Founded in 1939 by Renzo Rivolta, Iso managed the Isothermos brand of household equipment before focusing also on motorcycles. Iso was then the designer of the highly popular Isetta microcar unveiled in 1953 at the Turin Motor Show.
In 1961, to close out an internal dispute, Ferrari dismissed five of his most brilliant collaborators including Giotto Bizzarrini who had been deeply involved in the 250 Testarossa and was then in charge of the development of the 250 GTO. Bizzarrini immediately created a consulting firm. Rivolta caught this opportunity to launch in 1962 a GT with a Chevrolet Corvette engine and a body designed by Carrozzeria Bertone, the great rival of the network of coachbuilders around Ferrari.
Since 1963 the Iso Rivolta company is targeting the luxury and racing car markets with the Iso Grifo A3/L (Lusso) and A3/C (Corsa) coupes. The A3/L is bodied by Bertone. Bizzarrini designs the A3/C as a lower and wider rival to the 250 GTO, and aesthetically catchy in the taste of Bertone. The A3/C Stradale is the road legal version of the A3/C.
For being efficient the A3/C must be light. The metal plates of its bodywork assembled by Drogo are in duralumin, incompatible with an industrial welding : they are riveted as in an aeronautical construction.
This collaboration between Rivolta and Bizzarrini terminates in 1965. According to the agreement of their separation, Bizzarrini maintains a road legal A3/C by the model 5300 Strada of his own brand which ceases in 1969. Iso Rivolta stops the automotive manufacture in 1974.
With only 29 cars built, the Iso Grifo A3/C is extremely rare. One of them was delivered new in fall 1964 to Johnny Hallyday, the rock singer who was at the peak of his glory at 21 with the nickname L'Idole des Jeunes. This car in very good condition with less than 27,000 km on the clock still retains its original seats in black leather. It is estimated € 2.5M for sale by RM Sotheby's in Paris on February 7, lot 142.
unsold
In 1961, to close out an internal dispute, Ferrari dismissed five of his most brilliant collaborators including Giotto Bizzarrini who had been deeply involved in the 250 Testarossa and was then in charge of the development of the 250 GTO. Bizzarrini immediately created a consulting firm. Rivolta caught this opportunity to launch in 1962 a GT with a Chevrolet Corvette engine and a body designed by Carrozzeria Bertone, the great rival of the network of coachbuilders around Ferrari.
Since 1963 the Iso Rivolta company is targeting the luxury and racing car markets with the Iso Grifo A3/L (Lusso) and A3/C (Corsa) coupes. The A3/L is bodied by Bertone. Bizzarrini designs the A3/C as a lower and wider rival to the 250 GTO, and aesthetically catchy in the taste of Bertone. The A3/C Stradale is the road legal version of the A3/C.
For being efficient the A3/C must be light. The metal plates of its bodywork assembled by Drogo are in duralumin, incompatible with an industrial welding : they are riveted as in an aeronautical construction.
This collaboration between Rivolta and Bizzarrini terminates in 1965. According to the agreement of their separation, Bizzarrini maintains a road legal A3/C by the model 5300 Strada of his own brand which ceases in 1969. Iso Rivolta stops the automotive manufacture in 1974.
With only 29 cars built, the Iso Grifo A3/C is extremely rare. One of them was delivered new in fall 1964 to Johnny Hallyday, the rock singer who was at the peak of his glory at 21 with the nickname L'Idole des Jeunes. This car in very good condition with less than 27,000 km on the clock still retains its original seats in black leather. It is estimated € 2.5M for sale by RM Sotheby's in Paris on February 7, lot 142.
unsold
A standout of @rmsothebys #Paris auction on 7 Feb is an ultra-rare 1965 Iso Grifo A3/C, made all the more covetable by hailing from the collection of #French icon, Johnny Hallyday who was known as the "Elvis Presley of France." https://t.co/Rg0La974zE pic.twitter.com/ok0f7xIMxK
— Sotheby's (@Sothebys) January 31, 2018
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