Iso Lele
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| Iso Rivolta Lele | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Manufacturer | Iso Rivolta |
| Production | 1969-1974 285 produced |
| Body style(s) | 2-door coupe |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Engine(s) | 5358 cc V8 Chevrolet 5736 cc V8 Ford |
| Length | 4,650 mm (183.1 in) |
| Width | 1,750 mm (68.9 in) |
| Height | 1,350 mm (53.1 in) |
| Curb weight | 1,610 kg (3,549 lb) |
| Designer | Marcello Gandini at Bertone |
Iso Lele (or Iso Rivolta Lele) was a sports coupé produced by the Italian automobile maker Iso Rivolta between 1969 and 1974. The Lele, being a 2+2-seater, filled the gap between the Grifo and the Fidia and shared its powertrain, a V8 engine and automatic gearbox from GM (when not manual), with these types. Bertone styling was used, as with the Grifo (but not the Fidia). The car is named after Lele Rivolta, wife of Piero Rivolta (son of Iso company founder Renzo).
The Chevrolet V8 5,358 cc (327.0 cu in) engine produced 300 hp (220 kW) in automatic version and 350 hp (260 kW) with manual transmission.
[edit] The evolution
In 1970 the engine capacity was increased to 5,736 cc (350.0 cu in). A equal maximum power (300 or 350 hp), improved distribution of torque and thus the elasticity of travel.
In 1972, due to the request of GM to pay in advance engines, the Chevrolet engine was replaced with the Ford Cleveland V8. The automatic transmission also became Ford, while the manual (a 5-speed transmission) remained unchanged. In 1973, the standard version (now known as Lele IR6) was flanked by Lele IR6 Sports, with an engine enhanced to 360 hp (270 kW) and change only manual ZF 5-speed transmission. Following the agreement with Philip Morris that led to the creation of the team Formula 1 Iso-Marlboro, was presented the Lele IR6 Marlboro. Derivative of Lele Sport version, the Marlboro, was 230 kilograms (510 lb) lighter.
The production of Lele ended in December 1974, with the closure of Iso.
[edit] Production
The Lele was produced 285 , subdivided as follows:
- Lele 300 hp (Chevrolet): 112
- Lele 350 hp (Chevrolet): 13
- Lele IR6 325 hp (Ford): 135
- Lele IR6 Sport 360 hp (Ford): 20
- Lele IR6 Sport 360 hp (270 kW) Marlboro (Ford): 5
This article incorporates text translated from the corresponding Italian Wikipedia article as of 2008-05-25.
