1955 Moretti 1200 Sport Spider, Coachwork by Michelotti
1204cc Twin-Cam Inline 4-Cylinder
2 Weber DCO 38 Carburetors
4-Speed Manual Transmission
4-Wheel Hydraulic Aluminum Drum Brakes
*Sole Moretti example displaying this Michelotti coachwork
*Just 3 owners from new
*Rotisserie restoration to original build specification
*FIA and FIVA Passport holder
THE MORETTI 1200 SPORT SPIDER
Giovanni Moretti began his career in the 1920's as a mechanic repairing and selling motorcycles in Turin. His mechanical interests quickly elevated him into building his own motorcycles, and later, complete cars. Moretti found quick success as he produced innovative designs across a portfolio that covered small city runabouts, commercial vehicles and even open-wheeled racing cars.
At the end of the 1950's, however, Moretti found himself unable to compete with the major auto manufacturers and he stopped making entire vehicles himself, concentrating on making Moretti versions of mainstream models. Unfortunately, this business model would prove a detriment to the business, coming to a complete close in 1989.
Throughout Moretti's years as an auto manufacturer, there is one model that highlights the brands golden years, when it made a significant contribution to Italian motoring history, which is the Moretti 1200 Sport Spider. The Sport Spider was equipped with a 1200cc version of Moretti's then state-of-the-art lightweight, twin-cam engine. For the coachwork, Moretti contracted Giovanni Michelotti, a prolific designer, to represent a creation of his life's passion.
Michelotti was known for bringing Latin flair to the UK, designing the TR4, Stag, Spitfire and Herald for Triumph ? some of the best loved British cars of the 1960's and 1970's. In Italy though, he was already a giant of car design, working with coachbuilders such as Bertone, Pininfarina, Vignale and Ghia on cars like the Ferrari 166 and 212 Inter, the Maserati 3500GT and the Lancia Aurelia.
THE MOTORCAR OFFERED
This Moretti 1200 Sport Spider was completed early in 1955, wearing coachwork designed by Michelotti and beautifully finished in light blue exterior paint over blue leather interior. Copies of the original engineering drawings for chassis 5007 are dated September 2, 1954, supporting the timeline for this Moretti's completion.
One of just two examples built with similar coachwork, and the sole example in left hand drive configuration, chassis 5007 was first displayed on the Moretti stand at the International Motor Show in Brussels, Belgium in 1955. This open top Moretti was on display with several Moretti vehicles, as seen in period photos of the Motor Show. One photo even shows chassis 5007 being admired by His Royal Highness King Boudewijn of Belgium. King Boudweijn was pictured in front of the Moretti stand with several of his guests and guards.
After the conclusion of the Brussels Motorshow in 1955, 5007 was sold to a Belgian collector. Photo evidence tracing ownership history shows chassis 5007 at the VII Tour de Belgique Rally in 1955. It was entered by the team of Mr. Pennartz and Yves Mathieu. The picture shows the car with starting number 78 with Pennartz behind the steering wheel and Yves Mathieu standing on the right side of the car. The Moretti had Belgian license plate 6-T-116 visible and looks to have been pictured in front of a garage in Liege.
The Moretti then remained in Belgium until 1962, when it was purchased by Mr. Berkhout, the Dutch owner of the ENAG cars-workshops in Voorburg, Holland. Mr. Berkhout imported the car into Holland and in July 1962 the car was road-registered in Holland with the plate GK-99-46. When Mr. Berkhout bought the car, its original blue color had been painted over in a red finish, but still had the original blue interior. Mr. Berkhout himself was quite a strong-build man and could not fit easily into the nimble Italian sportscar, so his son, Pieter Berkhout, would drive the Moretti regularly on behalf of his father. In one specific instance, Pieter recalls driving this rare car in 1963 over the frozen Ysselmeer Lake in Holland, which was an event organized by local automotive enthusiasts.
