Michel picked up the car a few days ago after his complete engine rebuild at Italauto. There is a video on you tube of it on the dyno: [! MS[/QUOTE] Hi can you give me the name of Italauto and the webaddress. Thanks so much
Hi Bart The stiker is actually painted on. In my previous job they has a stencil making machine and I used a Decal from a Lambo I got from Eurospares, scanned it , turned it into a stencil, changed the numbers and painted it on. Its not 100% accurate but looks the part. Unfortunately I dont have access to the machine any more. I sure given today technology they would be easier. I made that about 10 years ago. Trying to find an original is near imposible they have all faded or been wiped off. Graeme
in case it is of interest this is a picture of the filter box on my car (445) and to the best of my knowledge it is as it left the factory. the water tank may look a bit tatty but i rather like it like that, and it works perfectly and does not throw out any coolant, and even in the very hot weather we've been having the car does not overheat. i seem to remember though that when it was new the car had a chronic overheating problem and i believe it had something to do with the porting of the water passages in the cylinderheads. i'd have to read through all the old paperwork if someone is interested. P. Image Unavailable, Please Login
William: Here you go: http://www.italauto.nl/ Ask for Pieter he spaks excellent English. Paul: Welcome back and thank you for that, yes sounds very interesting. -Will post more Dutch trip photos later on. best regards, Marc
If you have anything on that topic I think it would be quite interesting because not all the old Maserati V8s run as nice and cool as you're describing. Bob S.
Anyone looking for a new High Voltage Ignition sticker [yellow sticker with the red bolt] send me a PM. Ciao, George
i'd have to read through all the old paperwork if someone is interested. P.[/QUOTE] Thank you for your replies. Look forward to read more on the notes, Paul!? My Ghibli was originally delivered to Lebanon and equipped with an expansion reservoir, it is also listed in the Ghibli parts catalog. When restoring the car I thought I could do without it: no chance, I ran into the same problems as I did recently with the Khamsin: Spitting the coolant out and sucking air back in when cooling down. With the Ghibli we "stormed" 3 mountain passes in Switzerland on a hot day (Grimsel, Furka and Süsten; fantastic!), 35degrees centigrade in the valley and in the twenties at the top. Engine temperature stayed OK and coolant in! Note: On the Ghibli air filter cover a friend of mine printed the filter details, as a gift. I may have to ask him a favor again for the K. Ciao, Bart
This picture belongs to my previous reply (Note: On the Ghibli air filter cover a friend of mine printed the filter details, as a gift. I may have to ask him a favor again for the K.) Ciao, Bart[/QUOTE] Image Unavailable, Please Login
Bonjour all: This was the surprise car of the trip, and a very nice one, I really love gold on K's a very suitable shade and all too rare. It has apparently been in Holland for a number of years with two successive owners but has remained under the radar, known by almost no one and out of sight in this private collection so thank you to the owner for allowing me to see it in his absence! With 100258 miles it is satisfying to see another being used extensively, well done! There was a slight hydraulic leak but other than that it was in very good condition. In a day or two the piece de resistance of the trip: the prototype! best regards, Marc Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
A few more of 1252...many thanks again to Wil who organized the viewing! MS Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Hello Bart... A little off theme here....But, what a great looking engine compartment in your Ghibli!!! I hope I can do justice to AM115/49*1928* when I begin putting her back together in a couple of months... One question and a favor... Would you be willing to post more pictures of the Ghibli engine compartment and other areas if I need them?? As you know, I have a thread dedicated to the restoration of my Ghibli.. You may have posted this before, but what is the VIN (vehicle identification number) of your Ghibli? Thanks... Mike
Ok Mike: To punish you, leader of the one man sect of US Khamsin bumper lovers (hiding out in the remote hills of the deep south but we will find you, make no mistake) for straying off topic you now have to describe -in poetic rhymes since you are en engineer, have to make it hard for you- how this monstrosity is, in your dubious eyes, attractive. To be clear I am joking, tongue firmly in cheek This is a new one to me, AM120US1214, 5 speed, 15 years with same owner, engine turns over, which has appeared at Gullwing Motorcars near or in NYC. They have a knack for finding Khamsins needing restoration and they are candid enough to confirm that this one needs a complete one. So surely Mike you must love the unique refined look the PAINTED US bumpers give the car: I mean it makes it look almost as "pretty" as a Bricklin with acne or a TVR with pimp wheels Breathlessly awaiting your response best regards, Marc Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Hi Marc, In your research for the book, did you find out who was the guilty ones? I mean the people that came up with the design of the rear end of the US Khamsin? The front kind of look OK, but the rear end design is crime. In red (red'ish) it looks like the rear lamps are gone, at least on the picture. I know it was caused by regulations, but it must have been more alternatives to meet the regulations than this? At least it's easy to restore this on a Khamsin compared to Bora and Merak.
