Maserati Khamsin

For anyone who might be looking at it:
This was advertised in New York City for about U$D 25,000 about four months ago.
Now for sale in Italy.

http://www.autoscout24.it/Details.aspx?id=202496999

 

Yes AM120US1214 with the "scare crow" painted bumpers...at least compared to some other vendors this one is realistic given the condition, obviously a car for someone who wants to do a full restoration for which it appears to be a good base -assuming the mechanicals are not actually damaged seized- a frightful sight but hopefully soon rescued and put right!

MS

 

Marc,

I think it's a good car. As is typical for USA cars, the Citroen parts need the most attention because that system is so misunderstood here.

I was tempted to pick this up for myself, but I've no more room in my garage. I have to finish some other project before starting a new one.

Carmine

 

Found this one digging for fresh K's online:

AM120US1286. Interesting for two reasons: it was according to a caption in viale Ciro Menotti issue Volume 4 #5 September October 1980 the last "zero mile" new Khamsin for sale in the US, as late as that summer, at, of all places, a Ford dealership (Spitzer) in Cuyahoga falls, Ohio.

I had no other data on it until I found these photos taken at the "Glenmoor gathering of siginificant automobiles" in canton Ohio.

Secondly it has a beautifully made wooden dash and Nardi wheel: I know of one (US model) car having had a wooden dash but thought it was returned to normal so am not sure if this is the one and only or if another received such a treatment. In any case it was not made at the factory.

best regards,

Marc
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Marc,

I'm happy that you like the wood dash and wheel. And why not the shift knob, also? I've been thinking about doing something like this myself, but I have been a little afraid that the Polizia di Originale would chastise me. But with your approval -- who would dare to do so?

Carmine

 

Hi Carmine:

I am just expressing my opinion and am in no way entitled or wanting to tell anyone what to do

 

When I saw the pics I also thought positive things, it looks very much at home in there. Of course it needs to be perfectly executed, but it sure adds class to the interior in my opinion.

 

Also, I like the smaller hub of the Nardi wheel. The standard wheel impedes the view of the instruments.

As an aside, does anyone know whether the large hub steering wheel is a USA-only feature to satisfy some pseudo-safety regulation? Or did everybody get this?
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I kind of like the big hub. I know that #385, a -78 sold new to UK, has the big hub (or pad).

 

I didn't expect this, but I really like the wood dashboard, matches the car nicely.

 

I think everyone got the same wheel, also looks the same as that in later Meraks. I've never seen anything different until this recent post,but that I suppose doesn't mean anything. Does look elegant.

Bal

 

Hi Otto,

The pictures are excellent. I just saw one of them on the cover of a magazine called "Träume Wagen".

Regards,

Armaz

 

Hi Armaz,
glad you like the pictures. They were taken by a professional photographer for the article you refer to. He allowed me to post a sneak preview here. There are more pictures in the january issue of Träume Wagen magazine which came out yesterday. I am happy the K made it even on the coverpage. I do not have a sophisticated scanning device which would allow me to post the article here, but I could imagine they post it on their website in a few weeks when next month's issue is on the shops.
www.traeume-wagen.de
Best regards,
Otto

 

Hi all:

regarding that wooden dashboard yes it is certainly very very appealing!

Otto: thanks for the sneak preview photos and notification, look forward to reading the article!

Speaking of interiors the restoration of AM120016 continues at Carrossimo in western France, here is the link:

http://www.carrossimo.com/categories/encours/maserati-khamsin/

click on "lire la suite" to open a small folder of photos for each stage of the work. At the bottom if you click on "articles anciens" you will be able to see earlier stages.

It is the oldest K ever to get a full restoration, in theory the 8th car built but since 006 seems never to have existed and 002 was destroyed in the crash test it is the 6th oldest in existence.

It will be one of at least 3 fully restored K's at K40.

best regards,

Marc

 

Hello guys,
The name is Jan Grob and yes, I have intensively negotiated with David Pardo over half a decade ago to obtain his Khamsin. Unfortunately for me he at that time asked a whopping E 190.000,-- Yes onehundredandninetythousand euros. That was too much, way too much but what a beauty it was, oh yes. And the colour is Magnolia hide interior and bronze-gold metallic. The very same colour on a Khamsin is used in a multi-paged brochure of which one of its pages is used by Marc Sonnery for the homepage of the registry. I will post an image of that one (if i get it right, i am not a big computer specialist on these replies to a thread...)

Hello Marc, yes I have been and still are interested in the Maserati Khamsin and I am keeping up with developement on the market, that is as visible on the internet. You, Marc know some more but unlisted ones.

Quaranta must be one big and most of all beautyful event and, yes, hopefully quite a number of owners and enthousiasts (as myself) will be able to attend. Do you know of any Dutch Khamsin owners to drive to Beaune?

Speak to you all
Jan Grob

 

Hello Jan!

Nice to have you here about ten years after we started exchanging emails.

Yes AM120406 is in my humble view the best Khamsin out there: its current owner E.H. does not drive it, so it has 1200kms (no the be confused with AM120504 the black/tan car which has about the same mileage).

