1953 Moretti 750 Sport
Engine: 4-cylinder , in-line
Cubic capacity: 750 cc
Power: 75 hp
Max Speed: 140 km h
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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.