1976 MASERATI KHAMSIN

Lot 87
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Estimation :
150000 - 200000 EUR
1976 MASERATI KHAMSIN
Serial number AM120132 Desirable Italian coupe - V8 4.9l 320 hp Good condition - French registration In 1968, Citroën bought the trident manufacturer from the Orsi family. This buyout was a bit of a coincidence: Pierre Bercot, the boss of the chevrons, wanted to launch the sporty version of the DS, but considered that he didn't have the means to design a V6 "typical" sport. After consultinǵ Volvo or BMW, Citroën turns to Maserati (and its engineer Giulio Alfieri). It is a real breath of fresh air that this engineering contract for Maserati which loses a lot of money (despite the success of the Ghibli launched in 1966). The Orsi family saw the arrival of Citroën in a positive light and offered to buy the brand from its French partner. At the time, the French brand was in good health́, with a powerful shareholder (Michelin), and the purchase of Maserati allowed it to continue developing its SM model while acquiring a prestigious brand. Ironically, Citroën won the day against De Tomaso, who would take his revenge 7 years later! The engineer Alfieri saw the arrival of Citroën as a good thing, bringing a bit of modernism (especially for the suspensions, of course). The Khamsin will be the most "Citroën" of the Maseratis. Designed entirely under the French era, it will be equipped with the famous hydraulic system: suspension, braking, but also Diravi (remember, the steering returns to the "straight ahead" position by itself). The Khamsin is also the will to offer a GT 2+2 capable of competing with Ferrari in particular. For that, Maserati will go back to the front engine, a 4.9-liter V8 with 320 horsepower. It was presented in 1972 on the Bertone stand at the Turin Motor Show: the design (superb) was created by Marcello Gandini who revealed his talent here. It is only in October 1973 that it will be officially presented by Maserati and Citroën. But at the beginning of the 70's, the situation has changed for Citroën. The SM was not as successful as expected, and above all, the company from Javel had spent a lot of money on futile research on the rotary engine. The coffers are empty, and Michelin is no longer willing to make up the deficits. In 1974, the company is sold to Peugeot, which does not hesitate to cut the dead branches: Maserati went bankrupt in 1975, and was bought by an Italian state company (GEPI) which immediately sold it to Alejandro de Tomaso. The period is not really ideal for the Khamsin. Its first year of production, 1974, was disrupted by the takeover of Citroën and the abandonment of the subsidiary. In the United States (a promising market), it had to comply with new safety regulations and lost its original glass rear window. De Tomaso, the new owner, keeps the Khamsin but as a cover for the time needed to develop his big project: the Biturbo. The poor Khamsin sold poorly until 1982, but God knows the last years were hard: only 26 examples were sold between 1980 and 1982. A total of 435 units were produced, 155 of which were for the American market. This Maserati Khamsin left the factory in 1976 and was exported to Germany to be sold new. Today, the car is painted in a beautiful red paint, and seems to have been repainted recently. As a European version, it fortunately escaped the American stylistic disfigurement in order to meet the current standards and we can therefore enjoy its pure Maserati style line offered by Marcello Gandini. Inside, the cabin has a luxurious feel with plenty of beige leather with a nice patina. The seats are more comfortable than enveloping and the driving position is quite pleasant. In front of the driver are the two characteristic Maserati gauges, graduated to 300 km/h and 8,000 rpm. A few electrical components no longer seem to work, such as the window motors and the retractable lights. On the mechanical side, the 320 horsepower V8 purrs like a charm, well clamped to the leather steering wheel, beware of oversteer! Very elegant and mechanically powerful, this car is ready to hit the road. Treat yourself to a must-have from the 1980s with an aesthetic line that has come back into fashion recently with a genuine Italian V8 with an exquisite sound.
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