Iso Grifo: The Italian Stallion with an American Heart | Tyrrell's Classic Workshop

[@grifo327]

My father and I bought Iso Grifo #092D overseas in 2001 as a wreck and restored it together here in Australia. I have now done over 160,000km in it since then and have the same grin that Ian had on his face every time I roll it out of the shed for a spirted drive. They are a truly awesome machine and yes I had the Matchbox one as a kid like so many others. Thanks for such a wonderful video Ian, you captured the essence of the Grifo perfectly. Your comment about only a few videos on KZbin is true but there is one of dad and I sharing our experience of restoring and owning our Grifo. Steve

[@caroleross9800]

THANK YOU Tyrrell for your post on the Iso Grifo! My name is Bill Ross and almost 55 years ago as a young mechanic I worked at G T Motor Car/ American Grand Turismo in South Norwalk Connecticut USA. This was 1968. My friend Chris Swift got me the job. He was the Service Manager. another friend Johnny Farrell ran the Parts Department. I was hired to work on the Fiat Cars that were very Popular at this time. American Grand Turismo sold Iso Revolta, Grifo, and S4 Fidia, the 4 door sedan version. A man Harold (Shorty) Guiles was the mechanic that worked on the Iso's. I became as close to Shorty as I could and helped him when needed. Shortly after I came to work there, Shorty was not feeling well and took leave. Before he left, he gave me a brief run down on the Iso. he also gave me the only spare owners Manuel for reference and the only electric wiring diagram. At the time, most of the work on the Iso was new car prep and service. It did get more involved as time went on. By 1969 I was fully involved in all aspects of the three models made. I remember the day Chris, Johnny, and Skip Calahan (the General Manager) left early to go to the Port to pick up 3 Iso Grifo 7 Liter, for the first time in the United States. This was a really big deal. one was red one was silver and one was yellow. the red one went to the owner of G T Motors/A.G.T. I remember that 7 Liter had a white interior, which I soiled the carpet while working on it for him. He was so good with me and explained that the cars interior was the most visual part of the car and asked me to clean the carpet so he couldn't see the stain. I learned a very important lesson that day and for the rest of my career. The shoes came off when I worked on the interior. I wish I had hours to talk to you about all of the Iso's I worked on and how I have looked for posts like yours for years. Your post is the most involved I have watched. I hope you have the time to read my comment and respond. thank you, Bill Ross '

[@iain_tyrrell]

Thank YOU Bill!

[@gairnmclennan5876]

How awesome thanks for sharing your fantastic experience. It's certainly one fabulous machine and a really great car to have a 327 ci Chevy!

[@julianp4787]

That's quite simply, one of the most beautiful cars I've ever seen

[@jfv65]

It is! As a kid i used to have a Grifo as a toy car , made by Matchbox. It was baby-blue.

[@digitalimager4946]

and heard 🥰

[@simonhodgetts6530]

@@jfv65yes, me too - I loved that toy car!

[@RAFchurchlawford4469]

Police, there's a boy racer disturbing the peace 😭

[@johnnyboy1586]

Yes I had a matchbox car as well would love to own the real thing,but I must say they really spoilt the finnish with that horrid dash 😢

[@fatbudgiekillen8997]

Fifty seven years ago, I received a Matchbox car called an ISO Grifo. There was something about the style that made it a favourite of mine. Your video is the first time I have ever seen one and I must rate it as the most enjoyable of all your road tests. What a machine in 2023, let alone the 60s. I still have the Matchbox car. Thanks Iain.

[@stephensimpson4022]

That was the first time I’d ever heard of the ISO Grifo. I also owned that matchbox model,and so began my love affair with is wonderful motor car.

[@hornetbrown]

Same here, had a Matchbox Grifo. As a pre-teen youngun, my Dad gave me a very old car magazine that featured a '68 Iso Rivolta coupe (327)--I wore that mag to shreds reading it over and over. Still car manic to this day.

[@raypurchase801]

ME TOO! Metallic blue. I took it to school and some ucnt stole it from me.

