Maserati Khamsin

You all saw photos and videos of various exotic cars being ruined by hurricane Ian a few weeks ago in southwest Florida (and we don't need off topic flooded orange McLaren talk here please).

Well it took a long time to find out like in a thriller but news of an exceptionally preserved Khamsin finally emerged a few days ago: it was totally unharmed.

This despite the fact that it was in the garage of a beachfront house in Lee county where the eyewall hit, yes right on the beach in the worst possible spot, the county that saw the greatest devastation and over half the fatalities (50+). Of course it is only a car and pales in significance with the loss of life and devastation nearby but that Khamsin was up on a lift, the garage held, the lift too (unlike many other lift nearby which buckled like straw) water barely came in. So it is intact thus once roads are clear it will live to be enjoyed another day. Considering there are less K's in Florida than there are fingers in one hand and how original that car is it is good news. Chassis number not mentioned for privacy.

 

K *425* on the 1st part of its journey from UK to Sydney Australia.
Marc. Take note for the Registry.
I had an itch to scratch after i finished the restoration of my Bora. I was fortunate 425 was For Sale when i was travelling to Europe a slight detour and the journey to Khamsin ownership began.
Trawling through the Khamsin forum of F chat it seems that little is known about 425 so if anyone has some history prior to 2014 it would be very much appreciated if i was contacted..
It appeared in May 1988 edition of Thoroughbred and Classic Cars , also in March 1989 edition of Classic and Sportscar.
I'm looking forward to conversations with K owners in the future after my car lands in early January 2023..
I am also very fortunate that i have close contact with 2 other Khamsin owners in Australia and of course former owner Graeme White.
Greg Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Greg many congratulations and welcome to Khamsin ownership! I wish you much enjoyment and long drives across Australia.

Did you notice on what page of this thread you posted your announcement?!

Page 425!

That surely is a good omen and means that the speed Gods of Modena approve thy union with this Bella Macchina

If the car is due to arrive in Oz in 2 months it means you have already arranged the shipping, pity as you could have joined us at KHAMSIN CINQUANTA next June 15-18 near Geneva, Switzerland where 20 owners have already committed to come weeks before registration opens December 15. It closes March 15. We will easily surpass the record of K40 in 2012 (27 Khamsins) and I will push to get 50 of them for the 50th anniversary or at least as many as possible of the 160 K's in running condition in Europe and the UK. Two are coming from the US and one from New Zealand. Yes with their K's. It will be a once in a lifetime event.

Regarding your car AM120-425
Andy Heywood data:
120.425 PET 2X Maroon Cream Manual Unknown Owned in 1990 by Perry Aldred. Featured in Classic and Sportscar. No further details

When owned by Perry Aldred it was used in several articles including a very interesting one in Classic cars May 1988, a comparison with other GT cars on and near Silverstone circuit: Iso Lele, 308GT4, E type, Porsche Turbo and Aston Vantage in which all owners drove each others cars. Here is the bit about the K which clearly made a very strong impression on the other owners:


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Marc.
Thank you for the history above. I do have photocopies of the publications you have referred to but by god i would love the original magazines to have as part of the history of 425.
You know ! sometimes the brain is over run by other thoughts , i was aware the Geneva KHAMSIN CINQUANTA but the brain didnt kick in until you mentioned it.
It is too late and i would have loved to attend. maybe next time.
I'm sure it will be a fantastic event going by the previous events you have organised.
Yes Australia will have to do for now.
Regards
Greg

 

Hi Greg,

One of the ones you want is the March 1989 edition of classic & Sportscar where there is a feature on your car. Can be found in that usual online auction site.
I know I have another mag where it’s featured but will have to dig that out when time permits, but I’m sure Marc has got it correct in his post .

cheers

Bal


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Greg as Bal mentions you can very easily find those articles on either Ebay.com or Ebay.co.UK. We look forward to photos of great drives in scenic Oz locations

 

I was at the Epoq'Auto show in Lyon Saturday but someone else spotted this in the parking lots: AM120-366 the only Khamsin known to be registered in Geneva and active right now.

It was sold new by long time Maserati dealer Bjärsch in Schlieren, a suburb of Zurich in Switerland.

It was bought by the current owner 30 years ago in that part of Switzerland, it had previously been owned by an architect, had few kms : 36000 it now has more than double that as he has never tired of driving it over the years, locally and internationally.

It has always been in good condition, though he had to repaint it some years ago as the paint had gone dull.

He had to change the heads as they had become porous due to an excessively corrosive antifreeze. He has had a leak on the right side of the windshield which has stained the top of the dashboard.

Those were the only two issues he had in all those years.

It is one of very few cars in luci del bosco color (which loosely translates to half light of the forest) remaining, just like AM120130 in Tehran discussed here a few days ago, I had never actually seen one in this livery before. Too many cars with interesting sixties early seventies color have been repainted in resale red or silver.

It will be the most local car at K50 next June. There is another K in Geneva, 094, until recently in the south of France but it is a project needing full restoration.


