The Maserati brothers founded their firm in 1914, building race cars for Diatto, originally a carriage maker. During WWI, the company patented and sold a new type of spark plug for aviation applications. Diatto’s cessation of its racing program refocused the brothers toward the track, and by the mid-1920s, they were fielding their own race cars. More than two decades passed – much of it on financial tenterhooks – before Maserati’s first road car arrived. By then the brothers had sold their firm and moved on to a new venture (anyone know what that new company was called?), but that’s another story altogether…Maserati’s first road car was the A6, made in multiple derivatives and bodied by coachbuilders from Allemano through Zagato, until 1956. Once the 3500 GT was launched in 1957, Maserati became what it is today: a maker of fast, luxurious grand touring cars – but always with a sporting edge. By the time the 1970s rolled around, Maserati was toiling under Citroën’s ownership, and a worldwide fuel crisis – not the best time to bring out a thirsty V8-powered GT. But the front-engined Khamsin was launched in 1974 anyway, penned by Marcello Gandini at Bertone – a sleek alternative to the mid-engined Bora.
This 1975 example sports a rebuilt 4.9-liter V8 paired with a three-speed Borg Warner automatic. A five-speed ZF manual was available, too. Unfortunately, a fuel leak caused a “small fire” that damaged the car’s electronics and windshield. The seller notes that the spare tire, right marker light, and right outside mirror will also need to be replaced. Once it’s sorted, the Khamsin should rocket from zero to sixty in about 6.2 seconds and reach a top speed of 170 mph – not bad for a Malaise Era car!
The 2+2 configuration is less descriptive than “generous two-seater” – the rear seat being not much larger than a parcel shelf. This interior is in near-perfect condition. Though the seller makes no mention of the odometer reading, it’s just shy of 19,000 miles. Either the car has been restored, or the mileage is very low – worth a query. A few manuals accompany the sale.
Aside from asymmetrical hood louvers and the origami idiom so popular in the ’70s, the big news in the Khamsin’s design was its Kamm tail: on Euro-delivery examples, the upright panel was glass, with the rear lights giving the appearance of “floating” in the clear rear. This 1977 five-speed Khamsin is a US-delivery car with a replacement Euro tail. It didn’t meet a reserve above the final bid of $120k. Our subject car is for sale on eBay, with bidding at just $20,100, reserve not met. The car is located in Independence, Oregon, represented by a respected seller. Given the market for these increasingly popular Maseratis, I’d say we’re far from the reserve.
You say it did not meet the reserve of a $120k bid, where was that? Talk about some poor photos to sell a car!!
And a fire-damaged one at that!
Looks like the photos were taken with a Kodak Instamatic pocket camera. LOL.
I don’t know much about Italian exotics, but I do know that some of them used shared components with lesser cars. So maybe you can find a windshield? But it’s not like you can just call Safelite and they show up with one.
So this seller is offering a car where the foremost problem is finding a component that’s hard to find new and probably also in “good used” condition, and if you do find one, it’s hard to ship securely.
Do today’s Safelite guys know how to deal with the chrome window moldings on any classic car?
Surprised you could get an automatic in these – & a US made one at that.
Using US made autos was common until the Zeppelin companies entered the fray in the early 90’s. At least that was my understanding.
I believe the 120k car was a different car being used as a reference. At least that was my read
Yes i see that now, on the other auction site, with that car in Texas. Thank You.
Ca was also painted , see vin tag.
A “minor project”? Hmmm
My title was changed from Minor Fire….
Maserati sourced everything they could find to avoid expensive in-house engineering. Do not forget that mechanical detail. That the coach work was world class should temper your enthusiasm. I would re-mortgage my home to find a driver quality Montreal, but the fact is my home hasn’t sufficient value. That statement alone terrifies my wife. Oh well, becoming more rational with age is probably the only benefit.
Being that I go thru windshields…well, not thru them, but thru them quite often and no replacements around, I’ll have to pass on this beauty..not pass it, pass ON it!
I have to stop arguing with the wife before I read these stories….
Michelle,
The Maserati brothers’ new venture at the time was OSCA (Officine Specializatte Construzione Automobili Fratelli Maserati S.p.A.). Founded in 1947, the company closed in 1967. OSCA supplied a DOHC 1.5 L inline four which Fiat installed in a limited number of FIAT Tipo 118 Spiders during the late 1950’s and early 1960’s predating the FIAT 124 Spider by several years.
Back in the day, a buddy bought a used early 60’s FIAT 1500 Spider with the normale 1500 OHV 4 cyl. and 4 speed gearbox as a 2nd family car. A good fun car, just gas and go while he had it but, he soon realized that he needed a long roof for the family. A sad but, familiar tale.
Correct! And the OSCA- engined FIATs are wonderful machines. Maybe we can find an example to review here someday….
I had one of those Fiat cabriolets. A 1963 1600-S. Great car, but it wasn’t officially imported so no English at all on the car, including a km/h speedo. Got real good at converting km/h to MPH on the fly.
Dang. It’s a good thing I didn’t see this before the auction ended, or I might have been dumb enough to bid. (As much as I abhor automatics, the Khamsin *is* my all-time favorite car, they only built ~420 of them, I can no longer really afford one since they quintupled in value over the last 15 yr, and this auction ended for roughly the cost of the engine rebuild…) But honestly, why would anyone try to sell a car like this without more and better photos?!? Especially of the presumably-fire-damaged area at the back of the engine compartment by the windshield damage. Dang.
Looks like windshields can be had for <$1900 from MIE or mrfiat.com, for what that’s worth.
Detomaso had Ford engines
And
Iso grifo had chevy engines
This beautiful engine scares me !
YOLO
Bidding ended on Sun, Aug 18 at 4:51 PM.
US $39,600.00
66 bids
Reserve not met
The seller has relisted this item
https://www.ebay.com/itm/335536646820
This listing was ended by the seller on Sun, Aug 18 at 9:19 PM because the item is no longer available.