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Maserati Khamsin - the most beautiful wedge of the seventies

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Created on February 22, 2018

Text:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

34

Archiv

20

Daniel Reinhard

34

Archiv

20

Maserati Khamsin (1977) - beautifully shaped

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Maserati Khamsin (1977) - built from 1973 to 1982

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Maserati Khamsin (1977) - an attractive appearance even from behind

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Maserati Khamsin (1977) - a wedge between curves

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Maserati Khamsin (1977) - perhaps the most harmonious vehicle of the Keil era

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Maserati Khamsin (1977) - high waistline

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Maserati Khamsin (1977) - the cooling inlets are arranged asymmetrically on the hood

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Maserati Khamsin (1977) - rear view - nothing remains hidden in this trunk

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Maserati Khamsin (1977) - View of the car from behind

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Maserati Khamsin (1977) - only slight curves on the bodywork

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Maserati Khamsin (1977) - today the folding headlights are always up (mandatory daytime running lights)

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Maserati Khamsin (1977) - flat and wide

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Maserati Khamsin (1977) - transparent

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Maserati Khamsin (1977) - impressive appearance

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Maserati Khamsin (1977) - you can only imagine the wonderful engine sound in the picture

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Maserati Khamsin (1977) - still drives well today

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Maserati Khamsin (1977) - came ex works with Nardi steering wheel

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Maserati Khamsin (1977) - Main instruments centrally in front of the steering wheel

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Maserati Khamsin (1977) - Speedometer up to 300 km/h, that's just right for a Maserati

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Maserati Khamsin (1977) - Oil pressure gauge in the center console

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Maserati Khamsin (1977) - five-speed gearbox, 1st gear left rear

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Maserati Khamsin (1977) - Gearshift lever with gearshift diagram

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Maserati Khamsin (1977) - a jumble of switches, not only functional, but also formal

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Maserati Khamsin (1977) - leather and carpet mix on the door lining

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Maserati Khamsin (1977) - Combination of Maserati and Citroën technology

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Maserati Khamsin (1977) - the V8 engine in the front

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Maserati Khamsin (1977) - View of the engine

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Maserati Khamsin (1977) - clearly labeled cylinder head

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Maserati Khamsin (1977) - Chassis badge

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Maserati Khamsin (1977) - Maserati sign

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Maserati Khamsin (1977) - Khamsin lettering

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Maserati Khamsin (1977) - angular rear end

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Maserati Khamsin (1977) - rear view with the additional rear window

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Maserati Khamsin (1977) - rear light integrated in the glass

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Maserati Khamsin (1973) - new high-performance model from Modena with 4.9-liter V8 engine and 320 hp output - at the 1973 Geneva Motor Show

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Maserati Khamsin (1974) - sporty interior

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Maserati Khamsin - with a direct view into the trunk, costing 89,500 francs - at the 1974 Geneva Motor Show

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Maserati Khamsin (1976) - probably the most beautiful wedge of the seventies

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Maserati Khamsin (1973) - hardly changed visually during the entire production period

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Maserati Khamsin (1973) - the wedge from diagonally behind

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Maserati Khamsin (1973) - the silhouette is clearly wedge-shaped

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Maserati Khamsin (1974) - one of the most beautiful designs by Marcello Gandini

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Maserati Khamsin (1974) - Design by Marcello Gandini

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Maserati Khamsin (1975) - an additional window under the spoiler lip allows better maneuvering, but also a view into the luggage compartment

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Maserati Khamsin (1973) - asymmetrical front design

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Maserati Khamsin (1973) - Rear view of the interior

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Maserati Khamsin (1975) - the engine is located behind the front axle - view drawing

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Maserati Khamsin (1977) - Technology (brochure page)

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Maserati Khamsin (1976) - Farewell Citroën, welcome De Tomaso - Geneva Motor Show 1976

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Maserati Khamsin (1978) - only produced in small numbers - at the 1978 Geneva Motor Show

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Maserati Khamsin (1976) - also happy to take weekend luggage

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Maserati Khamsin (1976) - from above

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Maserati Khamsin (1981) - Interior of a late model

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Summary

The successor to the Maserati Ghibli is significantly less well known and much rarer than its predecessor, yet it could do almost everything better. The Maserati Khamsin was not wrongly named after a desert wind, but its sportiness suffered a little from the technical contributions of Maserati's parent company Citroën. At least that's how people saw it at the time. 40 years later, however, it is time to take another look at these prejudices. This driving report shows the Maserati Khamsin in many historical and current pictures, as well as four sales brochures, and tells the story of this model in detail.

This article contains the following chapters

Pre-premiere in Turin
Premiere at the Geneva Motor Show
From a master of his trade
Proven technical roots with French spice
Balanced sports car ...
... with weaknesses
Built for a long time
Like old wine
Further information

Estimated reading time: 8min

Preview (beginning of the article)

In the early seventies, mid-engined sports cars were the order of the day. Lamborghini had led the way with the Miura, Maserati followed with the Bora and Ferrari with the 365 GT/4 BB in line with the trend of the time. But there was still a clientele that appreciated a classically built Granturismo, and of course they were happy to cater to it. As the successor to the Ghibli, which was discontinued in 1973, Maserati added the Khamsin to its range, which was also intended to address the weaknesses of the Ghibli and point the way to the future with parts from the new company owner Citroën. In November 1972, the Ghibli successor was shown for the first time, at that time still as a prototype and on the Bertone stand. The Automobil Revue commented: "Maserati Ghibli successor from Bertone? Bertone celebrated the premiere of a high-performance sports car with beautiful women in wide gowns. Will this bodywork showpiece built on a classic Maserati chassis replace the Ghibli, which has been in production since 1966, next year? Hidden beneath the filigree-looking, wedge-shaped body is a rear independent suspension - the current Ghibli has a rigid axle - and a steering system with speed-sensitive servo adopted from the Citroën SM as well as the high-pressure braking system of that car. As the flat coupé roof only merges with the car body at the very rear, the rear body panel is glazed to ensure a better view to the rear. Should the Bertone "Khamsin" - as the new creation is called - be adopted by Maserati for series production, we would like it to have slightly higher side windows, as these seem a little too small to us ."

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