Iso of Bresso, Italy, was a refrigerator manufacturing company that was re-founded in 1953 as Iso Autoveicoli S.p.A. to reflect the production of its Isetta automobiles. The company's first performance car prototype arrived in 1962 as the Iso Rivolta, followed by the Grifo prototype in 1963, both cars being Italian-American hybrids featuring a Corvette 327 cubic-ich, 300 horsepower V8 engine and Borg Warner 4-speed manual transmission. The cars' steel platform chassis was designed by ex-Ferrari engineer Giotto Bizzarrini.

The muscular styling of the Grifo is by Giorgio Giugiaro of Bertone. It's highlighted by a low greenhouse and large front and rear glass. A total of 412 Grifos were produced between 1965 and 1974.

This particular example is a Series II Grifo with partially covered headlights. It was updated in 1980 when it received a 454 cubic-inch 420 horsepower Chevrolet V-8 and 5-speed manual transmission from a damaged Iso Can Am model.