moretti
Yes, the one you have pictured is probably #1290 or #1291 When this picture was taken it was in Holland and owned either by Kruseman or Paalman.
I originally fell in love with these cars after reading the August 87 issue of Automobile Magazine which had a great article by Pete Vack on Karl Ludvigsens georgeous car (now owned by Laurence Auriana). This was cemented by the Road and Track article from November 91 which featured the same car.
I eventually found one in this country for sale in 1995 with an Alfa engine and MG steering rack. The owner and I corresponded and negotiated over several months but I had yet to finish grad school and get a real job and could not afford the asking price. He eventually wrote me the greatest letter and in a very nice way basically told me to get my priorities in order, finish my education, marry the girl of my dreams etc and that I would find another car someday, despite the fact that only about six to eight still survive.
Well I did all he suggested and in 2000 I got the job and called him. The car had been sold two weeks prior to my call for less than my original offer and had gone to Florida to a very well known collector. I called him and he had just put it and another car on a boat to Holland, sold to another collector of Italian beauty. The guy in Holland was not interested in selling period.
I trolled the internet on a regular basis and four years later came across two of the cars still in Holland now for sale by another vendor.
In the meantime I was rebuilding a 1987 911 and just as it was about to be put on the road it was in a shop that was totally flooded destroying fourteen cars including mine. After a year the insurance company paid out and gave me the 911 back.( I got it running and now track it)
The insurance proceeds were then, after some negotiating, used to buy the Moretti and have it shipped to me. It now sits in totally disassembled splendor ( on the enclosed porch of a house I am restoring) awaiting some serious attention. My family alternate between loving it and thinking I am completely nuts but as anyone knows who subscribes to this forum it is a wonderful, contagious and incurable disease.
Anyone who has an interest let me know as I have all the articles (seven I think), Ludvigsen archives 8x10 photos of the cars and more than fifty other photos of these little beauties that I would be happy to share. I need a steering column and want to talk to anyone who can help or is interested particularly if you have expertise in engine rebuilding or aluminum body work or know of any pictures of #1292 ; la vita e troppo corza per non guidare Italiano
Thanks,
David