Iso Grifo 1 of 4
Iso Grifo Series II Targa from 1969.
This is one of only four and one of my all-time favourite cars.
Renzo Rivolta was an omnipresent industrialist and serial innovator. Tracing his manufacturing roots to before World War II, he built everything from refrigerators to scooters before the sale of his Isetta bubble car venture to German giant BMW. The proceeds of the deal launched Iso Rivolta as a car manufacturer proper, with its eponymous Bertone-styled four-seat coupé arriving in 1962, followed three years later by the sportier Grifo.
Styled by Bertone’s Giorgetto Giugiaro and engineered by Giotto Bizzarrini, the new model was a gran turismo in every sense and a true competitor to the Ferrari Daytona and Maserati Ghibli. But like the Rivolta—and very unlike its rivals from Emilia Romagna—the Grifo was powered by an American V-8. Simple, rugged and powerful, Chevrolet’s 5.4-litre small block was rated at 300 horsepower, offering performance to match Bertone’s eye-catching coachwork.
By 1968, the 186-mph 7-Litri arrived, propelled by Chevrolet’s famed “L71” Tri-Power V-8. Things only got better two years later with the debut of the Series II, which brought with it more refined styling with stunning and contemporary hide-away headlamps—not to mention the option of the Bowtie’s 7.4-litre big-block V-8, which was fine-tuned with forged connecting rods and dry-sump lubrication.
Due to eye-watering cost, just four Series II cars left the factory with open-topped Targa coachwork; chassis 350 is one of these special examples. The car was built in 1969, specified with a reinforced chassis frame and 300-horsepower 5.7-litre Chevrolet V-8 mated to a five-speed ZF manual gearbox and 3.31:1 rear axle. The car was also fitted with factory air conditioning.
One of just four examples to feature both Targa coachwork and improved Series II styling, this rare Iso Grifo presents collectors of landmark Italian supercars an opportunity to acquire a model that rarely comes to market.
Iso Grifo 1 of 4
Iso Grifo Series II Targa from 1969.
This is one of only four and one of my all-time favourite cars.
Renzo Rivolta was an omnipresent industrialist and serial innovator. Tracing his manufacturing roots to before World War II, he built everything from refrigerators to scooters before the sale of his Isetta bubble car venture to German giant BMW. The proceeds of the deal launched Iso Rivolta as a car manufacturer proper, with its eponymous Bertone-styled four-seat coupé arriving in 1962, followed three years later by the sportier Grifo.
Styled by Bertone’s Giorgetto Giugiaro and engineered by Giotto Bizzarrini, the new model was a gran turismo in every sense and a true competitor to the Ferrari Daytona and Maserati Ghibli. But like the Rivolta—and very unlike its rivals from Emilia Romagna—the Grifo was powered by an American V-8. Simple, rugged and powerful, Chevrolet’s 5.4-litre small block was rated at 300 horsepower, offering performance to match Bertone’s eye-catching coachwork.
By 1968, the 186-mph 7-Litri arrived, propelled by Chevrolet’s famed “L71” Tri-Power V-8. Things only got better two years later with the debut of the Series II, which brought with it more refined styling with stunning and contemporary hide-away headlamps—not to mention the option of the Bowtie’s 7.4-litre big-block V-8, which was fine-tuned with forged connecting rods and dry-sump lubrication.
Due to eye-watering cost, just four Series II cars left the factory with open-topped Targa coachwork; chassis 350 is one of these special examples. The car was built in 1969, specified with a reinforced chassis frame and 300-horsepower 5.7-litre Chevrolet V-8 mated to a five-speed ZF manual gearbox and 3.31:1 rear axle. The car was also fitted with factory air conditioning.
One of just four examples to feature both Targa coachwork and improved Series II styling, this rare Iso Grifo presents collectors of landmark Italian supercars an opportunity to acquire a model that rarely comes to market.