Photos in the vehicle's history file show this Moretti with Pieter Berkhout during the 1963 winter trails at the Dutch frozen Ysselmeer Lake. Mr. Pieter Berkhout was even able to provide the present owner of the car with a short black-and-white movie taken from 1963 drive over the frozen lake. Later in Mr. Berkhput's ownership, there was an engine failure in the Moretti. Instead of rebuilding the engine, it was replaced by a Fiat 1100 Engine and gearbox
In 1965 the car was sold to another local Dutch enthusiast in The Hague by the name of Mr. Hans Oosterbaan. Mr. Oosterbaan was a passionate Moretti enthusiast, also owning a rare Moretti 1200 Vignale Coupe. In the 1990's, Mr. Oosterbaan began a restoration on the Moretti 1200 Sport Spider. A photo in the history file shows the car unrestored in Mr. Oosterbaan's warehouse before the project began. He contracted a befriended mechanic in England to take on the restoration project. Work progressed slowly, and regretfully, Hans Oosterbaan had to stop the project before it was properly finished. When the car returned to Holland, it was decided that it would be better to sell the project in unfinished condition so that the next owner could properly look after the rare Italian car. Mr. Oosterbaan kept the car until 2000, when it transferred ownership to the 3rd, and current, owner.
The sale of chassis 5007 turned out to be a very positive situation for all parties as the new owner was a classic car restorer. The buyer was able to see through the unfinished project and recognize that this car deserved a lot of effort, investigating, and a thorough restoration. After purchasing, the current owner also managed to locate and buy this Moretti's original engine that had been separated from the car after its failure under Mr. Berkhout's ownership. The original engine no. 5007 was purchased from Rajswijkse Motorrevisie Bedrijf, before being reunited with the car, and installed by Dijkhof Autorestauraties.
With direction of today's seller, the Moretti began a 12-year restoration. The car was completely dismantled and received a rotisserie restoration. Hundreds of hours were spent in research alone, referencing other Moretti owners and experts to track the history of 5007 and bring the car back to its former glory, as seen at the Brussels Motor Show in 1955.
After finishing the restoration, contact was made with the Dutch authorities to claim the original period registration number GK-99-46 back for this car. To obtain the original registration, the car was heavily scrutinized to verify its authenticity before being approved to wear its original registration.
Presented today as it left the Moretti factory, this stunning example is complete with a thorough dossier that outlines the car's history from new. There is rapidly growing international interest in the delightful variety of high-performance competition cars produced by Italy's myriad small-quantity specialist motor manufacturers during the 1940s, '50s and '60s. With the inclusion of the FIVA passport an FIA historic certification, this incredibly rare Moretti is an immediate entry into major international Concours and rally events.
View it on
Estimate
Time, Location
Auction House
1204cc Twin-Cam Inline 4-Cylinder
2 Weber DCO 38 Carburetors
4-Speed Manual Transmission
4-Wheel Hydraulic Aluminum Drum Brakes
*Sole Moretti example displaying this Michelotti coachwork
*Just 3 owners from new
*Rotisserie restoration to original build specification
*FIA and FIVA Passport holder
THE MORETTI 1200 SPORT SPIDER
Giovanni Moretti began his career in the 1920's as a mechanic repairing and selling motorcycles in Turin. His mechanical interests quickly elevated him into building his own motorcycles, and later, complete cars. Moretti found quick success as he produced innovative designs across a portfolio that covered small city runabouts, commercial vehicles and even open-wheeled racing cars.
At the end of the 1950's, however, Moretti found himself unable to compete with the major auto manufacturers and he stopped making entire vehicles himself, concentrating on making Moretti versions of mainstream models. Unfortunately, this business model would prove a detriment to the business, coming to a complete close in 1989.
Throughout Moretti's years as an auto manufacturer, there is one model that highlights the brands golden years, when it made a significant contribution to Italian motoring history, which is the Moretti 1200 Sport Spider. The Sport Spider was equipped with a 1200cc version of Moretti's then state-of-the-art lightweight, twin-cam engine. For the coachwork, Moretti contracted Giovanni Michelotti, a prolific designer, to represent a creation of his life's passion.
Michelotti was known for bringing Latin flair to the UK, designing the TR4, Stag, Spitfire and Herald for Triumph ? some of the best loved British cars of the 1960's and 1970's. In Italy though, he was already a giant of car design, working with coachbuilders such as Bertone, Pininfarina, Vignale and Ghia on cars like the Ferrari 166 and 212 Inter, the Maserati 3500GT and the Lancia Aurelia.
THE MOTORCAR OFFERED
This Moretti 1200 Sport Spider was completed early in 1955, wearing coachwork designed by Michelotti and beautifully finished in light blue exterior paint over blue leather interior. Copies of the original engineering drawings for chassis 5007 are dated September 2, 1954, supporting the timeline for this Moretti's completion.
