Moretti 750 Gran Sport Barchetta Motto

The Moretti 750 Gran Sport Barchetta was a limited-production racing vehicle developed in the early 1950s, combining a compact engine configuration with lightweight construction techniques typical of the period’s small-displacement competition cars. It was powered by a Moretti-designed 750 cc inline four-cylinder engine featuring dual overhead camshafts driven by chain, a relatively advanced specification for a vehicle in its class. The chassis, numbered 1251S, was constructed as a tubular spaceframe with extensive use of lightening holes to reduce mass, while the aluminum bodywork was executed by Carrozzeria Rocco Motto of Turin. The design emphasized minimal weight and aerodynamic efficiency, characteristic of Motto’s racing-oriented work during the postwar period. Available evidence suggests that only a single example was completed with this particular chassis and body configuration. The Barchetta made its public debut at the 1953 Geneva Auto Salon before being exported to the United States, where it was acquired by Los Angeles-based importer and racing driver Ernie McAfee. McAfee modified the vehicle for domestic competition, adapting it for use in SCCA events. In this form, the car achieved multiple class wins during the 1954 season, including a first-place finish at the Pebble Beach Road Races—an event known for its competitive field of larger and more powerful European and American entries. From 1955 through 1961, the car was actively campaigned across various circuits on the West Coast of the United States. Its performance demonstrated the capability of lightweight, small-capacity sports cars to compete effectively when driven skillfully and properly prepared. Following its retirement from active racing, the vehicle was preserved and later restored to its 1954 competition configuration as raced by McAfee, reflecting its period-correct mechanical and aesthetic details. The Moretti 750 Gran Sport Barchetta remains a rare example of mid-century Italian engineering focused on small-displacement motorsport, distinguished by its one-off coachwork, documented competition history, and adherence to technical developments typical of early 1950s sports racing cars.