A fusion of Italian elegance and American muscle, the Iso Grifo was a limited-production grand tourer intended to compete with the prestigious grand touring offerings from Ferrari and Maserati. It was essentially a street version of the Le Mans-winning Bizzarrini 5300 GT.
Styled by Giorgetto Giugiaro at Bertone, the Grifo’s aesthetics are matched by the engineering of Giotto Bizzarrini, the visionary behind icons like the Ferrari 250 GTO and Testarossa.
This particular Iso Grifo is a Can Am version, also known as the IR9, equipped with a V8 big block engine beneath bodywork redesigned by Marcello Gandini.
Our car belongs to this second series, featuring semi-removable headlights, a reinforced chassis, an enlarged engine compartment, and a distinctive hood scoop—added to accommodate the engine’s height and to release the heat generated by the big block.
Only 24 Can Am units were produced, all powered by the 7,440 cc (454 ci) V8 engine delivering 395 hp. Handling this power, the driver enjoys a 5-speed ZF gearbox and an axle with a 2.88:1 ratio, allowing speeds close to 300 km/h—ideally on a long, straight road.
Our Iso Grifo is the 356th Grifo and the first Can Am ever produced. It has undergone extensive restoration and is documented in Iso Rivolta: The Men & the Machines by Winston Goodfellow. Documentation, photos, and videos are available upon request. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch.