Hi all, you get Agip Sint2000 10-40 at very reasonable prices at: http://oeltheke24.tradoria.de/ Best Rolf
From this angle is looks much like the Khamsin, which isn't surprising because the Espada was also designed by Gandini. But interestingly, the Espada is bigger in every dimension, but weighs a little less than the Khamsin even though it has a bigger 12 cylinder engine. Must be the Espada's aluminum body...
The Khamsin has some quite heavy parts. The Rear suspension cradle, the Bumpers are solid rubbers,and The Exhaust system is inconel steel and is very heavy. I recon a lighter exhaust and some light plastic bumpers would save quite a bit. Graeme
Don't forget that it has a very robust chassis that must account for a good portion of the weight: the perfect opportunity to post firstly two photos of the Khamsin spyder, AM120US1030 taken over 30 years apart: the first just after it was cut in Michigan in, I believe 1976 or around that time anyway, by the company of Gary Forbis (whose main business was to create stretch limousines), the other photo is from Christies late 2006, early 2007. Notice door gaps are perfect after all these years. When I drove it there was zero scuttle shake, rock solid. Secondly here is a photo of John Berg's bare chassis and body (which happens to be the very next chassis number: AM120US1032) after its rust proofing in Holland, copyright displayed, pretty substantial I would say. best regards, MS Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Marc, all Khamsin are heavy birds! Most of this weight lays in the bottom of the car (chassis) while the greenhouse and columns are quite this aka fragile. This is causing the typicall cracks on the bottom of the A-column on both sides! So the car flexes. If you did not notice any "rock-`n-roll" in the "Spyder-Khamsin, then this propably come from heavy additions on the frame to get the car more stiff. But I am quite sure that even this car is flexing. Ciao! Walter
Joe, no - the inspiration for this "something from Great Britain" came from the Titanic,....which sunk!! ..
I don't know. The Espada is a tank as well. Some guesses? There are no sub-frames in an Espada like the big one in the rear of the Khamsin. The Khamsin has all of the LHM stuff like a pump, tank, accumulators, all the extra plumbing, complex power steering rack and regulator. The early Espadas have nothing comparable. It's steering is awful as a result. Big rubber bumps could be a factor depending on which model years you're comparing. Maybe the Khamsin is a stiffer car because there's more steel? Both ride very well. The build quality of Maserati GT cars from that time frame are superior, at least in my opinion, to those of Lamborghini. That usually means more weight. Dallara was a better light weight chassis & monocoque designer than Guilio Alfieri? The Islero is a whole lot lighter than the Espada and for the most part the drivetrain and braking systems are the same. But it's a body on frame design. You should probably do an actual weighing of both with full tanks of gas. Maybe in reality they're not that far apart.
The registration for my Khamsin states 1600Kgs or 3, I just need to find a weigh bridge. Having had all the plumbing out of the car, it doesnt weigh that much and probably the heaviest part of my car is the Bomb proof stainless hydraulic oil tank. The rest of the acculators probably weighs as much as the two brake boosters in an Espada. Graeme
I have a Khamsin and an Espada. i would actually say the Espada has a more solid body construction. I had my Espada stripped to bare metal when i repainted it some years ago. Certainly the floor pan is thicker and in general it is a tough solidly built old car. The Khamsin is definitely a better built car. with much better internal trim. Only the bonnet cover of an Espada is aluminum. It also has much more glass Wouldnt have thought there was a lot of difference in the real weight. One must remember that the manufacturers figures were always a bit wild! Paul xx
Khamsinisti, I think it is probably time to return to some K related subjects on this part of the chat site It was more than a month ago since I last had a spanner in my hands. Other priorities. Today was a day of setting the ignition with a strobe, tuning the carbs and taking the air out of the hydraulic system. In the course of the afternoon I took the T-Top K out of its winter hole and ran it in our living area for a good 20 minutes. No hood on, no filter on: the nozzles were happily grasping for the crisp air. Both car and engine performed satisfactory. Very motivating experience! Now the fine tuning and still a lot of detail work to be carried out. to be continued.... Ciao, Bart Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Congratulations Bart! Just back from the Geneva show and I am truly fed up with plastic carbon fiber fuel injected gadgets: good to see this instead I was unable there to meet with a Geneva Khamsin owner I was recently put in touch with but we spoke on the phone: he has a luci di bosco colored car, Euro 5 speed, has had it for over 20 years and still drives it regularly, I hope to meet him and see the car later this spring. I do not know of any luci di bosco Khamsin having retained its original color and this is interesting since Doug in the UK is restoring his to that original color. best regards, Marc
