ISO Rivolta Logo

Established in 1939 by Renzo Rivolta in Bresso, Italy, Iso initially focused on creating refrigerators and scooters. However, the early 1950s saw a significant shift in direction for the company under Rivolta’s guidance. He pivoted to producing high-octane sports cars, drawing the company name “Iso” from the Greek term for “equal,” symbolizing the balanced number of cylinders in their engines.

Iso made its grand entrance into the automobile arena in 1962 with the release of the Iso Rivolta IR 300, a lavish grand tourer equipped with a Chevrolet V8 motor. The company rose to broader acclaim in 1965 upon unveiling the Iso Grifo, a sporty coupe penned by famed designer Giorgetto Giugiaro. This model could reach up to 160 miles per hour by boasting Chevrolet Corvette engines.

During the late 1960s, Iso diversified its offerings by adding luxurious sedans like the Lele and the Fidia. At its peak, the firm rolled out nearly 1,000 cars each year. Unfortunately, the 1974 oil crisis and financial woes led to the company withdrawing from the auto-making business after crafting roughly 5,000 vehicles.

Businessman Ivo Pera acquired Iso the same year, briefly resuscitating its motorcycle division. This revival, however, was short-lived, and the enterprise ultimately shuttered in 1990. Today, vehicles produced by Iso during its heyday are treasured as collectibles, epitomizing the zenith of Italian automotive artistry and performance during the 1960s and ’70s.