Here you are looking at one of the most exceptional GTs from the 1970s: the 1973 Iso Grifo GL3 Series II. An elegant Gran Turismo, but with a raw, American heart. And this one? It’s extra special. Because this example is not only in beautifully restored condition, but also one of only 34 cars built with the Ford V8 engine. And as if that weren’t enough: it came from the factory with the original five-speed manual transmission. Sounds good, doesn’t it?The car was delivered new in Switzerland and has had only two owners. The last owner cherished it for nearly fifty years, in and around Geneva. And you can tell from every detail. The paint is stunning, the chrome gleams, the details are spot-on, and the interior is gorgeous: authentic, atmospheric, and completely in style. And most importantly: it drives like a dream.But to truly understand this Iso Grifo, we need to go back to the beginning. To Renzo Rivolta, who started building refrigerators under the name Isothermos before the war. After the war, he saw the need for affordable mobility and switched to scooters and the famous Isetta, which was later built under license by BMW. With the proceeds from that deal, Rivolta decided to build a true GT. And that became the Iso Rivolta: a four-door GT with a V8, designed by Bertone.But then Giotto Bizzarrini and Nuccio Bertone came up with a proposal: a sportier two-seater. And so the Iso Grifo was born. It started with the A3/L (for Lusso), and alongside it came the A3/C (Corsa) for racing. The car was equipped with the reliable Corvette V8, was low, wide, and perfectly balanced.In 1964, the Iso Grifo was further refined into the GL (Gran Lusso). And it had to compete against giants like Ferrari and Maserati. By 1970, the Series II arrived with an even more powerful engine: the Chevrolet 454 big-block V8, featuring upgrades designed by Bizzarrini himself, such as an aluminum oil pan with cooling fins and forged connecting rods.But this specific example is one of the few that was delivered with a Ford V8. Unique, powerful, and with a delightful, characterful engine note.A car with a story. Combining engineering, style, and rarity in a single body. And above all: an Iso Grifo you won’t come across again anytime soon.
