Guide: Iso Grifo 90 - a Historical & Technical Appraisal
/ Ben Tyer
BACKGROUND
The late 1980s saw several manufacturers try to muscle in on the booming premium car market. New firms like Cizeta and MCA were established while major companies including McLaren and Yamaha started to develop monstrously expensive Formula 1 cars for the road.
Old names were brought back from the dead too, the most notable of which was Bugatti.
For a short while, it also looked like Iso would be undergoing a revival.
After marque founder Renzo Rivolta had died in 1966, Iso had been managed by his son, Piero.
In 1989, Piero Rivolta thought the time was right to re-establish Iso and offer a GT car in the mould of the famous A3/L Grifo.
Like the original, the new Grifo 90 would be a front-engined Grand Tourer powered by an American V8 and clothed in a handsome body.
The project was to be a collaboration between several highly respected specialists.
Dallara Automobili would be responsible for the chassis and drivetrain, Marcello Gandini would design the bodywork and Callaway Cars would supply uprated Corvette ZR1 engines.
LAUNCH
A full sized mock up was unveiled to the press in spring 1990 and was very favourably received.
Quite unlike anything else available at the time (certainly from an Italian manufacturer), the Grifo 90 would have made an interesting alternative to an Aston Martin Virage or AMG Mercedes W126.
By this time, most firms had abandoned the front-engined GT market in favour of mid-engined sports cars so competition was limited.
Gandini’s creation adopted all the latest features like body-coloured bumpers, concealed cockpit pillars and wraparound glass.
Overall, the car was well proportioned and the clean profile was unencumbered by spoilers or other aerodynamic devices.
Unfortunately though, by mid 1990, the global economy had gone into a tailspin and liquidity quickly dried up.
Piero Rivolta’s anticipated government funding never materialised and the Grifo 90 project was quietly abandoned.
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Iso
Having lost the pair of brand new Grifo A3/C Corsas assembled for 1965 in a pair of horrifying crashes at the season-opening Sebring 12 Hours, the works Iso outfit run by Giotto Bizzarrini was…
B-0226 was a fibreglass-bodied works Grifo A3/C Corsa with independent rear suspension, the second of two such cars completed midway through the 1965 season. The new Grifos were much…
Iso Rivolta was founded in 1962 by Milanese industrialist, Renzo Rivolta. Rivolta made his first fortune manufacturing refrigeration units. After World War 2 he expanded to motorcycle production and, in…
Chassis B-0206/D was a right-hand drive Iso Grifo A3/C as reflected by its ‘D’ suffix VIN which denoted Destra (right in Italian). Configured in Rosso with a Nero interior, the car was supplied to…
Chassis B-0208 was the last of three Grifo A3/C Corsas that appeared in a works capacity during the model’s debut season: 1964. Its first outing didn’t come until October 11th when the Paris…
Although perhaps best known for the beautiful Bertone-bodied Grifo A3/L, arguably the pièce de résistance of Renzo Rivolta’s car building operation was the spectacular A3/C version which Iso…
Alongside John Lennon who was a big fan of the four-door Fidia, one of Iso’s best known customers was four-time 500cc Motorcycle Grand Prix world champion and noted F1 / sports car…
Precisely one year after Renzo Rivolta ambitiously announced the arrival of his high end line of Iso motor cars with the elegant IR300 / IR340, a pair of stunning ultra sporty Gran Turismos dubbed Grifo…
Following the launch of his Iso motor company with the elegant four-seat IR 300 / 340 in 1962, Renzo Rivolta expanded the range to include a pair of Grifo-badged models in late 1963. The resultant Grifo…
Chassis B-0222 was the first A3/C built with independent as opposed to de Dion rear suspension and a fibreglass instead of aluminium body. The new car was much-needed after two freshly…
Chassis B-0214 was one of two brand new Iso A3/C Corsas built by Giotto Bizzarrini to contest the 1964 racing season. Along with its sister car (chassis B-0210), B-0214 was dispatched to the USA…
Chassis B-0210 was one of two brand new Grifo A3/C Corsas built by Giotto Bizzarrini’s outfit ahead of the 1965 racing season. The ‘65 campaign started in Florida with the annual Sebring 12…
Having amassed a fortune from refrigeration units and other home appliances, Milanese industrialist Renzo Rivolta began to construct motorcycles following the conclusion of World War 2. 1952 saw…
Chassis B-0203 was a Grifo A3/C Strada built in early March of 1964. It is believed to have been configured in metallic green with beige upholstery. A few days after completion, B-0203 was…
When Milanese industrialist Renzo Rivolta decided to expand his empire into the lucrative market for high end motor cars, he recruited two of the most respected names in the business: renowned…
Chassis B-0202 was the first true A3/C built to Corsa trim. It was ordered by East Coast dealer and racing driver, Ed Hugus, who had placed an option on the car after the Grifo’s debut at Turin in late…
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)…
Chassis B-0207 was the first bona fide works A3/C Corsa. Prior to its arrival, Iso had campaigned chassis B-0201, but this car (the original 1963 Turin Motor Show prototype) was not a fully fledged…
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…
Renzo Rivolta was an industrialist from Milan who made his first fortune manufacturing refrigeration units. Isothermos was established in 1939 and Rivolta soon expanded to home appliances. After…
The late 1980s saw several manufacturers try to muscle in on the booming premium car market. New firms like Cizeta and MCA were established while major companies including McLaren and Yamaha…