by Mike -
At the beginning the prototype Iso Grifo was called the Iso A3/L. The name was later changed to Grifo.
In addition to the name change there were a few other changes from this first prototype coupe (chassis number 001) to the production Grifo.
Iso A3/L Spider
Both Bertone and Iso were so pleased with the reception of the Iso A3/L prototype that they decided to make chassis number 002 a convertible version in 1964. Although it was Nuccio Bertone who pushed Renzo Rivolta for this and Bertone’s company did essentially all of the work.
Only one Iso A3/L (Grifo) Spider was made and it was made at Bertone, closely supervised by Giorgetto Giugiaro.
While reading the July 1970 issue of Road & Track recently I came across this classified advertisement for this same one of a kind Iso A3/L (Grifo) Spider for sale in New York for $12,500.
Iso A3/L Spider Advertisement
I am not sure what is on the front bumpers in the advertisement above. It looks like something used for pushing or bumping. What were they doing with this special car?
I believe that the next five pictures are publicity photographs. This A3/L Spider and the A3/L Coupe were taken to many car shows resulting in very positive publicity for both Iso and Bertone.
The nose and the hood are different on the prototypes than on the production Iso Grifo. Also note that the front badge is the Iso badge where later it would be the Griffon sculpture on the Grifo.
Notice the rear design difference between this green Grifo Spider replica, in the first picture below, and a red 1968 Iso Grifo, in the second picture below.
Iso Grifo Spider Replica
1968 Iso Grifo
Below is the Iso A3/L Spider today neglected in storage in Southern California.
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Iso A3/L Art By Giugiaro
Mike, thanks for all the great photos.
The reason the A3/L Spyer had those HUGE bumper overriders was because the owner, who purchased it at the NY Auto Show, actually PARKED IT ON THE STREETS OF MANHATTAN!!! That was to keep the nose from getting based in by parallel parkers! It obviously didn’t work, as the Spyder later showed up in a used car showroom, with a production Grifo nose grafted onto the front, and missing the central “nostril”–so it had obviously had front end damage. The car was originally red, then green, now red again. The interior was originally black, now tan. The photo of it sitting in the Rudy Klein collection in LA was actually taken in the 1980′s, and it hasn’t moved since.
Darren
Darren,
Thanks for the information – very interesting.
Darren,
It is a shame that such a special car has been mistreated for so long.