Enzo's Skunkworks

The Automotive Industry of the 20^th Century was known for some very extrovert and assertive leaders, – Henry Ford, Colin Chapman, Bob Lutz and Enzo Ferrari being just four examples.  And, regarding the last named, Italy has not in this field been short of charismatic personalities – Gianni Agnelli, Carlo Abarth and Luca Di Montezemolo, for example, readily coming to mind.  On the other hand, some of their most innovative and influential compatriots have been notable for their relative modesty and restrained behaviour – think of Marcello Gandini, Giampaolo Dallara and Giorgetto Giugiaro.  But perhaps the exemplar of such a figure is Giuliano Michelotto.  In appearance and manner today you might easily imagine that Michelotto is a master chef of the highest order, or, perhaps, a university professor with impeccable scholastic credentials.  Yet, despite his apparent quietness and gentle demeanour, his has been a lifetime of achievement and entrepreneurship in the demanding sphere of the engineering required for the most high-performing type of road cars and for success on motorsport tracks and rally stages.  And in conducting such an exceptional career, Michelotto successfully developed and maintained a relationship with the notably volatile Enzo Ferrari, gaining his complete trust to carry out programmes on behalf of the Maranello manufacturer with the utmost discretion and diligence.  As a result, several of the most famous/high achieving Ferraris were in effect developed and made by Michelotto ‘in secret,’ rendering his Padova-based premises the ultimate in-house skunkworks, even though they are 160 km down the road!

 

In terms of cars on the road, by how you define what constitutes a ‘Michelotto’ is not a straightforward notion.  As specialist components made by third parties and used by Michelotto in its own work, (and parts made and/or modified at the Via Chiesanuova officina), were made available to other constructors, tuners and garages, we see cars advertised today with ‘Michelotto’ included in the model name which have never even turned a wheel in Padova.  It is also necessary to bear in mind that in period Michelotto itself often modified an initially standard, ex-Maranello car and sometimes upgraded – e.g. from Group 4 to Group B form – a car sold to its first owner as a ‘Michelotto.’  In this survey I have sought to exclude any car that is not a full blown Michelotto, but in a field of plentiful uncertainties, I’d welcome feedback concerning any car I’ve cited which you know to be other than ‘pukka.’

 

One other introductory note – my interest in Michelotto is focused on the Ferrari 308, 328, 288 GTO and F40 models.  I am aware and appreciative of the other cars with which the business has been involved in more recent times, e.g. Ferrari 333 SP, 348, 360, 430, 458, Osella PA16 and the Isotta Fraschini Tipo 6 LMH.  All cars of considerable distinction, but not subjects for my current programme of research.  Thus, they are not covered within this survey.

 

Born in 1948, Michelotto was only just into his third decade when he established his business in central Padova, ‘Officina Michelotto.’  Without much elaboration, most accounts of the business’s early days simply say that its motorsport focus was on the preparation of Minis and DAFs, with progression in ’73 in being appointed as a Ferrari service point.  As a further diversification, Michelotto also began to offer tuning and preparation for rally competitors running Lancia Stratos models.  The quality of Michelotto’s work is evidenced by sustained success in the Italian Rally Championships.  The ’76 Championship was won by Antonio Fassina/Mauro Mannini, usually in a Scuderia del Grifone-entered Stratos, (by Jolly Club in Sicily).  Also highly competitive in a Michelotto Stratos that year were Adartico Vudafieri and Stefano Bonaga in another Scuderia del Grifone/Corse Padova-entered car.  The following year the winning Stratos was crewed by Mauro Pregliasco and Vittorio Reisoli.  In ’78 the promise shown by Vudafieri two years previously, was fulfilled by his taking of the Championship together with Mauro Mannini in their Jolly Club Stratos.  That year was also notable for Vudafieri – on this occasion paired with Massimo de Antoni – in his 2^nd overall finish in the Targa Florio Rally.  As the decade closed out, the National Champions once again were Fassina/Mannini.  As an example of a Michelotto Stratos, shown below is the car driven by Anna Cambiaghi and Mariagrazia Vittadello to 6^th place overall in the ’79 Targa Florio Rally.

Courtesy RS 65

On the world stage, the Stratos was a dominant rally car from ’73 to ’81 and in the latter part of that period continued to be highly competitive despite Fiat shifting its main support to the 131 model, and the improved technology incorporated in more recently introduced rivals from other manufacturers.  Private/amateur owners tended to be very loyal to the Stratos, but, by the mid-Eighties, were looking for something different when the time came to replace a car.  Thus, to many people’s surprise given the marque’s perceived status and focus on circuit-based motorsport, the Ferrari 308 began to be considered for rally participation.  The model’s first iteration, introduced in ’75, had a 250 bhp rating for its V8 engine on carburettors, down by 25 bhp on the 12 valve Stratos V6, but with much inherent ‘reserve,’ making tuning to around 300 bhp relatively straightforward.  In ’76 the French Ferrari importer, Charles Pozzi SA, commissioned Michelotto to prepare a 308 for Group 4 rallying.  Key to the project was work to lighten the car, which in standard form was 1050 Kg (glass fibre)/1200 Kg (later, steel bodied version), while the power : weight ratio was further enhanced with a high compression version of the engine.  The power unit also benefited from the adoption of fuel injection and high lift cams.  The gearbox was replaced with a close-ratio unit.  Apart from the (mainly body) structural modifications, chassis components were mostly left as standard, though wider wheels were run, necessitating the additionally-flared wheel arches which contributed significantly to the distinctive ‘look’.

