Moretti La Cita History

Moretti presented the La Cita prototype in 1946 as the company's transition from wartime commercial vehicles back to passenger cars. The name derives from the Piedmontese word for 'small' or 'tiny', signalling its compact intentions from the start.

Production began in 1947 with a 350 cc water-cooled two-cylinder overhead-valve engine producing 14 hp, enough for a top speed of around 90 km/h (56 mph). The chassis used welded square-section steel tubing with transverse independent front suspension and hydraulic brakes — well-specified for a microcar of the era.

Three body styles were offered: a berlinetta (enclosed two-door), a cabriolet, and a small estate (giardinetta) with wooden body panels. Production ran through 1949, after which Moretti developed larger-displacement models, including the 600 series.