Moretti cars based on third party mechanicals
Fiat 500 based cars
In 1957 Moretti released their first Fiat based car,
a coupe based on the nuova 500. This was
succeded in the following years by various other designs, always two-door
coupes with the same floorpan and mechanicals. A 'Camping' version (sort
of an estate) and a Spider version were also produced, as was a 595 'SS'
Coupe which had a 595cc engine with 28bhp.
They also produced some front-engined estate versions,
still using the 500 floorpan (front part) and engine, but with the latter
transferred to the front to enable a much lower rear load area. At least
two different styles were produced.
One example of an electric version of the 500 was
also built, with batteries in both the front compartment and alongside
the 3hp motor in the rear compartment. Unusually for an electric car it
retained the normal four-speed gearbox together with the clutch pedal.
See also below for the 500 based Minimaxi cars.
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Fiat 600 based cars
The first Fiat 600 based car by Moretti was launched in 1958. It was a 2+2 coupe with the stying of the later Moretti 750 cars, including the contrasting colour stripe and grille. Also available were normal cars with just aesthetic modifications such as two-tone paintwork, modified trim and various fittings. The following year saw a four-door, three-box saloon released, still with the styling of the Moretti 750 cars although this was the last of that line of styling. Later coupes (both 2+2 and four-seat) and spiders based on the 600 adopted various bodystyles. The 600 Multipla was also used by Moretti as the basis for various vans, trucks and minibuses.
Fiat 1100/1300/1500 based cars
Moretti
produced various cars based on these Fiat models. The 1100
was used as the starting-point for a four-seat coupe and a two-seat spider,
an 1100 Coupe using the 1100H engine tuned to give 68bhp and with a tubular
chassis, a four-seat hatchback coupe ('Weekend') based on the 1100D and a 2+2 coupe based on the 1100R.
Using the 1300/1500
they developed various coupes (at least six different designs), with both
2+2 and four-seat models and at least two different four-seat cabriolets.
A 1500SS Coupe with a 92bhp engine was also produced.
Some light commercial vehicles were also built on the 1100 base.
Click here for a variety of pictures of different 1100/1300/1500 Coupés from Moretti.
Fiat 1800/2300 based cars
As
was the already established trend, in the very late 1950s and the early
1960's Moretti also used the bigger Fiats (1800/2100
and 2300) to produce their special versions.
These also featured tuned and modified engines.
Some models built included a 2100 Cabriolet, a 2200
Coupe, coupes and cabriolets available on either the 1800B or 2300 chassis,
a 2300S Coupe and a 2500SS Coupe and Spider. These latter used the Fiat
2300 engine enlargened to 2454cc with 170bhp.
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Fiat 850 based cars
In
1964 Moretti began working with the Fiat 850,
releasing in that year a four-door three-box saloon, a two-door coupe (very
similar to the 500 based design) and a spider. In 1965 the Sportiva emerged
at the usual venue, the Turin Motorshow. It was powered by the 843cc engine
with 47bhp, straight from the Fiat 850 and clothed in a body borrowing
heavily from the design of the Dino spider. Versions were also available
with an engine tuned by Giannini (70bhp) or a 982cc engine with 62bhp,
the latter being known as the '1000SC'.
It was changed very slightly in 1968, then in 1969
the second series was released which featured new headlights and grille.
Around 400 series I cars were built, and 300 series II. A four seat 'berlinetta
sportiva' was also built, which had similar styling to the 2 seat coupe (see picture below).
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Fiat 124 based cars
At
the Turin Motorshow of 1966 Moretti first showed a 124
based coupe. It began production in 1966, with some revised features relative
to the show-car of the previous year. It was available either with the
1197cc (60bhp) engine from the normal 124, or with the 1438cc (70bhp) from
the 124 Special. Two versions were produced, a 2+2-seater and a five-seater,
the main difference being in the height of the car, the track and overall
length remaining the same. Mechanically they were also identical.