One of just two examples built with similar coachwork, and the sole example in left hand drive configuration, chassis 5007 was first displayed on the Moretti stand at the International Motor Show in Brussels, Belgium in 1955. This open top Moretti was on display with several Moretti vehicles, as seen in period photos of the Motor Show. One photo even shows chassis 5007 being admired by His Royal Highness King Boudewijn of Belgium. King Boudweijn was pictured in front of the Moretti stand with several of his guests and guards.
After the conclusion of the Brussels Motorshow in 1955, 5007 was sold to a Belgian collector. Photo evidence tracing ownership history shows chassis 5007 at the VII Tour de Belgique Rally in 1955. It was entered by the team of Mr. Pennartz and Yves Mathieu. The picture shows the car with starting number 78 with Pennartz behind the steering wheel and Yves Mathieu standing on the right side of the car. The Moretti had Belgian license plate 6-T-116 visible and looks to have been pictured in front of a garage in Liege.
The Moretti then remained in Belgium until 1962, when it was purchased by Mr. Berkhout, the Dutch owner of the ENAG cars-workshops in Voorburg, Holland. Mr. Berkhout imported the car into Holland and in July 1962 the car was road-registered in Holland with the plate GK-99-46. When Mr. Berkhout bought the car, its original blue color had been painted over in a red finish, but still had the original blue interior. Mr. Berkhout himself was quite a strong-build man and could not fit easily into the nimble Italian sportscar, so his son, Pieter Berkhout, would drive the Moretti regularly on behalf of his father. In one specific instance, Pieter recalls driving this rare car in 1963 over the frozen Ysselmeer Lake in Holland, which was an event organized by local automotive enthusiasts.
Photos in the vehicle's history file show this Moretti with Pieter Berkhout during the 1963 winter trails at the Dutch frozen Ysselmeer Lake. Mr. Pieter Berkhout was even able to provide the present owner of the car with a short black-and-white movie taken from 1963 drive over the frozen lake. Later in Mr. Berkhput's ownership, there was an engine failure in the Moretti. Instead of rebuilding the engine, it was replaced by a Fiat 1100 Engine and gearbox
In 1965 the car was sold to another local Dutch enthusiast in The Hague by the name of Mr. Hans Oosterbaan. Mr. Oosterbaan was a passionate Moretti enthusiast, also owning a rare Moretti 1200 Vignale Coupe. In the 1990's, Mr. Oosterbaan began a restoration on the Moretti 1200 Sport Spider. A photo in the history file shows the car unrestored in Mr. Oosterbaan's warehouse before the project began. He contracted a befriended mechanic in England to take on the restoration project. Work progressed slowly, and regretfully, Hans Oosterbaan had to stop the project before it was properly finished. When the car returned to Holland, it was decided that it would be better to sell the project in unfinished condition so that the next owner could properly look after the rare Italian car. Mr. Oosterbaan kept the car until 2000, when it transferred ownership to the 3rd, and current, owner.
The sale of chassis 5007 turned out to be a very positive situation for all parties as the new owner was a classic car restorer. The buyer was able to see through the unfinished project and recognize that this car deserved a lot of effort, investigating, and a thorough restoration. After purchasing, the current owner also managed to locate and buy this Moretti's original engine that had been separated from the car after its failure under Mr. Berkhout's ownership. The original engine no. 5007 was purchased from Rajswijkse Motorrevisie Bedrijf, before being reunited with the car, and installed by Dijkhof Autorestauraties.
With direction of today's seller, the Moretti began a 12-year restoration. The car was completely dismantled and received a rotisserie restoration. Hundreds of hours were spent in research alone, referencing other Moretti owners and experts to track the history of 5007 and bring the car back to its former glory, as seen at the Brussels Motor Show in 1955.
After finishing the restoration, contact was made with the Dutch authorities to claim the original period registration number GK-99-46 back for this car. To obtain the original registration, the car was heavily scrutinized to verify its authenticity before being approved to wear its original registration.
Presented today as it left the Moretti factory, this stunning example is complete with a thorough dossier that outlines the car's history from new. There is rapidly growing international interest in the delightful variety of high-performance competition cars produced by Italy's myriad small-quantity specialist motor manufacturers during the 1940s, '50s and '60s. With the inclusion of the FIVA passport an FIA historic certification, this incredibly rare Moretti is an immediate entry into major international Concours and rally events.
Estimate
Time, Location
Auction House