 

This became an ongoing programme quite swiftly as competitive successes accrued and saw Michelotto eventually complete 11 examples.  Capability in terms of reliability as well as pure performance was validated by overall victory in the Targa Florio Rally two years in succession, crewed in ‘81 by Jean-Claude Andruet/Christian Gilbert, and in ’82 by Antonio Tognana/Massimo De Antoni.  With the consolidation of Michelotto’s reputation for excellence, he came to the attention of Ferrari and a business relationship between the Maranello and Padova businesses was fostered and progressively formalised.  Subscriber JAM1 on FerrariChat has posted a list of chassis numbers/first owners of the 11 Michelotto 308 GTB rally cars:

Chassis #	Date	Client		Chassis #	Date	Client		Chassis #	Date	Client
20951	01-78	Michelotto		19051	05-80	Grosoli		19913	09-80	Liviero
26713	04-81	Pozzi		21071	02-82	Pozzi		20373	04-82	Pozzi
31559	07-82	Garage Francorchamps		08380	01-83	Wide Word of Cars		31135	02-83	Pozzi
18905	08-83	Cobra Racing		21883	02-85	Wiener

#20951 – The first Michelotto Group 4 308 (Tour de France, ’22)  Courtesy Barchetta Images

And the last - #31135  Courtesy Wouter Melissen

Ferrari, especially in the era about which I am writing, was closely associated in all body design/making matters with Pininfarina.  Such concerns were however handled by Carrozzeria Cognolato on the models for which Ferrari delegated development to Michelotto.  Dino Cognolato had started his business in Padova in ’64 and became known for particular expertise in working on aluminium bodied cars.  Michelotto and Cognolato formed a close working relationship which, as with Ferrari/Michelotto, was characterised by a high level of mutual trust. 

The FIA Group 4 category was revised in ’70 as being for production-based Special Grand Touring cars of which 500, (subsequently 400), examples were required for homologation.  In ’83 a further revision adopted the title Group B, (which specified 200 examples for homologation).  The Group B regulations enabled performance potential different from that of the Group 4 cars, so Michelotto switched its build programme to Group B compliance.  Michelotto built 4 Group B (recently a claim has been made that a 5^th car exists) 308 GTBs.  For homologation compliance these were bodied in steel/glass-fibre, (though #18869 was all-glass-fibre), and thus were not just as lightweight as would have been ideal.  Power was, however, increased to approximately 290 bhp from the engine, helped by a revised Kugelfischer fuel injection set-up.  Going further still, #18971, #22409 and #18847 were fitted with the ’82-introduced Quattrovalvole engine, good for 310 bhp.  The Group B 308s featured an upgraded transmission, suspension/steering and wheels, in the form of 5 spoke Fondmetal Canonica rims. 

JAM1’s FerrariChat-posted list for Group B 308 GTBs is shown below:

Chassis #	Date	Client		Chassis #	Date	Client
18869	02-83	ProMotorSport		18971	05-83	ProMotorSport
22409	08-83	ProMotorSport		18847	04-84	ProMotorSport

(#18869 had originally been built as a Group 4 car in ‘76).

#18847  Courtesy Girardo & Co

The success of the Michelotto 308s, sustained for the best part of a decade, must have been a leading factor in the consolidation of Ferrari’s reliance on the services of the Padovano’s officina for its ‘special’ projects.  And in ’85 an especially special ‘special’ landed on Giuliano’s plate.  Ferrari had decided that the 308 would be a good basis for a new higher performing model with designed-in circuit racing potential and this was realised with the emergence of the 288 GTO in ’84.  As a ‘production’ model, the GTO was intended to appeal to the Ferrari customer who wanted more performance for the road together with relative exclusivity, the latter delivered by a planned run of just 200 examples.  This number would however, facilitate FIA homologation which would in turn enable the creation of a full-blooded Group B racing version.  In fact, the level of customer demand for the 288 was such that 280 were eventually built. 

Central to the 288 GTO project was Ing Nicola Materazzi, recruited to Ferrari in ’79.  Prior to that, Materazzi had spent most of the decade at Lancia, where he made key contributions to the design/specification of the chassis of the Flavia, Fulvia and Stratos models.  In the course of this, Materazzi became acquainted with Michelotto and a solid friendship was established.  It was no surprise therefore that when it became time for the race version of the 288 to be designed/developed, Materazzi was confident in assigning the work to Michelotto in ‘85.  The two major strands of the project were a substantial reduction in kerb weight and a big – target = 625+ bhp – increase in engine power.  The car would be designated ‘GTO Evoluzione.’ 

