Maserati Khamsin: Love-child of a French-Italian affair

One of the oddest driving experiences I’ve ever had was at the wheel of a Maserati Khamsin, that weird love-child born of the affair between Citroën and Maserati in the early 1970s. Not the oddest, mind you: that was the Citroën SM, an earlier offspring of the same union, but the Khamsin certainly ranks high in the peculiarity stakes.

As you might expect from two children of the same parents, the SM and Khamsin have identical blood running through their veins. That blood is called LHM (liquide hydraulique minerale), a fluid pressurised by an engine-driven pump and contained in a system of pipes. It’s used to activate the Khamsin’s brakes, clutch, power steering (and even the seat height adjustment), with the result that the lightest touch on any of these controls has a frighteningly huge effect.Rest your foot on the clutch, for example, and the pedal is sucked enthusiastically to the floor before you have a chance to feel it through the sole of your shoe. Caress the steering wheel and there you go, veering off in another direction, accompanied by a loud clonk from the hydraulic pressure regulator. Until you get used to it, there’s a constant need to correct the direction in which you’re heading, and as for the brakes – ha! If you so much as THINK about the brake pedal, you’ll find the car is standing on its nose, while you dangle in the seatbelts contemplating the curiously baffling dashboard.


But beware: there’s a health warning to accompany all this weirdness, because while the controls are eerily light once everything has warmed up, from a cold start nothing works at all. Not the brakes, not the steering, nothing. I remember the final words of a knowledgeable friend as I headed off on my first test-drive: “Oh, by the way, if the large, red STOP light comes on when you’re driving, it means you’ve lost hydraulic pressure and probably have just about enough left to make one emergency stop before you lose all the controls.”Well, that’s good then.

While the hydraulics are French, the Khamsin’s engine and styling are pure Italian. The 4.9-litre front-mounted V8 develops a stunning 320bhp – this is a proper 1970s supercar – while the Bertone styling gives the weird creature a single, sweeping wedge of a body; but be careful what you keep in the boot. The car’s defining design statement is a transparent tail that allows the occupants of the car behind to see every inch of your luggage, shopping, or whatever it is you choose to secrete behind the 2+2 seating.

In the Khamsin’s eight-year production life (1974 to 1982) only around 430 cars were made. It was the last product of Citroën’s ownership of Maserati, which ended in 1974, but this was no end-of-season bargain: in its day, the Khamsin cost significantly more than rival offerings from either Porsche or Ferrari. Today, its rarity, daring styling and sheer, hot-blooded performance surely make it a desirable addition to any collector’s garage. Just don’t forget to let it warm up before you drive off.

Related Links The Maserati Khamsin Coupé seen in the pictures is currently being offered by German-based Classic Driver dealer Movendi Numerous modern and classic Maseratis can be found in the Classic Driver Marketplace

Text: Charis Whitcombe(ClassicDriver)
Photos: Movendi

Small but Perfectly Formed: 5 Things You Didn’t Know About Marilyn Monroe

Standing just 5ft 5.5in tall, who would have imagined that little Norma Jean, a.k.a. Marilyn Monroe, would become one of the world's most famous movie stars? Certainly not that bright young thing from Los Angeles. We have discovered five facts about the luminescent blonde we would like to share.

---

A Ford is a Girl’s Best Friend

Marilyn Monroe was known to have been an able and conscientious driver. In the course of her short life she had a number of different cars. Apparently she had a penchant for Fords and Cadillacs and, apart from a Ford Thunderbird, her favourite was a black Cadillac convertible – part of her payment for appearances in the Jack Benny Program.

---

Only the Best for Marilyn’s Cynthia

Surprisingly, during her career Marilyn Monroe made only one TV advertisement. In 1952 she was the face for the ad for Royal Triton engine oil, produced by the American Union Oil Company. In it, the budding star stuns the gas/petrol station attendant with an arresting line: "Put Royal Triton in Cynthia’s little tummy." The latter was Monroe’s beloved convertible, Cynthia.

---

A Tub Full of Chanel No.5

Obviously, beauty comes at a price: even for a stellar creature such as Marilyn. Unlike other stars, who tend to be reticent about their recipe for eternal youth, the actress was quite open about her secret ingredient. In an interview she admitted to regular ice baths, heavily scented with Chanel No.5. Which, famously, was also her preferred night attire.

---

Beauty and the Beast

Not to be outdone, petite Marilyn Monroe was ready to test her allure against larger animals. For the 1955 grand opening of the famous Ringling Bros. and Barnum three-ring circus in New York’s Madison Square Garden, she had a star turn in the ring on top of a pink elephant. This unexpected cameo performance was to generate money for the city’s Vanderbilt Hospital.

---

Dog Days

Marilyn apparently had a special place in her heart for dogs. One of the tales surrounding her childhood is the story of Tippy, her first pet, which accompanied her to school and waited for his young mistress until classes were let out. Sadly, the dog Tippy met with an ugly end - the little fellow was shot by a neighbour. Grief-stricken, Marilyn Monroe never quite recovered from this loss. Members of her later pack were the Basset hound Hugo, the Chihuahua Choo Choo and a Poodle named Mafia. Mafia, as it happens, was a gift from Frank Sinatra and a pampered companion that would outlive the lonely star.

---

Text: J. Philip Rathgen (translated by Alexandra Felts)
Fotos: Getty Images
from ClassicDriver

HONDA FLAT TRACK RACER

The flat tracker look is a style that’s really starting to catch on in custom circles at the moment: The bobbed back-end, flat-bottomed tank and fender-less front wheel are all trademarks of the pared-down half-miler. But this custom-built flat track racer from the UK, featured in Trailbike & Enduro Magazine, doesn’t just look the part—it’s the real McCoy.

It was built for racing in Blighty (where the tracks are shorter) by American ex-pat and former dirt racer John Roeder. Roeder wasn’t interested in building yet another go-fast-turn-left-bike: He wanted to create something that looked and sounded different to the regular 450 motocross bikes that usually form the basis of these racers in the UK. And like any good custom builder, he wanted his flat track racer to embody the look of the classic machinery he grew up on.

Roeder’s creation cannibalizes parts from some very different machinery. That includes a Suzuki DR350 (hello swingarm, pegs and rear brake), a Yamaha FZR600 (forks) and an Aprilia RS125 (radiator). The shock is from a V8 hot-rod, and a few other bits and bobs have been stolen from Roeder’s own Ducati 916 road bike. But it’s the engine that’s the most unusual item: nestling in the frame is Honda two-stroke power in the form of a lightweight and ultra-powerful 1986 CR500 lump.

It’s the kind of machine that would work brilliantly as a road-going custom too. It probably wouldn’t be that hard to fit lights and a plate…but keeping your license clean would be another matter entirely.

Head over to the Trailbike & Enduro Magazine Facebook page for the latest news from the enduro world—plus a smattering of custom and vintage eye candy.

Ford Focus ST Tanner Foust Edition by Cobb Tuning

Produces 300 bhp (224 kW)

Tanner Foust and Cobb Tuning have teamed up to introduce the Ford Focus ST Tanner Foust Edition.

Set to go on sale later this year, the TFE will come equipped with an optimized ECU, an enlarged intercooler, a sports exhaust system and a revised air intake. These changes will enable the 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine to produce 300 bhp (224 kW) which is an increase of 48 bhp (36 kW).

The car will also come equipped with a new grille, body side graphics and carbon fiber accents. We can also expect a sport-tuned suspension and a tire and wheel package.

There's no word on pricing, but the accessories will be available individually or as a multi-stage package.

Source: Cobb Tuning via Autoblog

via Worldcarfans