Vehicle Description
Italian industrialist and engineer Renzo Rivolta is a bit of an
unsung hero in the annals of automotive history. His motoring
career began in 1942 with the purchase of Isothermos, an Italian
refrigerator manufacturer. Rivolta was a proper petrol head, and he
frankly had little interest in refrigeration, so he added
motorcycles and scooters to the company's portfolio,
reincorporating it as Iso Autoveicoli S.p.A. Renzo's motorcycles
were particularly expensive at a time when Italians needed
affordable transport more than anything, but they were built
exceptionally well and earned a positive reputation for quality and
performance. To answer the needs of the buying public in a
still-recovering post-war Italy, Iso introduced the Isetta; a three
wheeled (later updated to four) microcar with a single front door
and a distinct bubble shape. Approximately 20,000 examples were
built in the Iso works before Rivolta had an epiphany: The rest of
Europe was still in need of cheap transport, and since his plant
couldn't build enough Isettas to meet demand, he licensed the
design to other manufacturers around the world. BMW was the most
successful, selling approximately 130,000 units through the 1960s.
As an aside, fans of the Bavarian marque have Renzo Rivolta and his
cheeky microcar to thank for saving BMW from the brink of
bankruptcy and a certain takeover by Mercedes Benz. On the heels of
the success of the Isetta, Renzo Rivolta turned his efforts to
producing a luxurious GT car that he felt could offer better value
and luxury than Ferrari. He took a page from Sydney Allard (among
others, of course) by stuffing a proven, reliable and affordable
American V8 into a more sophisticated chassis, one that was better
suited to putting that power to the ground. The Iso Rivolta IR300
first appeared in 1962. Designed in partnership with legendary
Ferrari engineer Giotto Bizzarrini, the attractive four-seat Grand
Tourer rode on a steel platform chassis and featured independent
front and deDion rear suspension. Power came via Chevrolet's
Corvette-spec 327 cubic inch (5.4 liter) V8 making 300 horsepower
and a choice of either automatic or manual transmissions. Styling
was by Giorgetto Giugiaro at Ghia, and was crisp and distinctive
with delicate pillars, a sharp feature line down the body and
finely judged curves and creases on the front fenders and grille.
It was a full four seat car that could transport occupants in
supreme comfort with outstanding performance. The Iso Rivolta made
no impressions of being a racer or sports car - it was meant to
carry four passengers at high speed and deliver a memorable drive.
With its luxurious and comfortable cabin, the Rivolta was
delightfully described in period literature as having "Efficient
functioning united to sober elegance". The literature went on to
proclaim the Iso Rivolta was "Silent from 40-240 (kph) in top
gear!" Priced between a Jaguar and a Ferrari, the Rivolta found
moderate success, selling 799 units between 1962 and 1969. This
1968 IR300 was built on September 12, 1967 and dispatched to the
US.� It was originally equipped with the 300 horsepower engine,
automatic, and air conditioning, and is a complete, running example
that was used and enjoyed on a regular basis until it was parked
approximately 18 years ago. While it requires a comprehensive
restoration, it is not a basket case or a nightmare of missing
parts as so many projects can be. This Rivolta remains complete and
intact, with most of its delicate trim and detailing in place. The
body is quite straight and appears free of any major accident
damage, though the sills, lower quarters and floors require
replacement. Importantly, the bumpers, lamps, grille and window
trims are all intact, presenting in fair condition and the car
rides on a set of rare and desirable Campagnolo alloy wheels. The
black interior is in similar condition to the body; tired and
needing restoration, though complete and appearing never to have
been removed from the car. The dash retains all original switchgear
and instrumentation. Chevrolet's robust 327 V8 looks to be
completely intact and is fitted with original air conditioning.
There is an aftermarket air cleaner, though the engine bay appears
otherwise mainly original. Our mechanics carefully inspected the
engine to ensure it was free, and fired it up to discover it still
has good oil pressure and runs rather well. Of course, it should
not be driven in its current state, but it does form the basis of
what would be a fairly straightforward restoration. Without complex
and expensive running gear, this Iso can be a more approachable
prospect for restoring, and this example represents a blank canvas
for which to best highlight its distinctive style. With just 800
examples produced, the IR300 is a rare and desirable Italian GT car
that delivered excellent performance in a handsome,
Giugiaro-designed body.
