Khamsin Too Far Gone?

[Zep]

Yes, I bought back my much missed Lancia around 3 years ago - I am still scratching my chin somewhat as to how to tackle it. I swear if you stare at it for long enough, you can see the rust travel just that little bit further ...

No doubt. If I see any Lancia parts while I am looking for rocking horse poo Alfasud parts I’ll let you know

 

[Ewan]

Khamsin’s are special.
my parents bought one new in 1978 from Mario Condivi (MTC Cars Kensington) in similar colours to the one above, paid £28k if I remember correctly and a Merak ss was about £22k. Always felt faster than the 320hp it offered, got it up to an indicated 170mph once which it achieved pretty quickly due to its slippery shape. Though I have to say it was always a challenge to drive with the hydraulic brakes with zero travel it was impossible to Heel and toe and the self centring steering which returned to straight ahead every time you released any hold.
Having said that it is the one car that of all I have driven which felt the most special.

Here’s my one. Might this have been your parents car?! Can’t have been many UK RHD cars sold in this light gold colour.

 

[3hcp]

Here’s my one. Might this have been your parents car?! Can’t have been many UK RHD cars sold in this light gold colour.

Certainly looks very similar, had around 43,000km on speedo circa 1982.

 

[Ewan]

The registration is ALX ---S. Does that ring any bells?

 

[3hcp]

I seem to remember an electric drivers door mirror and leather luggage cover ( which blocked out the glass rear panel unhelpfully) being extras as it was specced for Mario himself. So probably not the same but very similar. I suspect he kept ordering the same spec but they kept selling before he got his own one.
I remember the salesman saying you never knew what to expect of the potential customers as the day before a scruffy chap came in and said I’ll have one, turned out to be Mike Oldfield of tubular bells fame.

 

[GTVGEOFF]

No chance you’d get that properly restored by a specialist for £100k. It would be at least double. You could get it done to a fashion for less at any number of other garages, but the end value would be lower also.
Have a chat to McGrath or Emblem (the two U.K. restorers of classic Maseratis to produce concours winning cars currently) and ask them what recent projects have cost. It’s eye watering.

Values of LHD Khamsins in the EU remain quite high (maybe EUR 150k), but a U.K. RHD car hasn’t made that much for the last few years. The market has dropped. There’s a very nice one thats been for sale for a year at £110k, but still no takers (and it was on at £160k about 4 years ago). I went to see it and the owner is as lovely as the car. But I’m jittery about the market and would want it at below six figures, and while I’ve not made that offer, that’s largely because I’m sure he’d say no.

My old gold one is also available, but now needs too much work for me to be able to offer the owner sufficient money, even though I’m really keen to buy it back. My guess is that he wants maybe £90k, while I see it as £70k tops in its current condition. Tricky, as again, the owner is so nice.
That said, he had it off me for £30k (all be it about 14 years ago), so he hasn‘t done too badly!

The bottom line is that the market for Khamsins in tiny. Indeed, I sometimes get the impression it’s only me that’s looking. And that’s not good!

As always Ewan, you speak a lot of sense. But you are not the only one looking. I have been lusting for a Kasmin for a while, but for the same reasons as you have refrained. Also, yes when you want to pass it on such a small market. I also look at the Mistrale but hold back for the same reasons, plus the are even more expensive.
It will be interesting to see what happens with this one, it would be expensive even has a gift.

 

[Phil H]

The registration is ALX ---S. Does that ring any bells?

 

[Ewan]

That was my one. Shouldn’t have solid it.

 

[LDM 3200]

Thought it sad when I saw it - deffinately a big project to take on. Would need someone who could do the work themselves or someone who wasn't worried about cost, although I suspect in that case there would be more efficient options.

 

[midlifecrisis]

Classic cars just fell through my post box, courtesy of Lloyds Silver Club, and Khamsins are in the rise but the figures don't seem to match above. £142,500 for minter.

 

[Ewan]

There hasn’t been a Khamsin sold for that in the U.K. for years. If ever? A concours winner (that won the Khamsin 40th anniversary concours) made £110k a couple of years ago, and prices have dropped since.
The Khamsin needs to be in the “falling” category, not the “rising” one.
Though prices are higher in the EU, and maybe that’s what they are reporting?

 

[allandwf]

There hasn’t been a Khamsin sold for that in the U.K. for years. If ever? A concours winner (that won the Khamsin 40th anniversary concours) made £110k a couple of years ago, and prices have dropped since.
The Khamsin needs to be in the “falling” category, not the “rising” one.
Though prices are higher in the EU, and maybe that’s what they are reporting?

I got Classic Cars magazine religiously for about 30 years. I always thought the writers tried to steer particular cars, especially QW!

 

[philw696]

Classic cars just fell through my post box, courtesy of Lloyds Silver Club, and Khamsins are in the rise but the figures don't seem to match above. £142,500 for minter.
View attachment 120098

My advice is get an Austin Maxi or Citroen CX looking at that list.
A friend of mine who's a Grade A Race instructor actually has a Maxi and we know Stirling Moss was a lover of the Renault 16.
More advice to follow