A highly original 1979 Maserati Khamsin is attracting collector attention as one of the rarest and most distinctive grand touring cars produced by the Italian automaker during the 1970s.
Offered as Lot #169, the matching-numbers coupe is finished in white over a red leather interior and remains under remarkably long-term ownership, having spent the last 40 years with the same caretaker. The car has been stored for approximately the last decade, adding to its intrigue as an untouched example of one of Maserati’s most limited-production road cars.
Powered by a 4.9-liter dual overhead cam V8 engine equipped with four two-barrel Weber carburetors, the Khamsin was engineered as a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive grand touring machine capable of high-speed performance and long-distance comfort. Maserati paired the engine with a desirable ZF 5-speed manual transmission, a configuration that is exceptionally uncommon among surviving examples.
The Khamsin occupies a unique place in Maserati history as the first Maserati designed by Bertone. The sleek coupe debuted at the 1973 Paris Motor Show before production officially began in 1974. Named after a powerful Egyptian desert wind, the Khamsin blended dramatic styling with advanced engineering, including fully independent suspension at all four corners.
Maserati claimed the car was capable of reaching a top speed of 170 mph, placing it among the faster grand touring cars of its era. The sharp wedge-shaped bodywork and distinctive proportions reflected the styling trends of the 1970s while maintaining Maserati’s focus on luxury and performance.
Production numbers for the Khamsin remained extremely limited throughout its eight-year run from 1974 through 1982. Maserati built only 435 examples in total, with just 155 exported to the United States. U.S.-market cars became even more distinctive because federal safety regulations prevented Maserati from mounting the taillights within the rear glass panel as originally designed.
This particular 1979 example is considered especially rare because it is one of only 100 North American-delivered Khamsins equipped with the 5-speed manual gearbox. Combined with its matching-numbers drivetrain, original condition and desirable color combination, the car represents a highly collectible example of Maserati’s lesser-seen grand touring flagship.
With interest in rare Italian exotics continuing to grow, the Khamsin remains an important piece of Maserati history and a standout example of Bertone’s influential design work during the era. See it here.
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