VIN: the works Iso Grifo A3/C Corsa chassis B-0208

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HISTORY OF CHASSIS B-0208

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 1000km World Sportscar Championship race took place at Montlhery. For the first time that year, Iso had a brace of works Grifos on hand: B-0207 for Mario Casoni and Odoardo Govoni (who qualified 18th) and this brand new machine, B-0208, for Pierre Noblet and Edgar Berney (who qualified eighth).

The 37 starters got underway in dry but blustery conditions. However, a couple of hours in, rain began to fall heavily and the circuit became treacherous. With water having got into its fuel system, B-0208 was beset with persistent delays.

On the 84th lap, disaster struck when Peter Lindner’s Low Drag Jaguar E-type went into a slide when an engine seal ruptured. The Jaguar aquaplaned into the stationary Abarth Simca of Franco Patria which was about to return to the track. Both drivers and three marshals were killed in the accident.

The horrible conditions continued until the end and the race concluded amid a very sombre atmosphere. Casoni / Govoni came home eleventh overall (third in class) with B-0207 while the much delayed pairing of Berney / Noblet in B-0208 crossed the line in 21st position (fifth in class).

Two weeks later, the A3/Cs made their final official appearance of the year when Monza hosted the European Touring Car Championship finale on October 25th. In support of the ETCC main event, the organisers laid on a two-part contest for Sports and GT cars with a one hour preliminary on Saturday followed by a three hour final on Sunday.

Three Grifos were entered: the two works examples that appeared at Montlhery (B-0207 for Mario Casoni and B-0208 for Edgar Berney) and the ex-works car of privateer Antonio Finiguerra (B-0201).

The three hour finale on Sunday played out with Ludovico Scarfiotti’s Maranello Concessionaires Ferrari 330 P leading Casoni’s Iso home. Finiguerra claimed seventh in his privateer A3/C, but Berney retired B-0208 with engine trouble.

B-0208 seemed to disappear from view thereafter.….

Notable History

Iso Rivolta

11/10/1964 WSC Paris 1000km, Montlhery (E. Berney / P. Noblet) 21st oa, 5th P3.0+ class (#14)
25/10/1964 IND Monza Trofeo Bettoia (E. Berney) DNF engine (#56)

Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: unattributed