Iso Thread

If you want to learn about him & the cars, you should read this book.

http://www.amazon.com/Isorivolta-Machines-Winston-Scott-Goodfellow/dp/8879112686

 

It's very ironic that you posted a pictures of that Iso Grifo, the reason is that although most club members recognize this car as an Iso there are some that challenge this statement. This car is Iso Grifo 413 and at the time the factory shut down there were only 412 Iso Grifo's built. The car shown in the picture was later put together in 1977 by Roberto Negri and ex Iso factory employee that has close ties to Piero Rivolta. The car was called the Ennezeta and looked like a series two Grifo having the hood riser the long nose etc. The Ennezeta also had new bumpers to meet the new US federal standards, so it was different than any other Iso Grifo made. As far as I know only one Ennezeta was built and it had a factory stamp of chassis 413. The factory would stamp the chassis prior to it rolling down the line so this is a car that had an Iso chassis number but was finished after the factory closed.

Chassis 413 today looks nothing like the Ennezeta and that is the second part of the story. The car was later purchased by a company called Diomante and restored, but it was restored with many different features. The slant nose was removed in favor of the original twin grill nose. The hood riser removed and replaced with what looks like a version of an Iso Rivolta, the old style bumpers were used instead of the federal bumpers. Side vents that looked similar to a Lamborghini Miura and a stainless strip across the roof (looking like a 7 liter Grifo). A big block was installed and the car was then marketed as a prototype Seven liter Grifo. The Vin number was changed to 223.

An interesting and hadsome Iso indeed.
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And a interesting story, thanks.

 

Had Renzo Rivolta been willing to underwrite the development of a mid-engined chassis, this would have been an Iso:
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Not a owner,but this is one fast Iso,historic race car photo Melbourne Aust,owner now has the car in the US.
You would not come across a better built historic race car,if you come across,go meet the owner,nice guy and would take time to talk/show you his car.
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Another great Giugiaro design. Both Bertone and Giugiaro have stated that the Iso Grifo was their best design, but IMO the Mangusta is right on top too.

Here is what Piero Rivolted ended up with, the Varedo. Being that it was engineered by Bizzarrini it handled much better than the Mangusta. They say looks arn't everything, not sure that's true with Italian cars.
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Iso's ground stomping 7 liter Iso Grifo one of the few cars capable of giving the Daytona a run for it's money.
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series one
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series two Grifo
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OK Iso fans here is an A3C No it's not a Bizzarrini, it's an A3C designed by Bizzarrini while he worked at the Iso factory.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ls_csd8Gbw&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bq5jpopwrVU&feature=related

 

Admittedly, I am a tremendous fan of both the Mangusta and the Pantera but definitely do see why Giugiaro designed the Mangusta with Iso in mind. Iso is one of those marques that could have trumpted the all ( I am also a fan of the american V-8) but alas is resigned to the history books. It's great that this thread exists, I for one would like to know much more about them. More than what can be learned by a simple wikipedia search.

 

Gents - that's worth noting

 

The best Italian car book ever written is not about Alfa, Fcars or Maserati's, it's about Iso's. It's called Iso Rivolta the men the machines by Winston Goodfellow. The book tells the whole story about Iso and sports cars after WWII in Italy. It's a big big that has tons of accurate information and is a pleasure to read.

On another note Iso is one of the few companies that you can still meet the people that built the cars and ran the company. Roberto Negri restores Iso's in Italy and Piero Rivolta lives in Florida.

 

Do you have more information or photos about this car?

 

I believe the Goodfellow is out of print but much of the history of Iso is also in the books about Bizzarrini such as

http://www.classicscars.com/books/bizzarrini.htm

 

Thank you for the leads gentlemen, I will look into them.

 

Yes, but I will let the owner introduce this car.

 

Goodfellows book was reprinted as a soft bound!

The Rivolta group has copies of the book, and Yachts, homes. http://www.rivolta.com/NewsandBooks.html


I have read all the Bizzarrini books and IMO I don't think the story has been told well. It may never be as Mr.. Bizzarrini is a bit eccentric .

IMO none of the Bizzarrini books come close to having the detail, depth of history and the amount of quality pictures that the Goodfellow "Iso" book has. The Goodfellow Iso book is also very accurate. Mr.. Goodfellow did his homework well. Due to the books being "lost" the Bizzarrini company going bankrupt, Mr. Bizzarrini being swindled, numerous unfinished cars, it is hard to determine what really happened and what the truth is surrounding Bizzarrini cars, the company and owner.

 

Stting al by itself in the Aston area at Laguna Seca 2009
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Met Piero at CI. Nice guy, explained that the crazy corduroy material used on the interior of my dad's old Fidia was used on trains, so they knew it was durable.

 

Interesting never heard that story. I had dinner with Piero and his son in law Andrea Zagato while in Monterey. What a great evening for a car enthusiusts.

 

S1 Grifo at the Geneva IL show today.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/24302083@N05/3849487967/in/set-72157621998539049/

full set at

http://www.flickr.com/photos/24302083@N05/sets/72157621998539049/