Iso Grifo | FerrariChat

Iso Grifo

Discussion in 'Other Italian' started by Ronbo, Jan 23, 2006.

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  1. Ronbo

    Ronbo Formula Junior

    Aug 2, 2005
    413
    Morris County, NJ
    Full Name:
    Ron
    Hi all --

    Anyone with first-hand knowledge of the Grifo? I'm not looking seriously yet - I just bought a 456 and that took care of the budget for a while - but eventually I would like to collect European sports cars with US motors.

    So, what is the car like to live with? What are the pitfalls of ownership and/or restoration? How much can one reasonably do oneself?

    Realistically, I am several years from jumping into this, so please don't try to sell me a car (especially a nice one - I might cry). I just want to know whether this is a reasonable type of collection to try to assemble w/o mega bucks. My idea is to pick up one of each Detroit powerplant: (1) Iso Grifo (corvette engine); (2) Facel II (mopar hemi); (3) DeTomaso Mangusta (Ford Cleveland).

    Anyone have this kind of collection, or even one of these cars?

    Thanks,

    Ron
     
  2. riverflyer

    riverflyer F1 Rookie

    Nov 26, 2003
    3,583
    Mendocino, Ca
    Full Name:
    John
    Hey Ron, I have been into Iso's for a while now. They have become very hard to find in good condition and have several areas prone to rust. Mint condition cars are very expensive now and there is a big market with few cars. When the bizzarini got discoverd it pulled the Iso along in its wake, so better start saving. I find the design very attractive and you can mod them up like any corvette should you so choose. I have some old reprints of car mag articles, compliments of another very helpful board member, and could pass them along should you be interested. Drop me pm with your email address and let me know whether you are high speed or dial up.
    There is an Iso/Bizzarini club with many very knowledgeable members who can help you out when you are ready to really start looking.
     
  3. GhostRider

    GhostRider Formula Junior

    Dec 20, 2002
    999
    Tulsa, OK
    Full Name:
    Matt
    No 351 Clevelands in the Mangusta (not from the factory anyway). Only 289 and 302's.
     
  4. Ronbo

    Ronbo Formula Junior

    Aug 2, 2005
    413
    Morris County, NJ
    Full Name:
    Ron
    John, you have PM.

    Matt, thanks for the info.

    Any other Ford drivetrains in Euro sports cars?
     
  5. Bill Sawyer

    Bill Sawyer Formula 3

    Feb 26, 2002
    2,108
    Georgia
  6. Erich

    Erich Formula 3

    Sep 9, 2003
    1,190
    Poway CA
    Full Name:
    Erich Coiner
    Depends on how you look at a Cobra.

    If it is an AC it is European.
    If it is a Shelby it is US.
     
  7. tritone

    tritone F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 8, 2003
    6,864
    On the Rock
    Full Name:
    James
    early TVR Griffith
    AC 428
    very late Mangusta (became Qvale's ?)
    Some funny mid-engine AC's in the ?'80's-'90's?
    Some Intermeccanica's
    Iso Lele

    all I can think of now.......

    James
     
  8. Ferrariforever

    Mar 24, 2006
    17
    Iso Grifo is the best
     
  9. Erich

    Erich Formula 3

    Sep 9, 2003
    1,190
    Poway CA
    Full Name:
    Erich Coiner
    The Grifo is a fine car but the engine was a Small block Chevy, not a Ford
     
  10. JamesSimpson

    JamesSimpson F1 Rookie

    Jun 29, 2005
    3,624
    Toronto,CANADA
    Full Name:
    James Simpson
  11. masermartin

    masermartin Formula Junior

    Apr 18, 2004
    769
    Sugar Hill, GA
    Full Name:
    Martin

    Lotus had a few Ford drivetrains and vise versa.
     
  12. masermartin

    masermartin Formula Junior

    Apr 18, 2004
    769
    Sugar Hill, GA
    Full Name:
    Martin
    Oh and the Koenigsegg had a Ford motor in until recently... :)
     
  13. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
    33,736
    Austin TX
    Full Name:
    Brian Crall
    Iso Grifo Le Mans.

    427 Big Block OOO RAH
     
  14. The Noble has a Ford Contour engine. The Saab Sonett has a v-4 Ford.
     
  15. kvisser

    kvisser Formula 3

    Dec 11, 2004
    1,956
    Damascus, MD
    Full Name:
    Ken Visser
    #15 kvisser, Apr 4, 2006
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    I had the pleasure of shooting a beautiful iso grifo at my friend's shop. Wonderful Italian styling with a throaty vette rumble. The best of both worlds.

    cheers

    kcv
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  16. jimpo1

    jimpo1 Two Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Jul 30, 2001
    24,510
    Dallas, TX
    Full Name:
    Jim E
    When I was a kid, my favorite Matchbox car was a Iso Grifo. I still have it.
     
  17. writerguy

    writerguy F1 Veteran

    Sep 30, 2003
    6,786
    NewRotic
    Full Name:
    Otto
    The Grifo is basically the same car as a Bizzarini...

    The engine was a Corvette V8
    The Chassis designed by Bizzarini

    Body by Drogo and others

    No 2 are completely identical

    they came in Alloy , Glass, and Metal

    They won LeMan's GT devision in a Grifo that had Bizzarini badges thus ending the relationship (Bizzarini was the team engineer on the Ferrari 250 GTO and also designed the 12 cyl in the first generations Lamborghini's. He also helped create the BreadVan undercontract to Volpe
     
  18. Horsefly

    Horsefly F1 Veteran

    May 14, 2002
    6,929
    #18 Horsefly, Apr 10, 2006
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    The tale of the Griffo being the same as a Bizzarrini is often repeated, but the Bizzarrini has considerable differences and is much rarer, and more expensive. Here is a photochop that I've posted several times before when the question came up. They are not really that much alike.
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  19. Miltonian

    Miltonian F1 Veteran

    Dec 11, 2002
    5,966
    Milton, Wash.
    Full Name:
    Jeff B.
    #19 Miltonian, Apr 11, 2006
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  20. Horsefly

    Horsefly F1 Veteran

    May 14, 2002
    6,929
    True, but isn't that how the Grifo evolved into the Bizzarrini? The C was the competition derivitive of the Grifo which was a long way from the stock version. How many C versions did they build? By the way, there has been a guy with an ad in Hemmings for years WANTING anything Bizzarrini. The Bizzarrini market must have been cornered a long time ago.
     
  21. Olczyk

    Olczyk Formula Junior
    BANNED

    Oct 21, 2005
    712
    France
    Full Name:
    Olczyk
    #21 Olczyk, Apr 25, 2006
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017

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