Giaur 750 Sport Berlinetta

Vehicle Overview

The Giaur 750 Sport Berlinetta, chassis number 2243, was constructed in 1950 by Meccanica Taraschi of Teramo, Italy. The vehicle was the result of a collaboration between Berardo Taraschi, the Giannini brothers, and Carrozzeria Rocco Motto. It represents a post-war Italian effort to develop small-displacement sports cars suitable for competition in national and international endurance events, including the Mille Miglia. The car was built on a tubular steel frame produced by Taraschi, derived from earlier Giaur models developed under the same partnership. The powertrain consisted of a Giannini G1 engine, based on the Fiat 500 “Topolino” block. The engine was modified with a single overhead camshaft and special internals, producing an output of approximately 42 horsepower. The gearbox was a four-speed manual unit, transmitting power to the rear axle. Suspension employed independent front components and a live rear axle with semi-elliptical leaf springs. Braking was provided by hydraulically actuated drums on all four wheels. The bodywork was carried out by Carrozzeria Motto of Turin. The design was a berlinetta—closed coupe—with fully enclosed fenders and a fastback roofline. The aluminum body was shaped to minimize aerodynamic drag and reduce weight for competitive purposes. The configuration included seating for two, with minimal interior accommodations, consistent with the vehicle’s intended use in sports car racing. Total weight remained low, contributing to performance within its displacement class. Chassis 2243 was entered in the 1953 Mille Miglia. Driven by B. Boldrini and I. Bricchi, the car retired from the event after approximately nine hours of running. No additional examples of the berlinetta configuration are recorded. The car remains a singular specimen within the Giaur production lineage. This example reflects a broader trend in early 1950s Italian sports car development, wherein small workshops and specialist firms produced limited-run vehicles using shared mechanical components and outsourced bodywork. The 750 Sport Berlinetta chassis 2243 illustrates the combination of modified production-based engines, lightweight construction, and aerodynamic coachwork intended for private entrants in major road racing events of the period.