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The Iso Grifo: Iconic Italian Performance

Explore the legendary Iso Grifo’s design, performance, and lasting legacy. Discover why this Italian masterpiece is a collector’s dream.

Todd Bandel

14 May 2025 • 11 min read

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The Iso Grifo's bodywork is a testament to Italy’s unparalleled ability to blend art, performance, and engineering into an automotive masterpiece, enhanced by its uniquely designed wheels.

Whether you’re a lifelong car enthusiast or just discovering the beauty of vintage vehicles, the Iso Grifo, equipped with specific enhancements and amenities, showcases its luxury and performance attributes, making its story of innovation and craftsmanship worth exploring. Known as one of the pinnacle achievements of Italian automotive design, the Grifo is an icon that encapsulates the golden era of grand touring cars.

What makes the Iso Grifo a legend on its own? From its rich history to its groundbreaking design, superior performance, and lasting cultural impact, this blog takes you on a comprehensive ride through everything that makes the Iso Grifo an automotive game-changer.

Iso Grifo: Iconic Italian Performance

Discover the unparalleled allure of Italian automotive excellence in "The Iso Grifo: Iconic Italian Performance," where the car’s rich tapestry of design and evolution unfolds, offering readers not only a historical journey but a toolkit for understanding the pinnacle of style and engineering

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A Brief History of the Iso Grifo Series II

To truly appreciate the Iso Grifo, we must first understand the vision behind Iso Autoveicoli. Founded by Renzo Rivolta in 1939, the company initially manufactured refrigerators, later pivoting to motor scooters and motorcycles post-World War II. By the 1960s, Iso shifted focus to automobiles, aiming to combine American powertrains with Italian styling and engineering.

The Grifo made its debut in 1963 at the Turin Motor Show. Designed as Iso’s answer to the grand touring segment, with a strong chassis, it took the automotive world by storm. Created by a collaborative genius team—including Giotto Bizzarrini (formerly of Ferrari fame) for engineering and Giorgetto Giugiaro of Bertone for styling—the Grifo, featuring advanced four-wheel disc brakes, represented the epitome of innovation and luxury. Notably, a prototype of the Iso Grifo convertible was developed, showcasing a unique vision of design and engineering that set it apart from conventional models.

Over the years, Iso produced several variants of the Grifo before the company ceased automobile production in the mid-1970s, marking the end of an extraordinary era. The 1967 Iso Grifo GL, in particular, holds significant historical value, often highlighted in classic car auctions for its unique features and provenance. Yet, the Grifo’s legacy persists, preserved in the memories of discerning collectors, including its current owner, and enthusiasts.

Masterful Design and Engineering

Aesthetic Perfection

Iso Grifo’s design effortlessly marries aggression and elegance. Giugiaro’s sleek silhouette features long, flowing lines and meticulously balanced proportions, capturing the quintessential Italian design language. Highlights include:

A low-slung stance that exudes performance.
A long hood and short rear deck for a commanding, sporty profile.
Signature Kammback styling on later models, reducing aerodynamic drag while maintaining visual harmony.

The Grifo’s interior reflects equal dedication to style and comfort. Upscale materials such as premium leather, polished wooden accents, and intuitive driver-focused controls create an environment of luxury that mirrors its exterior brilliance. With its integrated control panel for the transmission, the console accommodates various controls and enhances the vintage aesthetic, showcasing the attention to detail in engineering and design.

Cutting-Edge Engineering

Underneath the Grifo’s artful design lies raw performance, meticulously engineered to perfection. Iso partnered with American manufacturers, equipping the Grifo with robust V8 engines from Chevrolet (and later Ford), ensuring reliability and exhilarating power. Some standout specifications include:

A range of engines, from a 327-cubic-inch V8 producing 300 horsepower to the monstrous 454 big block.
A top speed of approximately 170 mph on higher-performance models, such as the Iso Grifo 7 Litri.
Independent suspension with coil springs and advanced steering systems provided uncompromising handling precision.
The vehicle's reputation as one of the fastest production cars of its time was due to the use of a Borg-Warner four-speed manual transmission paired with the powerful Corvette V-8 engine.
A sophisticated braking system featuring Dunlop disc brakes, ensuring both safety and high performance.

Performance Meets Exhilaration

Driving an Iso Grifo, powered by a thunderous American V8 engine and its smooth gearbox, is an experience unlike any other—not merely a commute, but an event. The Grifo’s engine delivers impressive torque output, contributing significantly to its performance metrics. The engine comes alive with a low growl before unleashing its roar on the open road. Combine this with razor-sharp handling and aerodynamic efficiency, resulting in a grand tourer with power and poise.

