Technical data:

• • • Engine: :Chevrolet V8 327/ 350 hp , 5363 ccm
    • Transmission: 4 speed T10 manual
    • Brakes:4x disc brakes with brake booster
    • Rear axle:De Dion independent suspension
    • OtherOriginal Borrani spoke rims 15" with central locking, leather upholstery

General model history:

The Iso Grifo is a sports car built from 1964 to 1974 by the Italian car manufacturer Iso Rivolta, Grifo is the Italian word for griffin. After the four-seater Iso Rivolta IR 300 coupé, Iso presented the conceptually similar but sportier two-seater Iso Grifo coupé in 1964, a Gran Turismo for wealthy gentlemen drivers.

The engineer Giotto Bizzarrini, a former Ferrari employee who had left the Commendatore Ferrari factory in a dispute and opened his own design office in Livorno in 1963, played a key role in the development of the Grifo. Bizzarrini designed a platform frame with box beams, which - apart from a wheelbase shortened by twenty centimeters - was similar to that of the Iso Rivolta IR 300. American V8 engines were planned for the drive, initially a 5.4-liter V8 from the Chevrolet Corvette (the same engine was also offered in a tamer version in the large Opel models). Other technical components were also purchased: The steering came from Burman, the limited slip differential from Salisbury, the disc brakes from Dunlop, manually shiftable transmissions with five gears from ZF Friedrichshafen, four-speed transmissions from Mancie or Borg-Warner or a three-speed automatic from Borg-Warner.

As with the Iso Rivolta IR 300, Bertone contributed the design of the coupé; specifically, it was the work of the young Giorgio Giugiaro, whom Bertone had appointed head of design shortly beforehand. Giugiaro drew a low, cat-like hatchback body with gently rounded, narrowly cut fenders and a clearly recognizable, slightly inclined roll bar. The low front end featured round twin headlights. The rear section was characterized by a large panoramic windscreen that merged into a trunk extension and tapered significantly towards the end of the car. Large air vents were provided between the front wheel arches and the A-pillar, which were chrome-plated on some models. The basic features of the design can be traced back to the Pininfarina Rondine, a show car designed by the American Tom Tjaarda in 1963 on the technical basis of the Chevrolet Corvette.

The prototype of the Grifo was shown at the Turin Motor Show at the end of 1963 under the name A3/L (Lusso). Its lines already largely corresponded to the later production model; only the front section differed with its angled headlights and three-dimensional radiator grille. Between the front wheel arch and the A-pillar was an eye-catching ventilation opening, which was covered with individual chrome-plated struts and revealed a view of an exhaust pipe behind it in the style of American "sidepipes". This design element was not adopted in series production.

The L version was the road model. A lighter and more powerful racing version was also planned, the Grifo A3/C (Competizione). This model competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1964. The Belgian Pierre Noblet and the Swiss Edgar Berney drove the car to 14th place overall and victory in the class for prototypes with a displacement of over 5 liters. However, the racing concept was not pursued any further by Iso Rivolta. After a disagreement between company boss Rivolta and Bizzarrini, the A3/C was built by Bizzarrini itself and sold under the names Bizzarrini GT 5300 Strada (as a road version) and Corsa (an even sportier competition version with plastic bodywork).

Explicit data about this car:

The car was ordered in the rare GL 350 version, of which only about 70 were built. This makes the car very agile and combines better handling due to lighter weight with almost the same performance of the heavier optional 7 liter engine. It is also said to have been the only Grifo built in the Platino Zandvoord color. Also the delivery with Borrani central locking spoke rims instead of the aluminum rims is rare. All this can be seen in the surviving copy of the delivery card dated August 30, 1968.

Newly delivered to Germany, it remained there until an American doctor from Florida bought it in 1987. In 2012, I bought the car back from this doctor and subjected it to a partial restoration. Since 2017, it has been used again regularly in the summer and has taken part in numerous long-distance events to Italy, the Ennstalclassic and other events

Take the opportunity to acquire a piece of automotive history and experience driving pleasure at the highest level. Contact us for more information or to arrange a viewing appointment.