1968 ISO Rivolta GT-Le Mans Racer

Country of Manufacture: Italy
Year:              1968
Vin #:             750718
Model Type:  2 Door Coupe
Body Designer: Bertone (Giugiaro)
Engine:           Corvette 327 V8 (four horsepower options)  5358.6 cc
Horsepower:  Le Mans racer: 365 bhp at 6200 rpm.  Street cars available with 300 or 340 hhp. Later models available with 350 or 365 bhp motors
Torque:          360 lb. at 4000 rpm
Transmission: ZF 5 Speed gearbox. Street cars available with Borg warner T-10 4 speed or GM Powerglide automatic. Just 23 Rivolta’s were built with the ZF 5 speed gearbox
Suspension:  
Front- Independent, wishbones, coil springs, hydraulic shock absorbers, anti-roll bar
Rear- de Dion tube, coil springs, longitudinal struts, hydraulic shock absorbers, cross bar
Brakes:          
Le Mans Racer:
Front- 12 inch Girling discs, servo booster. Street cars: Early cars: Dunlop discs. Later cars: Girling discs
Rear-  11.5 inch Girling discs mounted inboard, servo booster.
Street cars:
Early cars: Dunlop discs.
Later cars: Girling discs
Top Speed:    Le Mans Racer: 169 mph.  Streets cars: 137 mph to 148 mph depending on motor size

History:  The ISO company was founded by Renzo Rivolta, an industrialist best known for making refrigerators, motor scooters and the Isetta bubble car, which he later licensed to BMW.  The first high performance car made by ISO was the very successful 2 door Rivolta. Styling resembled the lines of the British built Gordon Keeble and as well as the BMW 3200CS, both earlier Bertone/Giugiaro designs. However, unlike those cars, the Iso Rivolta employed a more modern unitized pressed steel platform with boxed side members. Engine offerings were all Corvette sourced and included 300/340/350/365 bhp versions.

This car, built by the factory to participate in the 1968 Le Mans race, has many modifications: A 365bhp motor mated to a ZF 5 speed gearbox, larger Girling brakes with ATE booster (instead of smaller Dunlop discs and Bendix booster).  The 365 bhp engine itself was further modified with special connecting rods, larger oil pan, twin row true roller timing chain, modified camshaft, modified Holley carburetor, larger fuel lines/3 fuel pumps, and gas tank baffles. 7 inch magnesium wheels replaced the standard 6 inch wheels. Inside, several panels (doors, arm rests, dash, transmission tunnel) were drilled to save weight and all heating and ventilation equipment was removed, drilled lightweight bucket replaced the standard seats. Unfortunately, the Rivolta never got to run at Le Mans due to the car being wrecked when the 2 test drivers became immersed in a spirited and unauthorized lap time competition.

Production:   Rivolta Le mans Racer: 1 example only. Total Rivolta production 792 (including 2 prototypes,        623 Rivolta IR 300’s & 167 Rivolta IR 400’s)  

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