Iso Rivolta Varedo's dream was forced to vanish due to an unfulfilled promise

Forgotten ONES - Maybe not many know or have heard of this sports car made by an Italian automaker, Iso Autoveicoli S.p.A. or known as Iso Rivolta in early of 1970s. So far, the world automotive enthutiasts is probably more familiar with or at least ever heard of the Iso Rivolta, Iso Grifo, Iso Fidia, Iso Lele.

The Iso Rivolta Varedo prototype is created to generate publicity for Iso and to show they were looking to the future. (Picture from: UltimateCarPage)

Well, this Italian automotive manufacturer was founded by Renzo Rivolta, a Milanese industrialist who initially tried his luck by acquiring a Bolzaneto, Genoa-based electric heaters and chillers manufacturing company, the Isothermos in 1939. During the 2nd World War precisely in 1942, he was forced to move his place of business to a relatively safe area that allowed him to keep running his factory production wheels during the war in Bresso, outskirt of Milan. 

The Iso Rivolta Varedo prototype inroduced to public for the first time at the Turin Motor Show 1972. (Picture from: IsoRivolta.fr)

In short, after the war he expanded the business into the motorcycles and scooters maker in 1952, then decided to enter the micro car market by designing and producing the famous Isetta. And when sales of micro cars began to decline, Rivolta decided to release the micro car production licenses, and sold to a German automaker, BMW. 

The Iso Rivolta Varedo prototype sat on display at the Geneva Motor Show 1973. (Picture from: IsoRivolta.fr)

Meanwhile, the Italian company then entered the arena that is no less lucrative, namely high-performance cars. And Iso's first model at the time was the IR300 and IR340 styled by Bertone and powered by an American-made Chevrolet engine. For your info, those cars above were designed by Giotto Bizzarrini, and was unveiled at the Turin Motor Show in October 1962.

Piero Rivolta posed along with the Iso Rivolta Varedo prototype in front of the factory. (Picture from: IsoRivolta.fr)

But no one ever knows about ages and future. In August 20, 1966, Renzo Rivolta had a heart attack and suddenly died at the age of 57. In short then the Iso automaker company was taken over by his son, Piero who was 25 years old at that time, and had graduated his doctorate degree in mechanical engineering.

The Iso Rivolta Varedo prototype designed by Ercole Spada as an eye-catching and very exotic mid-engined supercar. (Picture from: UltimateCarPage)

At the time, Piero Rivolta has ambitions to bring his company's production cars into Formula One competition and to make that plan a reality, firstly preparing his company to add the mid-engined supercar to its sports car and GT lineups. And Piero wanted a purely high performance mid-engined car with a body made of fiberglass. In the early 1970s, Piero Rivolta hired Ercole Spada, a veteran designer who had previously worked at Carrozzeria Ghia, to be a chief stylist of his company.

The Iso Rivolta Varedo prototype featured with a very exotic in an aerodynamic '70s typical wedge-shaped fiberglass bodywork with a fairly light weight, which is around 1,000 kg. (Picture from: RuoteVecchie)

Then Spada and his team drawn up for the design, followed by the creation of a mid-engined supercar prototype, later known as Iso Rivolta Varedo. The car name was intended as a homage to the place where the Iso new factory was located. At that time, mid-engined cars were becoming a trend in the world's racing, because they were proven capable of providing better handling and performance while on track. 

The Iso Varedo prototype’s cockpit was comparatively restrained with a simple full width dash was only interrupted by a raised section behind the three-spoke steering wheel. (Picture from: RuoteVecchie)

Besides that, the design resulting from this mid-engined layout is often very exotic and eye-catching; thus they are everything a supercar should be, both form and function. The Varedo prototype car designed by Ercole Spada looks very exotic in an aerodynamic '70s typical wedge-shaped fiberglass bodywork with a fairly light weight, which is around 1,000 kg.

The Iso Rivolta Varedo prototype is powered by a 5.7-liter V8 engine of Ford 351 Cleveland capable burst out 325 hp of power, coupled with rear wheel drive and 5-speed manual ZF gearbox. (Picture from: RuoteVecchie)

In appearance, the Varedo prototype looks similar to the Alfa Romeo Carabo Concept and the Lamborghini Marzal Concept, perhaps due to the Bertone factor attached to those three (just guessing). Meanwhile, its drivetrain is a 5.7-liter V8 engine of Ford 351 Cleveland capable burst out 325 hp of power, coupled with rear wheel drive and 5-speed manual ZF gearbox.

The Iso Rivolta Varedo prototype was a reasonable light car with a body made of fiberglass (75% fiberglass and 25% polyester). (Picture from: IsoRivoltaOfficial)

Well, only one Iso Rivolta Varedo was ever built, and after mechanical sorting and testing at the Monza race track, it turned out to be a car with good handling and performance. The car was first shown to the public at the 1972 Turin Motor Show, and received a quite good reception among visitors to the exhibition at that time.

The Iso Rivolta Varedo prototype now resides at the Sarasota Classic Car Museum in Florida. (Picture from: ForumMiata)

Unfortunately due to financial difficulties, it was not long after that, Rivolta families sold their interests in 1973 to an Italian American financier named Ivo Pera who promised to bring American management into the company. But the promise was never fulfilled, due to the uncertain global situation and conditions at that time.

The Iso Rivolta Varedo car project died without ever introducing it as a production model.😢 While the prototype left rusty and damaged into pieces in corner of the factory warehouse, until Piero Rivolta found it and was subsequently re-purchased and restored to its perfect condition like in its heyday, currently the Iso Rivolta Varedo resides at the Sarasota Classic Car Museum in Florida. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | ISORIVOLTAOFFICIAL | SUPERCARNOSTALGIA | TOPSPEED | WIKIPEDIA | CLASSICANDRECREATIONSPORTSCARS | SARASOTA CLASSIC CAR MUSEUM ]

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