CHASSIS GL 950286
HIGHLIGHTS
Rare first series Targa version
Total restoration
Well-known provenance
Design by Bertone

On the doorstep of Milan in the town of Bresso, the Rivolta family, already known for motorcars and the renowned Isetta microcar, set up a new factory. Here they began the production of top-class cars, featuring a mix of American power and Italian style: these bases brought together the technique of Giotto Bizzarrini and the aesthetic taste of Bertone to create an icon, the Iso Grifo.
Introduced in Turin in 1963, the Grifo was based on the GT 300 chassis and equipped with a Chevrolet 8-cylinder V engine capable of delivering 350 horsepower. Girling brakes, a 5-speed gearbox and a weight of 1300 kg gave the Grifo a supercar performance.

The first 'Targa' prototype was bodied by the Pavesi coachbuilder in Milan in 1966, and a few more examples were built later. The Iso Grifo Targa we are proposing here is one of 13 produced in the Bresso factory and is a first series that is distinguished by its external headlights, not retractable as on the later model. Chassis 286 was made for the German market, as stated on the characteristics sheet, which specifies the removable roof (targa), the colour in which it was born (red) with black leather interior, spoked wheels, Girling brakes and Ate power brakes.

Registered in Essen on 10 July 1970 under the name Autohaus Diederichs GmbH with number plate E-KV1, ownership passed to Elisabeth Wieland of Frankfurt in September 1971 (number plate F-W21). In 1974 it was purchased by Elisabeth Nemeth geb. Hunyadvari from Bischofsheim (registration HU-MK211) and towards the end of the year it was bought by Miklos Orvos-Toth (registration HU-MK 211), who sold it in 1975 to Herbert Hellig in Frankfurt (registration F-TC 541). It was then exported to the United States where the current owner discovered it and bought it in original condition but in need of total restoration. It finally arrived in Italy, where it currently sits, and has undergone a complete restoration supervised by one of Iso Rivolta's top experts and former employees. While not respecting the original colour scheme, the combination of metallic light green with leather interior makes it a unique, elegant and sporty car.