The first prototype - #50253 - was built on the standard GTO chassis.  This was shown at the Geneva Show in March ’84.  Two modified chassis examples, #70167 and #70205 were completed the following year.  Subsequent prototypes were #79887, #79888 and #79889.  According to the FIA regulations, the number of Evos required for homologation purposes would be 20.  However, the production programme never started – the new Group B category being cancelled by the FIA in the wake of concern about the safety of such very high performing machines crystalised by the deaths of Henri Toivonen and Sergio Cresta in their Group B Lancia S4 on the Tour de Corse rally in May ’84.  Thus, only 6 GTO Evos were built:

#50253 ‘84 –2^nd 288 GTO prototype, converted in ‘85 to GTO Evoluzione #1 

#70167 ‘85 GTO Evoluzione #2.  F114 CR (550 bhp) engine.  Fully refurbished at Michelotto in ‘14/’15 

#70205 ‘85 GTO Evoluzione #3.  Standard 288 GTO (395 bhp) engine.  Utilised for F40 development 

#79887 ‘88 GTO Evoluzione #4.  F114 CK (650 bhp) engine.  (Is easy to identify from the six holes drilled in its rear quarter windows. (Michael Call)) 

#79888 ‘88 GTO Evoluzione #5.  F114 CK (650 bhp) engine.

 

#79899 ‘88 GTO Evoluzione #6.  F114 CK (650 bhp) engine.

Where the 308 had been in basis a monocoque, the 288 GTO’s chassis was in essence a spaceframe constructed with small diameter steel tubing.  The 308 as modified by Michelotto had featured weight saving with the use of materials other than the basic steel/glass-fibre fabrication of the production version.  This approach was substantially extended for the Evoluzione thanks to the newly available alternative materials – Kevlar complementing the glass-fibre elements of the body, carbon fibre for the tub and rear wing.  More conventional, but effective features included aluminium for the floor and lighter gauge frame tubing.  All in all, the savings were substantial – at 940 Kg, the Evoluzione’s weight was just 81% of the 288 GTO’s. 

The 288 GTO was powered by the 2,855 cc F114 V8 with twin turbochargers, good for 395 bhp.  During development, #70167 carried a ‘CR’ version of the unit with turbo boost increased by 75% and a compression ratio hiked by 2.5%, enabling an output of 530 bhp.  Finally, a ‘CK’ version was introduced – this gave 650 bhp @ 7800 rpm, facilitating a tremendous top speed capability of approaching 230 mph. 

The body incorporated a number of modifications to that of the 288 GTO, some, such as the front spoiler, had aerodynamic functionality, while most were for the purpose of inducting and internally managing cooling airflows. 

With the revision of the rules by the FIA in ’84, the GTO Evoluzione’s reason for being was removed.  These cars would not compete in circuit racing as had been intended.  However disappointing this may have been – even now in distant retrospect – the programme was soon serving a new purpose and a potentially more significant one for the marque at that.  Note in the list above that #70205 was utilised for F40 development.  As is nowadays observed as a received wisdom, the model was the ‘bridge’ between the Tipo F114, 288 GTO and the Tipo F120AB/F120D (U.S. version), F40.  Its exploration of the use of composites technology enabled the F40’s further increase in power to weight ratio.  Where, as mentioned above, the Evoluzione, a car specified towards the extreme end of race car standards, was 19% lighter than the 288 GTO, the F40, with various concessions to comfort and convenience ‘on the road,’ weighed-in dry at just 1,235 Kg (European specification).  That the structure benefited from the materials pioneering applied to the Evoluzione is clear when the weight of the Michelotto-built F40 CSAI-GT is considered – 1,050 Kg.

The F40 project got underway in early ’86 with the by now 88 years old Enzo Ferrari being content to leave the creation of the model to Materazzi.  He was fully in approval of Materazzi’s inclination to specify and design this vehicle on a race car basis despite the commercial intention being to market it as a prestige-priced road car with a planned production run of 400 units.  Establishment of the concept was a triumph for the spirit of Ferrari, given that this would not have sat easy with Fiat’s top management and notwithstanding that since ’69 Enzo himself had progressively ceded management control and influence over the business, as the Stabilimento di Mirafiori culture increasingly took over at Maranello. 

Styling of the F40 was entrusted to the care of Leonardo Fioravanti in collaboration with the senior Pininfarina team of Brovarone, Camardella and Ramaciotti.  Their proposal emerged quite rapidly and secured initial approval around the mid-year point of ’86.  This laid the ground for the construction of a prototype at Michelotto which was running by late Spring ’87.  This was powered by an enlarged (to 2,936 cc) version of the 288 GTO engine, rated at 471 bhp.  Though some aspects of the F40 were ‘mild’ in comparison with the GTO Evoluzione, this was a model in which out and out performance was emphasised and in recognition of this, Pirelli developed the P-Zero for fitment as the OE tyre.

