Description
The ISO Rivolta IR 300 GT was the car that announced ISO’s transformation from a maker of scooters and microcars into a world-class manufacturer of grand tourers. Introduced in 1962, it was the first of Renzo Rivolta’s luxury performance cars—a beautifully engineered, high-speed four-seater that combined Italian design elegance, European chassis sophistication, and the effortless power of a big American V8. The IR 300 GT marked a new chapter not only for ISO but for the entire Italian GT genre, helping to establish the formula that would later define the company’s masterpieces such as the Grifo and the Lele. It was a car of taste, precision, and remarkable engineering harmony: Italian in spirit, American in heart, and truly international in appeal.
Renzo Rivolta, the founder of ISO Rivolta, had achieved great success in the 1950s with the Isetta microcar and his line of light commercial vehicles. But by the early 1960s, as Italy entered an era of prosperity, Rivolta turned his ambitions toward building a refined and powerful touring car that could rival the best from Ferrari, Maserati, and Aston Martin. To achieve this, he assembled one of the most talented design teams of the period: engineer Giotto Bizzarrini—fresh from his work on the Ferrari 250 GTO—handled the chassis and mechanical design, while Giorgetto Giugiaro, then at Carrozzeria Bertone, penned the exterior styling. The result of their collaboration was the ISO Rivolta IR 300 GT, a car that blended precision engineering with understated beauty in a way few others could match.
At the heart of the IR 300 was the Chevrolet 327 cubic inch (5.4-litre) small-block V8, sourced from the Corvette. In standard form it produced around 300 horsepower—hence the “IR 300” designation—but ISO offered higher-output versions tuned up to 365 hp for buyers seeking more performance. The choice of an American powerplant was both pragmatic and inspired: it provided immense torque, mechanical reliability, and ease of service, while allowing ISO to concentrate its efforts on chassis and body engineering. Mated to a four-speed Borg-Warner manual gearbox (or an optional GM automatic), the engine endowed the IR 300 with formidable performance: 0–100 km/h (62 mph) in just over seven seconds and a top speed of nearly 225 km/h (140 mph), all delivered with smooth, effortless acceleration.
The chassis, designed by Bizzarrini, was a technical tour de force. Built around a strong pressed-steel monocoque platform with a separate front subframe, it employed all-independent suspension—a rarity in the early 1960s. The front featured unequal-length wishbones and coil springs, while the rear used a sophisticated de Dion axle with twin trailing arms, a Watts linkage, and inboard disc brakes to reduce unsprung weight. The result was exceptional ride quality and handling precision for a car of its size. Four-wheel disc brakes and power-assisted steering came as standard, ensuring the ISO could be driven quickly and safely on both autostrada and winding mountain roads. Bizzarrini’s chassis tuning gave the car a perfect balance between comfort and control—making it as satisfying to drive as it was to look at.
The body, styled by Giugiaro and built by Bertone, was a masterpiece of early-1960s GT design. The lines were crisp and clean, with just the right blend of formality and sportiness. The long bonnet and short rear deck gave the car an athletic stance, while the pillarless side profile and slender roofline lent it a sense of lightness and grace. The front fascia was dominated by a horizontal grille flanked by twin headlamps, and the gently rising shoulder line flowed elegantly into the sculpted rear fenders. The proportions were near-perfect: refined without extravagance, modern without affectation. Giugiaro managed to express both speed and sophistication in a design that remains timeless six decades later.
Inside, the IR 300 was pure Italian luxury. The cabin combined elegance with functionality, reflecting Rivolta’s philosophy that a true gran turismo should be as comfortable as it was fast. The seats were trimmed in fine Connolly leather, deeply contoured for long-distance comfort, and the dashboard featured a comprehensive set of Veglia instruments housed in a wood veneer panel. Switchgear and chrome details were finely finished, and the overall ambience was one of restrained opulence. The rear seats, though best suited for shorter journeys, were usable—something that set the IR 300 apart from many two-seat exotics. Air conditioning, power windows, and high-quality sound insulation gave it the civility expected of a genuine GT.
On the road, the ISO Rivolta IR 300 GT delivered exactly what its specifications promised: smooth, abundant power and impeccable composure. The Corvette engine’s torque allowed effortless high-speed cruising, while the car’s chassis provided a level of grip and refinement that astonished contemporary testers. Autocar magazine praised its “stability at great speed” and “the splendid silence of its mechanicals,” while Italian journalists called it “the car for gentlemen who wish to travel swiftly and in comfort.” The combination of American muscle and Italian finesse gave the IR 300 a unique dual character: powerful yet cultured, fast yet unpretentious.
The IR 300’s success quickly established ISO as a serious player in the luxury GT market. It attracted a sophisticated clientele—industrialists, architects, and connoisseurs—who appreciated its blend of speed, comfort, and reliability. Its success also laid the foundation for ISO’s later, more famous models: the aggressive Grifo, the four-door Fidia, and the mid-engined Bizzarrini-derived A3/C. Yet the IR 300 retained a distinct charm of its own: it was the purest expression of Rivolta’s original vision, the perfect grand touring machine for crossing Europe in style and serenity.
Between 1962 and 1970, roughly 800 ISO Rivolta IR 300s were built, making it the company’s most successful model in terms of production. Despite this, each car was effectively hand-assembled, with a level of attention to detail that reflected ISO’s boutique scale. Many were exported to the United States, where the combination of familiar mechanicals and Italian design proved irresistible.
Today, the ISO Rivolta IR 300 GT is regarded as one of the most important and underrated grand tourers of the 1960s. Collectors admire it for its timeless design, engineering sophistication, and mechanical robustness. With its Giugiaro styling, Bizzarrini chassis, and Corvette heart, it represents the perfect fusion of Italian artistry and American power—a car that could cover vast distances at high speed with grace and reliability.
The ISO Rivolta IR 300 GT remains a landmark in automotive history: the car that defined ISO’s identity and set a new standard for the modern grand tourer. It was elegant without arrogance, powerful without pretense—a car built for those who valued engineering substance as much as style. In every sense, it was the grand touring ideal made real.