by Mike –
When the Bizzarrini GT 5300 (Iso Grifo A3/C) was first developed in the early 1960s it had a race car style dashboard with the three gauges that can report trouble in a race directly in front of the driver: the oil temperature, oil pressure and engine coolant temperature.
Bizzarrini GT 5300 series one dashboard
The other gauges, tachometer, speed odometer and gas fuel level gauge were located to the right on the dashboard.
Note the lack of ornamentation on the Bizzarrini GT 5300 Strada series one dashboard above where the entire dashboard is covered in leather and the two Iso Grifo A3/C dashboards below where most of the dashboard is painted body color.
At least one car journalist complained about this layout in a test drive report which prompted Giotto Bizzarrini to change the dashboard layout and place the tachometer and speed odometer in front of the driver with the other gauges over to the right. He also added wood veneer.
Bizzarrini GT 5300 series two dashboard
Click on the images for a larger view. Portions of this post were originally published on May 13, 2011. The Iso Grifo A3/C photos were provided by Gerd Eckstein.
Let us know what you think in the Comments.
Mike, I think the dash in your car is one of the best I’ve seen in terms of ergonomics and style. The full leather treatment is very befitting this exotic. The non-leather dashes seem somewhat plain.
Thank you George, the dash on my Bizzarrini is beautiful suede.
The Metal dashboards are on A3/C race cars.