Vehicle Description
Going back through the history of the Automobile, we quite often
find manufacturers that get into the car business either by
accident or thanks to the passionate efforts of a singular
individual. Companies like Pierce-Arrow (bicycles and bird cages),
Lamborghini (farm tractors) and Studebaker (wagons and carriages)
had successfully made the transition to automobiles while Pegaso
(heavy trucks) and Vespa (motor scooters) were mere blips on the
radar screen. Somewhere in the middle of success and obscurity lies
Iso, a firm that started life as Isothermos, a refrigerator
manufacturer in Genoa, Italy. In 1942, a motor-mad industrialist
and engineer named Renzo Rivolta took over the business, renamed it
Iso Autoveicoli and moved it to Bresso, just outside of Milan.
Rivolta moved away from refrigeration and started building
motorcycles in 1948. His motorcycles were expensive, but very
desirable thanks to robust engineering and superior build quality.
Immediately after World War II, Italy struggled to recover from the
massive devastation it suffered. Motorcycles proved popular but
they were not for everyone and people needed more practical
transportation. In 1953, Renzo Revolta unveiled the Iso Isetta
bubble car; a three (later four) -wheeled car powered by a
motorbike engine with room for two adults and a bag or two of
groceries. The cheeky little Isetta proved popular enough to
inspire Renzo Rivolta to sell the rights to produce his car to
other manufacturers, most notably, BMW. Selling the rights afforded
Rivolta a fair bit of cash to take a significant leap into the
luxury and performance car market he dreamed of. Flush with cash,
he developed the Rivolta GT car, various versions of the Grifo
sports car. After Renzo's untimely death, his son Piero took over
the helm and oversaw development of the four-seat Lele and a
luxurious, high performance sedan called the Fidia. The Fidia was
launched in 1968 to be sold alongside the Grifo and Lele. It
featured a traditional tubular chassis with deDion rear suspension
and disc brakes. Power was courtesy of a Chevrolet Small Block V8,
though contract disputes later led Iso to switch to Ford power
later on. The body was penned by Giugiaro and built by Ghia, and it
featured an aggressive nose not unlike the DeTomaso Mangusta, and a
distinct sloping tail. The large four-seat super sedan was dubbed
"The Fastest Four Seats in the World". The luxurious Fidia cost
more than a Rolls Royce Silver Shadow and went head-to-head with
Maserati's Quattroporte, competing for a share of an admittedly
tiny market. The Fidia outsold the Quattroporte on occasion, in
spite of the fact that just 192 were built between 1968 and 1974,
with the likes of John Lennon, Sonny Bono and Pete Townshend all
having a Fidia in their stable at one time. Our featured Iso Fidia
sedan is surely one of the finest examples we have ever seen. It
presents beautifully in rich black paint with a gorgeous, freshly
restored tan leather cabin. A tremendous amount of money spent on a
high quality restoration to make this a stunning and thoroughly
usable machine. The comprehensive restoration work, carried out by
the experts at Autosport Designs of Huntington, New York, has been
executed to a very high standard and includes a freshened
drivetrain, excellent brightwork and all new rubber
weatherstripping. The paint and panel fit is exquisite and the big
Bertone body is arrow straight. This being a classic 1960's luxury
express, the cabin is a of course the center piece and this example
has been restored to a fabulous standard. Beautiful tan leather is
highlighted by show quality woodwork and detailing. A high end
audio system has been installed and artfully integrated into the
cabin, with speakers hidden behind leather kick panels. Of course,
niceties such as power windows and air conditioning are standard
fare. The long, low Fidia rides on a set of fantastic original
Campagnolo alloy wheels on proper blackwall radials. It puts its
thumping American horsepower to the ground through an automatic
transmission, which only serves to make this an outstanding
continental cruiser. It has been wisely upgraded with an aluminium
radiator to ensure trouble-free running on hot days. The sale
includes restoration records and an original owner's manual.
Restored to show standards but built to be driven and enjoyed, this
rare, magnificent and imposing Fidia is an exquisite example of the
other great Italian super-sedan.