1970 ISO Rivolta

31 Bids Winner - harry1968
8:22 PM, 04 Jul 2022Vehicle sold
Sold for

CHF 75,200

Winner - harry1968

Background

Bubblecar manufacturer Iso joined the ranks of supercar constructors in 1962 with the launch of the Giotto Bizzarrini-designed Rivolta coupé at the Turin Motor Show.

Renzo Rivolta's Isothermos company had begun life pre-war making refrigerators, turning to the manufacture of scooters, under the Iso name, after the war and thence to the highly successful Isetta bubblecar.

Interviewed for Octane magazine (issue 151) Renzo's son Piero recalled that his father liked sports cars but could not find one that really suited him; one that was fast, comfortable and reliable. “He decided that Iso should produce a fast car that was genuinely useable every day, and priced somewhere between a Jaguar and a Ferrari.” The result was the Rivolta.

Styled at Carrozzeria Bertone by Giorgetto Giugiaro and powered by a 327ci (5.4-litre) Chevrolet V8 engine, the four-seat Rivolta employed a steel platform chassis featuring independent front suspension, a De Dion rear axle and disc brakes all round.

Iso's first supercar set the pattern for those that followed: Bizzarrini-designed chassis, Bertone coachwork and Chevrolet engines, its future developments including the long-wheelbase, Ghia-styled Fidia four-door saloon, the muscular, short-wheelbase Grifo and the Rivolta-replacement Lele.

Iso's most successful model, the Rivolta was produced up to 1970, by which time a total of 797 cars had been built.

  • IR 830 776
  • 43339 Kms
  • manual
  • Grey
  • Black Leather
  • Left-hand drive

Vehicle location
Gstaad, Switzerland

Background

Bubblecar manufacturer Iso joined the ranks of supercar constructors in 1962 with the launch of the Giotto Bizzarrini-designed Rivolta coupé at the Turin Motor Show.

Renzo Rivolta's Isothermos company had begun life pre-war making refrigerators, turning to the manufacture of scooters, under the Iso name, after the war and thence to the highly successful Isetta bubblecar.

Interviewed for Octane magazine (issue 151) Renzo's son Piero recalled that his father liked sports cars but could not find one that really suited him; one that was fast, comfortable and reliable. “He decided that Iso should produce a fast car that was genuinely useable every day, and priced somewhere between a Jaguar and a Ferrari.” The result was the Rivolta.

Styled at Carrozzeria Bertone by Giorgetto Giugiaro and powered by a 327ci (5.4-litre) Chevrolet V8 engine, the four-seat Rivolta employed a steel platform chassis featuring independent front suspension, a De Dion rear axle and disc brakes all round.

Iso's first supercar set the pattern for those that followed: Bizzarrini-designed chassis, Bertone coachwork and Chevrolet engines, its future developments including the long-wheelbase, Ghia-styled Fidia four-door saloon, the muscular, short-wheelbase Grifo and the Rivolta-replacement Lele.

Iso's most successful model, the Rivolta was produced up to 1970, by which time a total of 797 cars had been built.

Overview

Overall, this rare and highly desirable 1970 Iso Rivolta is in good condition, outside, inside and underneath.

It’s not perfect, and there are one or two issues to resolve, but most of them are purely cosmetic.

The car is showing 43,339 km on its odometer.

The car comes with no history or service records beyond whatever documentation is shown in the gallery.

It has been in storage for a while and will need a basic service to prepare it for the road.

Exterior

The bodywork is largely free of any dents, dinks or creases of any significance and the paintwork is good in some parts but less so in others.

The shut lines and panel gaps appear consistent and even.

Most of the chrome is in decent condition, aside from one tarnished area above the number plate holder on the front bumper.

There is a sizeable scuff and scrape by the rear wheel arch on the passenger side and a number of smaller scuffs and marks on top of the front wing on the same side.

The bonnet is scratched near the Iso badge and has a number of stone chips around its leading edge.

There is a section of discoloured, tarnished-looking paint on top of the driver’s side front wing.

The roof has a few scuffs and patches of missing paint, as does the paintwork above the rear bumper.

The two screws visible on the front wing ahead of the driver suggest that a wing mirror was once mounted there.

The wire wheels seem to be in reasonable condition but are certainly in need of cleaning.

The lights, badging and trim look to be in good condition.

Interior

Pretty much everything in the car’s interior is in very good condition and is showing remarkably few signs of wear and use for its 52 years of life.

The black leather upholstery on the seats is broadly fine, although the piping around the edges is a little worn, particularly on the driver’s seat, and could do with some attention from a leather restorer.

There are a few minor scuffs to the bolster nearest the door on the driver’s seat.

The rear seats are excellent, as are the sumptuously padded door cards. The headlining is intact.

The colour balance of the interior is well-served by the dark red carpets, which appear to be in very good order.

The steering wheel, gear lever, dashboard, dials, instruments, fixtures and fittings have all survived the passage of time remarkably well and are largely without any flaws.

The wood and veneers on the dashboard look to be every bit as rich and glossy as you would hope.

The inside of the boot looks good, as does the spare wheel it contains.

Mechanical

There is some rust dust and a little flaking visible on the undersides but most of what we can see suggests that the undersides have a decent amount of structural integrity.

All components and parts in the clean and dry engine bay seem to be in their right and proper place.

History

The car doesn’t come with any service records, history or documentation beyond what is shown in the gallery section.

Summary

This very well-preserved Iso Rivolta is a fine example of a particularly desirable model from a marque that was always different and distinguished.

The joy of owning and driving such a rare piece of automotive history should easily compensate for the relatively small amount of time and effort required to correct any cosmetic imperfections and restore this vehicle to its former glory.

We’re confident to offer it for auction with an estimate of between €55,000 - €75,000.


This car will be visible from Thursday the 30th of June until Saturday the 2nd of July 2022, by appointment only in :

3784 Feutersoey

Switzerland

Pierre Tirone

+32 472 35 49 45

From the 11th of July, the storage charges will be 30€ + VAT per day and per car.

After the sale, this storage facility will remain operational until the 21st of July.

If the car has not been collected by this time, it will be removed and transported to CAR logistics for storage at the buyer’s expense : CHF 950 + VAT per car plus CHF 30/day + VAT for storage.

For all enquiries relating to customs and shipping, be they administrative or legal, please contact CAR Logistics.


CAR Logistics Ltd.

Brunmattstrasse 5

3174 Thörishaus-Bern

Melanie Daepp

+41 58 356 12 12

[email protected]

www.car-logistics.com“


About this auction

Seller

Private: z-cars


Viewings Welcome

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and is strictly by appointment. To book one in the diary, please get in contact.

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