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MORETI 750 GRAN SPORT
Country of Manufacture: Italy Vin
#: 1294S
Model Type: 2 Door Coupe
Body Designer: Moretti (Michelotti)
Engine: DOHC In-line 4 cylinder (746cc)
Horsepower: 65 bhp at 7000 rpm
Torque: Unknown but peaks at 4500 rpm.
Transmission: Moretti 4 speed gearbox
Suspension:
Front- 2 transverse quarter-elliptic springs acting as upper
and lower wishbones. Rear- Live rear axle with Panhard rod
and quarter-elliptic leaf springs which also serve as trailing
arms.
Brakes:
Front-Moretti 10.5 inch aluminum drums
Rear- Moretti 10.5 inch aluminum drums
Top Speed: 100 mph per 1954 Road & Track test
History: Societa Anonima Motocarri Electtrica was founded
in 1939 by Giovanni Moretti. The Company made a wide variety
of motorcycles, small automobiles ranging from electric trucks
to tiny twin cylinder (350cc) and later in the early 1950’s,
4 cylinder (600-750cc) cars. By 1951 a twin cam 750 was born
and was ideally suited to a racing chassis, hence the development
of the lightweight (1090lbs) Gran Sport. Moretti prided himself
in designing and building his own engines, unlike other small
manufactures of the day that, used modified Fiat engines.
Nevertheless, by the time the 60’s rolled around, Moretti
also was reduced to building special bodies over Fiat chassis’s
and drive-trains.
Production: Actual productions numbers are not known
although it is widely believed that the number could be as
low as 10 (based on known chassis numbers) or perhaps as many
as 50. Regardless, only about 10 exist today with 2 of these
residing in the US.
This particular car was originally owned by Isabelle Haskell
(who later became Mrs. Alejandro
De Tomaso) and raced by her and her famous playboy boyfriend
of the time, Porfirio Rubirosa.
It was totally restored in 1999 and raced on the Vintage Racing
circuit. Internal upgrades include:
Moldex billet crank, Carillo rods, Arias pistons and Mazda
Miata oil pump. The gearbox has close
ratio gears and the rear “pumkin” now has a limited
slip differential. The original downdraft twin
Webers have been replaced with 32mm side draft Webers.
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