My Car Quest

March 19, 2024

The Iso Grifo Is A Special Car

by Mike – 

The Iso Grifo is one of the most beautiful cars ever designed, it ranks up there with any car style over the past 50 years. It was styled by Giorgetto Giugiaro (of Bertone at the time). He also styled the Iso Rivolta GT, the Bizzarrini GT 5300 and many other cars and is probably the most prolific car stylists in automotive history.

1968 Iso Grifo

1968 Iso Grifo

He formed his own company, Italdesign Giugiaro in the late 1960’s and he sold this company to Volkswagen in 2010.

In the early 1960s Iso produced many great car models; they introduced the Rivolta, the Grifo A3/L, which is close to the Grifo shown here in style, and the Grifo A3/C, which eventually became the Bizzarrini GT 5300, all within the span of just a few years. All were powered by Chevrolet Corvette engines and all are fast, fun to drive and reliable.

1968 Iso Grifo

In What Is Going On With Iso Grifo Demand? I write about the demand for Grifos out stripping the supply and I think this is because car lovers are realizing what a great car the Iso Grifo really is, with a timeless design style and plenty of power that is easy to maintain. Also, it is a comfortable car to drive and to ride in – so my wife loves the Grifo either as a passenger or the driver. Do not discount this as an important factor.

After more than one year of ownership, and many miles of driving, I now know why so many people are after these classics. I have fielded many questions over the past few months about Iso Grifos from car lovers who are either thinking about getting one or who are actively engaged in a search.

1968 Iso Grifo

If you want to read more about what I have written about Grifos either go to the top right and search for “Iso Grifo” or click “Iso” on the tag cloud on the left.

Mike Gulett and Iso Grifo and me at the San Francisco Presidio

My Iso Grifo and me at the San Francisco Presidio

In this 2:40 video below I go for a drive, turn up the sound or put on headphones and put it on full screen.

Let us know what you think in the Comments.

 

Iso Grifo logo

Comments

  1. I couldn’t agree with you more Mike!
    I bought Grifo 77D in mid 2009 and have been having so much fun driving it ever since. I was very lucky to get a low milage car in very good condition and also in right hand drive (we drive on the LHS of the road here) with a 5 speed ZF gearbox, 350hp and Borranies. I am very fortunate to live in the South Island of New Zealand where we have wonderful driving roads which are almost deserted. I can be doing 100 mph within a couple of minutes of leaving my home and there would be few times that I take the Grifo out without exceeding 100 mph. I had never driven or even ridden in a Grifo before I bought it but had read the road tests etc. They are every bit as good as described by Autocar in 1965. But you really have to own a good one and live somewhere where you can explore its capabilities to realy fully appreciate how fantastic a good Grifo is! My favourite way to impress a pasenger is to take both hands off the wheel and place them on my lap while doing over 100 mph – and the Grifo continues straight and true down the road, such is the stability. As you can probably tell – I love my Grifo! Off on the “Latins by the Lakes” tour this long weekend.

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