The A3C represent Bizzarrini‘s passion for racing. The engineer worked on the famous Ferrari 250 GTO, making it one of the most successful racing cars of all times. Racing was part of his DNA.
At Iso Rivolta he wanted to do the same: create a new race car and be competitive.
The A3C is based on a shortened version of the GT chassis. This solution allowed to reuse the double wishbone front suspension of the GT and its De Dion tube in the back. From that point on, everything was redesigned.
Engine and transmission were placed far back the front axle, almost inside the cockpit, for a better weight distribution.
The body was designed by Bertone with a focus on aerodynamics. The body had to be attached to the chassis using rivets. They are clearly visible on the bodywork and this led to the nickname “Mille Chiodi”, which means “a thousand nails”.
The engine was a 327, heavily modified by Bizzarrini. The engine featured 4 Weber 45 DCOE carburetors and a custom “bundle of snake” exhaust, producing 410Hp at 6200 rpm.
Two cars entered the race at Sebring in 1965. While showing potential, they both were unlucky and crashed, because of an issue with the braking system. Renzo Rivolta, who was concerned with the high costs of maintaining the enterprise, decided to put a stop to Bizzarrini’s racing program. Bizzarrini was more interested in refining his race car, while the company wanted him to focus on the development of more luxury vehicles. The relationship between the two parts started deteriorating, eventually leading to Bizzarrini’s departure from the company.
Today only a few of those cars survive, but Iso Restoration was granted permission by the company to recreate 10 more A3C.
The A3C is featured in the fifth episode of “The Iso Rivolta Chronicles” an 8-episode documentary about the collectors and restorers of Iso Rivolta.
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Isetta – E04
The city car that saved BMW
There is an alternate world where Italy is famous for the Isetta and we don’t have BMW.
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GT300 – E03
The ideal Gran Turismo
The GT300 is one of the great Italian Gran Turismo cars of the 60s. When Roberto Negri bought it, Iso had already closed and the car couldn’t even receive proper service, so it wasn’t worth much, but not to Roberto, who took it upon himself to keep Iso’s heritage alive.
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Competing with Vespa – E02
The Age of Isomoto and Isoscooter
In the 1950s Iso Rivolta, with its Isomoto and Isoscooter, became the third Italian motorcycles manufacturer, following Piaggio with its Vespa and Innocenti with Lambretta.
Other models were the Iso GT, the Iso Sport and the Iso 200, defined as one of the most beautiful bikes of that time. But Iso Rivolta would soon focus on luxury sports cars. In ’62, the production of motorbike ended.
The second episode of “The Iso Rivolta Chronicles” tells the story of the origin and ending of the Iso motorcycles, through the narration of the Iso Millennium committee members.
