In the late 80s, Piero Rivolta thought the time was right to introduce the brand back into the market with a new GT.
He contacted Dallara to develop its chassis and powertrain and Marcello Gandini to design its outline, which clearly showed all the styling cues of the 90s. The model was named Iso Grifo 90.
The prototype was presented to the press in 1991 and it was meant to be produced in a limited series starting from 1994. What was actually presented, though, was only a wooden model, with no engine and locked doors.
Unfortunately, the enterprise stopped and the car hasn’t seen the light until 2010, when Mako Shark decided to produce it.. In 2007, Mako Shark decided to produce it.
The new prototype was based on a C5 Z06 Corvette, with a V8 ZR1 aluminum monobloc engine, modified by Callaway, that produced 490hp. The engine had a 6-speed manual transmission.
It featured a custom braking system by Brembo, locking differential and was capable of hitting 300 km/h and the 100 km/h in 3.6 seconds.
Initially the planned to produce a limited series of 12 cars, but only one was actually produced.
Watch the other episodes
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Isetta – E04
The city car that saved BMW
7 years agoThere is an alternate world where Italy is famous for the Isetta and we don’t have BMW.
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Bizzarrini’s A3C – E05
Renaissance of a race car
7 years agoThe A3C is the mother of the Bizzarrini 5300 GT Strada. Created to compete in races, the project was soon abandoned by Iso Rivolta to concentrate on luxury vehicles for the road. Bizzarrini, instead, decide to start his own firm and keep producing the car, changing its name to the one we know today.
Although only 2 original vehicles still exist, Iso Restoration was granted a license to produce 10 more A3Cs with the spare parts that were left in Iso Rivolta’s warehouse. -
Lele – E07
The last GT before the oil crisis
7 years agoThe Lele is the last GT produced by Iso Rivolta. With a brand new style, looking at the 70s, and a new powerful Cleveland engine, the car was to substitute the classic GT300. However, the oil crisis and the political turbulence forced the brand to close in 1974, with only 285 Lele produced.