To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION at RM Sothebys' Amelia Island event, 8 - 9
March 2019.
Estimate:
$350,000 - $425,000
- Meticulously restored example
- One of only 413 Iso Grifos built
- Stunning Italian style with muscular American performance
Please note that this lot is titled as a 1967.
By war's end, as Italy re-tooled for peace, Rivolta turned to the
manufacture of motorcycles, scooters, and tricycles. Amongst these
were the Furetto, the Isoscooter, and the Isocarro. By the 1960s,
Rivolta embarked on performance car manufacture bringing in some of
Italy's top talent to create the car. Giotto Bizzarrini was brought
on board for his engineering prowess. At the time, he was most well
known for having served as Ferrari's Chief Engineer and was a part
of the development of the renowned 250 GTO. He would later work
with Lamborghini developing the V-12 heart of the Miura, an engine
that would remain in production in some form for over four decades.
Giorgetto Giugiaro was brought on to design the car, with prior
experience having worked for design houses Ghia and Bertone, the
latter of which would be contracted to build the car's coachwork.
Together, this powerhouse of Italian automotive talent created the
Iso Rivolta, which was introduced at the 1962 Torino Auto Show.
As a follow up, the Bizzarrini-Giugiaro-Bertone team came up with
the Iso Grifo in 1963. The Grifo A3/L utilized Chevrolet power
components and was considerably more streamlined than the Rivolta.
It would later be joined by an A3/C competition version. The cars
were driven by the Borg-Warner "top-loader" four-speed, also as
used in the Corvette, although a five-speed ZF gearbox was offered
late in the series. Production of the Iso Grifo continued into the
late 1970s, by which time larger Ford V-8s became available. The
cars featured a De Dion rear axle with inboard brakes, a design
that reduced the unsprung weight compared to a traditional live
axle and is considered an excellent alternative to an independent
rear suspension. In all, just 413 Iso Grifos of all configurations
were built.
This example was completed on 15 October 1968 and delivered new to
its first owner in Italy. The car benefitted from a meticulous
restoration and presents beautifully inside and out. The stunning
fastback styling by Bertone is complemented by subtle exterior
features, including a Talbot-style driver's sideview mirror and
Campagnolo center-lock wheels. The car is powered by a 350-hp,
327-cu. in. V-8 engine, and the engine bay is nicely detailed. As
with other Italian cars of the era, under the hood features quilted
diamond stitch insulation and sound deadening material. Power from
the Corvette-derived engine is sent to a four-speed manual
transmission and distributed through a 3:07.1 rear axle.
The interior is completed in tan leather with bucket seats and
leather-wrapped center console. It features a wood-grain dashboard
which houses Veglia Borletti instrumentation, a Kienzle clock, and
a Becker Europa II AM/FM radio. A Nardi-Personal three-spoke,
wood-rimmed steering wheel with Grifo center cap, completes the
beautifully trimmed interior. Amenities include air conditioning,
power windows, and power brakes. The owner states the brakes are on
par with period Mercedes-Benz and Ferrari. A full-size spare can be
found in the trunk.
According to an Iso Grifo registry publication, this example was
once owned by Mark Goyette and later Randy Simon, the latter of
which sold the car to its current owner.
Equipped with powerful Chevrolet Corvette engines capable of
autostrada speeds upwards of 140 mph, the Iso Grifo at one time was
one of the world's fastest production cars. The Grifo's American
powertrain makes it relatively simple to work on, as parts are
readily available, affordable to maintain, and easily modified.
This unique blend of sleek Italian design and unrestrained American
power make the Iso Grifo a highly sought-after and highly
attractive collector car.
To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction,
please visit the RM website at rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/am19.