As Michelotto created a reality from the design renderings, it was found that some aspects could not be fabricated feasibly in three dimensions.  It was second nature to the officina to simply get on with determining and then making modifications.  However, when Pininfarina learnt of this, considerable offence was taken, the famous carrozzeria feeling it had been disrespected and that the F40 ‘in the metal’ was not representative of the design submitted to and approved by Ferrari.  As an expression of its displeasure, it was decreed that the ‘Pininfarina’ script badges were not to be mounted, as had been specified, adjacent to the leading edge of the rear wheel arches.  A further confirmation of the high esteem in which Enzo held Michelotto was delivered by his backing of the Padovano in the spat.  And, in any case, reception of the F40 at the launch was so favourable that the Pininfarina name was not about to be linked to any sort of aesthetic faux pas, so it wasn’t long before fitment the badges on the rear quarter panels was just another unremarkable item on the standard build checklist. 

Most sources give 21^st July ’87 as the date of the F40’s unveiling in Maranello’s Civic Centre, with Enzo Ferrari in attendance.  (However, Keith Bluemel – well-known F40 owner and writer – has indicated that the event took place in June ’87 and was held in the factory Museum).  Most accounts suggest that #73015 and #74045 were present.

It is generally reported that Michelotto completed 7 F40 Prototypes between June and November ’87,  Interviewed by David Cironi, Ferrari test driver, Dario Benuzzi, recalled there as having been 8 Prototypes. 

#73015    Eventually destroyed in crash test process

#74045    Subsequently converted to LM specification.  (RM Sotheby says 3^rd made)

#75580   

#75052    Given to Marco Piccinini as a thank-you for his management of the F1 team in ‘87 and ‘88

#74049   

#74047    Restored at DK Engineering.  DK says this was 6^th built; ,Supercar Nostalgia says it was 3^rd

#75034   

 

At least one other source suggests two more from this date window: 

#74327

#76354

Also, Marcel Massini has provided some additional Prototype chassis numbers, which were produced after November ‘87:

 

#76687    This has been said to be one of a batch of ten cars built at Michelotto prior to start of series production

#77107

#78206

#83405

#83406

#84517

#99401    

Detail aspects of the Prototypes varied car to car as the build and development processes ran in parallel and there was a good deal of retro uprating as new solutions and improvements were discovered on an ongoing basis. The Prototypes were in general characterised by such detail points as the lower rear quarter panel vent slots being five in number, (usually 4 for series production); the Plexiglass engine cover had 11 vents, while once in production form the number was 20; door mirrors were consistently mounted on the front side window quarterlight of Prototypes; as can be seen in the first photograph below, the rear fog lamps, where fitted, were mounted in the transverse lights/registration plate panel, whereas they were in the rear valance on the series production vehicles; Prototype steering wheels carried the script of maker, Momo, (not replicated on series production cars). As with other detail features, there were variations – the wheel on #73015 for instance being trimmed in black suede and with unpainted spokes/no ‘Momo’ script.

Left: Prototype, #74049 Courtesy Joe Sackey; right: series production #83249 Courtesy Autocar NZ

Left: Prototype, #73015 Courtesy Supercar Nostalgia; right: series production, #83783 Courtesy Collectors Car World

Left: Prototype, #75052 Courtesy Tom Hartley Jnr; right series production, #83620 Courtesy Bonhams

Prototype, #75052 steering wheel with ‘Momo’ script on lower spoke Courtesy Tom Hartley Jnr

Before very many series production F40s, (about 50 it has been suggested), had been built, it became obvious that most customers were finding the racing-style small Lexan sliding windows highly inconvenient.  The only feasible counter measure was the introduction of manually cranked, full frame tumbledown glass panes.  (James Cottingham of DK Engineering is adamant that the sliding window remained as an available, customer-chosen option throughout the F40’s production run).  As seen in the second image below, a Kevlar interior door trim card is fitted to cars with the winding windows.

Prototype # 74047, sliding side window  Courtesy Concours of Elegance.co.uk

Left: Prototype sliding window  Courtesy Sterling Sackey; series production right cranked window  Courtesy F40 Parts.co.uk

Even before the close of ’87, pressure was being exerted on Ferrari’s Managing Director, Giovanni Rastrelli, to initiate an F40 racing programme.  But this was not forthcoming from Materazzi or any other competition enthusiast within the Maranello factory community.  Harking back to the 308 era of the mid-80s, it was once again the lobbying by the Charles Pozzi firm in Paris that persuaded Ferrari to contemplate versions specified for the track.  And when it was time to move from just ‘thinking’ to creating, Ferrari turned once again to Michelotto.  Though Rastrelli had agreed in principle to a race version, he insisted that Pozzi set up a contractual arrangement with Michelotto and this was limited – initially at least – to the build of just two examples, and their legal ownership was assigned to Ferrari.  These cars were #79890 (built in October ’88) and #79891 (January ’90).  Frustratingly, an original intention to run the model in the World Sportscar Championship proved not to be feasible and so entry to the U.S. IMSA Championship was substituted.  Although this now meant that the type would not compete at Le Mans, it was nevertheless designated,F40 ‘LM,’ Tipo 120B.  The LM was 53 % up in power terms on the standard F40, boasting 471 bhp, whilst weight was down to 1,050 Kg, against the 1,235 Kg of the road car.  However, during testing at very high speed stability was a problem and various countermeasures were tried – mechanically with a lower ride height/revised springs and dampers, and, aerodynamically, with additions such as a splitter – but no improvements big enough to provide full confidence for running on the Mulsanne Straight were achieved and thus the intention to run at La Sarthe lapsed.

