MASERATI KHAMSIN LOW MILEAGE RESTORATION PROJECT

Welcome to my auction for a Maserati Khamsin, chassis number AM120US1230. This auction represents a very rare opportunity to acquire a Khamsin at an affordable price, and to restore the car to the highest standards, starting from an excellent solid chassis, body and components.

The car has been fully dismantled, the engine rebuilt to highest standards, and parts inventoried (see report below). Only a handful of items are missing, but these are readily available and I will assist in sourcing for the new buyer. The car is currently located for viewing in Poole, Dorset, U.K, at an independent Ferrari & Maserati specialist, and the team there will be happy to show you round the car and answer any questions you may have. All the parts are with the car, and have been carefully listed and boxed up ready for onward transportation. I would reiterate, this Khamsin is not a ‘barn find’ – every part, if not already refurbished, has been carefully itemized, and the car has been kept in a secure, dry environment since it was taken off the road, therefore it will take a dedicated owner the minimal amount of time to transform the car back to its original glory.

The value of Khamsins is steadily increasing, and the very fact that there are estimated to be only around 300 surviving examples illustrates that this is a very rare car. Some Khamsins have recently changed hands between 70000 and 95000 Euros, so the days of good cars for 40000 Euros are over; this is a rare opportunity to restore a magazine cover car in your chosen colours.

I currently own another Khamsin which is undergoing a full nut and bolt restoration, and I can speak from experience when I say that this project car is in excellent shape! I did not intend to own another Khamsin, but the opportunity presented itself to rescue the car from the previous owner, when unforeseen financial circumstances sadly prevented him from finishing the restoration. My only motive is to ensure that this car goes to the right home, and is restored back to its former glory, and the very low starting and reserve price reflect the need for a quick sale.

After purchase I will be happy to assist with transport (including Europe and the US). Shipping anywhere in the UK will be included in the sale. I will also be happy to liaise with marque historians and experts to ensure that the buyer can achieve the best results for his/her restoration.

CAR HISTORY

This Khamsin was originally a LHD 1978 US Market, 5 speed car in rare ‘Fly Yellow’ (only 7 cars, all US market, were painted in this colour). It appeared on the cover of the magazine of ‘Car & Driver ‘ in September 1978.

I have the original Specification, Technical, Production and Delivery data sheets from the Maserati Historical Archive, which I picked up direct from the factory in Modena last month! These will obviously be sold with the car to confirm its provenance.

Having spent many years in the US, the car was imported into Sweden, where it remained in the hands of the owner before me for many years during its ongoing restoration.

The mileage stands @ 18,000 original miles!

In February this year I imported the car to the UK. The car has a valid Swedish title, and Sweden is of course an EU country, so there are no import taxes to pay upon re-registration into the EU.

Before the car was imported, I commissioned Marc Sonnery of the Maserati Khamsin Registry to compile a detailed and unbiased report of the car, which appears below.

Please note that NO parts from 1230 were removed for the restoration of my own Khamsin, which is very nearly complete!!

I have a very large file of pictures which shows the vast majority of the parts listed below. I am happy to share with interested parties – please email me.

The potential buyer should realize that a restoration usually involves the cost of dismantling –already done at no cost to the buyer- an engine rebuild –already done to very high standards by an excellent specialist shop at no cost to the buyer- and the rust treatment of a number of parts –already done at no cost to the buyer!

PAYMENT INFO

Payment can be made by any method convenient to the buyer, however a bank transfer in GB £Sterling is preferred. A £500 deposit by paypal is required 24 hours after the auction ends. If you cannot meet this condition, please contact me during the auction.

Please note that you are bidding to BUY the car – if you would like to view the car during the auction, please contact me for the details.

GOOD LUCK!

INSPECTION REPORT KHAMSIN AM120US1230

MALILLA SWEDEN 28 MARCH 2011

By Marc Sonnery, Maserati Khamsin Registry

Italiano: Projetto Khamsin 5 marche completo. Informazione completa (e tantissime foto) disponibile in Italiano.

Français: projet Khamsin boite 5 complet démonté. Information compléte (et quantité de photos) disponible en Français. 
Deutsch: Khamsin projekt 5 gang schon ausseinader. Text auch auf deutsch ob gewunscht,  mit hundert bilder.

DETAILED REPORT

Below my detailed report, I spent all day with the seller from 9am to 4pm with the car and boxes, thankfully the warehouse was warm and well lit, I went through every single box, was exhausted that evening but I was very happy with what I saw, there is very very little missing, the body and everything else is in very good shape bar the interior which essentially needs to be redone as one would do anyway when restoring a car and I wholeheartedly confirm this to be a very or rather an extremely valid purchase. It will be fantastic to see this car rebuilt!

The complete photo file is available on request in an online server.

I must say the seller was very, very thorough and not only were things packed very well but he knew instantly what something was, even the most obscure little part: he had clearly taken it all to heart. In fact he was able to recognize some obscure parts that one could not possibly identify unless one were an absolute expert in the mechanical side of Khamsins.

A carburettor fire in period (mid 80’s) damaged the carbs which were replaced, the windshield and part of the interior. The rebuilt engines and new carbs address much of this with the windshield, dashboard frame the main and almost only missing parts, while the interior must be fully redone, although all seat frames etc are there.

As mentioned almost nothing was missing - I was very happy with that and what is missing or broken (one item) is underlined.

So without further ado let’s get started:

KHAMSIN AM120US 1230 

Bodyshell:

Very good, only rust is in lower end of body at rear of rear wheel arches as usual and in right side extreme lower body, the lip at the bottom from ft wing to underdoor, a tiny bit under battery tray, that is it.

