Maserati Khamsin / Tipo AM120 (1963–1975)

De maserati khamsin (Tipo AM120) was introduced in the autumn of 1972 at the Turin Motor Show as a Bertone prototype. The following year, the Khamsin stood at the Paris Motor Show with a Maserati badge on it.

The model is named after the hot North African desert wind that blows through Egypt and Libya. The Khamsin was a remarkable vehicle; it was not only the last work of Giulio Alfieri as head of Maserati's technical department, but it was also Maserati's first series-produced car designed by Bertone.

Production started in 1974, and the 1635-kilogram Italian was equipped with a 320 hp 4,9-liter V8 under the hood that sent all the power to the rear wheels. This resulted in a top speed of 270 km/h. The Khamsin's bodywork closely resembled a flatter and lower Ghibli, also a design by Bertone.

maserati khamsin

History and background

The Maserati Khamsin appeared in 1974 as one of the most distinctive GTs the brand has ever built. The name refers to a desert wind from Egypt, and not without reason: Maserati wanted a car that was exotic, powerful, and a tad unpredictable. Developed during the time Maserati was under the wing of Citroën, the Khamsin combined Italian flair with French engineering. The model was intended to be the successor to the Ghibli, but with a more modern approach and greater comfort.

The 1970s were turbulent for Maserati, with oil crises, changing markets, and Citroën's financial troubles. Nevertheless, the brand persevered and presented the Khamsin as a prototype at the Turin Motor Show in 1972. The production version followed two years later and was intended to compete with giants such as the Ferrari 365 GT4 2+2 and the Lamborghini Espada. However, despite its qualities, the Khamsin remained rare, primarily due to economic conditions and customer reluctance to purchase a thirsty V8 during a fuel shortage.

Maserati Khamsin Interior

Design and interior

The Khamsin was designed by Marcello Gandini at Bertone, the man also responsible for icons such as the Lamborghini Miura and Countach. The design was angular and sleek, typical of the seventies, yet elegant at the same time. The most striking element was the rear, with a full glass panel in which the taillights appeared to float. A design feature that still leaves you speechless today.
Inside, the Khamsin combined luxury with sportiness.

The first versions were clearly influenced by Citroën, with hydraulic systems for power steering, brakes, headlights, and even the adjustable seat controls. The dashboard had a modernist look, with many gauges and switches that gave the driver the feeling of piloting a jet fighter.

Later, after Citroën's departure, some of those idiosyncratic French solutions were traded back for a more conventional Maserati approach. What remained was a generous 2+2 layout, plenty of leather, and that sense of exclusivity you only find in a Maserati.

Model variants

Khamsin European specification (1974–1982):

435 units produced from 1974 to 1982. Five-speed manual transmission, 320 hp, top speed 270–275 km/h. Glass rear window as standard.

Khamsin American specification (1975–1980):

The federalized Khamsin went on sale in 1975. These models required the installation of a solid version of the glass tail panel. The taillights had to be moved down to the former location of the rear bumpers.

Khamsin 1977 facelift:

In 1977, a mild facelift added three horizontal slats to the nose of the Khamsin for better cooling. Inside, it brought a restyled dashboard and a new padded steering wheel.

Competitors

The Khamsin took on the Ferrari 365 GT4 2+2, the Lamborghini Espada, and the Aston Martin V8 Vantage. All cars that combined comfort and performance, but none of them had that spectacular glass rear panel of the Maserati.

The special glass rear

Details of the Maserati Khamsin

The model had a number of special features, such as DIRAVI variable power steering, for extra assistance with parking. This was a legacy from Citroën. The glass rear panel between the taillights provided better rear visibility. Other innovations for the time included hydraulic seats and an adjustable steering wheel. The Khamsin came standard with air conditioning.

Successor model

The successor was the maserati shamalThe Shamal did not appear until 1989 — seven years after the end of Khamsin production. In the intervening years, Maserati had no front-engine V8 gran tourer in its lineup, a void that the Biturbo family could never fully fill. Only 430 examples of the Khamsin were built. The model's traditional Gran Turismo configuration, a large sports car with a front-mounted engine and rear-wheel drive, heralded the end of an era that would not return until the late nineties with the 3200GT.