2016 | Pebble Beach Auctions 2016
1969 Iso Grifo 7 Litri
Coachwork by Bertone
SOLD $682,000
Estimate
$625,000 - $725,000
Chassis
7L950.297
Car Highlights
Desirable 7 Litri Variant in Gorgeous Colors
Brilliantly Restored, First in Class at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance®
Over $300,000 in Restoration Receipts
Offered with Tools, Jack, Books, and Records
Technical Specs
Single Rochester 4-Barrel Carburetor
400 BHP at 5,200 RPM
5-Speed ZF Manual Gearbox
4-Wheel Power-Assisted Girling Disc Brakes
Independent Wishbone Suspension with Coil Springs, Tube Shocks, and Anti-Roll Bar
De Dion Tube Suspension with Coil Springs, Tube Shocks, and Watts Linkage
Saleroom Addendum
*Please note this Vehicle is titled 1967.
Bruce Milner, Los Angeles, California (imported from the United Kingdom in August 1990)Stuart Parr, New York, New York (acquired in August 2006)Adrian “Gus” Pope, Miami, Florida (acquired from the above in August 2007)Current Owner (acquired from the above)
Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance®, Pebble Beach, California, August 1999 (First in Class)The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, Carmel Valley, California, August 2012Winter Park Concours d’Elegance, Winter Park, Florida, November 2013Boca Raton Concours d’Elegance, Boca Raton, Florida, February 2014 (Best in Class)Americana Manhasset Concours d’Elegance, Manhasset, New York, October 2015 (Best in Class)Mar-a-Lago Concours d’Elegance, Palm Beach, Florida, January 2016Boca Raton Concours d’Elegance, Boca Raton, Florida, February 2016 (Best in Class)
This 1969 Iso Grifo Series I 7 Litri is a sensational example of Iso’s highly acclaimed grand touring car. Powered by the L36 427 Corvette engine, it was one of the world’s fastest production cars in the late 1960s.
Following WWII, the Italian refrigeration company Isothermos was re-established by Renzo Rivolta as Iso Autoveicoli S.p.A., a motor vehicle company. In the 1950s, the company was best known for its small motor scooters and the Isetta microcar, which was eventually licensed to BMW. In the early 1960s, Rivolta set out to build a grand touring car. The Iso Rivolta was introduced in 1962 to critical acclaim. Building on the success of the Rivolta, Iso embarked upon the development of a second grand touring coupe, the Grifo.
The Grifo was engineered by former Ferrari mastermind Giotto Bizzarrini and was based on a shortened Rivolta chassis. Bizzarrini incorporated Corvette engines and other mechanical components to ensure brilliant power, reliability, and cost-effectiveness. Giorgetto Giugiaro of Bertone was entrusted to style the Grifo’s graceful fastback coachwork.
The Iso Grifo was introduced at the Torino Auto Show in 1963, fitted with Corvette’s 327 V-8 and a BorgWarner four-speed gearbox. Later versions of the Grifo were enhanced with Corvette’s 427 V-8, producing 400 bhp and 460 lbs./ft of torque. The Iso Grifo on offer is one of the rarest and most desirable specifications produced, with handsome Series I bodywork and big-block Corvette power. Additionally optioned with air-conditioning, it is now equipped with a ZF five-speed gearbox in place of its original four-speed unit. It is an elegant and powerful touring car and one of only 66 7-Litri models built.
The car is positively striking, finished in Blu Metallizzato with a Crema leather interior, contrasting blue carpeting, and handsome woodwork. Restored by David Grant Ltd. in Santa Clarita, California, the Grifo won Best in Class at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance® in 1999. It has participated in many other events, including the 2016 Boca Raton concours, where it was awarded Best in Class and the Sponsor’s Choice Award.
Offered with original tools, spare, jack, and factory books, it also is accompanied by a large binder of documentation and restoration records. This Iso Grifo, with its rare specification and outstanding restoration, is undoubtedly one of the most significant examples in existence, providing an ownership opportunity that should not be missed.