 

17 more LMs were eventually completed between May ’90 and April ’94.  Additionally, F40 Prototype, #74045 was converted in May ‘92 to LM specification.  It ran in the ’95 24 Hours and finished 12^th, 6^th in class.   The following month Ferte/Thevenin drove it to victory at Anderstorp. Subsequently, in ’96, #74045 confirmed its status as the Chameleon F40 when it was further converted, now to GTE specification.      Of other LMs, #79890 was driven to three podium finishes in the IMSA GTO Series in ’89 and ’90.  In the same series, LM #79891 chalked up a 2^nd and a 3^rd in’90.  In summary, LMs competed in the following series/seasons: IMSA GTO, ’88, ’89 and ’90; BPR Endurance, ’95 and ’96. 

On the Italian national racing scene the 90s saw increasing interest in the GT category.  The governing body, CSAI, defined and promoted a series known as the Italian Supercar GT Championship for which the F40 was thought highly suitable.  To some extent the cars were of the silhouette type, i.e. externally very similar to the road-going model, but with scope for a degree of engine performance enhancement, chassis/body lightening and suspension/brake system upgrading.  Michelotto built four 550 bhp/1,050 Kg F40 CSAI-GT cars in ’93 and a further two in ‘94 and ‘97.  The first car completed for Jolly Club, #80742, recorded 12 wins in the ’93 and ’94 seasons.  A sister car, also mainly run by Jolly Club, #94362, won twice in ’94 and was 2^nd or 3^rd in ten events over the two years. 

Following on from the initial batch of CSAI-GTs, Michelotto was tasked with a programme designated F40 GTE, mainly using a larger, 3.6 litre, version of the F 120 B V8 and an Xtrac #105 sequential transmission.  The GTE was in effect an evolution of the LM model, six being built between ’95 and ’98 at Michelotto.  There was quite a lot of variance in the specification of this batch of cars and with ongoing upgrading/modifying, a standard specification is not really definable.  However, the power output with the 3,600 cc engine could be as high as 800 bhp, though some cars at varying times were equipped with 2,936 cc or 3,495 cc, less powerful variants.  Weight was around 1,050 – 1,100 Kg. 

The final international races in which the F40 GTE competed were the two Brazilian events comprising the Temporada Series – the GTE taking a podium place in the race at Brasilia.

For many Ferrari enthusiasts, the F40 is the marque’s ultimate interpretation of the ‘supercar’ concept.  However, at Maranello there has always been a ‘could we go one better?’ outlook, and this was manifest in the creation of the F50.  The Tipo F130 was presented in ’95 and, given its V12 atmospheric engine and carbon fibre tub construction, it had the on-paper potential to outdo even the fabulous F40.  A decision to develop a competition version was quite speedily reached and Michelotto and Dallara were charged with the project.  However, whilst the F50 GT was in the initial development phase, the FIA made changes to the parameters of the GT1 class in which it was intended to race.  These changes facilitated a specification/homologation package which enabled Porsche to create the 911 GT1 – in effect a full blown racing prototype against which the F50 GT would be uncompetitive.  Thus, the project was abandoned with only three cars built and no race participation experience acquired.  As a measure of compensation, Ferrari maintained a sports car racing presence with another Michelotto collaboration project which had got underway in ’94 – the F333 SP.

Small but Perfectly Formed

Giovanni Moretti established his motorcycle manufacturing business in 1925 in Fabbrichetta, an area in the Grugliasco district, just to the west of Turin’s city centre. Though it was not long before he began to experiment with vehicles which would today be termed ‘microcars,’ the first Moretti recognisable as a conventional ‘car,’ the Cita, did not appear until ’46. Subsequently, an unusually wide and diverse range of models emerged. With the following decade came a model line utilising Moretti’s own 4 cylinder 747 cc engine, a development of the Cita’s 350 cc twin cylinder and ‘600’s’ 592 cc 4 cylinder power units . Although mainly known for his work for Alfa Romeo and Maserati, Ing. Alberto Massimino is thought to have been responsible for the design of this engine. Development soon resulted in a twin cam version, subsequently enhanced with additional main bearings, (5 in total), allowing a high rpm capability, opening up Moretti’s sport and racing ambitions, power output being a competitive 55-60 bhp, (twice that made by the original, single cam version. In competition barchetta applications, this engine was capable of over 70 bhp).

