Thursday 23rd March 2017

Iso Lele: Spotted

Want 70s Italian glamour on a (relative) budget? There's an alternative you may not know of...

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The rapid yet recent appreciation of certain classic cars is now well known across the automotive world. What's less well documented though is just how far the prices of super exotica have brought up everything else.

So while many are aware that the Miuras and Daytonas of this world have long since sky rocketed, the rise of those lower down the respective ranges has largely gone unnoticed. Examples? The £130K Lamborghini Espada, for one. And what of Maserati's alternative, the Khamsin? £150K for this - admittedly lovely - restored car. And a Ferrari 365 GTC/4? Quite a lot more...

But if you are after a 70s Italian 2+2 with all the style, speed and cool that's associated with the genre - who wouldn't be? - then the Iso Lele might be worth investigating.

The what? Well yes, it was a new one on us too. Named after the wife of Pierre Rivolta (son of company founder Renzo), according to the ad it was so called because Pierre promised her that Iso would be a full-line car company... It was sold as part of a three-car range that also included the Grifo and Fidia in the 70s, though only 285 were made in total. A full-line company in very small numbers then.

But that rarity is key to the Lele's appeal. At classic car events now there are typically few surprises, yet here is a car that's genuinely super rare for half the price of a left-hand drive E-Type. More than that the Iso has its steering wheel on the correct side too, of which 45 were produced and only half are believed to still exist. This is presumably one of the last ever made too, with production having ceased at the end of 1974 and this car registered in January '75.

It's hardly like this is a basket case barn find either. Said to have been recently recomissioned by its previous owner (which might be overselling it a bit), the fluids were refreshed, the suspension overhauled and a few parts replaced. The interior looks unrestored but the better for it, a few signs of wear proving it has been enjoyed over the past 40 years.

Alright, so maybe it's not the prettiest Italian GT ever made. The front end looks a rather solemn and the rear overhang is a bit long. But this is still a Bertone design, and certainly there are uglier cars out there. As the advert suggests, 'striking' may be the best word.

Still, as every motoring writer is required to say at this point, you can't see that when you're sat inside hammering down to the coastal resort of your choice. Like other Isos the Lele made use of an American V8 for propulsion duties, here a Ford lump that once made around 300hp or so. Enough for ample if not scintillating performance, particularly with that automatic 'box, though entirely in keeping with this car's more relaxed remit.

The Lele won't appeal to all tastes, of course. For some the rarity will mean not enough people know what it is, and the engine will look rather blue collar in the face of thoroughbred rivals. That being said, for being different to the norm and looking extremely good value at the moment, the Iso Lele certainly deserves at least 15 minutes of PH fame.

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ISO LELE
Engine: 5,736cc, V8
Transmission: 4-speed auto, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): c.300@N/A rpm
Torque (lb ft): N/A
MPG: It was the 70s
CO2: See above
Recorded mileage: Er...
Year registered: 1975
Price new: £N/A
Price now: £49,950

See the original ad here.

Source: Wikipedia

[Twoshoe]

I really like that - had forgotten that they exist. Love the fact that some of the instruments (hopefully the less important ones!) sit in front of the passenger.

The wheels are beautiful - Campagnolo possibly?

[HardMiles]

Unreal VFM. It is a very sound investment. PH should be slightly ashamed that they didn't know of these! And it is correct that they were named after wifey, what a tribute.

This and the Alfa Romeo Montreal are surefire money makers at this stage.

Now, where have I stashed that spare £50k?

Piss, I've never had one.... :-(

[P5BNij]

The Brooklands road test book on Iso is full of glowing reports for these cars when they were new and this one is rather nice. Saw a dark blue on the North Circular a few years ago which made me do a 'double take', they really are quote a sight, a kind of alternative Espada in a way.

Up there with the De Tomaso Deauville and Maser Kyalami.

[V8 FOU]

Wibble.
Missed one a couple of years ago similar to this for £28K.

Just love this. It is, to me, one of those "if I sell everything I can afford it" cars.......

[TrivsTom]

Ashamed to say that my endless knowledge of bks to do with cars, models, specs and trims that I didn't know this existed!

[dinkel]

P5BNij said:

Up there with the De Tomaso Deauville and Maser Kyalami.

Big Yank engined Italians were underrated but since 10 years that's changing. ISO is a strange brand and one has to be a character to own and restore one. They are all different.

Assembled from all kinds of parts bins and still pretty and with enough oomph: wow.

Auto's are no problem because these boxes work very well with a 351, 327 or whatever big lump.

[Turbobanana]

Really lovely, subtle looks.

