1953 Moretti 750 Gran Sport Berlinetta
At $4,200 in 1953, this diminutive Italian sports car cost more than many powerful alternatives, yet few matched its distinctive character.
Weighing approximately 1,100 pounds, the 71 horsepower from its 748cc twin-cam engine delivered performance well beyond what displacement figures suggested.
Giovanni Michelotti styled the berlinetta body to resemble a scaled-down Ferrari 212 Inter, with flowing fastback lines and a compact two-passenger cabin.
Based in Turin, Giovanni Moretti designed his own twin-overhead-cam four-cylinder engine rather than modifying existing Fiat units like most competitors. The powerplant featured dual Weber carburetors and produced its peak output at high revolutions.
Although nearly 100 chassis numbers were listed with the FIA, it’s believed that only about 20 berlinetta coupes were actually constructed. California sports car dealer Ernie McAfee imported roughly ten examples to America, and one of these cars earned recognition when Road & Track tested it for their August 1954 issue.
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