VIN: the works / Antonio Finiguerra / Pierre de Siebenthal Iso Grifo A3/C Corsa chassis B-0201
History of chassis B-0201
Chassis B-0201 was the prototype Grifo A3/C displayed on the Iso stand at the Turin Motor Show between October 30th and November 11th 1963. The unpainted car (which had a bright red interior) appeared with an unusual swirled effect on its aluminium bodywork - the result of cork mats having been rotated on the ends of drill bits.
Following its salon debut, B-0201 went on to serve as Iso’s works entry for the 1964 Le Mans Test which took place over the weekend of April 18th and 19th. Now painted red and running on wire wheels, B-0201 drew many positive comments for its beautiful finish, but did not seem particularly quick. Pierre Noblet and Fernand Tavano were recruited to drive. They posted a best lap of 4 minutes 13.4 seconds which was good enough for ninth fastest overall and fifth in the over three-litre Prototype category.
After its run at Le Mans, B-0201 was back in action as an official entry for the Nurburgring 1000km six weeks later (May 31st). On this occasion, the car was shared by Pierre Noblet and Edgar Berney. It was now on Campagnolo alloy wheels as they had been found to be secure for competition use.
At 1203kg, the Iso was the heaviest car in attendance. It qualified 32nd on the mammoth 81 car grid.
In the race, Noblet made a storming start to hold ninth by the end of lap one. However, B-0201’s engine was a little down on power and, although the Grifo had a trouble-free run, it lacked outright pace.
By the time the chequered flag fell, Noblet and Berney had dropped to 19th overall which was good enough for second in the over three-litre Prototype class.
Shortly afterwards, Iso sold chassis B-0201 to Italian privateer, Antonio Finiguerra, a car dealer from Sondrio who had begun his amateur motor racing career on two wheels.
B-0201 was Finiguerra’s first serious foray into car racing; during the ‘64 season he campaigned the red Iso in a couple of hillclimbs, the Pries von Tirol at Innsbruck (eighth overall and second in class) and the Trofeo Bettoia at Monza (seventh overall and third in class).
Finiguerra was subsequently joined in B-0201 by Regis Frassinet for the 1965 Monza 1000km where his A3/C appeared as a factory entry as the team were short of cars following the destruction of two brand new machines at Sebring a few weeks earlier. B-0201 placed 13th overall (seventh in class).
Soon afterwards, Finiguerra moved on to a Porsche 906 and B-0201 was sold to Swiss privateer, Pierre de Siebenthal.
De Siebenthal was a scrapyard owner from Lausanne who specialised in rare and exotic machinery from the top European manufacturers. His facility was a treasure trove of fabulous vehicles to include all manner of high end road and racing cars.
Like Antonio Finiguerra, Pierre de Siebenthal continued to race chassis B-0201. In his three outings with the Iso, de Siebenthal most notably finished 21st overall and fifth in class at the the 1965 Ollon-Villars Hillclimb.
Some time later, B-0201 was sold to Silvio Moser. Although Moser did not race the Iso, it remained with him until his untimely death 31 days after a serious crash at the 1974 Monza 1000km.
Since then, B-0201 has passed through the hands of several owners and been restored.
Notable History
Iso Autoveicoli / Bizzarrini Prototipo
Unpainted
30/10-10/11/1963 Turin Motor Show
Painted Red
19/04/1964 IND Le Mans Test (P. Noblet / F. Tavano) 9th oa, 5th P3.0+ class (#85)
31/05/1964 WSC Nurburgring 1000km (P. Noblet / E. Berney) 19th oa, 2nd P3.0+ class (#138)
Sold to Antonio Finiguerra, Sondrio
02/08/1964 IND Axamer-Lizum Hillclimb (A. Finiguerra) 5th in class (#19)
30/08/1964 FRA Chamrousse Hillclimb (A. Finiguerra) ran (#156)
04/10/1964 IND Pries von Tirol, Innsbruck (A. Finiguerra) 8th oa, 2nd S2.0+ class (#30)
25/10/1964 IND Monza Trofeo Bettoia (A. Finiguerra) 7th oa, 3rd P class (#52)
25/04/1965 WSC Monza 1000km (A. Finiguerra / R. Fraissinet) 13th oa, 7th P2.0+ class (#65)
Sold to Pierre de Siebenthal, Lausanne
29/08/1965 WSC Ollon-Villars Hillclimb (P. de Siebenthal) 21st oa, 5th SP2.0+ class (#188)
28/11/1965 IND Angolan GP, Fortaleza (P. de Siebenthal) ran (#17)
??/??/1965 IND Montes Claros (P. de Siebenthal) ran (#??)
1969 sold to Silvio Moser
Retained until the mid 1970s
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Iso
