| Iso Rivolta | |
|---|---|
| Fate | bankrupt |
| Founded | 1953 |
| Defunct | 1974 |
| Location | Bresso, Italy |
| Industry | Automotive |
| Products | Automobiles, Motorbikes |
| Key people | Renzo Rivolta, founder |
The motor company Iso Rivolta (Iso Motors since 1973) was initially named Isothermos and used to manufacture refrigeration units. Bresso is a Comune (municipality in the Province of Milan in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 8 km north of Milan Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest The automotive industry is the industry involved in the design development manufacture marketing and sale of Motor vehicles In 2007 more than 73 million motor vehicles MotorCycle is the title of a 1993 album by Rock band Daniel Amos, released on BAI Records. The company was originally founded in Genoa in 1939 (but transferred to Bresso in 1942) by Renzo Rivolta, an engineer. Bresso is a Comune (municipality in the Province of Milan in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 8 km north of Milan
After the Second World War, the company reopened its doors, completely changing its activity in 1948 it began to build motorcycles, scooters and motocarries (three wheeled transport scooters/motorcycles). Among the most famous are the Furetto (1948), 'Isoscooter (1950),' Isocarro (1951), 'Isomoto (1954) and' Isosport (1953). The last Iso motorcycle was presented as the Iso 500 in 1961.
In 1953 Renzo Rivolta, heir of an important family of industrialists of Bresso, a small town on the outskirts of Milan (Italy), changed his production portfolio to mopeds and motorbikes instead (Isomotos). Bresso is a Comune (municipality in the Province of Milan in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 8 km north of Milan Milan (Milano Milan (listen) is one of the largest cities in Italy, located in the plains of Lombardy. Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest The company Iso Autoveicoli S. p. a. was founded in 1953.
Isomotos were known as expensive, but durable and well-built. In the mid-1950s, he started to develop a miniature car for two persons and front entrance, initially with only three wheels, later, for reasons of stability, with four wheels (the two on the rear very close together): the Isetta Bubble Car. The Isetta was one of the most successful Microcars produced in the post- WWII years&mdasha time when cheap short-distance transportation was most needed
Starting in 1954, Isetta was licensed to automobile manufacturers in several countries: France (by VELAM), Spain, Great Britain and Brazil (by Romi). VELAM ( Véhicule Léger à Moteur, or "light vehicle with motor" was a French Automobile manufacturer that made VELAM Microcars The most successful, however, was the German Isetta built by BMW. ( BMW) (Bavarian Motor Works is an independent German automobile manufacturer founded in 1916 The BMW-Isetta fulfilled the dream of mobility in post-war Germany and about 130. 000 were sold until 1962.
Together with the engineer Giotto Bizzarrini, the designer Giorgetto Giugiaro and the body-experts of Bertone, Renzo Rivolta began developing the Iso Rivolta IR 300 (presented on the Torino Show of 1962), an elegant 2 + 2 Coupé with well-balanced technical components and outstanding driving performance: the 5. Giotto Bizzarrini (born June 6, 1926) is an Italian Automobile engineer active from the 1950s through 1970s Giorgetto Giugiaro (born August 7, 1938) is an Italian Automobile designer He was born in Garessio, Province of Cuneo 4 L V8 Chevrolet Small-Block engine came from General Motors in Detroit, the transmission, too, axles (de Dion) and braking system (4 disc brakes!) came from the large Jaguars of the time. Introduction Chevrolet 's Small-block V8 is a famous Automobile engine General Motors Corporation ( GM) ( is a multinational automobile manufacturer founded in 1908 and headquartered in the United States. Jaguar Cars Limited is a luxury car