Contrary to 504 which has basically sat its whole life and may or may not be in the middle east or Belgium according to contrary reports (yes very confusing) 406 is owned by a German collector, a very discreet one who keeps it like new and, although it does not get driven, even gets it serviced banning the mechanics from driving it around the block!

So while I think these cars should be driven this one is essentially the only one that looks like being on the Geneva show stand in 1975!

So just like Michael's car in the south eastern US which will apparently be the last one ever to have its US bumpers (and thus remain as evidence of why K's did not sell well in the US) 406 will remain as the only "like new" K in the world.

Jan: any idea where this David Pardo is? I would like to talk with him?! I contacted a david pardon a couple of years ago but he turned out to be the wrong DP! The actual DP owned at least two K's.

To answer your question yes there will be several Dutch K owners coming down to Khamsin Quaranta, including the owner of 004 the prototype, we can talk about convoying nearer the time of the event.

best regards,

Marc
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David Pardo Khamsin

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hello guys,
The name is Jan Grob and yes, I have intensively negotiated with David Pardo over half a decade ago to obtain his Khamsin. Unfortunately for me he at that time asked a whopping E 190.000,-- Yes onehundredandninetythousand euros. That was too much, way too much but what a beauty it was, oh yes. And the colour is Magnolia hide interior and bronze-gold metallic. The very same colour on a Khamsin is used in a multi-paged brochure of which one of its pages is used by Marc Sonnery for the homepage of the registry. I will post an image of that one (if i get it right, i am not a big computer specialist on these replies to a thread...)

Hello Marc, yes I have been and still are interested in the Maserati Khamsin and I am keeping up with developement on the market, that is as visible on the internet. You, Marc know some more but unlisted ones.

Quaranta must be one big and most of all beautyful event and, yes, hopefully quite a number of owners and enthousiasts (as myself) will be able to attend. Do you know of any Dutch Khamsin owners to drive to Beaune?

Speak to you all
Jan Grob

 

My friend E.H. never drives his car many cars! He puchased this car years ago for a moon-price as he wanted to own a car with such low milage. To prevent this status, the car has to stay on display.

His mechanic did more miles with it than the owner.

But I can disclose, that the car is located in Germany.

Ciao!
Walter

 

Good morning Khamsin friends,

like to gather some more info around AM120038 because it's on the market now for a while, not far from my little town.

Car was as technically redone 3 years ago
- new paint (blue)
- new interieur (beige)
- rustfree
- all systems running
- comes from a collection in Italy
This all doesn't make it cheaper.

best regard,

cinque

 

Have always loved those.

 

Hi Carmine

I have a feeling I might be classified as a Polizia di Originale, however I have a belief that as long as the mod can be easily put back the way the factory intended then there isnt a problem.

In fact mods that enhance the usability shouldnt be frowned upon, but the more a car becomes valuable the originality of the car plays an important part in its value.

A good example and I may already mentioned this, an Australian 275GTB Ferrari got a full engine build as the " high reputation" Ferrari Specialist company servicing the car noticed that the engine gaskets were the incorrect colour! call it gouging if you will but thats what happened, along with the removal of specially made dicreet electronic distributor, better brake pads and a host of other discreet usability mods. All that was done after it was bought for 1.2mil AUD.

Marc
On a slighty different subject were there any RHD Khamsins that finished up in the US?

Cheers
Graeme.

 

Hi Graeme,

I think that you and I are generally in agreement.

So for example, you might be upset by this:
http://www.beverlyhillscarclub.com/1962-ferrari-250gte--c-646.htm

Carmine
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I'd like to add, that in addition to reversible changes, safety changes are always good and shouldn't be seen negatively.

Having a bit less originality certainly beats the alternative of going to your grave rather early...

I would definitely add a safety belt to a car that doesn't have one, but I probably wouldn't add airbags

 

So 120406 has a smaal steering wheel boss?

Question about its' cam-covers as well: All black. Am i getting confused? (Can't check yet, am only going to get my car next week)

 

Hello all:

Cinquevalvole:

The car looks very good and has obviously had quite a bit of work done, the only negative is the dash surround in a color which suggests that there has been a partial color change to the interior.

I haven't found out the original colors yet, will do this afternoon. Will let you know.

If you send me an email at [email protected] I can send you the invitation for Khamsin Quaranta: we expect several Austrians and quite a few Germans (we had a reservation from Berlin this morning for example) and Swiss (one owner is coming with both his Khamsins).

Graeme: I have never heard of RHD Khamsins ending up in the US, no but it could have happened such as an Australian car ending up there. A couple of the japanese market cars ended up in the US but they were all LHD because in Nippon they want their cars like in the country of the car's origin.

Jack: yes indeed small steering wheel center and all black cam covers on 406.

Maserati blue: I would like K seats with better side support for spirited driving when I own one again but don't want ugly modern seats so that would mean modifying the standard seat...which I would hesitate to do. I also used to fantasize about replacing the big ugly outer door handle with a BB type small lever much more discrete...

best regards,

Marc
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