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Bal and Marc.
Thank you for your suggestion . After spending considerable hours I managed to get the March 89 edition of Classic and Sportscar but no success with Thoroughbred and Classic car magazine.
Bal if you ever dig up the other magazine i would be very interested in hearing from you.
Regards
greg

 

Fairly new Instagram post of a golden? K registered in Hamburg, Germany

https://www.instagram.com/p/CdBoepYM_cm/

 

Hi from Arizona Roger, unless I am mistaken this looks like 032. Here some 2019 photos in previous ownership. Note Golden bumper, should be grey but why not....

This was the Due mille Ruote RM auction (late 2016) near Milan which had had its identity tampered with by thieves who had restamped it 096 (a number belonging to a car which was then in Vienna).
Along with Fabio Collina and the then owner of 096 I helped RM Auctions sort it out at the time.


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I have just driven from Melbourne CBD to Point Lonsdale . About 100ks on a warm evening with the first 50ks clogged peak hour soup. I bought this, my second Khamsin, because after trying/owning pretty much all of the rest, I thought my first Khamsin was,by a fair margin, the best car I have ever owned. The drive tonight confirmed me in that view. In traffic, my second Khamsin is an old softy, with cold air, the lightest clutch imaginable and a lovely snicky gear change. But when things opened up a hard edge, a glorious howl, and unbelievable agility. And it’s a celeste Gandini classic. These are truly great cars and it’s no mystery why this thread has flourished for so long . Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

What a lovely post, welcome to the thread, you put in few words what makes these cars so special; they are more than the sum of their parts, like a rare unknown yet exceptional wine.

Which chassis number is that? I don't have time today to go through my files.

Greetings from Phoenix Arizona, have to rush to the airport to go back to the rainy, foggy old world today.

 

Khamsin Top Petrol tank and boot trim removal:

I have noticed a small leak of petrol which I suspect is from the top tank or more likely a connecting rubber pipe. I am aware and have read through some previous threads on this.

The car is at a garage who are proceeding exceptionally cautiously as I explained trim parts are not available off the shelf!! They had asked if there were any guides or tips for removing the rear internal trim to get access to the tank and pipes or if is simply a strip out everything task

Any comments or advice please?

Regards
From very vet, windy but not freezing Scotland.
Paul

 

Hi Paul,

from memory, the back seats & back rest have to come out before the side panel can be removed. It’s all quite logical as you start taking the parts out. All held in place with various screws, nothing specialised in terms of fittings. I did mine years ago to restore the leather.

Bal

 

I recommend you also drop the main tank as they are known to rust on the top as moister collects in the insulation material. The right hand rear cover will need to come off to gain access to the top tank. Take a good look at the hose that goes from the top tank to the main tank. That is the only hose that is special as it has a unique shape. I made one using two hoses and a connector. Replace all the vent hoses and the filler hose. The top tank has a small hose in the bottom that is a PITA to remove.
No special skills needed to remove the trim panels, just a bunch of Phillips head screws.

Ivan

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No 421. Delivered by Talbot Motors Collingwood (a suburb of Melbourne) in 1979.

 

Hi 6c1750ss
Not sure if you read my earlier post but No 425 will be joining us in Australia in the New Year.
Although im in Sydney it would be lovely to catch up. I know of to 2 other here in Sydney.
It would be great to do a mini Khamsin Cinquanta here in Australia.
Enjoy driving No 421 in good health.
Greg

 

Hi 6c1750ss

that makes me wonder which was your first Khamsin, you were so fond of, what was the colour and VIN of that one?
just curious

Roger

 

120/345 Azzurro.

 

Hi.
A long shot.... but prior to ordering new mirrors for my Khamsin have any Khamsin owners removed their LH drivers mirror similar to the attached photo.
I need the left side mirror to match up with the existing mirror.
Regards
Greg
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Barn find in the UK:

Thanks to Richard J. for pointing it out.

This number plate registration is not in the listing of UK cars given me by Andy Heywood of McGraths and I have no prior data on this one so chassis number unknown for now but will try to contact the source.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CllzhIPok-I/?hl=en

Its owner or broker had actually contacted me November 15 asking for a front bumper (you can see why!) but that is the actual day I was driving the two 450S in Arizona so I was rather busy -we were at the track from before dawn till just after sunset- and forgot to answer.

Here two photos he had attached.

Always good to see another emerge from the woodwork, needless to say this one will need everything.

 

PS: It it 373.

It was offered to Andy Heywood a few months ago by the late owner's son but as ever they wanted too much for him to buy it.
Thanks to Andy for the info.

All I knew about it before is that it was sold new May 24, 1978 by MTC cars, Mario Tozzi Condivi's company which took over UK importation from 1976. The first owner lived in Birmingham (England).

An old title document shows it passed to the second owner January 20, 1983.

The small dealer mentioning the car now is from that area so presumably it stayed local.

Here is the first photo of how it was the day it was pulled out from its Cinderella sleep for over three decades...the quintessential barnfind situation, a car emerging from long slumber after the owner's passing.


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It will be on auction:
https://www.carandclassic.com/auctions/1979-maserati-khamsin-22-coupe-4oPK68

 

This will be interesting. I am not involved with this sale at all however I am selling a left hand drive 5 speed project in Europe so we will see what this one sells for. Of course as I mentioned recently the UK market with right hand drive cars is entirely separate from the EU and US markets in terms of valuation.