manufacturer based in Coventry, England, now operated as part of the Jaguar Land Rover business This concept was maintained for almost all production cars of Iso. Starting in 1971, Ford 351 Cleveland engines replaced the GM small block. Ford Motor Company is an American Multinational corporation and the world's fourth largest automaker based on Worldwide vehicle sales, following The Ford 335 engine family were a group of small-block V8 engines built by the Ford Motor Company between 1970 and 1982 The most well-known Gran Turismo of Iso Rivolta was without doubt the Iso Grifo with berlinetta body by Bertone, first presented as a very sporty, low-slung prototype (Grifo A3C) in 1964. Gruppo Bertone is an Italian car styling and coachbuilding house which also manufactures cars After Bizzarrini split out of the project, this prototype formed the basis for his own Bizzarini 5300 GT. Bizzarrini SpA was an automotive Manufacturer in the 1960s Founded by former Alfa Romeo, Ferrari and ISO engineer Giotto The Grifo Prototype was further refined by Iso, receiving a reworked, less aggressive and more luxurious body in the process, and went into production in 1965. The Grifo was powered by Chevrolet´s 327 V-8 (5. Chevrolet (ˌʃɛvroʊˈleɪ - French origin (also known as Chevy) is a Brand of Automobile, produced by General Motors (GM 4 L) in either 300 or 350 hp form. In 1966 a convertible version of the Grifo was shown that didn't manage to go into production. Starting in 1968 the Grifo could also be had with Chevrolet's 427 ci big-block V-8; this version was known as the Grifo 7 litri and was easily recognized by the broad air inlet on the hood. Later-day Grifos, the Series II, featured concealed headlights and a slightly modfied front area.
After the sudden death of Renzo Rivolta, his son Piero became the director of Iso Rivolta in 1966 (aged only 25 then). Under his leadership, Iso built the limousine Fidia, "the fastest four seats on wheels" (Advertisement, 1967) with body by Ghia, the Grifo 7 litri (with the GM V8 7 L marine engine) and the 2 + 2 fastback Coupé Lele (1970) with body designed by Bertone, intended as the successor to the IR 300. A limousine (or limo) is a longer than normal Luxury car. The chassis may have been extended by the manufacturer or by an independent coach builder traditionally Carrozzeria Ghia SpA (established 1915 in Turin) is one of the most famous Italian Automobile design and coachbuilding firms established Gruppo Bertone is an Italian car styling and coachbuilding house which also manufactures cars Iso Rivolta went bankrupt in 1974, only 1. 700 Iso Gran Turismos had been built in those ten years.
Today, Piero Rivolta and his wife Lele live in Sarasota, Florida. His son Renzo is leading Rivolta Marine, his daughter, Marietta, is in the management of Zagato Centrostile, Milan, Italy, she is married to Andrea Zagato. Zagato (SZ DESIGN srl is a design consultancy and Engineering services company situated just outside Milan, Italy.
ISO Models
| Years | Model | Power | Top speed | Notes | Image |
| 1962-1968 | Isetta | - | - |  |
|
| 1962-1968 | Iso Rivolta IR 300 | 300 PS (221 kW) | 215 km/h (134 mph) |  |
|
| 1964 | Grifo A3 L | 350 PS (257 kW) | 210-275 km/h (130-171 mph) |  |
|
| 1966-1973 | Grifo Lusso GL 300 | 300 PS (221 kW) | 190 km/h (118 mph) | ||
| 1967-1974 | Fidia 300 / S4 | 300 PS (221 kW) | 220 km/h (137 mph) | ||
| 1967-1974 | Lele 300 | 300 PS (221 kW) | 230 km/h (143 mph) |  |
|
| 1970-1974 | Grifo 7 Litri | 406 PS (299 kW) | 300 km/h (186 mph) |  |
|
| 1970-1974 | Grifo Can Am | 395 PS (291 kW) | 270 km/h (168 mph) |
Prototypes
- 1972 prototype Iso Varedo
- 1993 prototype Iso Grifo 90
- 1996 prototype Iso Grifo 96
External links
- The Iso Rivolta Automobiles by Dutch collector Marvin van der Geld
- A short overview on Motorbase.com
- http://www.classicscars.com/chassis/iso.htm Database Chassis Number for early Iso A3C
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