Interesting how similar it is to the original VW Passat.

[Gurov]

I have watched this car for sometime and the time is right to buy as it is RHD and in excellent order. I expect it to increase the price in the summer. A stunning oddity of a car with a shape all of it's own. A lot cheaper than others are asking.

[Jonty Borgward]

Also worth remembering that all the Iso cars' chassis were designed by Giotto Bizzarrini. He is famous for designing the Ferrari 250 GTO and the Lamborghini V12 engine. A very talented engineer. These cars drive very well indeed!

[MikeGalos]

And, if you want a full 4-seat the Iso Fidia is yet another beauty from that era.

[5pen]

MikeGalos said:

And, if you want a full 4-seat the Iso Fidia is yet another beauty from that era.

For sale in Kent... http://www.justinbanks.com/#/1972IsoFidia/

[AndrewGP]

TrivsTom said:

Ashamed to say that my endless knowledge of bks to do with cars, models, specs and trims that I didn't know this existed!

Same here I'm ashamed to say! Every day's a school day on PH

[anonymous-user]

MikeGalos said:

And, if you want a full 4-seat the Iso Fidia is yet another beauty from that era.

'beauty'?

[WJNB]

Golly gosh this brought back a memory & one day I may be able to tell the full story of how I befriended a millionaire's wife who had been gifted such a car by a frequent absentee husband. Not the most beautiful looking but I enjoyed being allowed to take tender care of it & polish it a lot, but was never allowed to handle it personally.
She had told me she owned a Morris 1100 in a bit to deflect possible yet unfounded interest in the size of her .............. bank account.

[Turbobanana]

WJNB said:

Not the most beautiful looking but I enjoyed being allowed to take tender care of it & polish it a lot, but was never allowed to handle it personally.

Are you still talking about the car?

[P5BNij]

dinkel said:

P5BNij said:

Up there with the De Tomaso Deauville and Maser Kyalami.

Big Yank engined Italians were underrated but since 10 years that's changing. ISO is a strange brand and one has to be a character to own and restore one. They are all different.

Assembled from all kinds of parts bins and still pretty and with enough oomph: wow.

Auto's are no problem because these boxes work very well with a 351, 327 or whatever big lump.

A splendid pair there Dinkel... these left field Italians are starting to become dragged up by the souring prices of their more well known cousins, in the same way that Mini travellers and 1275GTs are being hoiked up the ladder by top notch Coopers etc.

At that price the RHD Lele makes a lot of sense. Maser QP Is, IIs and IVs, Indys, Mexicos and Khamsins are rising now, along with the V8 mid-engined Lambos which nobody seemed to care about a few years ago. I had a spare couple of hours at work this afternoon which flew by perusing Urraco clips on youtube... I need a Baby Bull in my life, even my other half now thinks they may be worth a look!

[mfp4073]

I love these cars together with the Iso Griffo, very cool cars.
For some reason I always think Gerry Anderson should have used them in his TV shows. For those of a certain age you will understand.

[P5BNij]

Certainly wouldn't look out of place in UFO, parked up outside Ed Straker's office, and neither would the Fidia...

I wonder how many of the 45 RHD examples are left now.

[defonsecca]

These were seriously under-rated cars in their time & still way under the radar as an appreciating Classic. All the road tests of the time gave it unanimous praise, a very worthy rival to the Maserati Indy, Ferrari GTC/4, Jensen Interceptor, Aston Martin V8, Bristol 411 etc etc. Very classy & excellent quality, all it lacked (like all Iso's cars) was a famous name like its competitors ... and using a lump of Detroit iron under its bonnet, not exactly in the same calibre as a Maserati V8. But as a proper GT that lazy, under-stressed engine suited it perfectly. John Lennon famously bought an RHD Lele off the Iso stand at the Earl's Court Motor Show, not a bad vote of confidence....!

It's such a pity that every supercar / sportscar manufacturer from the 60's & 70's who used an America V8 have all gone to the wall - Iso, Jensen, De Tomaso, Monteverdi, Bristol (though maybe not...!), AC, Bizzarrini, Intermeccanica etc They all gave us some iconic & beautiful cars.

[defonsecca]

Fantastic Longchamp GTS there by the way Dinkel. Well-spotted! I saw a stunning red RHD one a couple of years ago at the Auto Italia Festival at Brooklands. It got more attention than any Ferrari ... and what a gorgeous noise it made!

Tom Hartley Junior had a mint brown / gold Longchamp GTS for sale about a year ago for around £50k...... De Tomaso also made about 12 Convertibles - what price those nowadays I wonder...???? At least one in GTS spec was made in RHD for the UK.