[@robertfraser845]

mine was a blue one with white interior i also thought it was the most amazing car ever and was a highly prized matchbox car of my entire collection still to this day i am 61yrs old and still get goose bumps when ever i see one of these cars

[@fatbudgiekillen8997]

@@robertfraser845 😀Mine is also the blue with white interior, a little worse for wear but a reminder of my early introduction to classic cars.

[@alicemosley3151]

I owned a 7-Litre version (90 built) for almost 30 years. With a 5-speed and 500hp and 500ft lb after somemild tuning, the acceleration was truly volcanic. Trouble is, it set off car alarms all over the place! Can't agree with you about the dashboard - I always thought it refined and tasteful and the instruments are beautiful, too. I know this car, and it is one of the nicest out there.

[@kipsome45]

I agree with you about the dash…simple and elegant.

[@willemjordaan4108]

Don't horn it at 2 in the morning please!!😂

[@jamsstar2010]

The dash is classic compared to the Lambo which almost looks like something audi would come up with

[@jjefferyworboys8138]

What a lucky guy you are to have owned a 7 litre. It was always one my favourites and still is.

[@claudiomarangone614]

Better handling with the small block and more enough power… Especially a the shorter geared five speed.

[@edwardlewandowski]

I think the slab dashboard is simple and stunning. It's perfect. The car is perfect. I loved this one Ian. Good on you.

[@deweybrightside2276]

Yeah, that interior is really tight. Love it.

[@videosmith1000]

I agree, I happen to hate the Miura dash…(not fond of a Pantera dash either).

[@BanjoLuke1]

I and many other boys born in the early '60s spent hours pushing a blue Matchbox Iso Grifo around imaginary race tracks and road networks. The corner of the hearth rug in the sitting room was a tricky curve to get right. Somehow, I still don't believe that the full sized car really exists. Excellent video. Chapeau!

[@andrewcooney2387]

Yes I did just the same and it was a fabulous toy car.

[@simonhodgetts6530]

@@andrewcooney2387me too - it was one of my all-time favourite Matchbox toys!

[@martinda7446]

I had the same feeling with a 68 Hot Wheels Corvette... With all the Morris Minors and Ford Prefects about it seemed that thing was too beautiful to be real.

[@mikestephens8692]

Yup same here !!

[@graememcfarlane5219]

😂 same here

[@2006gtobob]

Honestly, I LOVE the simplicity of the flat dashboard...actually made from a board! The rest of the car is an absolute knockout.

[@golden.lights.twinkle2329]

Me too!

[@nobodynoone2500]

Simple. Elegant. Functional. What more could you want?

[@seanengineer7009]

I agree

[@jamesallison4875]

One of your best. Remember, guys who drove a car like this weren’t even looking at the dashboard. Brilliant! Thanks, Iain.

[@ChosenHandle117]

And girls, too!

[@Countach100]

For relaxed driving with a lot of punch I think the RR-like dashboard gets a passing grade. Thanks Iain.

[@tastypymp1287]

​@@ChosenHandle117What girls?

[@richardcampbell2041]

Attended a car show here in Florida, USA. Under the shade of a couple trees, sat a beautiful but unknown to me car. The lines were curvaceous and smooth. It had a Bertone badge on the sidee. When i saw that , I knew I was in the presence of skill and craftsmanship. Luckily, the owner was there sharing his knowledge and story of the car. i have been enthralled with these cars since that moment. Thank you for such an informative and fun to watch episode.

[@MartySchorr]

Do you recall what town in Florida that show was in? Approximate time? Showed mine, the one that has been restored here, at shows in Sarasota. last time it was next to a yellow Enzo. Took first place in my class!

[@wolfganghobelsberger6720]

The smile in Ian's face at the end is telling a thousand words. What a beautiful car, and another great episode. Sunday eve is now complete.Thank you.

[@grumpy9478]

" whoa! - me likey! "

[@georgekpalmer9062]

Hello, and thank you for another great video. As an American who grew up in the muscle car era, I can tell you that the stock 1970 LT-1 engine was rated at 370 hp as fitted in the Corvette, and had 350 cu. in. displacement, or 5.7L. It was quite a rare and special thing in the day and was the only small block Chevy engine to be fitted with the same Corvette hood (bonnet?) as the big blocks. I am fairly certain it was fitted with solid lifters in 1970, not hydraulic, but I suspect the engine in your video was retrofitted with a hydraulic spec camshaft and hydraulic hydraulic roller lifters when it was rebuilt, which would be the normal thing to do these days.

