Iso Rivolta IR 300 GT

Iso Rivolta IR 300 GT

The Iso Rivolta IR 300, introduced in 1962, represented a clever approach to building a grand tourer: combine Italian design and chassis engineering with the reliability and power of an American V8 engine. The result was a car that offered Ferrari-rivaling performance with significantly lower running costs and far greater mechanical simplicity.

Iso, originally a manufacturer of refrigerators and the Isetta bubble car, enlisted Giotto Bizzarrini to engineer the chassis. Bizzarrini, who had recently left Ferrari after the famous 1961 engineer walkout and was simultaneously working on the Ferrari 250 GTO's chassis, brought his considerable expertise to the project. The result was a tubular steel platform with independent front suspension, a De Dion rear axle with coil springs and Watts linkage, and four-wheel Dunlop disc brakes.

The engine was a Chevrolet small-block 327 cubic inch (5.4-liter) V8, producing 300 horsepower in standard tune. This engine was robust, powerful, and easy to maintain, with parts available worldwide. A Borg-Warner T-10 four-speed manual or three-speed automatic transmission were offered, both being proven American units.

Bertone, under Giorgetto Giugiaro's direction, created the body. The design was elegant and restrained, with clean lines and well-proportioned dimensions that communicated speed and sophistication without flamboyance. The 2+2 interior was well-appointed with leather, wood, and comprehensive instrumentation.

The combination worked beautifully. The Rivolta was fast, comfortable, and reliable, capable of cruising at high speeds across European highways with the effortless competence of a true grand tourer. The Corvette V8 provided smooth, abundant power with minimal fuss, while the Bizzarrini chassis ensured that the Rivolta handled with a precision unusual for front-engined V8 GTs of the period.

Approximately 797 Rivoltas were produced between 1962 and 1970. The car attracted a distinguished clientele, with owners including Johnny Hallyday and various European aristocrats. Today, the Rivolta is appreciated as a clever and underrated grand tourer that offers a unique blend of Italian style and American V8 muscle.