750 Moretti Twin Cam engine. Courtesy VeloceToday

Thinking about Moretti also brings to mind Tecno and its racing cars. Mostly the Etceterini were in effect modifiers of Fiat vehicles and parts. Both Moretti and Tecno were intent on designing/making everything for their products including the engines – and Tecno didn’t hesitate even when it came to the ‘need’ for something as complex and challenging as a Flat 12.

The ‘750’ would be utilised to power twelve Moretti models from ’52 through to ’60 by which time the basis of new products and ongoing production was switched to Fiat models in a methodology similar to that adopted by Abarth after its split with Simca.  By far the most charismatic Moretti of the Fifties was the Gran Sport Berlinetta.  A range of introduction dates have been suggested, but it is probably accurate to say that the model was made only in the years ’53 and ’54.  In considering this model, it is useful to also refer to the barchetta ‘Sport,’ of similar configuration.  Only three of these were initially constructed, (with a further two in ’56 for Le Mans).  In comparison, the coupe’s built-count is heady at around twenty!  Testifying to the esteem in which the model is held, no less than twelve survivors are currently catalogued in the Moretti Registry, (https://moretti-registry.com/ ).

The bodywork, styled by Giovanni Michelotti, sits on a spaceframe chassis - not a backbone type as misreported elsewhere – constructed with square section tubing.  The body itself has been said to have been made at Motto, but I have not seen any certain confirmation of this, and the Carrozzeria’s badges are not evident on the cars.  The possible confusion may result from a misunderstanding of the two similar company names.  A proportion of Motto’s work was as a subcontractor, including commissions from Vignale, the carrozzeria with which Michelotti was associated from 1949 onwards.  Additionally, around the same date, Moretti created another coupe model, differentiated by being powered by a ‘1200’ (1204 cc) version of the twin cam engine.  This model’s body is generally accepted as having been Motto-built.

 

750 Gran Sport chassis frame. Courtesy Karl Ludvigsen

A wide range of values has been quoted for the kerb weight of the Gran Sport, all the way from 655 Kg down to 495 Kg. The latter figure is credible given the car’s size and the usually-given 0-60 mph time of around 11 seconds, (for the 57 bhp output version engine).  For comparison, early versions of the Abarth 750 GT Zagato weighed a touch under 600 Kg and deployed about 47 bhp maximum power from the engine, enabling a 0-60 mph capability of around 17 seconds. 

The earliest-produced car for which I have images is #1037.  This is the single recorded Gran Sport with a Zagato body.  The basic outline of the car is similar to the Michelotti design as seen in the illustration below:

Left: #1037, Gran Sport Zagato; right: Gran Sport #1293

Notable variations as seen in these photographs: nose profile/intake aperture; bonnet panel; wheel openings; roofline; rear side windows/C post; rear wings.  (Note – the grille in the front aperture of #1293 is customised in egg-crate style – a horizontal slatted style is standard). 

Some previous citations about this car attribute a single cam engine, unlikely in my view with its apparent competition history.  Source Picryl comments on a photograph of the car starting the ‘54 Mille Miglia, “The Moretti Registry thinks this was the only one, and that it was more recently owned by Stuart Schaller in the USA before sold to Japan (seen in white/red at a Concours d'Elegance in Tokyo with license plate "S85264 ROMA". They also claim that Elio Zagato raced it early 1954.“  I have tried to verify the latter claim, but without success.

#1037. Courtesy Carrozzieri-Italiani; Angelo Giambra II

#1037 on ’54 Mille Miglia. Courtesy Cliff Reuter

#1290 is a very well known Gran Sport on both sides of the Atlantic.  On the East Coast of America, Max Hoffman established not only a business, but also an interest-culture in European cars immediately after WWII.  As his portfolio of agreements grew with various manufacturers -notably Jaguar, Volkswagen, Porsche, Alfa Romeo, Mercedes Benz and BMW – his business became highly profitable given the great volume of cars distributed and retailed from the New York base.  On the other coast, a garage proprietor/racer, Ernie McAfee shared Hoffman’s interest in Europe’s more sporting automotive products, though the scale of his vision was nothing like as heady.  With a particular expertise in customisation and liking for high performance – for example taking William Doheny’s Ferrari 121 4.4 LM Spider to a series of victories in ‘55/’56 – McAfee began to explore opportunities to import lesser known Italian cars with competition potential, notably OSCA, Siata and Moretti.

 

'56 McAfee advertisement. Courtesy HobbyDB

The performance in competition of the Moretti 750 Barchetta inspired McAfee in ’53 to order a batch of Gran Sports – usually cited as a batch of ten.  #1290 is one of these.  Its first owner, customising bodyshop (Rich & Jones) joint-proprietor, Harry Jones, was persuaded to loan it to Road & Track for a road test, the report of which was published in the magazine’s August ’54 issue. This was concluded with the summary: 

Summed up, the Moretti Coupe is one of the most appealing automobiles we’ve ever seen or driven.  Its few faults could easily be corrected by any enthusiast-owner and the price is reasonable* for a custom bodied machine that can go out and bring home a class H** win at any sports car event you can name. 