[@moyadapne968]

Shouldn't that Holley have a gasket between air cleaner and carb. It's in a carb kit.

[@aussiebloke609]

@@moyadapne968 It's probably stuck to the bottom of the air cleaner - that's where I usually find them when working on older engines.

[@BuzzLOLOL]

Although early 1970 Corvette literature listed 370 HP with the expected Duntov 30-30 cam in the LT1 350" engine, Chevy decided to drop the cam intake duration one step for better drivability and torque and all engines were delivered with 360 HP rating in Corvettes and Camaro/Firebird... Of course, Duntov could have supplied the early engineering 370 HP version in a crate for this car owner... as I recall, the Duntov 30-30 cam first started appearing in production engines late 1961 in 340? - 375 grossHP 327" engines... with carburetor(s) or mechanical fuel injection... until mid 1965 model year...

[@eileenmartin8997]

@@moyadapne968 to

[@MartySchorr]

The 350/370 solid lifter valvetrain was replaced with 300 hp hydraulic cam, etc before engine was originally installed in my Grifo. The 800-cfm Holley was replaced with a 600 cfm Holley for better low end response. Original finned alloy oil pan was installed on the new engine. All work was done at Motion Performance, Baldwin, NY.

[@Matteo_Licata]

Thank you very much for showing us this wonderful car. The National Automobile Museum here in Turin is currently hosting a temporary exhibition about Iso Rivolta, so I had the pleasure of seeing up close just how gorgeous the Grifo looks. It truly is one of the greatest automobile designs of all time. And sure seems it goes just as well :) Fantastic video once again, Iain. Keep them coming!

[@512bb]

I do agree with you on the dash, I was really a bit surprised as to his very negative view on it.

[@osptony]

.....back in the 60s I saw a Law School Professor come to a screaming halt at a red light. Next week before class, I saw his 250GTE or a 330 America in the parking lot, and asked if it was him that I saw. Without missing a beat he said "oh, you probably saw a Iso or a Bizzarrini"......He told that lie with so much ease I almost broke into a laugh. After that I just admired his coolness from afar. GOD but I do love cars and their stories. Thank you for your vids.

[@ScrubRadius]

As an American car guy since birth it is fun to listen to a Brit explain what is second nature to us; ie having to say who Duntov was, having to describe vacuum secondaries, and explain why the spark plugs are isolated. Though on that last point, it didn’t have to do with TV’s outside the car, it was due to the radio inside the car having a horrible, engine rpm dependent buzz on AM. Honestly, it didn’t really work, either.

[@markprendergast1718]

It's second nature to Brits mate we are a country of engineers we started the industrial revolution lol 😊

[@BeantownToBigD]

@@markprendergast1718 Don't be an obnoxious Brit. It was a compliment and said within the context of being an "American car guy"

[@gmain1977]

I Am a Brit into muscle cars, I know who Duntov , Mitchell etc are, read about them as a kid. But its good that he explains a bit of History for thoughs not in the know.

[@briancoombs885]

Yes, the LT1 came with a solid lifter camshaft. It was baically a 302 cubic inch Z28 egine with a 350 cubic engine crankshaft. Steel crank, aluminum intake manifold, bigger valves and higher compression. It was mated to a Muncie transmission, I believe the M22 "Rock Crusher", not a brg Warner. This is how I remember it, at least.

[@joewicker8599]

A country of engineers... like the ones that put oval windows in DeHavilland airliners that caused stress fractures and killed civillians?

[@Yankeededandy62]

Some comments from a long time 69 Corvette owner: The LT-1 small block was a 350cubic inches, 5.7 litre engine and was first available as an option for the 70 Corvette. It had solid lifters and a Holley carb (I believe 780cfm is correct). It was coupled with a Muncie 4-speed transmission. My guess is, you got the Muncie M21 in the ISO, with the "long" first gear, aka a wide ratio gearing. Looking at the engine bay here, it looks to me like a 327 (5.4 litre) in there. The manifold with the oil filler tube is a trademark of the 327. But I might be wrong on this one. One more thing: The LT-1 did have cast iron heads. If this was a crate engine delivered in 1969 to the ISOs owner by Zora Arkus Duntov (my personal car hero), it MIGHT have been a 350cubic inch LT-1, because the LT-1 was ready before the 70 model year for the Corvette but arrived too late in 69 to make it into regular production.