Parts:

N.B if I list something it means it is there and fine, if damage etc it is noted.

·         Rear vertical glass (actual glass not plexiglass), yes it is there, intact.

·         Rear Euro bumper yes, brand new

·         Rear lights

·         Differential, it turns freely

·         Rear subframe good condition fine

·         Fuel tank all redone treated

·         3 rear shocks, 4 springs

·         Rear exhaust silencers and tips, absolutely usable, need some attention.

·         Central exhaust section under car must be presumed to not be usable.

·         US sidelights more than the 4 fine.

·         Rear suspension upper and lower times two, third rear suspension element x 2

·         Rear handbrake assembly with pulley

·         Rear antiroll bar

·         2^nd fuel tank all treated and redone

·         Oil tank same

·         Prop shaft

·         Trunk trim 2 sideboxes, little panel

·         Trunk lid frame

·         Trunk lid frame glass, yes it is intact was newly ordered is out of the rear lid frame.

·         Left and right rear windows

·         Gearbox turns freely

·         Headliner is in boxes but needs replacing

·         Seats yes but need to be recreated from the frames

(I strongly suggest taking the opportunity when redoing the driver’s seat to bolster the side support, the lack of which is one of the few flaws of a Khamsin)

The seats are burned but all parts are there and they would have needed to be redone anyway.

·         Exhaust headers, US version

·         No euro exhaust headers with car as it is a US version.

·         Front suspension

·         The engine was fully rebuilt by one of the best two Maserati experts in Sweden and turns freely.

·         Carburettors are brand new

·         The brake disc vent covers are there

·         Twin fan frame

·         Front anti roll bar

·         Gearbox lever surround trim

·         Sunshades x 2

·         Radiator looks good, water tightness and rust content to be determined

·         The plastic twin headlight covers are both  there, one has a hairline crack through at narrow point

·         One more or less identical bump on inside of each front wheel arch, might have been done at factory they were known to do things like that

·         Carpets are there but useless, except as size references, there are all the bits and pieces but needing to be redone.

·         As mentioned there is no windshield with the car, (it had been cracked and unusable anyway) windshields are available new, tinted or not

·         Front suspension

·         Steering shaft

·         Adjustable steering box

·         The whole dash frame is missing due to the carburetor fire in period but gauges are there with the dash inner panels holding gauges and buttons in place (see very end of report)

·         The interior is to be redone

·         Little outer trim triangles that go behind rear side windows (with hole for fuel filling) are there, fuel trap door is not broken as they usually are, it is intact

·         Steering wheel but no steering wheel centre.

·         Hood badge and Maserati Khamsin chrome letters

·         Steering shaft outer frame with height adjustment and stalks, the stalks work but one the one on the right side for headlights is broken off. The stalk is there in the boxes but this needs repair, can be done by the right person.

·         Water heater part

·         4 brake discs with very little wear (car had just 18000 miles)

·         2 calipers

·         Starter

·         Small AC radiator

·         Steering arms, they articulate very smoothly and easily

·         Clutch bell housing

·         Back seats, vertical and horizontal

·         Possibly left door trim piece missing i.e. the bit of carpet that goes in to the hollow part of the inner door panel  

·         Gear lever and its cover. Leather sleeve might be missing

·         Trim panels which go behind rear vertical glass

·         The fuel filter pump glass dome is missing rest is there.

·         Ac cylinder condensator

·         Expansion tank

·         Antenna and its motor

·         Vent fan

·         2 cooling fans

·         Number plate frame (US, rear)

·         Fuel pressure regulator

·         Steering regulator

·         Central hydraulic sphere

·         2 hydraulic spheres

·         Small hydraulic pipes

·         Extra outer door

·         2 doors

·         Stalk for wiper and wash is there in boxes but as mentioned broken off steering column at plastic mount

·         Windshield fluid tank is missing

·         Alternator

·         US emissions charcoal canisters (!)

·         Jack and pouch with window handle and a couple of other dedicated special tools

·         No tool kit

·         Bar which holds hood up

·         Bonnet

·         Chrome for all door jambs and window trim

·         Tons and tons of clean treated nuts and bolts

·         Dome light

·         Pedal assembly (clutch and brake) all redone

·         Front springs

·         Seat rails

·         Various small brake parts

·         Levers which are normally fitted in driver’s doorjamb to operate trunk and fuel trap door, their little frame

·         Distributor looks fine but should be rebuilt or at least inspected for safety, its cap is missing

·         On each side of the engine bay where there are motor mounts welded on the inner front wheel arches, there is a hairline cut or crack, easily welded

·         4 headlights are fine

·         Left outer mirror

Its electrical wire and adjustment button

(car had just left outer mirror when new see article photos)

·         All gauges are there, look excellent, very carefully packed, show 18000 miles.

·         One of the wheels was slightly damaged by kerbing easily repairable photo

Needless to say tires are ancient and not to be used.

·         Euro bumpers are brand new, not factory, like most Euro bumper conversions they are plexi.

·         One of the plastic covers for each pair of headlights is cracked

·         Inner boxes of rear lights for conversion to Euro are there. Should be painted black or, if really obsessive, upholstered is the same suede as trunk trim.

·         Carburettors and airbox top new.

·         Needless to say best thing to do with US exhaust headers is to toss them into the channel (or the recycling bin!) ,they give a Maser asthma!

·         Brand new doughnut space saver tire, wheel, comes with slip cover

·         Inner door trim in hollow of one of the two doors missing but easy to redo

·         There are extra outer door handles and locks

·         Horn works and sounds Italian we tried it with pressurized air

·         Strange cut or crack in engine mount just inside of front wheel arch -easy to weld.

·         Inner Mirror missing its glass, just the frame is there