*At the beginning of the article, mention was made that the Moretti was twice the price of the other cars featuring in road test reports that month – Volkswagen, Nash-Metropolitan and Austin A30.  The retail price of $4200 for an aluminium-bodied Gran Sport in ’54 has been quoted by Conceptcarz.  **Class H was for 500-750 cc cars.

  

#1290. Courtesy Erik Fuller

After a brief spell in Europe around ‘05, the car was sold at Monterey by RM Sotheby’s ex the Skip Barber Collection in ’16 for $132,000.

The next available chassis number, #1291, was assigned to another Gran Sport which has spent time both in the U.S. and in Europe.

 

#1291. Courtesy Moretti Registry

Restored around 2010, the car was repainted in a near-maroon, darker red, and the condition of its engine and its interior was considerably ‘improved,’ as seen below:

 

#1291. Courtesy Bonhams

The Moretti Registry records that #1292 was in August 2017 in the USA and undergoing restoration.  Some in progress photographs are posted, including a view of the bare bodyshell, seen below:

#1292. Courtesy Moretti Registry

Another Gran Sport familiar to enthusiasts in the U.S. is #1293.

#1293. Karl Ludvigsen on the 1998 Mille Miglia. Courtesy VeloceToday

Knowledge about this particular car was much increased by its ownership from ’79 to ’01 by the prolific automotive/motorsport author, Karl Ludvigsen.  From his writing it is evident that Karl greatly enjoyed his Gran Sport and was confident enough in its performance and reliability to run it in the Mille Miglia in ’98.  Generally, he was complimentary about its characteristics, though I was amused by what he recently told me about the steering: “Its worst feature is the steering, which wanders its way up and around the front of the engine to get to the right front wheel. But it manages to work pretty well.”

#1293 Whilst in England (‘80s/90s). Courtesy Moretti Registry

Over a quarter of a century before Ludvigsen’s acquisition, #1293 was just one half of deal McAfee made with Mrs Alejandro De Tomaso, (then with the maiden name, Elizabeth Haskell, and liking to be known by her middle name, Isabelle, she was of a very wealthy family and with a love of fast cars, to the extent that she held a competition licence).  McAfee supplied #1293 as a new vehicle to Isabelle along with the similar specification #1294 – apparently, one for road use, the other primarily as a racing car. 

Various circumstances have led to the curious position whereby each car nowadays runs with the other’s original engine.  Furthermore, according to the Californian dealer, Fantasy Junction, #1294’s current unit has been substantially modified – in its description for sale of the car in circa ’08, the dealer stated: “This car was recently restored by Butch Bucciarelli of Southern California with vintage racing in mind. The motor was rebuilt and re-engineered with Carrillo rods, billet Moldex crank, arias pistons, and Mazda Miata oil pump thus solving a historical oil circulation issue with the 750 engine.“

 

#1294 at Walterboro, South Carolina, ’58. Courtesy Moretti Registry

#1294. Original chassis plate, and, centre and right, as restored. Courtesy Moretti Registry

 

Noted in the Moretti Registry in 2017 as an exhibit in the Autoworld Museum in Brussels, #1296 is another Gran Sport painted in red/black.  A YouTube video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=X-u9mVVioFA – provides a 360° view of the car on display in the Museum.

 

#1296 at Autoworld, Brussels. Courtesy Perico001 (Flikr)

The view of the car above emphasises the unusual dimensional nature of the 15” wheel : body size ratio.  Similarly notable is how narrow the tyres are by contemporary standards, tending to undermine the impression of the car’s performance capability from this viewpoint.  The ‘look’ is compounded by the relative lack of negative wheel offset, (seen below on #1290).

Courtesy Erik Fuller

Mirbach Schuttenbach is a dealer located at Anzing near Munich.  Its corporate ‘number plate’ is attached to #1297 in the photograph below, date unknown.  At some point the car apparently suffered from some ‘blow-over’ repainting, with items such as the front grille and window frames finishing up in the same overly-bright red hue.  Captioned, ‘ex-Tanner, Fronrath and Noble,’ there are several photographs of the car in competition on the excellent Cliff Reuter Etceterini website, but I have been unable to trace the specific races events involved.

#1297. Courtesy Moretti Registry

Ada Pace – also known as Sayonara – was Turin-born race/hillclimb/rally driver active from the late 40s (initially on scooters) through to ’64.  She owned and raced a Moretti 600 early in the 50s and the Moretti Registry has posted a photograph of her at the wheel of #1298, as below.  The car was apparently destroyed long ago and further information about it has not been discovered as yet.

