Paul, thanks for the details! I am facing a major court battle and if I get the compensation that I deserve I will go buy one of the very few yellow K's in existence...then I would work that out of my system, call it becoming color mature;-) and then repaint it light gold. Bob I am sad to say you are very right and K's can only be appreciated by owners who drive them, dance with them...the "I will restore it some day and drive it February 29th" greed-culation crowd is hopeless and it would take a major watershed moment to change that. I am trying to do so with the person who has accepted to write the foreword for my book, we will see if it is enough! best regards, Marc
Hi Bob, fair enough, I meant that those who are not really motivated to drive one regulalry or just interested in tinkering (always working on the car but never driving) either because they are too focused on value and worry about driving it or are jsut interested in speculating don't enjoy their cars while others (in the US) who say they want one just don't act quickly enough when one becomes available on the US market and sooo many times in almost ten years I have seen the same scenario over and over again. They sit on the fence and the car is quickly bought by someone in Europe. best regards, Marc
Well Khamsins were always a hard sell here for many years and so they would languish. I think they still are at least a tougher sale here than in Europe. Same for the Bora. So people may be operating under old market perceptions? The hydraulics make most people a lot more cautious too. That can add delay in making a decision.
Spot on Bob, those people have two chewing gums stuck under their mental shoes: old market perceptions and this nebulous fear of hydraulics. I hope my book can help alleviate that though you can lead a horse to water but not make it drink so there will always be people who don't get it. Oops here I am speaking in abstract ways again sorry! This comparison is clear enough though: they make me think of someone in front of a buffet wanting something that ran out long ago and while they moan and sulk and mumble holding their empty plate the buffet gets entirely consumed by others who accept to eat what is there and quickly fill their plates. the winners of course got up early and were first in line. MS
Not so sure if it is actually the hydraulics that would hold K prices down. "Normal' brakes are also a hydraulic system, but In the K you have a nice valve controlling, in the other a pump (master cylinder) T see wat more cause in those butt-ugly Nader-bumpers. The front could still pass as somewhat acceptable, but how is it possible that some crazy legislator could transform one of the most beautiful rear-ends on any car into the ugliest by far?
u so right about government destroying not only this car but many others. brakes are a great problem as there is no one in my area
To be fair, other vehicle manufacturers did a much better job of adapting a solution. The Khamsin and the Espada were probably two of the worst examples at that time. But can also appreciate how some designs could never function and look good given the limited materials and resources at that time. The Bora and Khamsin surprise a lot of people with how the brakes feel but you get used to them and they're terrific at great speed. I never got quite used to the Khamsin's steering but I just need more seat time. Any volunteers? The reliability and complexity fears surrounds the system is urban auto techo BS. Yet it remains.
Totally agree, it's the same type of thing as most classic car writers are parotting eachother about the slow Ferrari 308 injection 2-valves, and the general build-quility and engineering of same. They just never drove one properly, but they want to have an opinion. Misconceptions are very hard to fight, but as Daytona's are getting really expensive again, Ghibli's and Khamsins are about the only alternatives, and may expect some more serious attention to their fabulous beings. Marc cannot remain the only writo who takes these things serious!
Well I'd have preferred that Khamsins had languished a bit more and longer but hey what can you do. You can't own them all.
Bob, They still are dirt-cheap for what they are. Ready to roll Euro 5-speeds are becoming a little more expensive. What is with prices anyway, they go up and down, I think at the moment we are in a situation like 1989, higher-end and high end classics being used as a hedge. It will drag everything else with up, and when the bubble pops, back down again. Btw, didn't know that you're an aspiring owner. What's happening with the Bora?
Yep We all need to drive our cars more. That way the buying public see our cars and become aware of this model. Cheers Mark
Oh you know, I just want to try all the beautiful ladies. With in reason LOL. Yeah I went through the 1989-90 thing with my Bora. It was all in pieces at that time otherwise I would have gladly sold it because you just knew they'd hid bottom again soon. It's a bit different this time though. The rise has been much slower. The world is MUCH worse trouble and I just have to wonder if there will be enough buyers when the time comes to sell. How many younger guys with all the cash are going to want these old cars? Remember, the dream cars of their youth are a whole lot newer.
A 1974 Khamsin for sale: 1974 Khamsin with work (gearbox, body, ...) A 1975 Khamsin from an Italian collection: 1975 Khamsin At the same address this Bora, more expensive than the Khamsin, but according to the text it seems the Bora is in the best condition of the two, and there was more invested in body and engine of this Bora than in the Khamsin 1980 Bora
Hard to know what those numbers on the Bora mean . I guess 2008 is when the latest round of work was done? I have no idea what SR 03/1980 means? A very strong price for a Bora which is nice if you already own one! The Khamsin from the Italian collection looks nice and probably the minimum for what you have to pay for a fully restored car. But it doesn't say all that much about the mechanicals ....
I'd like to know that a Khamsin could bring that price. It looks like a nicely preserved example -- not a restored example. Agreed that the mechanicals are a question. Under the hood looks like it's been maintained at least.
It's a 5-speed ... I remember about 4 or 5 years ago a fully restored (Bobileff) 5-speed sold at auction at Greenwich for about $60K. I'm guessing it cost $40K more than that.
The Italian collector K: A black dash-top? The front bumper looks like it's had some action too. I love the colour though.
Given the Khamsin from Iran that's been featured here I thought you guys might get a kick out of this: http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showpost.php?p=141640787&postcount=2298 There are a couple of posts worth looking at.
Quick one: How does the knob of the gearleaver come off? Pull or twist? (before I kill the thing and have to search all over the world for a replacement) The leather around it is a little hard, and I'd like to treat it from the inside.
Hi Jack, For that you need an Italian proctologist . . . . . . . . I am sure someone will have that answer for you, never pulled mine so don't know. Greetings from Holland where I saw a very impressive private collection and visited the Louwmans museum today, it had quite a few Masers inc a 300S and a Medici....which err looks better in photos than in person. No K's this trip though. best regards, Marc
Hi Jack, It's a threaded affair onto the gear lever so unscrew. I think there's a knurled locknut that tightens against it from below the knob. Bal
