A unique hood scoop…
by Mike Gulett –
When Iso decided they wanted to put the Corvette 427 cid engine in the Grifo, which had an engine bay designed for the 327 cid, they needed extra space in the vertical direction.
The result was this hood scoop shown in these photos. The car was branded the Iso Grifo 7-Litre and later the Chevrolet 454 engine was also available in the Can Am model (the Series 2 Grifo).
Iso Grifo 7-Litri sales brochure
Iso Grifo 7-Litre for auction
1969 Iso Grifo 7-Litre Series I on Bring a Trailer
Iso Grifo 7-Litre Series I – Photo compliments of Bring a Trailer
1970 Iso Grifo 7-Litri Series I at RM Sotheby’s in Scottsdale, AZ
1970 Iso Grifo 7-Litri Series I – Photo by Patrick Ernzen compliments of RM Sotheby’s
1970 Iso Grifo 7-Litri Series I – Photo by Patrick Ernzen compliments of RM Sotheby’s
More Iso Grifo hood scoops
Iso Grifo Can Am
As you can tell it is not exactly a scoop but it serves the same purpose in addition to allowing a larger engine to fit without modifying the engine bay.
When Iso stared using the Ford 351 engine the scoop became a little higher than on the 7-Litre model as you can see in the pictures below.
Iso Grifo Series 2 with Ford 351
Iso Grifo Series 2 with Ford 351
Iso Grifo Series 2 with Ford 351
Over the years this hood scoop has become famous in the classic car world and people usually either hate it or love it. I love it, but it is note worthy that no other car company has copied this “pagoda” style as far as I know.
Iso Grifo Series 2 with Ford 351
A different angle of this Iso Grifo Series 2 with Ford 351
Below is the Iso Grifo A3/L Prototype. I had wondered why Iso didn’t use this elegant hood scoop for all Grifo models?
Iso Grifo A3/L Prototype
I asked Piero Rivolta that question once and he said that hood scoops were expensive so the Grifo GL model (small block engine) has a small bulge rather than a scoop.
Iso Grifo GL with the bulge instead of a scoop
Let us know what you think in the Comments.
Another Iso Grifo GL with the bulge instead of a scoop
All photos by Mike Gulett, unless otherwise indicated.
I didn’t realize that they switched over to Ford; now I really want one! Not so much a fan of the scoop though. It seems somewhat obtrusive, especially the tall square version. Looks too much like an after thought. I would have preferred to see side draft Webbers lower the overall height of the engine instead.
At least they didn’t glue on ugly fender flares, or a plastic wing to the poor thing.
You had me going, momentarily wavering over my dislike of scoops, when you mentioned “pagoda” style. Clever labeling, that. For a brief moment I saw them anew, as an exciting variation to accommodate what’s under the hood. But no. To my eye they remain a carbuncle on a beautiful car.
On the A3/L prototype, the scoop is elegant but might not be too effective.
The louvres at the forward end will be drawing air from the engine Bay into the carb scoops.