 

#1298. Courtesy Moretti Registry

The ’54 running of the Mille Miglia saw the first appearance of the Gran Sport in a major motor sport event.  Indeed, it was a double debut as #1332 and, as mentioned above, the Zagato-bodied #1037 were entered.  #1037 was driven by Rinaldo Pravettoni and Piero Moscatelli, while #1332 was crewed by Fontana/Gino Munaron.  Unfortunately, neither car completed the course.  There are six period photographs of #1332 in competitive events on the Moretti Registry website, including that below which was taken at Montlhery in ’54 with race number #53.

#1332 at Montlhery, '54. Courtesy Maurice Louche

An unusual feature of #1459 is its right hand drive configuration.  From late in the production run – in ’54 – the car is also distinctive in its competition history, appearing in the ’54 Tour de France and the ‘55 12 Hours of Hyeres.  In the first of those events, in the hands of Ernest de Regibus, it was disqualified, while there is no detailed information about the following year’s 12 hour race.

 

#1459 om '54 Tour de France

21st century photographs of the car while it was still located in France are posted on the Moretti Registry website, example below.  Apparently, it is now in Germany.

 

#1459. Courtesy Moretti Registry

#1508 is another Gran Sport with some documented competition history, including four hillclimbs in ’58.  It is pictured below on display at the Museo Mille Miglia, Brescia.

 

#1508. Courtesy Pablo Rivas (Facebook)

The car was recently featured on Facebook with an indication that it had been long-term operated in and around a village near Avignon, France.  It was apparently restored late last century with the bodywork aspect handled by Carrosserie Alesi Franck, a specialist business owned by Franco Alesi, father of Jean, the former F1 driver.

 

#1508 is the latest known survivor by dint of its chassis number.  In ’54 a new series of ‘Gran Sports’ began to emerge from the Moretti factory, this time equipped with a 1200 cc version of the 4 cylinder twin cam engine.  By the beginning of the new decade a transition was well underway, resulting in Moretti’s role changing from that of a manufacturer to modifier/upgrader in contractual association with Fiat – an arrangement eventually also adopted elsewhere, for example with BMW/Alpina and Mercedes Benz/AMG.

 

Further points to ponder:

It may seem fairly obvious why Max Hoffman was moving so many more imported cars in the U.S. than Ernie McAfee managed during his period of activity trading as Ernie McAfee Engineering from the late '40s through to April ’56, (when Ernie was killed at the Pebble Beach Roadway Course).  However, a factor beyond his control was the Moretti policy of requiring up-front payment amounting to 50% of the projected purchase price before a car’s (built-to-order) manufacture was initiated.  It is telling that McAfee did not vigorously market the Gran Sport Moretti – he probably had enough leads/prospective customers available to him, through networking on the West Coast motorsport/custom car scene, relative to the time he could spare from his other strands of business.  Note his ‘56 advertisement below, in which no mention is made of the Moretti marque:

 

After McAfee’s death, Jack Brumby’s Italia Motors, East Hollywood, took over the importation of Moretti cars. 

As with other small-scale, specialist Italian makers, a lot of Moretti’s production could be thought of as ‘one-offs,’ as the built-to-order process meant that only rarely were two cars exactly the same in terms of detailed specification.  At a high level, there was the option to have a Gran Sport in either Stradale or Competizione form.  The latter would come with an aluminium body and this accounts for the inconsistency seen across the internet in published specification summaries, where the quoted kerb weight for the model simply named as ‘750 Gran Sport’ is given, variously, as 494 Kg (VeloceToday), 499 Kg (Sports Car Market), 520 Kg (Roarington), 544 Kg (Conceptcarz), 562 Kg (AutoCatalog), 665 Kg (Auta 5P) and 667 (ZePerfs).  Some of this may be the result of confusion with the overtly race-purpose Grand Sport Barchetta model. 

A similarly loosely defined situation applied also with engine performance.  Maximum output in the model’s basic form was quoted as 51 bhp, the figure given in the Road & Track road test of Harry Jones’s Gran Sport mentioned above.  Not surprisingly, this resulted in the test’s data including a 0-60 mph time of 15.5.seconds.  Elsewhere a 71 bhp peak was cited, presumably for a car in Competizione form.  Such examples would be capable of a sub-10 seconds 0-60 mph time. 

The Moretti 750 Gran Sport won a great deal of affection and respect in the U.S., though this was mainly confined to the West Coast.  Without McAfee’s energetic enthusiasm and with escalating pricing – reaching to $4,500 -  from the factory, the 1200 failed to maintain momentum in the Marque’s American presence.  However, the number of survivors is high considering the small number of cars made and it’s clear that present day owners are more than happy to fund expensive restorations and ongoing maintenance.  Auction-paid prices in excess of £100,000 in recent years seem to me relatively modest for such a characterful and rare classic GT.

The Moretti Registry has been by far the most valuable resource in my researches and I'd like to thank originator, Fred, for all the excellent work he has put in to build the database and website.  He has just advised me that Moretti will be featured at the 2025 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance on 17th August 2025 - a celebration of the Marque's 100th anniversary.  Also, later this year, I'll be posting a survey of the Fiat Moretti Sportiva models