Photos at DN Restorations - Restauratie van klassieke Europese sportwagens of a Khamsin conversion from US to EURO spec. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Hello AMLC, The photo showing two Khamsins on lifts (photo in the link you provide) is of AM120US1300 on the left, formerly in the Strojer collection in Denmark, which is the car in the first photo you posted, while the car on the right and in the third photo you posted is AM120.136 ex Venezuela, discussed here earlier this year. Best regards, Marc
Are you sure about the third photo? Isn't the car in the third photo the US car (US1300), already looking like a EURO car? Image Unavailable, Please Login
Seen this professional video already? Was a pleasure to drive this car! [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZM2C9iVzm0[/ame] Regards! Walter
I recently saw some photos of a red Khamsin being mechanically restored in Germany, at a Facebook page of a friend who works on it. Not that one converted to EU spec in Netherlands, I believe. Is it already followed here or should I ask him for the right to post his photos here?
Found something interesting I thought I should share with the group... I was perusing some old Maserati Owners Club of North America (MOCNA) quarterly newsletters. In volume 14, Issue 1, Winter 1993, I came across an article from a gentleman named Arnold Moss who switched his Khamsin hydraulic headlight lift system to a pneumatic system. So basically he switched it from LHM to Air. The actual work was done by a gentleman named Rod Drew from FAI Motors in Costa Mesa, CA. Anyone know if any of the gentlemen are still part of the Maserati community? The article indicates that Rod may be communicated with for parts listings and drawings. I recognize this is now 21 years later, but this information could be worthwhile to have, and would be a shame to lose... Mike
Mr. Arnold Moss - AKA Cal Moss - was from Reno and a great Maserati fan from back in the old days. Unfortunately he passed away and is no longer with us. One of his claims to fame was that he actually owned the prototype 350S 12 cyc. He purchased it from a well known American dealer restorer (whose name I can't think of right now) who at the time was living in Modena. Rod Drew is very much alive and I think still in business in Socal. Ciao, FGM
Correction, CalMoss and Arnold Moss are two different people. Cal of course lived in Reno and had a Mexico until he crashed it. Arnold was a Dentist and lived in Orange County and had an automatic Khamsin that was slightly modified. Unfortunately both are gone. Sorry for the wrong info. FGM
Hello Frank, all, Just back to work from a very bad cold and from 2 days away without email and saw this. You are referring to Tom Meade, who passed away in August 2013 and whom I interviewed in 1996. I last had dinner with him in April 2013 in LA. He lived a number of years in Modena and apart of his famous and wildly bodied one off creations (off topic here see vintage Ferrari thread) he also owned a 350S which he sold damaged to a Mr Moss from California (but that is also off topic here, again see that thread). He left Modena (for Bali!) in the early seventies then moved back to LA. Best regards, Marc
@Marc, Did you see my post about the third photo? Isn't that US1300? It looks like they are doing a good job converting this car to EURO. Makes you wonder how many original US cars are (and will be) left! @dmj: I think we all would like to see the photos of the car being restored in Germany @Dreambrother: yes, I think we saw the video, I posted the link on Nov 26. Did you drive the car in the video?
Hello AMLC yes I had, sorry, as mentioned I was under the weather. You are most likely right, I have not had the time to call the man doing this work on both those cars, it is very probable that he is also changing the sidelights on AM120US1300 to the Euro look i.e. deleting those at the back completely and replacing the front ones with small round ones (yes that involves body and paint work). It was not at all a common practice during bumper conversions in the past. When I did my car exactly ten years ago this month I did it and could think of only a couple of US cars that had that done as well but it seems it is now more common which is good: those big Ralph Nader side lights are really crude. In my humble opinion I hope all US cars get converted because it was the worst disfiguration of any model mandated by US rules and reactions I noted when people saw my car before the bumper conversion were always negative and always positive after the bumper conversion. Of course we know Mike who posts here is intent on keeping his all original complete with "Walrus tusk" US bumpers so there will be at least one left to prove how bureaucracy can ruin a car All the best to you, Marc
i'm curious-what does a khamsin go for these days? i found one that's more or less a barn find-good condition, US bumpers, been sitting for a few years...i've always loved them..do they still make the euro bumper kit? thanks!
