1976 Maserati Khamsin

The Khamsin was Maserati's final major introduction while udder Citroën's control. The name 'Khamsin' is in reference to a hot Sahara Desert wind. It made its debut in 1972 at the Turin Show and entered production two years later, in 1974. It wore styling courtesy of Bertone in 2+2 hatchback configuration formed from all-steel construction. It had unitary construction, and an all-independent suspension setup in a similar fashion to the mid-engined Bora and Merak. Citroën's hydraulic technology was used to power the steering, the brakes, and to raise the concealed headlamps. Power was from a longer-stroke 4.9-liter version of Maserati's quad-cam V8 engine offering 320 horsepower. A five-speed ZF manual gearbox or three-speed Borg-Warner automatic transmission were options.

During the production lifespan of the Khamsin, which ceased in 1982, a total of 430 examples were built.

by Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2017