Iso (automobile)

For the Iso-Malboro Formula One cars, see Frank Williams Racing Cars.
Iso Autoveicoli S.p.A.
Industry Automotive
Fate Bankrupt
Founded 1953
Defunct 1974
Headquarters Bresso, Italy
Key people
 Renzo Rivolta, founder
Products Automobiles, Motorbikes

Iso was an automobile and motorcycle maker, the product of Iso Autoveicoli S.p.A of Italy. The company was predominantly active from the late 1940s through the early 1970s. Iso are known for the iconic Isetta bubble car of the 1950s, and for a number of powerful performance cars in the 1960s and early 1970s.

History

Iso was initially named 'Isothermos' and manufactured refrigeration units before World War II. The company was founded in Genoa in 1939, but was transferred to Bresso in 1942 by Renzo Rivolta, an engineer and the heir of industrialists. The business was refounded as Iso Autoveicoli S.p.A. in 1953 to reflect the production of motorized transport. Renzo Rivolta died in 1966, and his son, Piero, took over as managing director.[1] At the start of 1973 the Rivolta family ceded the business to an Italian American financier named Ivo Pera who promised to bring American management know-how to the firm:[2] the business was again renamed to Iso Motors, just before fading rapidly into obscurity.

Two prototypes were shown in the 1990s; however, neither reached production.

Early years: motorcycles

ISO 125

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. Isomotos were known as expensive, but durable and well-built.

1950s: Isetta bubble car

Iso Isetta Turismo

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. About 20,000 of the bubble cars were built at the Iso works near Milan. Starting in 1954, Isetta was licensed to automobile manufacturers in several countries: France (by VELAM), Spain, Great Britain and Brazil (by Romi). The most successful, however, was the German[1] Isetta built by BMW. The BMW-Isetta went on to dwarf the production volumes of Iso and become one of the best-selling German microcars in the 1950s and 1960s. About 130,000 had been sold by 1962.

1960s: performance cars

Together with engineer Giotto Bizzarrini, designer Giorgetto Giugiaro and chassis builder Bertone, Renzo Rivolta began developing the Iso Rivolta IR 300, which was first presented at the Torino Show of 1962. It was an elegant 2 + 2 Coupé with well-balanced technical components and outstanding driving performance.

The 5.4 L V8 Chevrolet Small-Block engine and the transmission came from General Motors in Detroit, and the de Dion suspension and four-wheel disc braking system 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.

Iso's most well-known Gran Turismo automobile was the Iso Grifo which featured a low-slung, sporty berlinetta body by Bertone. After Bizzarrini left 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 cubic inch (5.4 litre) V-8 producing either 300 or 350 hp. In 1966 a convertible version of the Grifo was shown, but never reached production. Starting in 1968 the Grifo was also available with Chevrolet's 427 cubic inch 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 modified front area.

After the sudden death at Milan on 20 August 1966[3] of Renzo Rivolta, his son Piero became the director of Iso, aged only 25 then. Under Piero's 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 (1969) with body designed by Bertone, intended as the successor to the IR 300. Iso went bankrupt in 1974, only 1700 Iso Gran Turismos had been built in those ten years.

Production range

Data from automobile-catalog.com.[4]

Years Model Power Top speed Notes Image
1953–55 Isetta 10 PS (7 kW) 85 km/h (53 mph)
1963–70 Rivolta IR 300/340/350 300 PS (221 kW); 340 PS (250 kW); 350 PS (257 kW) 205–258 km/h (127–160 mph) Chevrolet engine
1964 Grifo A3 L 365 PS (268 kW) 275 km/h (171 mph) Chevrolet engine
1966–72 Grifo Lusso GL 300/340/350 300 PS (221 kW); 340 PS (250 kW); 350 PS (257 kW) 210–260 km/h (130–162 mph) Chevrolet engine  
1972–1974 Grifo IR8 325 PS (239 kW); 330 PS (243 kW) 255 km/h (158 mph) Ford engine  
1968–70 Grifo 7 Litri 400 PS (294 kW) 300 km/h (186 mph) Chevrolet engine
1970–72 Grifo Can Am 395 PS (291 kW) 270 km/h (168 mph) Ford engine
1968–72 Fidia S4 300/350 300 PS (221 kW); 350 PS (257 kW) 220–240 km/h (136–150 mph) Chevrolet engine
1972–74 Fidia IR10 325 PS (239 kW); 330 PS (243 kW) 240 km/h (149 mph) Ford engine  
1969–72 Lele 300/350 300 PS (221 kW); 350 PS (257 kW) 220–250 km/h (136–155 mph) Chevrolet engine
1972–74 Lele IR6 325 PS (239 kW); 330 PS (243 kW) 245 km/h (152 mph) Ford engine
Iso Grifo 90

Prototypes

References

  1. 1 2 "Marbles and Motors: Trying a new luxury Iso". Motor: 30–32. 1 March 1969.
  2. ↑ "Road Test: Iso Lele automatic". Motor: 2–7. 27 April 1974.
  3. ↑ "News and views: Renzo Rivolta". Autocar. 125 nbr 3680: 454. 26 August 1966.
  4. ↑ "Iso Rivolta specifications and performance data". automobile-catalog.com. External link in |journal= (help)
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