Simanaitis Says
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MORETTI—AN ETCETERINA OF NOTE
ETCETERINI ARE DIMINUTIVE Italian sports cars, typically snarly Fiat-propelled and charming. I’ve never heard the singular of this Italian noun. But I assume, like macchina, it’s feminine. Thus, perhaps, “etceterina” for one of them.
And the Moretti 750 Grand Sport Berlinetta by Ghia certainly qualifies. Back in August 1954, R&T called the Moretti “the smallest car we have ever tested.” (Smaller yet were to come: the Berkeley Sport and the BMW Isetta 300. Here are tidbits about what R&T called “by its inevitable nickname, the ‘Baby Ferrari.’ ”
This cover story of “4 Road Tests” focused on diminutive cars, the Moretti, the Nash Metropolitan (discussed yesterday here at SimanaitisSays, the VW Beetle, and the Austin A-30. The magazine included a summary of the four.
The Price of Uniqueness. At $3500, the Moretti cost more than twice the price of any of the economy trio. (By the way, back then a Triumph TR-2 went for $2499; an Austin-Healey 100, for $2995.) Of course, the Moretti had other fish to fry: custom bodied Ghia styling, (relatively) impressive performance, and (yet to be defined) etceterini status.
R&T observed, “A fair idea of the sensation the car creates wherever it goes can be gathered from photographer Rolofson’s experience. He drove it down to the automotive styling building at the Los Angeles Art Center School, blipped the throttle twice, got out and ran up to a second story balcony for some shots. Within less time than it takes the car to accelerate to 90 mph, the car was obliterated by swarming students.”
Tidy Accommodations. “After one gets over the sheer audacity of this diminutive coupe,” R&T wrote, “the real surprise is in driving it. Getting in is not easy and there is no need (or possibility) of wearing a hat. But once inside there is really ample space in all directions, thanks to the very low bucket seats. The starter rasps like a Fiat and the 748 cc. engine bellows with a resounding rap.”
“The spring-spoked steering wheel,” R&T noted, “is first class and the instrument layout is complete with 8000 rpm tachometer. (Recommended rev limit is 7000 rpm.)”
All in good etceterini fun, I’d say.
Tradeoffs. However, the magazine noted that after awhile, “There is no denying that a hard seat, a stiff suspension and small tires [4.25-15s] produce a spanking effect that gets rather tiresome after 100 miles or so.”
Also, the magazine wrote, “The plexiglass side and rear windows are fixed and ventilation could be improved—there is none. Interior noise level is not up to modern standards but was better than the average Ferrari coupe.”
An interesting yardstick, you’ll admit.
An Etceterini Manifesto. “Summed up,” R&T said, “the Moretti Coupe is one of the most appealing automobiles we’ve ever seen or driven. Its few faults could easily be corrected by an 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.”
© Dennis Simanaitis, SimanaitisSays.com, 2023
Simanaitis Says 
Was there ever more than one brought into the States? Despite getting the sports car bug in the late 50s while in San Diego, I NEVER saw one in the flesh!
Not even SCCA had them listed in their GCR, despite being convinced to admit Turners, Fairthorpe Electrons and DB Bonnets as Production Cars.
I’m drawn to the oddities, having owned Peugeot 203 and 204s, Triumph Mayflower, Subaru 350, Nissan BE-1 and S-cargo, Allard Palm Beach, Thames van, Ogle Mini, Innocenti Sprite, and over 100 Daimler SP250s … my racecar is still competing in Vintage events.
Automotive authority and friend Karl Ludvigsen owned one. And this R&T road test thanked car owner Harry Jones. Also, see VeloceToday, April 7, 2015: “Three Moretti Gran Sports.”
Just when you think there’s naught wheeled you haven’t heard of, Monsignor Simanaitis springs a Moretti coupe on us. Grazie, Signore. My half Brit, half Sicilian girlfriend, who loves her pristine silver w/ tan top ’01 Miata, Belle, harks to such sporting wee barouches of charm and style. Lauren’ll love this one.
I’m with Bob above. A lifelong autoholic on both coasts, but’ve never seen nor even read of a Moretti.
Thank you, sir and any others among the Simanaitises who might be involved in this splendid site.I’ve been on your daily list since late last year, but a couple times for some reason slid off, not that this prevented me from Googling you. Have sung your praises far and wide to a disparate circle, whether fellow autoholics, wordsmiths, musicians, teachers, history, science, engineering buffs; but all of the thinking sort.
Mike Scott Walnut Creek, CA 94597
Thanks sincerely for your kind words. Actually, the website is a one-person retirement hobby, along with my GMax aeroplanes. (Between them, I have no idea how I used to find time for work.)
While a student at Univ. of California, Berkeley, I purchased that magazine. I was so impressed with the report on the VW, that shortly after I graduated in January of 1955, I went to the local VW dealership and put down a deposit on a new Beetle. I picked up my new car in July of 1955 without ever having driven or even sat in a VW . I never regretted my purchase. I’ve never had more fun with any car than I had with my VW.
In 1976 I read in R&T an article about the new Honda Accord. On the basis of that article, I did the same thing as with my Beetle. Six months later I picked up my new Accord without having ever driven one. Such was the power and reliability of R&T reports.