1954 Moretti 750 Gran Sport Berlinetta
- Engine
- 748cc DOHC inline-four, 71 bhp
- Colour
- Red and black
The Moretti 750 Gran Sport Berlinetta (chassis 1290S) is a Michelotti-bodied Italian sports car of the early 1950s, powered by a twin-cam 748 cc four-cylinder engine on a backbone chassis. It holds the distinction of being the first of ten examples imported into the United States by racing figure Ernie McAfee, and was road-tested by Road & Track in August 1954. After decades in California, the car was restored abroad before returning to the US to join notable American collections.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$132,000
- → 2005California-based owner(s)none documentation
Car remained primarily in California for the bulk of its life prior to 2005 export.
- 2005 →Acquisition unknownRaymond Milopartial documentation
Acquired and exported the car to the Netherlands; commissioned a thorough nut-and-bolt restoration during his ownership.
- 2010 →Acquisition unknownAmerican Southwest sports car collectorpartial documentation
Car was returned to the US and added to a notable private collection in the American Southwest region.
- Date unknownFactory deliveryErnie McAfeepartial documentation
First US importer of this vehicle; McAfee brought in this car as the initial example among ten 750 Gran Sport Berlinettas he imported into California.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownSkip Barberpartial documentation
Well-known American racing driver; confirmed the engine runs well following recent mechanical sorting at a specialist workshop in New York.
Competition
No competition history extracted from the catalogue.
Maintenance & restoration
- —Restoration
A comprehensive nut-and-bolt restoration was carried out, likely while the car was in the Netherlands under Raymond Milo's ownership, prior to its return to the US in 2010.
- —Engine rebuild
The engine, sourced from a different Gran Sport Barchetta (chassis 1294), was fully rebuilt and carefully detailed during a prior ownership.
Engine is not original to this chassis; it originated from chassis 1294.
- —InspectionDominick's European Car Repair
A general mechanical sorting including leak-down and compression testing confirmed strong engine health.
Workshop is based in White Plains, New York; results described as very good.
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