Among the classes in the Concours d’Etat, part of the fourth staging of Chantilly Arts & Elegance Richard Mille, are those dedicated to the Ecceterini open sports cars and coupes so visitors will be able to see some of the best models produced by small Italian constructors in the last century. Moretti, Goldmanini, Siata, Osca, Cisitalia, Intermeccanica, etc. are makes that the public is not familiar with, but they produced some lovely little machines. Around 10 exceptionally rare collector cars, some of which are unique, will be on display on 10th September in the beautiful setting provided by Le Nôtre’s lawns creating a unique retrospective.
Moretti 1200 Spider Michelotti (1955) (shown)
(chassis 5007)
This open 2 seater is one of the most iconic if not the most beautiful of the cars made by Giovanni Moretti. Only two were built and their original and elegant lines are from the pen of Giovanni Michelotti, one of the great Italian designers in his field. This very light spider was unveiled at the 1955 Brussels Motor Show and is powered by a D.O.H.C 4-cylinder engine putting out more than 60 bhp.
also on display:
Goldmanini Barchetta (1954/1955)
(chassis 205064S)
Giovanni Michelotti was also responsible for the design of this unique car called the Barchetta Goldmanini. Its tubular chassis designed by Gilco (one of whose main clients was none other than Enzo Ferrari), is dressed in aluminium bodywork made by Motto in Turin. Chassis and bodywork were sent to the USA in 1954 and were assembled at the owner’s, American driver Max Goldman, who gave it his name. It has a Fiat 1100 cc engine tuned by Paul Farago, an Italian driver/constructor who immigrated to Detroit.
Siata 500 Record (1946)(chassis 049535)
This open two-seater, another unique car built by Siata (Societa Italiana Auto Trasformazioni Accessori) on the basis of the Fiat 500 Topolino chassis, is clothed in aerodynamic bodywork by Motto. It was supposed to tackle the world land speed record in the 500-cc class held by Count Gianni Lurani’s Nibbio. Although the attempt never materialised the Siata 500 took part in several races including the Coppa del Mare.
Osca MT4 LM (1952)(chassis 1120)
O.S.C.A. (Officine Specializzate Costruzione Automobili) was founded in the Bologna suburbs in 1947 by the Maserati brothers: Bindo, Ettore and Ernesto. Osca built sports and single-seater racing cars and competed in the Formula 1 World Championship without success. It had better luck in the Le Mans 24 Hours with this MT4 LM version with Viginale bodywork powered by an 1100 cc 4-cylinder Fiat engine, which won its class in 1952.
Cisitalia 202 MM Aerodynamica Berlinetta Cassone (1947)(chassis MM001)
The Compagnia Industriale Sportiva Italia was founded in Turin in 1944, and its first venture was the construction of a single-seater, the D46, which made a name for itself in the post-WWII Grands Prix. In 1946, Cisitalia worked on a small GT called the 202 of which several versions were made including this 202 MM Aerodinamica Cassone with bodywork by Alfredo Vignale powered by a 1089 cc 4-cylinder Fiat engine. This unique car hit the headlines with third place overall in the famous Mille Miglia in 1947 driven by Bernabei/Pacini.
Siata 140 S Daina Sport (1952)
(chassis SL0330R)
Among the numerous sports cars produced by the Turin constructor was the Daina series of which 230 were built. This GT showed it was a contender straight away scoring a class victory and third place overall in the first staging of the famous Sebring 12 Hours in 1952. The car on display in Chantilly is the last one to roll off the production line. It is also one of only two models equipped with a 4-cylinder engine whose power output was increased to 92 bhp, and one of six Dainas with bodywork penned by Bertone!
