1979 Maserati Khamsin – Project Profile

Car & Classic is a big old website, with tens of thousands of vehicles for sale at any one time. As such, we are accustomed to seeing special, often rare vehicles on the site. That’s not to say we’re being boastful, it’s more down to you, the enthusiasts, trusting us with the sale of your beloved machines. The thing is though, even though we facilitate the rehoming of anything and everything, there are still occasions where even we are taken aback. Cars like this 1979 Maserati Khamsin elicit that exact response. Two owners, 26k on the clock, hidden in a legitimate barn since 1986, and one of just 22 in this specification/configuration. Wow.

Incredibly, it was wheeled into the barn back in ’86 because the clutch had started to slip. A new clutch was bought, but to this day, it resides in the boot. The work was never done. The car was forgotten, buried deeper each year in boxes and other barn detritus. It was only exhumed last month, and as such, stands as a proper, legitimate barn find. The likes of which surely will never be repeated again. They only made 435 Khamsins to begin with. Only 22 were right-hand drive, of which this is one. Truly, this is a remarkable, exciting, unrepeatable find.

What is it?

What we have here is a 1979 Maserati Khamsin Coupe, a car that was incredibly important for both the company itself and the people who designed it. In terms of the former, it was a much needed entry into the then bustling sports car market, one that was very much alive, well and incredibly competitive. Maserati couldn’t afford to mess about, and so it dropped in a 90 degree 4,930cc DOHC V8 engine with a still respectable 320hp. It boasted 42 DCNF Weber carbs, a dry sump system and brilliantly, twin fuel tanks. Because V8. A select number of cars – this one included – were fitted with a dogleg ZF five-speed manual transmission delivering power to the rear wheels, naturally. Maserati smashed it with the spec, adding a high-pressure brake, clutch and power steering system (thanks, Citroën). There was also fully independent suspension and vented discs at each corner. Fancy.

As for the people who designed it, namely Marcello Gandini of Bertone, the pressure was most certainly significant. It was the first car Bertone would design for Maserati, but as your eyes will no doubt be confirming, they knocked it out of the park. Unapologetically wedgy, the Khamsin was very ‘of the period’ and packed sharp, impactful lines, pop-up lights, a Kamm-style rear and more street presence than any car could wish for. It was, and still is, a truly magnificent thing to both drive and look upon.

Why is it a project? 

The odometer of this Khamsin reads a mere 26,342, which is remarkable. However, this old Italian oddity requires more than a turn of the key. After the clutch started to slip in 1986, the car was driven into the barn where is has been until just last month! And while the barn was dry and kept the car out of the elements, it has left the old Khamsin in need in total restoration. Cars don’t like to sit idle, and at nearly forty years of doing so, this one is going to need more than some fresh fuel and a new battery. Bank on a full restoration – this Khamsin deserves nothing less. The engine hasn’t been inspected, so you’ll need to do that. It does roll, but the brakes and suspension will need a complete overhaul, as will all the rubbers and mountings. The electrics will need inspection, and while the body is largely straight and true, it has been subjected to some rattle repairs, and some slight rust has crept in. This isn’t going to be a weekend job. However, it will be worth the effort, no matter how long it takes. Remember, this is one of 22 built in this rare, right-hand drive specification.

What should you look for? 

We’ve done all the hard work for you here, as this 1979 Maserati Khamsin is currently on Car & Classic Auctions, meaning we have sent one of our team out to inspect and photograph it. As such, you now have hundreds of photographs to pore over, as well as an incredibly detailed description to read. So click any of the images in this post and have a look at the listing.

What should you do with it? 

As we mentioned above, this rare 1979 Maserati Khamsin deserves nothing less than a full nut and bolt restoration. It’s too rare, too special and carries a mileage too low to justify anything less. And if you do a full restoration, and do it right, you’re going to be have an extremely desirable, extremely rare and extremely valuable car on your hands. But, most importantly of all, you’re going to have a wedge (see what we did there?) of Italian sports car magnificence at your disposal. It might not run now, but you just know that V8 is going to sound glorious, you know that chassis is going to be incredible and you know that dogleg transmission is going to make for an addictive experience. And at that point, your full restoration will be worth every bit of time and money you put into it.