1970 ISO Grifo Targa

Renzo Rivolta founded an Italian refrigeration company named Isotherm that, following World War II, provided him with the mechanical and financial resources to expand into the production of motorscooters and motorcycles. By 1950, Isothermos was renamed Iso Autoveicoli and was the third-largest two-wheel producer in Italy. In the early 1960s, Mr. Rivolta ventured into grand touring car production with the Rivolta, which debuted at the Torino Auto Show. The company's second grand touring coupe was dubbed the Grifo.

The iso Grifo received engineering sophistication from former Ferrari mastermind Giotto Bizzarrini and was based on a shortened Rivolta chassis. Engines were sourced from Chevrolet, which guaranteed both power and reliability. The fastback coachwork was via Giorgetto Giugiaro of Bertone.

This 1970 Iso Grifo Series I Targa is one of just 14 built. It has removable roof panels, a Chevrolet 350 cubic-inch V8 engine, and a ZF five-speed gearbox.

This Iso Grifo was completed on March 21st, 1970, and was delivered to Auto Becker in Germany. The current (fourth) caretaker acquired this car in 1978. Although it originally wore an Argento Auteuil Metallizzato (Metallic Silver) exterior, the car was repainted in the 1980s in its present deep blue metallic to better complement its gray leather interior.

In the early 2000s, the car was given a restoration by former Iso employee Roberto Negri in Clusone, Italy. The car arrived in the United States in 2005, where it was invited to the 2005 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance®. Since then, it has been shown at Concorso Italiano, The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, and the 2022 Rodeo Drive Concours d'Elegance.

By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2022