Hello Marius! Hope you and Madame are enjoying a nice Norwegian summer. I love interviewing Italians, they are very forthcoming with information but I can say that in the 100 + interviews I have done in Modena or on the phone for the books it is noticeable that, more than other nationals, they present themselves in the best possible way: they want to fare bella figura, to look their best. When I interviewed Giulio Alfieri on the Bora Group 4 15 years ago he answered. When I asked him about the failed semi articulated de Dion on the Tipo 151 he did not answer. Hence I never got an answer on this Khamsin rear bumper US configuration. The rear glass and fuel tank location are in part the culprits though. Mix that with the excessive US regulations and the severe stress all at Maserati were under due to the fuel crisis, new speed limits and collapsing sales and the end result is that back end...but remember that Ferrari did not officially import the BB at least for a while because of all these problems and Lamborghini was also forced to put horrible bumpers on the Countach so everyone was affected. Voilà... best regards, Marc
I had a very similar conversation yesterday about this car, the "Bricklin Maserati". I guess the orange paint on those bumpers didn't quite accomplish the camouflage effect that was intended. Looks like a decent example for restoration if there isn't a ton of rust hidden by bondo under that truly awful color of paint. I've been to Gullwing motors. An amazing place full of mostly awful cars but they also have some decent examples. They're good at finding the hidden cars. That's where Mandarano found his latest example. I'm sure it's headed for Europe. Hey there must be quite a pile of those rubber US bumpers stacking up over there? Bob S.
Just to bring the topic back center, while winters in Europe and the UK and for that matter parts of the US and time to put cars in Hibernation Winter here is some of the best time to get cars out for early breakfast runs. Today was such a day what a good day for it. One thing we all know is carbureted cars like cooler air, and the performance although not a great deal different the cars just seems that much happier especially at 5,500 Rpm ( in the lower gears in case officer plod reads this). Great run and beautiful winters day, I even put the heater on !! One other thing made me smile the 25 member Non Marque car club called the ROMEO Classic Car and Bike Club (acronym for Retired, Old Men, Eating Out. ) has more Maserati Khamsins (3) in it than the Maserati Club in our state Club Graeme
Hello all: FYI After coming very close to reserve on Ebay UK AM120US1230 is now back on as a buy it now auction. I confirm that this is a very good buy at a very realistic price and that I am available to help it come back to life! http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MASERATI-KHAMSIN-1-421-EXAMPLES-/140565944574?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item20ba6218fe Will post photos of 004 in the next couple of days, just very busy and to be candid trying to survive while doing these books (financial masochism!) is not so simple! best regards, Marc PS: Graeme sounds wonderful any photos or video of your winter drives!?
What's astounding is how a car of such low mileage ever got into such condition. Talk about abuse of of a vehicle. I suppose something rather simple broke and it was left to sit & rot? Tragic. Hopefully someone rescues this one.
No, just long periods of inactivity: 1989 bought by Johan Helenius in Massachusetts where, owned by an iranian, it suffered a small carburettor fire in a garage. Johan brought it back to his restoration facility in Sweden and sold it to a first customer. Thsi man turned out to be the wrong guy to supervise the restoration of a car so back to Johan who brokered its sale to D.N. D is a super nice guy and Khamsin enthusiast, I spent 2 days with him in late March. He had the car from about 2001 to just recently, dismantled it had the engine rebuilt by a top expert, treated a lot of the parts (whatever the exact word is) but then had personal problems and financial ones as well, plus he moved twice within Sweden hence the project stalled. It was always kept in very dry storage so the body is in very good shape. It is now ready for the right owner to bring it back to life, as my condition report states it is in very good condition. Voilà. best regards, Marc
