Iso Rivolta GTZ

The Iso Rivolta GTZ by Zagato: the car which marks the rebirth of Iso Rivolta brand. Limited to just 19 units, this Gran Turismo has been designed as tribute to the iconic Iso Rivolta A3 of 1963. The Iso Rivolta GTZ is our 2020 Carrozzieri-Italiani.com car of the year The Iso Rivolta GTZ was inspired by one of the most beautiful sports cars of the 1960s, the A3C Grifo and its eventual racing variant, the Bizzarrini 5300. The competition version won the large displacement GT class at Le Mans in 1964 and 1965, a testament to the mechanical sophistication, aerodynamic efficiency, and durability of the car. When architecting his beautiful and impressively fast Iso Grifo, Renzo Rivolta relied on one of Italy’s greatest automotive engineers, Giotto Bizzarrini, who designed the Ferrari 250 GTO and Testa Rossa prior to leaving Ferrari in the famous “palace revolt.” Mr. Bizzarrini designed the Iso Grifo with the necessary elements for success: the stout, reliable and easily tuned Chevrolet small-block V-8 engine and 4-speed gearbox from the Corvette, a welded-sheet platform frame, sophisticated suspension, and a lightweight and aerodynamic body. Compared to the Corvette, it was significantly lighter and featured technical innovations that even the most exotic cars of the era could not better. The resulting car was a true race car for the road that looked the part, with the roofline standing a mere 43 inches above the pavement. Built initially as the Iso Grifo A3/C and later as the Bizzarrini 5300, fewer than 150 of these cars were made, but their looks, performance, and pedigree secured them a place as one of the most desirable Italian cars ever made. Consequently, it is no surprise that when Zagato acquired Iso Rivolta in more recent years, it was the A3/C that they chose to honor with their all-new model, the Iso Rivolta GT Zagato (GTZ). As with the original, the GTZ uses the powertrain of a Corvette, specifically the 660hp LT4 from the C7 Z06 and superb 8-speed transmission with paddle shifters. Also retained are the enormous carbon ceramic brakes. From that basis, the car undergoes a 2,500 hour transformation at Zagato’s facility in Milan, Italy. Aesthetically, the car is completely re-imagined with carbon fiber bodywork that honors the stunning Giorgetto Giugiaro designed original yet still looks incredibly contemporary. This reduced the weight of the car and no panels or exterior components were shared with the Corvette. The glass, lights, door handles, and wheels are unique to the Iso Rivolta GTZ and are either fabricated in-house or built by suppliers to Zagato’s specifications. Finished with typically Italian Zagato flair, the car boasts more luggage space than its donor, an important consideration in what is designed to be a grand tourer in the great European tradition.