Maserati Khamsin

Hi Bob,

Hum... Let me see my budgets...slush funds..., offshore accounts... Piggy bank under the basement... Err i guess no go sorry, any other ideas?

Marc

 

https://www.gofundme.com/


I can just imagine how well recieved an effort to fix a classic Maserati would be ...

 

Hey no problem to get funding from them: just need to fool -sorry Freudian slip- clear the psychiatrist board but they are really vicious: apart of north korean interrogation methods sometimes they get REALLY bad...
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They -whisper it- tend to actually suddenly show us bumper photos,

We need a bumper revolution i tell you...

Good night bed time here

 

Mike is right.

Having a US-spec Khamsin with Euro bumpers is like having a girlfriend with fake boobs. An Orwell-esque re-writing of history. perhaps, if that suits better than the boob-comparison. A pastiche.
Mr. Nader deserves his place in history, even if he is as fondly remembered as Stalin.

Converting to Euro-spec is a lot of work. Poor unsuspecting buyers who get fooled by just cosmetic surgery.

Best,

Jack.

 

Hello jack,

Everyone is entitled to an opinion we agree to differ etc etc.
The fact remains that US K bumpers and the complete alteration of the back end remains undisputably the worst disfiguration of any European car by the US rules during that or any other era.

Have you actually seen a US K in person with those appendages? There aren't any in South Africa and unless you have been to the US chances of seeing one in Europe are now thankfully rare.

I can tell you that time and time again when driving my own the first six months when it had them and driving it after the conversion made a world of difference, people cringe at the first and are wowed by the purity of design of the latter. The US disfiguration of the K prevented it being appreciated stateside and the effect is still seen today when 95% of those offered for sale in the US end up in Europe.

The bumper process is not complicated you just need competence. You can't fool poor unsuspecting buyers to use your expression because the US chassis number remains but you can put a US car 100% to Euro spec, some have changed their differential ratios engine timing, gotten rid of MPH gauges charcoal canisters US sidelights etc...to get the car back to the way it was meant to be built without outside interference.

Maserati Khamsin Registry

In short this disfiguration is one of the main reasons I created the Registry.

Best regards,

Marc

 

Hello to all

just saw this message on twitter:

https://twitter.com/stephanwelzco

Lot 414a for sale on August 30th 2016

Regards
Roger

 

Great find Roger thanks,

012 is the oldest car I have been unable to obtain info on, years ago I was told it was in a garage somewhere in ZA (perhaps by Jack) I communicated with them once or twice 10 years ago:

From: "Roger >

To: "Contact - Maserati Khamsin Registry" <[email protected]>

Date: 14 Nov 2006, 10:23:45 AM
Subject: RE: Maserati Khamsin noted in your website
________________________________________
Hi,
The Khamsin in our shop is a Type AM120
obviously and the # is 012.
Colour is red at present and the box is manual.
The car came to us in various pieces but it is in fair condition.
Our current dilemma is missing rear subframe mountings and I am in
a quandary over the rear suspension check straps which at present
are steel chains. Is that correct?
A parts book and a workshop manual would be a lifesaver.
Trust we could be of some help.
Regards,
Roger Pearce.
Emgee Workshops.

Hi,
The car is LHD,the interior is a light beige with grey/blue
carpet..
I will try and get you some history.

Roger

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

End of quote could never get any news after that.

Stating that it is a pre-production car is a stretch though typical auction marketing, though it will be interesting to see detailed photos of it.

So we have 002 destroyed in crash test, 004 in Holland, 006 never made (but was in fact renumbered to 024 currently being restored by a friend, more on this later) 008 Norway (Hi Marius!) 010 Canada currently getting a reawakening and partial refurbishment, and 012 coming out of the woodwork.

So next mystery car is 014 never heard from.

Best regards,

Marc

 

Marc,

I am sorry to say I know nothing about that car, 1 of 3 K's in the country.
Around the time of your email exchange I also spoke with them, and IIRC they were working on it for a client and it was not for sale.
Perhaps Ian (owner of 439) can tell you more.

The auction is 1500kms away, I won't be attending.

Best,

Jack.

 

Hi Jack,

Yes that car always lived tucked away...

Thanks, I will be in touch with the auction company before the day.

Nice that South Africa has your fine example as well as the last car built and also the 6th car made, 5th oldest officially existing (024 is in fact 006 but not sure if that identity can be changed back).

Best regards,

Marc

 

Ooops I am definitely senile ahead of schedule, sorry; 014 was in fact at our KHAMSIN QUARANTA event 4 years ago DUH White, white interior (even the steering wheel...)and whitened out rear glass, German owned. 016 and 018 are in France, 022 in Japan so 020 is the actual oldest car I have nothing on.

Best regards,

Marc

 

Hi Marc,

I am quite curious what info you can pry loose from the auction house selling #012 on August 31st.

Their very incomplete description says it was the demo-car from Auto Koenig, and it is thus not one of the 3 Khamsins originally sold in SA. It is also LHD, and the estimate is very low. After taking in the messages from Roger Pearce, one needs to be very careful and examine the car properly.

If the photo Weisz shows is the actual car, it has a nose with grille. Was this then the first car so equipped?

Best,

Jack.

 

Hi Jack,

One has to assume they don't know much if at all about K's why would they considering there are 3 in the country....

I am convinced that is a shot they grabbed offline, far too early for a vented nose...unless the nose was changed later for repairs or because the owner wanted better venting or the latest look (lots of early K's were given the vented nose by owners in period or later).

Will get in touch with them. I expect it will sell cheap because not many in your country will know what it is and the cost of shipping for someone from another continent makes it quite prohibitive.

If I get an answer I will share here.

