1968 Fiat 850 Moretti Sportiva Coupe S2
Turin’s Moretti Motor Company commissioned Swiss designer Dany Brawand to create a compact sports coupe that combined Fiat mechanicals with far more sophisticated coachwork.
Introduced at the 1967 Turin Motor Show, the resulting Sportiva featured streamlined bodywork that closely echoed the look of Pininfarina’s Ferrari Dino Spider, though evidence suggests Brawand finalized his design months earlier.
The low, sleek profile, standing just under 44 inches tall, and the distinctive front treatment created visual impact far beyond what the humble Fiat 850 platform might suggest.
Built on the Fiat 850’s rear-engine chassis with identical running gear, including independent suspension front and rear, the S2 designation indicated a strict two-seat configuration. The sharply raked nose required the spare tire to be mounted horizontally in the front trunk, filling the space entirely.
Moretti offered extensive customization options, including power windows, metallic paint, and Borrani wire wheels, and a fully optioned car could cost nearly twice as much as the base model. By comparison, the Sportiva started at roughly the same price as a brand-new Fiat 124 sedan.
The standard 843 cc four-cylinder engine produced 47 HP at 6,000 rpm through a four-speed manual transmission. Larger displacement options were offered, most commonly based on the Fiat 850 Sport’s 903 cc engine, with output typically in the 55 to 60 HP range depending on tune.
Production ran from 1967 through 1971, with estimates ranging widely from about 40 to roughly 400 cars built, though around 300 examples is most often cited. A four-seat S4 variant was introduced in 1968 to satisfy demand for occasional rear seating.
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