Maserati Khamsin IEurope VersionI
FACTS
1977
CONSTRUCTION YEAR
8 CYLINDERS
4,900 CC
320 hp
ENGINE
BERTONE
DESIGNERS
421
123 Europe Version
NUMBER OF PIECES
1974 - 1982
STORY
The Maserati Khamsin is a luxury sports car produced by the Italian automobile manufacturer Maserati from 1974 to 1982. The name "Khamsin" refers to a hot, dry wind that blows through the Nile Valley in Egypt.
The Maserati Khamsin was first presented at the Paris Motor Show in 1972. It was designed by Marcello Gandini, a renowned designer at Bertone. The Khamsin's striking appearance was characterized by clean lines, flared wheel arches and a low, flat body.
The Khamsin was powered by a 4.9-liter V8 engine that developed about 320 horsepower. The vehicle had a rear transaxle layout, with the engine placed at the front and the drive unit on the rear axle. This helped to distribute weight more evenly and improve driving dynamics.
Series production of the Maserati Khamsin began in 1974, and during its production run, around 430 units were manufactured, of which almost 300 were exported to the USA. The Khamsin was designed as a luxury GT car and was positioned as a competitor to other high-performance grand tourers of the time.
Production of the Khamsin ended in 1982, and Maserati focused on other models in the following years. However, the Khamsin has gained a certain cult status over the years and is sought after among collectors due to its unique design and limited production quantity.
PERSONAL STORY
**The story of our Maserati Khamsin: A golden treasure from Austria**
This Maserati Khamsin has a special story that makes it even more valuable.
It came directly from the factory in Italy to Austria, where it was purchased by its first owner, the renowned jeweler Jungbauer from Linz. Jungbauer, a great lover of sports cars, often displayed the golden Khamsin in front of his shop in downtown Linz.
The vehicle remained in Upper Austria and later became the property of a man from Linz who was involved in import-export business with Russia. After his death, his cousin inherited the Khamsin, who, however, had a preference for more comfortable German vehicles. So the Khamsin stood unnoticed in an underground car park in Linz for several years until friends of the museum founder, Mr. Rotschne, noticed this "strange-looking" vehicle.
Mr. Rotschne immediately recognized the rarity that was hidden here and brought the Khamsin into the collection of the Manro Classic Museum. That was almost 30 years ago, and since then the Khamsin has had a permanent place in our exhibition.
In 2017, for its 40th birthday, our golden Khamsin was invited to the prestigious Festival of Speed in Goodwood, where it shone in all its glory under the eyes of automotive enthusiasts from all over the world.
This Maserati Khamsin is not only a technical masterpiece, but also a piece of living history that is proudly presented in our collection.