1974 ISO RIVOLTA LELE SPORT:
-- Silver over Red leather, Red carpeting, 351ci Ford Cleveland V8, RARE - 1 of 20 produced equipped with Ford 351ci/360bhp and 1 of only 6 originally imported to the USA, Ford automatic transmission, All original with long-term ownership for the past 38 years!, 5,000 MILES from new!
From a company that brought us the tiny Isetta bubble car, it seems hardly likely that one of their other creations would be a V8 powered GT car. Being a 2+2 with Bertone styling, the Lele filled the grand-touring gap between Iso’s two-seater Grifo and Fidia saloon. Lele was chosen as named after Mr. Piero Rivolta’s wife. The Lele was Iso’s answer to the Lamborghini Espada. While the first 125 Leles were fitted with GM V8 engines, Iso changed to Ford powertrains in 1972. The Ford engine of choice was the potent 351ci Cleveland V8 with only 165 Ford powered Leles produced.
Iso partnered with Philip Morris to produce a uniquely painted Marlboro livery and upgraded Lele for promotional use. Bizzarrini modified the two promotional cars with styling upgrades, striped out luxuries for lightness, a unique dashboard layout different from the earlier Leles and a modified Ford 351ci Cobra Jet engine to produce over 360bhp. The exterior styling cues from these two cars were then used to create the Lele Sport which also had a modified version of the new dashboard layout. The Lele Sport was equipped with power steering, more padding in the seats, leather wrapped Nardi steering wheel and other comforts that were stripped on the two promotional cars. Iso produced less than 300 examples of the Lele with 165 produced with Ford powered. This specific Lele Sport is one of only 20 cars produced with the high output 351ci/360bhp Ford V8.
This Lele Sport is not only rare, it is entirely original. It has been in single ownership for the past 38 years and traveled just over 5,000 miles from new. It has remained in excellent care during this ownership. Out of the 20 cars produced, just six were imported to the USA during production. The Lele includes its original tool kit and even the original Gold Campagnola stickers are affixed to the wheels. They are only original once! This is an excellent opportunity to own a very limited, all original and low-mileage Iso and one that can be enjoyed on long drives as well as around town.
