ghibli or the Miura, born in the cocoon of the sixties would have been dwarfed by the success and historical esteem given the Khamsin had it been born in ideal circumstances like them.

2012 will mark the 40th anniversary of the presentation of the Khamsin at the Turin show.

This is an ideal moment to announce that in Europe a major Khamsin reunion will take place between May and September that year.

Whether I organize it or whether it be done by the factory club or a national club will be decided in due course. I will if I have to but am not desperate to take on the burden if one of the clubs is willing to do it I will happily step back.

The goal will be to exceed 30 Khamsins.

The first element to achieve that is advance notice for those who are restoring cars or are contemplating doing so: add six months to your estimate and plan everything up front like a racing team.

The second is to make it desirable and attractive as an event to take part in.
I have the provisional comittment of the owners of AM120004 the Khamsin prototype and of the owner of the Khamsin spyder. I will also endeavour to have present the very best Khamsins in Europe. I will make every effort to invite Ermanno Cozza, Cleto Grandi and others who had important roles or were involved in the birth of the Khamsin.

The third is that the event needs to be geographically easy to access for owners throughout Europe. Therefore it will most likely take place near Dijon with a track day, road rally -some of the best roads in Europe-, tour of vineyards and historical landmarks with of course an informal concours in a pleasant location, likely a chateau.

That area is within an easy drive for most European Khamsin owners and truly central.

As Khamsin owners are not necessarily extremely wealthy the right balance will be found between special very comfortable surroundings and great gastronomy but without excess cost.

Voilà: the little secret is out

I have spoken about this with two European Maserati club Presdients and they were very positive about it.

For the US I have no plans but believe than one east and one west coast event would be necessary.

More details in future!

best regards,

Marc Sonnery

Maserati Khamsin Registry
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