Hello Bart, yesterday I took my steering unit out of the No. 120 104 and will overhaul it. As have seen your pictures, Bart, I would like to gain some knowledge regarding the green paint you used. The upper tie rod ends are worn. I talked to some suppliers but without result. Does anybody know where to get these items? I will reproduce the center nuts, because the zinc has bubbles again after 4 years of replating. Is there interest to hook on? Best, Marek Evert
Hello Marek, First of all there seem to be a range of green colors used by the suppliers to Maserati (and Citroën SM) for the Diravi pwr steering unit, the accumulators and the high pressure pump. I get the impression they used everything they had available The accumulators and the pump are non metallic and they came in a number of shades of "grass" green. I checked with some classic Citroën dealers and decided to have mine made to sample by a local (car) paint shop. Sorry I have no reference number. The pwr steering unit I tried to match the color of some "untouched" examples that I found on my hunt for a K. Also these metalic green colors vary from dark to a brighter shade of green. I chose for the brighter one since I expect the color to darken over time under the influence of heat and LHM oil film. Attached: the first 3 pictures are of K#504 with a darker shade of metalic green including the yellow spots to indicate testing and that LHM green fluid has to be used! Also note the red dots between the valve covers on the right and left bank to indicate "hot testing" / engine bench testing, and consequently released engine before installing it in the car when new. Restoring to originality is in the details... BTW; I used the example of the dark grey foam joint for the air inlet as an example to make mine. My wife's yoga mat is a bit shorter ever since For my pwr steering unit I used a Motip product ref nr 53550, www.motipdupli.com What end of the tie rods do you mean? Inner are part of the tie rods: the bushes are the same as Citroën SM and are still available in Europe through Citroën SM specialists, the outer ones through any good car parts store. Hope this gives you enough info to make something nice out of it! Ciao, Bart Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Thank you very much Bart, ... I found another red dot on the top of the AC Compressor Console which looks very authentic. Marek
Marek: Welcome, it is always great to have another owner join the thread and I must say I love the pino verde color which your car shares with only one or two others. I hope 104 is doing well and to meet you in the near future: haven't been to Berlin in 35 years so maybe time for another visit! Bart: I bow to your tech knowledge though I must say I can't even begin to understand this sentence below and it makes me wonder whether you smelled too much hydraulic fluid during your engine bay visits "BTW; I used the example of the dark grey foam joint for the air inlet as an example to make mine. My wife's yoga mat is a bit shorter ever since" best regards, Marc
Marc: Aparently confused by a Dutchman writing about a joint This one is a seal to keep the smoke out of the cabin! Marek: Additional red dot on the aircon pump support; Absolutely right, left top reinforcement rib on the vertical side. (This is K#504 too.) Watch out though: If you scratch it off you may win a Mitsubishi Take care, Bart Image Unavailable, Please Login
Hi guys I took the Khamsin down to London over the weekend as wanted something checked over by the guy who did the engine rebuild. Was lovely driving her again after her enforced 4 month lay up ( other than a short trade plate run) Was about 400 miles from friday. Returned 18mpg (imperial) driving religiously at the UK speed limit of 70mph! It would be nice to visit Germany and try a good 130mph + cruise and see how she feels on a prolonged high speed run which is what these cars were designed for. Also keen to V Max the car, although she feels good for 150mph + As usual got lots of nice comments about her and people shouting from passing cars asking what she was. Less than one gets in the Countach but still lots of polite and very positive interest. My main issue is re learning to drive her properly as she is a car that needs a totally different driving style and confidence for country roads. I know you all know all of this and hope you don't mind my ramblings! Am tempted to keep her down south for a while in case I can go for a nice blast in Germany and save myself the 800 mile return trip from London to Glasgow Marc Have we dates for the gathering?? I am planning the 3rd Scottish Italian car and Bike day on 14th August at Hopetoun House Edinburgh again. Hope we can get more than 30 Masers this year!! Paul
After looking at all that "stuff" in the engine compartment with no engine all I have to say is God I love my Bora. LOL :>))
Hi Paul I should take note of your comments and drive my car more often, that way I will stop getting hair-brained ideas! (Sorry for the Esoteric comment guys) Regards Graeme
Bart: thank you for improving my "joint" education;-) Paul: well done and if you need "ein Autobahn passagier" I am available: I mean that! Khamsin Quaranta: I will be going to Dijon late this week or next to set the date in stone, will let you know asap. Graeme: yes you know it is meant to be driven not waxed or tinkered with as I wrote in the article on my car in the upcoming Viale Ciro Menotti: Everglades highway patrol is STILL looking for me after all these years no doubt! best regards, Marc
Marc Your right, I just wish it would stop raining on the weekends at the moment! and as for the Everglades highway patrol generally they like to talk to you next time you go back to the States!!! Happened to a friend who bought a Corvette many years ago. Graeme
