One-Off 1948 Morgatti Aerline Coupe Project

Description

OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE

The Morgatti Aerline Coupe is less an automobile than a legend — its story stitched together from whispers and half-truths. What we know is tantalizing: an Argentine connection, a Morgan 4/4 of which at least a dozen were imported into Argentina post-war, a Ford V-8 60 “Flathead” beating at its heart, and a shapely coupe body suggested to be from a Bugatti Type 57 Galibier. Beyond that, the tale spirals into intrigue.

It’s said the Morgatti was owned by Rudi Tarantello, a wandering Italian artist living in Buenos Aires. His romance with Helga Hauser, a mysterious émigré who fled Germany for Argentina in 1944 ended in heartbreak — and the Morgatti’s disappearance. The Argentine diplomatic license plates implies the car was brought into the U.S. by someone in or friendly toward the Argentine Counsel. As with any legend, we may never know the truth.

For decades, the coupe was a phantom, although drawings and photographs of the car with its unique bodywork surfaced occasionally. There is one piece of sales literature, but it shows only an illustration of the car. When the Morgatti finally reemerged in 1999, it was purchased by British sports car enthusiast Bob “Kermit” Wilson and reborn in 2006 — a featherweight machine weighing less than 1,500 pounds, its Flathead tuned to over 100 horsepower, a car painted a special oxidized green/blue color In honor of Hellé Nice, “The Bugatti Queen,” who won the first Women’s Grand Prix held in June 1929. Every detail tells a story, some plausible, some impossible, like the shift lever allegedly crafted from an artificial hip joint. The Morgatti is not just a car — it’s a riddle on wheels.

This one-of-a-kind 1948 Morgatti Aerline Coupe is now offered at no reserve by the selling broker on behalf of the current owner’s family with some documentation, a car cover, and a clean Illinois title.

Highlights

• One-of-a-kind 1948 Morgatti Aerline Coupe

• Based on a Morgan 4/4

• Coupe body possibly adopted from a Bugatti Type 57 Galibier

• 136ci Ford “Flathead” V8 60 engine

• Morgatti twin-carburetor intake manifold

• Four-speed manual transmission

• Argentine diplomatic license plate

Known Imperfections

• Per the seller, this Morgatti "may need additional work to make the vehicle roadworthy and should be considered a project."

• Some fluid leaks are noted

• Smaller paint imperfections are noted by the seller (see photo gallery)

• Inoperable transmission and/or clutch

• Effects of long-term storage

Ownership History

This 1948 Morgatti Aerline Coupe is offered from the collection of Robert W. “Kermit” Wilson, a remarkable group of motorcars associated with Bob Wilson, race car driver, columnist for numerous automotive magazines, and lifelong enthusiast of British cars.

Included Items

• Documentation (see photo gallery)

• Car cover

Additional Information

The seller states, “This 1948 Morgatti Aerline Coupe was finished in 2006 and is one of the last cars Robert “Kermit” Wilson completed. This example is in amazing condition, with an all-steel body and roof, flathead Ford V8, and more. The car has been stored for an extended period of time, and while it runs, it will probably need transmission work or a new manual gearbox to be roadworthy as the clutch appears to be inoperable. It also may need additional work to make the vehicle roadworthy and should be considered a project.”