VIN: the Derek Wharton Iso Grifo A3/C Strada chassis B-0215/D
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HISTORY OF CHASSIS B-0215/D
Chassis B-0215/D was a right-hand drive Iso Grifo A3/C produced to Strada specification in Rosso with Nero upholstery. Its steering configuration was reflected by the ‘D’ suffix VIN which denoted Destra (right in Italian).
B-0215/D was supplied to Derek Wharton of Derby on March 2nd 1965 and registered FCH 999C.
Wharton, who had raced a Lotus Elite in 1963, entered his Iso for a round of the Autosport GT Championship at Oulton Park on June 12th. Unfortunately, the A3/C retired as a result of an overheating engine.
Five weeks later, Wharton ran B-0215/D for the Dunboyne Trophy race at Leinster in Ireland. However, practice was shortened owing to a fatal accident and Wharton only managed one lap. He was then one of many retirements in the race and sold the Iso almost immediately afterwards.
An advert for the car appeared in the July 30th edition of Autosport magazine which read: “One of two such cars in Great Britain. Cost well over £6000 and now offered at £4995 with nominal mileage”. The dealership (Motorway Sales on Station Approach in Friargate, Derby) found a buyer in Gordon Unsworth.
B-0215/D then passed through the hands of John Lowndes and Cider magnate John Bulmer; at some point prior to 1971 the car had been re-registered on the Northampton plate GBD 442C. By 1972, the car had racked up a little over 31,000 miles.
In 1973 B-0215/D was sold to 1973 Steve Worbey who retained it until the year 2000.
Notable History
Rosso / Nero
Right-hand drive
02/03/1965 sold to Derek Wharton and registered FCH 999C
12/06/1965 ASP Oulton Park Autosport GT (D. Wharton) DNF (#146)
17/07/1965 IND Leinster Trophy, Dunboyne (D. Wharton) DNF (#??)
30/07/1965 offered for sale by Motorway Sales, Station Approach, Friargate, Derby
Sold to Gordon Unsworth, then John Lowndes, then John Bulmer.
1973 sold to Steve Worbey and retained until 2000.
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: unattributed