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Fiat 125 based cars
Launched in 1967, again at the Turin Motorshow, the
1600GS was a two door, four seater coupe based on the Fiat
125. As with their other coupes of that time, the styling was heavily
influenced by the Fiat Dino Spider. It
was also available with the mechanicals from either the normal or the special
version. In 1969 the styling was revised and the car lost the rounded front
and wheelarches, gaining a relatively square front end including four square
headlights. From 1971 a further revised (now with the square front end,
but four round headlights) version was available with the mechanicals of the 125S.
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Fiat 127 based cars
Moretti
used the Fiat 127 for three principal variants,
a coupe, the Midimaxi (see below) and the 'Paguro', a commercial
vehicle available as a van, a pick-up or a van with windows (see advert below).
The coupe was a five seater, two door weighing 735kg
(dry) which used the 47bhp 903cc engine to reach a top speed of 145km/h.
Standard fitment included 'sport' seats ("with adjustable headrests meeting
US legislation"), carpet for the whole floor, roll bar built into the roof,
dual-circuit brakes and a non-reflective dashboard. Optional extras included
seatbelts, metallic paint, alloy wheels, electric windows, an alarm and other items.
Moretti Minimaxi & Midimaxi
The design was a jeep-like car, complete with forward
folding front windscreen, no roof and no doors. A folding canvas roof and
canvas doors were available as options should they be required. From 1973
the 126 based Minimaxi became available. The design remained essentially
the same, noticeable differences being the addition of a rollover hoop
behind the front seats, and the adoption of the square headlights from
the 126 (rather than the round 500 units). For the 126 based version there
was also offered a hard-top and metal doors with opening windows. For those
who required it, a more comprehensive instrument cluster (including revcounter)
could also be specified.
To accompany the Minimaxi, also in 1971, Moretti
introduced the Midimaxi, based on the Fiat 127.
This followed the same idea as its smaller brother, with a completely open,
doorless car. A rollover hoop was present behind the front seats, as on
the 126 based Minimaxi, and the options were similar to the latter car,
with doors, canvas roof and hardtop all being available. The front end
of the cars followed the development of the Fiat cars, with first, second
and third series versions being built.
First
shown in 1971, the Minimaxi cars (based first on the Fiat
500 and later the Fiat 126) were to
become the mainstay of Moretti production in the 1970's.
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Fiat 128/132/Campagnola based cars
For
each model released by Fiat, Moretti produced their special versions. For
the Fiat 128 similar offspring to the 127
were built, there being four seat coupes (both fixed roof and targa variants)
and a two-seat version, whilst the Fiat 132
was used as the basis for two styles of 4-seat coupe.
The Campagnola
chassis and mechanicals were clothed in a Range Rover lookalike body, known as the 'Sporting'.
Moretti also produced luxury versions of the 126,
127 and 128 with extra equipment, more luxurious trim and more options.
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The newer Fiat based cars
The last cars which were used by Moretti to produce
their limited volume specials were the Panda,
Uno and Regata. The Panda 'Rock' convertible
had the bodywork behind the B-pillar removed. A canvas roof or a plastic
hardtop could be fitted. The Uno 'Folk' had the roof and rear window removed
(the C-Pillar and rear side windows remaining, as did bracing across the
tops of the B and C-pillars) and replaced by a canvas item, a similar treatment
occured to the Regata 'Skipper'.
Maserati based cars
In
1966 at the Geneva Motorshow Moretti displayed a new car based on the Maserati
3500GT chassis and mechanicals. It was a four seat coupe.
Alfa Romeo based cars
In
the 1950's Moretti modified Alfa Romeo Giulietta's for individual customers
by applying two-tome paintwork, different rear lights, extra chrome trim
and other visual improvements. At the Turin Motorshow of 1978 Moretti once
again returned to Alfa Romeo displaying a Giulietta estate, known as the
'Folk'. Retaining the overall dimensions of the original berlina, it remained a single example.
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