Maserati Khamsin

Maserati Khamsin at a glance

The Khamsin followed the Ghibli in Maserati's range; earlier Maserati grand tourers include the 3500 GT. All models are listed in the Maserati catalogue.

History: from Turin 1972 to production

The Khamsin was developed while Citroën owned Maserati. It was meant as a front-engined, more conventional grand tourer alongside the mid-engined Bora. The car first appeared as a concept on Bertone's stand at the Turin motor show in November 1972. The production version followed at the Paris motor show in March 1973, and regular production started in 1974.

The name comes from a hot desert wind, described as a violent gust that blows in Egypt for fifty days a year.

A facelift in 1977 added three horizontal slats in the nose for better cooling and brought a new dashboard and steering wheel. From 1976 the Khamsin was sold alongside the Kyalami, which was based on a De Tomaso. Sales were slow: the fuel crisis of the 1970s reduced demand for cars with large engines, and only 435 Khamsins were made in nine years, compared with 1,295 of its predecessor, the Ghibli.

Gandini's design

Gandini drew a wedge-shaped body with a fastback roof and a cut-off Kamm tail. The most striking detail is the full-width glass panel at the rear, with the tail lights seemingly floating in it, which also gives the driver a good view backwards. The C-pillars carry triangular vented panels — the right-hand one hides the fuel filler — and the bonnet has asymmetric vents. Several of these ideas, such as the wedge body, the glazed tail and the hidden filler, also appear on Gandini's Lamborghini Espada.

The rear seats were small; they were not considered usable for adults.

Engine and hydraulic systems

The 4,930 cc V8 came from the Ghibli SS. It has four overhead camshafts, two valves per cylinder, dry-sump lubrication, Bosch electronic ignition and four twin-choke Weber 42 DCNF carburettors. Output is 240 kW (330 PS), with peak torque arriving at 4,000 rpm. The fuel is stored in two tanks: a small one on the right, connected to the main tank under the luggage floor.

Unlike the Ghibli with its leaf-sprung rigid axle, the Khamsin has a steel monocoque with a rear tubular subframe on rubber bushes and double wishbones at all four wheels. The weight distribution is 50:50.

The most unusual part of the car is its hydraulics, taken from Citroën. A high-pressure system powers:

• the steering, borrowed from the Citroën SM, with speed-sensitive DIRAVI assistance;
• the brakes — ventilated discs on all four wheels;
• the clutch;
• the seat adjustment and the pop-up headlights.

Standard equipment included air-conditioning, electric windows, a radio, full leather upholstery and an adjustable steering column. The car rode on 215/70 Michelin XWX or Pirelli Cinturato tyres on 15-inch Campagnolo alloy wheels, with a full-size spare under the radiator.

US version

US sales of the federalised Khamsin began in 1975. To meet US safety rules, these cars had a solid panel instead of the glass rear, lower tail lights, a thick rubber front bumper and a protruding rear bumper, plus square side markers. Emission equipment reduced the output slightly. American buyers and magazines found the result visually awkward.

Collectors and auction results

Wikipedia lists several auction sales in euros. Chassis 1030, converted to a spyder by the US importer, sold for €76,375 in 2007. Chassis 1142, converted to a T-top by Hurst Hatches, fetched €195,500 in 2015, and a non-running low-mileage car went for €162,400 at Artcurial the same year.

Legacy

The Khamsin combined Italian V8 power with French hydraulic technology, and its glass tail remains one of Gandini's most recognisable details. It was replaced by the Shamal in the Maserati range. For the brand's story, see our history of Maserati.

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