Iso Rivolta

The motor company Iso Rivolta was initially named Isothermos and used to manufacture refrigeration units. 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). 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.

Starting in 1954. Isetta was licensed to automobile manufacturers in several countries and was built in (France, Spain, Great Britain) and Brazil. The most successful, however, was the German Isetta built by BMW. 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 (Ferrari 250 GTO, 1960), the designer Giorgetto Giugiaro (VW Golf I, 1974) 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 5,4 L V8 (small-block) motor 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. This concept was maintained for almost all production cars of Iso. Starting in 1971, Ford 351 Cleveland engines replaced the GM small block. 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. After Bizzarrini split out of the project, this prototype formed the basis for his own Bizzarini 5300 GT. 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 (5.4 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 featured concealed headlights.

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. 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.