Capable of effortless cruising or high-speed thrills, it was a car equally at home on a winding Alpine road as it was on an open highway. It’s little wonder the Iso Grifo became a symbol of refinement and exclusivity, cherished by those lucky enough to own one.

The Iso Grifo’s Cultural Impact and Legacy

Beyond its technical prowess, the Iso Grifo cemented itself as a cultural icon. While fewer units were produced compared to other manufacturers of the era, this exclusivity often worked in its favor, elevating the car into a league of its own. The Grifo's performance and engineering allowed it to compete with rival brands like Ferrari, showcasing its capabilities and market positioning.

The Grifo showcased how collaboration across borders could result in one of the finest grand touring cars. It wasn’t simply an Italian car; Italy’s design brilliance combined with American muscle, backed by internationally respected talent.

Iso Grifo’s limited production numbers have heightened its allure, appearing in exclusive collections, prestigious automotive shows, and select media features. Many credit it as a blueprint for cross-cultural automotive partnerships that are now commonplace in the industry, especially in competition. The Iso Grifo's body was a hit in the automotive market, gaining popularity for its design and engineering, and ultimately becoming a sought-after classic car.

Collectibility and Market Value

Iso Grifo models are highly sought-after among classic car collectors. The Grifo is among the most desirable vintage Italian cars with iconic styling, powerful engines, and rarity. The sale prices of Iso Grifo models at auctions often reflect their high demand and unique features.

Factors influencing the price of Iso Grifo models include their condition, rarity, and any unique modifications.

What Affects Its Value?

Condition: As with classic cars, well-maintained original examples command higher prices. Restored models or those with rare specifications also fetch a premium. Modified examples can affect value depending on the nature of the enhancements; performance or aesthetic improvements are generally favorable, while others may detract from the car's worth. High-quality custom modifications can significantly increase a car's value, but these customizations must be tasteful and appealing to a broader audience.
Rarity: Only around 400 of the Iso Grifo Series I units were produced, so finding one in good condition is challenging, which drives up demand.
Provenance: Cars with documented history or celebrity ownership possess an additional allure.

Current Market Snapshot

Prices for Iso Grifo models today vary greatly, with well-kept examples regularly selling in the six-figure range. Recent auction results show that various models of the Iso Grifo have been sold for impressive amounts, reflecting their high market value. The sale of exceptional or rare editions like the Grifo 7 Litri and the tri-power version has been known to cross the million-dollar threshold at auctions, with the highest amounts paid often influenced by the car's condition, history, and unique features.

Was the 1967 Iso Grifo GL a very popular model?

The 1967 Iso Grifo GL was a highly sought-after model during its time and continues to be a popular collector's car today. Only around 400 units were produced, and the rarity of this model adds to its allure among car enthusiasts.

One of the main reasons for its popularity is its unique design. The Iso Grifo GL was designed by Italian engineer Giorgetto Giugiaro, who also designed iconic cars such as the DeLorean DMC-12 and the Lotus Esprit. Its sleek and distinctive body lines and powerful engine made it stand out among other era sports cars.

A Timeless Tale of Luxury and Innovation

The Iso Grifo is more than just a car; it symbolizes what can be achieved when artistry and engineering converge to push boundaries. With its awe-inspiring design, groundbreaking features, and an illustrious history, the Iso Grifo remains a pivotal chapter in automotive lore.

The factory quality of its construction is evident in every detail, including the lock mechanisms, which showcase the meticulous engineering that went into its design. The high quality of the Iso Grifo's build significantly enhances its market value, making it a prized possession among collectors.

The Iso Grifo, renowned for its elegant design and powerful performance, utilized advanced engineering such as the De Dion rear axle to enhance handling and driving dynamics. Alongside its sibling, the Iso Rivolta, these cars were considered improved versions of the improved GTO concept, blending Italian craftsmanship with performance innovation.

Collaborations with renowned manufacturers like BMW, Lamborghini, Corsa, and Maserati further elevated their status, showcasing the best in European automotive engineering. Meanwhile, Chrysler's influence in the U.S. helped make these vehicles stand out, particularly in markets like Arizona, where enthusiasts appreciated their GTS variants. These cars often stole the spotlight at events such as the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival, cementing their legacy as icons of luxury and a sign of performance.

Whether you’re a seasoned collector or a newcomer to classic cars, the Iso Grifo offers an enduring lesson in blending tradition with innovation. It’s a reminder that automotive masterpieces are not created in isolation but result from bold vision, collaboration, and an unswerving commitment to excellence.

If the Iso Grifo already has a spot on your dream car list, you’re in good company. Renowned for its timeless elegance, it inspires car lovers and collectors alike. And as you step into the world of Italian performance, don’t forget to tip your hat to the remarkable history of Iso Autoveicoli and its crowning achievement, the Grifo.

Thank you for reading!

Your friend,

Todd

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