One to Buy: 26,000km Rosso Rubino Met. 1982 Maserati Khamsin
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As the pre-eminent force in Wedge design, it was unsurprising that Maserati commissioned Bertone to style its front-engined Grand Tourer for the 1970s which came to be known as the Khamsin.
Under the leadership of legendary head designer, Marcello Gandini, Bertone created one of the best looking high performance cars of its era and a machine that still looked remarkably fresh when production came to an end in 1982.
Having been launched at the Paris Motor Show in October 1973, the Khamsin found itself looking for buyers in a market severely affected by an Oil Crisis caused by war in the Middle East. As a consequence, just 430 copies were built during a nine year production run that saw Maserati lurch from one pickle to another.
Of the 430 units built, 71 Khamsins were completed in right-hand drive, probably among the best of which is chassis AM 120 437 which will be going under the hammer at Bonhams’ Bond Street sale in London on December 11th.
Part of a significant collection of Italian exotics consigned by the family of the late owner, this matching numbers manual transmission Khamsin was configured in the handsome colour scheme of Rosso Rubino Metallizzato with Beige leather upholstery.
The car was sold new via Ivor Hill Ltd. in London to a Mr W.D. Taylor of Chertsey and first registered on 13th September 1982. Mr Taylor retained the car until 1988, during which time it was serviced regularly by both Ivor Hill and Bell & Colvill.
The car then passed through two additional keepers before acquisition by the most recent custodian in 1994. It heads to auction with just 26,000km showing on the odometer and is accompanied by a substantial history file (to include the original stamped service book) along with a set of fitted luggage.
