Lot 112: Iso Rivolta Lele

Iso was a motorcycle maker which, in 1953, started the bubble car craze with its Isetta which was made under licence in Germany (BMW), France (VELAM), Spain (Borgward-Iso), and Brazil (Iso-Romi). After 1955 (the year an Isetta won its class in the Mille Miglia!) the firm made no more cars until 1962 when it came up with a design as far removed from a bubble car as it is possible to imagine: the Rivolta, a four seat GT with a modified 5.4 litre Chevrolet V8 engine. With styling by Bertone, disc brakes on all four wheels, coil spring and double wishbone front suspension and a de Dion rear axle, the Rivolta's platform chassis was the work of Giotto Bizzarrini, the designer of, among others, the Ferrari 250 GTO and the Lamborghini 350 GT. The Rivolta had a top speed of 142mph and could cover the 0-60mph sprint in eight seconds, making it one of the fastest cars of its class in the world. All subsequent Iso cars were based on the same chassis, as was the very fast Bizzarrini Strada 5300 which was a version of the Iso Grifo made with Renzo Rivolta's blessing. The Lele was introduced in 1969 as a replacement for the Rivolta, but in fact production of the cars overlapped for nearly two years. Bertone was responsible for the body (which has something of the 308 Dino GT4 about it) and 5.8 litre Ford V8 engines were used from 1973. This handsome example from the first year of production is finished in Giallo Fly with contrasting black leather interior, and it described by the vendor as in good condition throughout. It features the 5.3 litre V8 engine and comes from the personal collection of one of Italy's prime coachbuilding families. A fine combination of Italian chassis and styling with Detroit muscle. Questo bell'esemplare del 1969, primo anno di produzione, è rifinito in Giallo Fly con interni in pelle neri e ci viene descritto dal venditore come in buone condizioni. Dotato di motore V8 da 5.3 litri, proviene dalla collezione privata di una delle maggiori famiglie italiane di carrozzieri. Una riuscita combinazione di stile e telaio italiani con muscoli di Detroit.