1955 Moretti 750 Sport
In the 1950s, Giovanni Moretti was serious about producing custom Italian racecars and he became king of the 750cc class with the 750 Sport and 750 Gran Sport models. They used a special twin-cam engine which was completely designed inhouse. Like all his products, these were the result of high craftsmanship and lightweight engineering which produced some of the smallest competition cars on the market.
Based in Turin, Fabbrica Automobili Moretti SpA was a small firm, but one that could take advantage of all the ateliers in the area. Initially Moretti produced a 4-cylinder overhead cam engine of his own design in 1950 that was intended for a series of Sedans, Cabriolets and Station Wagons called Giardinettas. Eventually a Sports model was offered which used the same engine, but with a twin-overhead camshaft design that produced around 60 bhp.
The potent twin-cam was installed in a custom tubular chassis then sent out to one of the many competent body shops in the area. Typically bodied in aluminum, these were either equipped with a spider or Berlinetta body, the later being penned by Giovanni Michelotti. Depending on bodystyle around 100 mph was possible.
Moretti would design and fabricate almost any design provided he could get the money upfront to produce the car. Very few were ordered outside of Italy, but Ernie McAfee had the intuition to order several Gran Sport Berlinettas into California.
Routinely, Morettis raced in the many of the small Italian hill climbs and local events in the 750cc class. They were entered in many Mille Miglias and the 1956 24 Hours of Le Mans where both cars failed to finish.
In Detail
submitted by | admin |
type | Racing Car |
built at | Turin, Italy |
engine | Inline-4 |
position | Front Longitudinal |
aspiration | Natural |
valvetrain | DOHC, 2 Valves per Cyl |
displacement | 478 cc / 29.17 in³ |
power | 43.3 kw / 58 bhp @ 7000 rpm |
specific output | 121.34 bhp per litre |
redline | 7000 |
top speed | ~160.90 kph / 100 mph |
0 – 60 mph | ~15.5 seconds |
Auction Sales History
1953 Moretti 750 Gran Sport Berlinetta 1290S – sold for €134,400 The first of approximately 10 examples imported to the U.S. by Ernie McAfee. Road-tested in the August 1954 issue of Road & Track. Incredibly rare and fun to drive.
Auction Source: 2013 Villa d’Erba Auction by RM
1953 Moretti 750 Gran Sport Berlinetta 1294S – sold for €151,200 Finished in its correct original colours of red and black, it has black leather seats and deep grey carpeting. The engine, originally from the GS barchetta chassis 1294, has been completely rebuilt and nicely detailed. It runs perfectly and the car drives and performs virtually as new. The next owner can justifiably feel like John R. Bond, the venerated R/T editor, when putting it through its paces.
Auction Source: 2010 RM Auctions Sporting Classics of Monaco