1968 ISO Grifo

Sold for $385,000 at 2015 RM Auctions - Automobiles of Arizona.
Sold for $500,000 at 2020 RM Sothebys : The Elkhart Collection.
Prior to World War II, Renzo Rivolta built Isothermos refrigerators. After the war, Rivolta turned his attention to transportation, starting with scooters. Rivolta quickly expanded to the Isetta bubble car, which BMW later licensed. With financial stability from the BMW-Isetta and refrigerator sales, Rivolta tackled the task of building a proper grand touring car. The Iso Rivolta was that vehicle, and it wore styling from Bertone and had seating for four individuals. It made its debut in 1962 at the Turin Motor Show. Power was from American engines, giving it exceptional performance and reliability. The Grifo embodied the best of American and Italian automotive design; it had aggressive styling and performance while being fitted with the luxuries found in grand touring automobiles. In total, just 471 examples were produced, with production lasting until 1974.

This particular 1968 Iso Grifo was delivered new to Dutch real estate mogul Maurits Caransa. The car was delivered in white with a black interior, a 327 cubic-inch engine, and an automatic transmission. In the early 2000s, a subsequent owner treated the car to a frame-off restoration. The chassis was fully restored, and a big block engine and a new automatic transmission were installed. At that time, Porsche ventilated disc brakes, and power steering was also fitted to the car. The body was restored to perfection. The car retains its original and rare Pavesi sunroof with its dual removable panels, making it one of only six examples built with this option. It is also equipped with factory air conditioning.

The restoration was completed in 2005. Currently, the car is finished in yellow over a blue leather interior.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2015