Imitation Iso Flattering

We’re incredibly lucky here at Car & Classic in that along with the usual suspects that pass through our virtual doors (all of which we adore, we hasten to add) we get to see the rarer side of of the classic car world too. Being Europe’s leading classic and specialist vehicle marketplace means that lesser known, exclusive little gems often come up for sale either via our classified ads, verified listings or our auction platform and one such example is this stunning and extraordinarily unique Iso Grifo Targa that’s coming to Car & Classic Auctions on the 21st of December.

To lend some provenance to our claim we’ll get a bit Carol Vorderman (or Rachel Riley, depending on your years) if you’ll permit us and provide you with some numbers. Only 330 Series I Iso Grifos were ever made, of which this is number 79, which puts this beautiful Italian grand tourer squarely in hen’s teeth territory. Of those 330 a mere 14 were built as factory targas with a removable roof and none of them came with a three-speed automatic transmission, like this one has. But then there’s the rub; incredulously this isn’t actually a factory targa. Yep, we were as surprised as you.

What makes this car so special is the fact that it started life as a standard Grifo (yes, we are acutely aware that never has the word ‘standard’ been so incongruously used when describing such a magnificent car) which was then converted to targa spec. Despite there being no official documentation alluding to the details of the coach-builder that carried out the conversion, the quality of work and attention to detail involved in replicating the factory targa allows us to safely assume that whomever it was certainly knew their onions when it came to producing an unofficial fifteenth Iso Grifo Series I targa.

Everything else about this 1966 Series I Grifo is as it was when it rolled out of Iso Rivolta’s factory in Bresso, Milan 56 years ago. Fitted with the original 5.4-litre Chevy V8 it certainly has the performance credentials to back up its jaw-dropping looks penned so elegantly by Giorgetto Giugiaro at Bertone. This isn’t a tired old GT car in need of saving either. Despite its age this Grifo is in near perfect condition, from the chassis and suspension, to the Campagnola magnesium wheels and Lusso spec black leather and wood-adorned interior, the whole shebang presents incredibly well. We can’t stop staring at the thing.

To go back to the numbers this particular car has covered just over 6,000 kilometres. That’s under 4,000 miles. 4,000! We often see survivor cars of this ilk in need of at least some form of remedial reconditioning but thanks to the charmed life this exquisite car has led, along with regular, short jaunts, nothing has seized or had the chance to even begin to wear out, and even if that were the case, the 300bhp beating heart of American muscle is simple to fix and to find parts for, should there be any need for future fettling.

That limited mileage and rude health make this already rarefied rolling sculpture even more exclusive and we can say with full confidence that it is a one-of-a-kind example, so if out of the ordinary is your bag then they don’t come any more so than this. Conversions of this nature can severely impact a car’s desirability, if not done right, but the fact is that this targa modification has been carried out with a particularly meticulous eye and a rather professional hand, not half-baked in a shed somewhere in Luton, which only adds to the car’s charm and appeal.

If you love something you should set it free and if it comes back it’s yours. It’s a wonderfully romantic maxim and one that kind of rings true in this instance. The car’s current custodian is actually the same person who had the conversion carried out and so distraught was he at having sold the car he later bought it back, feeling as he did such a connection to his creation. But the time has come to again move it on for someone else to enjoy and that someone, dear reader, could be you. Going live on our auctions platform on Wednesday the 21st of December all it takes is the one winning bid so head over to the listing for the full run down and a plethora of professional pictures as well as a walk around video. Trust us when we say that this kind of opportunity only happens once and boy what a wonderful Christmas present it would be!