-Happy new year to all Khamsinisti, wishing you success, joy, health, fullfillment and many miles of spirited driving! In December my Registry database reached 10 years of age. When I have some time I will write and post a "state of affairs" of the Khamsins still remaining. Things have certainly changed a lot in that decade! -Philt68: a Khamsin is not a simple car to wake up after prolonged slumber and should ABSOLUTELY NOT be given to the first mechanic you find around the corner because they have and will cause a lot of damage due to unfamiliarity. To help me answer your question please provide the known history of this particular car, photos, the chassis number. On a US model it begins with AM120US followed by four numbers and on a US car you can read it through the base of the windshield and also in the door jamb. Very importantly is it a 5 speed or an automatic? Values can go from about US$30000 for a car as you found it, as is, needing a very extensive service to €150000 in Europe for a Euro car or US car in perfect condition. You will find all information and contacts for the two versions of the bumper kit on this page in my site. http://www.maseratikhamsinregistry.com/bumper_kit5.html Best regards, Marc Sonnery Maserati Khamsin Registry
Gents, I noticed, that two Khamsins are on auctions in Paris in connection with Retromobile 4-8 Feb. Rétromobile 2015 by Artcurial Motorcars - Vente N° 2651 - Lot N° 143 | Artcurial | Briest - Poulain - F. Tajan Bonhams : Maserati Khamsin Coupé 1977 Did anyone hear about these Khamsins? Prices seems to be going up Carsten
I see that Enrico has posted details and photos of the Maseratis in the Artcurial sale at Retromobile in his latest Enthusiasts' Page 278.
The black 1977 Khamsin at Bonhams is owned by one of the Maserati experts who post here I think. What strikes me about the blue 1975 Khamsin (#190) is that it has a smooth nose and first series seats, but appears to already have the center console of the later models. It may indeed be very original. The owner seems to have had a preoccupation with fog lights. Let's hope this car is bought by someone who brings it back into a great condition with as little loss of originality as possible.
Mine is 178 and also has the smooth nose and no sign of any modifications / accident so I suspect there was a batch manufactured that way. I love it! Not sure what is meant with the console, see pic of 178 belw, cheers, Tom, Belgium Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Beautiful car! About the center console: #190 already has this strip above the radio that all later models have (see photo). Image Unavailable, Please Login
Hello all: In haste: when doing the research for the Registry and my book I spent a lot of time interviewing and talking with Ermano Cozza, Cleto Grandi and all the factory oldtimers I have been in touch with to try to find out why there are these discrepancies about smooth nose/vented nose and not a clearly defined timeline transition but the answer is there is no answer. It must not be forgotten that cars were pre-assembled at Bertone, only the mechanicals/internals were fitted at the factory and the answer -as far as cars which have not had their nose changed due to accident, preference or accident and lack of correct nose parts availability are concerned- is that there is no answer, other than the fact that at the pre assembly workshops of Carrozzerie such as Bertone, Padane, etc AND at Maserati if they ran out of a part for any model they fitted the next best thing. Dashboard discrepancies and many such details fall under the same fit what is on the shelf pattern. Sometimes suppliers were late or another supplier offered a cheaper alternative. It was Italy decades ago not Japan today. See Dominique Drieux interview in the book. Case in point AM120040 is the lowest chassis number I know of with a vented nose then cars such as 160, 178 (which looks great) 180, 190 have non vented noses. Will comment more on the two auction cars when I have a minute but swamped with work now! Best regards, Marc
Dear Marc, the lowest number you know should be 038 one car bevor 040. It was not changed during time, no evidence of front accident or modification after completition. Regards FG
Hello FG you are absolutely right I should know better since I inspected 038 a year ago in Salzburg Austria for Leo top right in the photo who ended up buying 058. Several other early cars such as 018, 024 and even the prototype 004 were renosed with vents even though they were born without vents. 004 was put back to original as will be the case for 024. Have to run! best regards, Marc Image Unavailable, Please Login
Hi Marc. Just wondered if you were aware of this ex US car in Madrid ...maybe one to add to your registry. No chassis number quoted though. 1975 Maserati Khamsin 4.9 - Classic Road Best regards. Mark.
008 was also modified with vented nose (the whole panel was replaced), but wil be put back to original. Best regards Marius Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
-Belated hello Mark! Yes that car was also tucked away for decades. It is AM120US1012, silver/red, 5 speed. sold new to Florida in 1975 and then to a gentleman in California in 1982. That owner kept the car for around 10 years and then sold it to his brother who kept it until this month. It has been bought by this Spanish dealer who when I spoke to him 10 days ago wanted €160K as is where is still with US bumpers (already bought apparently)in the US awaiting shipment to Spain. He wants to sell it after doing the conversion so after shipment taxes and conversion I expect he will price it at €170K or more likely €180K. 70000 miles but engine rebuild for US$60K 4000 miles ago. I am not involved. Since he wants to sell it after doing the bumper conversion I won't post photos but it looks like a good silver red US K. -Marius hello I hope you are well! Yes of course your car 008 (photo taken when Marius found it in western Norway a few years ago, it looks much better now) which you so kindly lent to me after K40 had the nose modified at some point, great to know you will put it back to original! Best regards, Marc Image Unavailable, Please Login
