Iso Rivolta

Year of foundation 1939-1974

Origins: From Refrigerators to Motorcycles (1939-1952)
The story of Iso Rivolta begins in 1939 in Genoa, when engineer Renzo Rivolta acquired a refrigeration equipment factory, Isothermos. Production focused on water heaters and refrigerators, but with the outbreak of World War II in 1942, to avoid the bombing of Genoa, Rivolta moved the headquarters to Bresso, near Milan.

After the war, Italy had a great need for low-cost personal mobility. Renzo Rivolta seized this opportunity, and in 1948 the company, renamed Iso, shifted to the production of motorcycles. Models such as the Isocarro van were born, and above all, a series of successful motorcycles, including the Isomoto 125 and the Furetto. Motorcycle production, which lasted until 1962, laid the foundation for the brand's subsequent evolution.

The Age of Microcars: The Isetta (1953-1956)
In 1953, Iso took a bold step into the world of four-wheeled vehicles, launching the Iso Isetta. This microcar, with its "egg" design and single front door, was a radical innovation. Renzo Rivolta's goal was to create a vehicle that combined the practicality of a motorcycle with the comfort and safety of a car. Despite its futuristic design, its success in Italy was limited, partly due to its uncompetitive price.

However, the project attracted the attention of BMW, which purchased the production license in 1955. The BMW Isetta, with a different engine and some modifications, became a huge success in Germany and around the world, contributing to the postwar era of motoring in the country.

The Change of Direction: Granturismo (1962-1974)
After abandoning the production of motorcycles and microcars, in 1962 Iso transformed itself into Iso Rivolta S.p.A. and dedicated itself to the luxury and high-performance segment. The first model of this new era was the Iso Rivolta IR 300, an elegant and powerful 2+2 coupé. Designed by a young Giorgetto Giugiaro for Bertone, the car was a revolutionary "hybrid": an Italian chassis and body, but an American V8 engine, a 5.4-liter Chevrolet, making it reliable and high-performance. This "Italian-American" formula would become the brand's signature style.

In 1963, at the Turin Motor Show, two prototypes destined to become icons were presented: the Grifo A3/L (Luxury) and the Grifo A3/C (Corsa). Designed in collaboration with Giotto Bizzarrini, the two cars shared the same mechanical underpinnings, but the Corsa version, with its aluminum body and rearward-mounted engine, was designed for racing. The split between Rivolta and Bizzarrini led the latter to develop the A3/C independently, which would become the Bizzarrini 5300 GT.

The production version of the Grifo, the Iso Grifo GL, went into production in 1965 and was acclaimed for its beauty, performance, and luxurious interior. Several evolutions followed, including the powerful Grifo 7 Litri (with a 7.0-liter Chevrolet V8) and the subsequent Grifo IR8.

In 1966, with the death of Renzo Rivolta, management of the company passed to his son Piero Rivolta. Under his leadership, the range expanded:

Iso Fidia (1967): Billed as "the fastest four-door in the world," it was a luxury sedan with an American V8 engine.

Iso Lele (1969): A 2+2 coupé intended to replace the IR 300. Its name derives from "Lele," the nickname of Piero Rivolta's wife.

Despite the quality and prestige of its models, the company faced increasing financial difficulties and, after a brief participation in the Formula 1 World Championship (1973-1974) in collaboration with Frank Williams, it closed its doors permanently in 1974.

Attempts at revival (1990-2010)
After its closure, the Iso Rivolta brand remained in limbo for years. A first attempt at a revival occurred in the early 1990s, when Piero Rivolta presented a modern sports coupé, the Iso Grifo 90, designed by Marcello Gandini and powered by a Chevrolet Callaway V8 engine. Despite the interest it generated, the project never reached series production, remaining a prototype.

Another attempt, the Iso Grifo 96, followed in 1996, but this also never entered production.

The Contemporary Rebirth (2017-Present)
In 2017, the Iso Rivolta name returned to prominence thanks to the collaboration between the founder's granddaughter, Marella Rivolta, and her husband Andrea Zagato, owner of the famous Milanese coachbuilder. The IsoRivolta Zagato Vision GT concept was presented, a virtual prototype for the video game Gran Turismo Sport.

This project laid the foundation for a true rebirth. In 2020, Zagato introduced the IsoRivolta GTZ, a limited-edition modern grand tourer based on a Chevrolet Corvette C7 Z06 chassis but with a carbon fiber body that pays homage to the historic Grifo A3/C. With a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 engine producing 660 hp, the GTZ marked the brand's return to its roots, combining Italian design