1965 Iso Grifo A3/C

Needless to say, we don’t have a spare €1.5-2m lying around here at The Coolector but, if we did, it’s safe to say we’d likely spend it on this amazing looking 1965 Iso Grifo A3/C which is going under the hammer with RM Sotheby’s at their Monte Carlo auction in May. This spectacular steed is a masterpiece by Bizzarrini and a truly unique and eye-catching vehicle that will, without question, be the crowning glory in any collector’s line up.

What’s more spectacular than a 1960s Ferrari you say? It’s a big ask but Iso, a small manufacturer that stemmed from one man’s dream to make a beautiful grand tourer, may just be a worthy rival to the Italian supercar. Renzo Rivolta, who had previously developed the Isetta bubble car, wanted something that was reliable, but also stylish, to travel across his native Italy. He therefore put together a crack team of the best in the business, which included the former chief engineer of Ferrari, Giotto Bizzarrini, along with brilliant designer Giorgetto Giugiaro, then working for Bertone. The final product was cutting edge for its time and now, if you’ve got deep pockets, you’ve got the chance to own it.

LUXURIOUS IN THE EXTREME

The ISO Grifo A3/C offered by RM Sotheby’s is one of the earliest examples of this spectacular ride and it was hand built by the small-scale Milan based company. It is believed to be the 14th produced and the last A3/C that was made with the desirable rear flat windscreen which is a highly coveted feature that only came on the earliest Grifos. So, as you might expect, there are a lot of luxury car enthusiasts eager to get their hands on this extraordinary machine when it goes under the hammer in Monte Carlo.

This amazing A3/C from RM Sotheby’s (guide price €1.5m) also comes with a riveted body, another desirable design feature that makes this one of only twenty built by Drogo before Iso switched coach builders. The earliest A3/C examples, like the one seen here, were crafted from Duralumin: a special alloy blend of aluminium, copper, and magnesium, which made it a lightweight vehicle but one which couldn’t be welded together. This unique approach resulted in an unbelievable overall weight of under a ton. Through his learning from the legendary 250 GTO, Bizzarrini put the V-8 Chevrolet block as far back in the engine bay as possible to help improve weight distribution.

Instantly recognisable courtesy of its large transmission tunnel that runs the length of the interior covered in a quilted leather runner, there is really no other car that comes close to not only the beauty of the Giugiaro-designed body, but also the standard of engineering that went into this A3/C. This is an exceptionally rare sight on the road, and a prime example of great 1960s Italian car building by an iconic car company and this Bizzarrini creation is a worthy successor to the mighty Ferrari 250 GTO. Now you just need to find that €1.5m.

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