Best regards,

Marc

 

eBay Khamsin Reserve met:

Maserati Khamsin Base Coupe 2 Door | eBay

Regards.

 

Amazing considering the paint and a bit of door repair required.

I still can't get over that carpet color, blech!

 

-That is by far the highest price ever for a US K on Ebay, glad there is robust interest, even if a high price means it is unattainable for some now, higher prices mean more K's will be restored, preserved contrary to say the 90's when their value meant they were not worth saving. This means the ex Doug Magnon one will -probably- sell for about 20 more next week due to its Youtube Jay Leno video fame and auction exposure, note that the video has shot up in views about 9000 from 382000 views in recent weeks due to the paper and online auction catalog.

-I heard back from the South African auctioneer re 012:

"Dear MR Marc Sonnery
We thank you for your interest in the Maserati Khamsin .

1) The picture you have is the one in our catalogue and further detailed pictures can be sent if required

2) We have a letter from Maserati Classiche confirming all the details of the car and that it was a pre production factory demo car,one of apparently only 5 and was ultimately sold to Auto Koenig in Munich as a used car in November 1976.

3) The original import permit into South Africa dated 1981 is on hand.

4) Original sale document to the buyer here dated 17/7/1989

5) Original shipping document from Germany to South Africa dated 26 May 1981

6) Of interest Bonhams sold a Black Khamsin 1978 model for Pounds 146,000 and Artcurial sold a green 1976 model for Pounds 196,000

7) Our auction fee is 10% for export cars.

8) We have exported cars in 20 foot containers at around euro 3000 to Europe and can supply a detailed quotation upon request.

9) The car is in very good condition,runs well and is currently unregistered and suitable for export.



Kind Regards,

Jack.Rosewitz"

End of quote.

I will speak to Fabio at Maserati Classiche to see if there were any interesting specs on the build sheet etc but he may still be on holiday, Italy shuts down in August.

I am not involved at all in the sale of either car.

Best regards from Dusseldorf airport have to rush to fly home,

MS

 

I think I have another picture of 012 I found some time ago, without knowing for sure it was this car, there is a slight scratch behind the front bumper, no stickers on the windshield and no rear view mirrors. And of course it is LHD.

Regards, Roger
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Sarcasm perhaps?

I saw Doug's car at Monterey 3 years ago and a bit at his museum last year. It's a nothing special driver quality car. There far nicer examples presented in this thread. The yellow eBay car really is paint challenged. But it's low miles, very original and that interior will clean up well. I don't know if the paint can be fixed WO a full respray? The bumpers are easy.

Much better days for Khamsins at the moment!

 

Hi Bob,

No not at all, realise that no proper video of any Khamsin existed and that the Leno one has been seen now by nearly 400k people, his show is prestigious in Europe too not just the US so bear that in mind. In fact my video Maserati Khamsin in motion back in 2007 was the first one to show a Khamsin moving, that is how little there was out there so the Leno video is a great introduction to many who don't know what a K is and how surprisingly good they are, I only wish he and Doug could have driven up into the hills to explore the handling as opposed to just driving on dead straight avenues and freeways.

The car may not be in the greatest condition but it is one of the seven fly yellow cars made, just three of them left in yellow (1272 is now hidden away in the UK owned by a very private American), a stunning color, low miles and look what the other one 1290 did in its Ebay auction: US$148100.

Maserati Khamsin Base Coupe 2 Door | eBay

So Doug's car will I should think easily clear that.

By the way I was informed this morning that 1290 is heading for Holland. Yet one more leaving the US.

Best regards,

Marc

 

Honk Kong Khamsin coming up for auction.
Marc I am sure we have discussed this car.
Hong Kong to host its first major classic car auction | Classic Cars For Sale UK
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Nice find Graeme!

The article says the sale was to take place on June 11th. Someone should have results.

That car should have gone straight to the lawn at Pebble, would have been good for us

On another note: Took my dash-top out yesterday, without dismantling any of the dash. The cubby thoughtfully has 2 removable side-panels for access to the nuts, and the centre-nuts can be accessed by taking the vents out.
Just to show that these are hand-made cars, above the centre console, 435 has 3 studs instead of 2 holding the top down. Bit of a puzzle when you think you have loosened all that's needed.
The dash-top has both the chassis# as well as the interior colour written on it.

Best,

Jack.

 

Hello Graeme, Jack,

Yes we discussed this car before, the K, AM120427, did not sell in HK.

Best regards,

Marc

 

I meant the idea of THAT car being worth more just because it had appeared on Leno's video. No doubt having a good and well publicized video of these cars helps a bit.

He needs to do a good video for the Bora!

If only Kerry took his new Bora (ex Claus Groth car) to Monterey then maybe ...

 

Yes it is the best marketing because it is not advertising but genuine.

A Bora test drive by him is overdue, yes, he would love it. If there is a good Bora available (WITHOUT US bumpers) in the Los Angeles area (he shoots in Burbank) I can let him know. I would think the ideal car would be the California based verde pino one of Wilson W, a proper Euro car, ex Akkram Ojjeh which I photographed in Paris as a kid over 30 years ago. Let's try to stay on topic here but I am willing to email Jay for this of course.

Best regards,

Marc

 

Wilson sold it a couple of years ago. Euro bumpers would look better to most but it won't drive any differently. Perhaps anyone interested in that can continue this in the Bora thread.

 

We have discussed this before.

However, my experience tells me that a 4.7 Factory Euro Bora looks different, sounds different and performs/feels different (due to different engine output characteristics; power delivery/rev limit; transmission gearing; weight etc.).

However eloquent the revisionist historians who will argue these facts may be, these remain the facts.

Over and out.

Regards.