[@zakdhabalia8280]

I've been in this one and also had one at the same time as this owner. We met as I drove past this parked outside a cafe. Mine was rhd that was owned by the photographer to the Monaco Royal Family. He kept it for 40 years and I was the 3rd owner. Great car and had lots of attention.

[@nickmatthews4939]

Patrick Litchfield (Lord Litchfield) the British Royal photographer owned a Iso Grifo

[@zakdhabalia8280]

@@nickmatthews4939 it wasn’t him. I can’t remember the chaps name as he wasn’t internationally recognised name. He was English.

[@Rasscasse]

That’s an interesting story Thanks for sharing.

[@jstdrv]

The ISO Grifo is just one of the most beautiful cars ever. It's on my list which includes the Miura, Alfa 33 stradale, DeTomaso mangusta, 250 gto and LM, TVR Cerbera mk1 etc

[@Elon6of9]

U recognized all the best cars . I share the same list .

[@phils866]

I suspect you aren't the only one who fell in love with that gorgeous beast during your test. Utterly beautiful car, and that noise! I also suspect that when cars appear on your channel for a pre-sale prep, their value goes up. You couldn't get a better endorsement for a car than being through your workshop.

[@MrRea112]

Ian, your ability to put across your vast technical knowledge in an understandable manner is the mark of an excellent teacher. It takes true expertise

[@simonhodgetts6530]

Like many here, my first Iso Grifo experience was with the famous baby blue Matchbox model - to see one in the metal, and full size has made this 51 year old petrolhead very happy. What an absolute beauty! And what a noise - no wonder you’re grinning from ear to ear!

[@christiangrebe]

Me too (Matchbox model). Was one of my favorites. Was exotic since it did not show up in Top Trumps anywhere.

[@rickstorm719]

I learned to drive a stick shift when i turned 16 in 1964 on a 1964 Corvette fastback with a 365 hp 327 in it. That's why i smiled along with you as you punched that gorgeous car! A well known phenomenon shows that playing the music of their youth can revitalize an elderly person and you just played the music of my youth with your right foot! Thanks, love your work!

[@sandymilne224]

I put a 375 hp corvette 327 in the back seat of a Corvair back in the early ‘70’s. Crazy car! Crazy motor!

[@antonhoward9027]

Loved Grifos since I was a kid. I've never seen one in the flesh though I have seen Iso 5300GTs. This film has reinforced my idea of what one of these cars could be. I'm a fan of front engined GTs and to me this is at the pinnacle of the genre. Such a beautiful shape, only accentuated by that beautiful Garnet metallic paint, and I like the restrained interior, a GT should be relaxing. Imagine swanning around Monaco in the 70s in that baby!

[@gazzafloss]

Being a Jag and Triumph fan I find the "flat veneer timber" dashboard quite practical and attractive, not a detractor. A beautiful restoration, (even though not done by Tyrrells), of a lovely piece of 1960's "auto art", thankyou Iain.

[@UberLummox]

Like the engine, it's blunt and does its job perfectly. I think it's perfect as well. I guess it's slightly like the dash in my '67 Jag 420 compact with an engine a bit like the 440 in my '68 Fury. 😃

[@mv4ago]

Mike Hailwood had an Iso Grifo in which he collided with a cow in South Africa, the car was written off but subsequently rebuilt. Google images show the damage, it's a miracle he survived the collision.

[@christopherfitzgerald774]

Never mind the Iso, how is the cow doing? 🤣

[@RRSmurf]

I'm guessing they would have braai'd it 😌

[@Jonathan_Doe_]

The dashboard is exactly what you’d expect from an engine designers car company. Clear view of the gauges for both the driver and the passenger/co driver.

[@ianplummer60]

Been surrounded performance cars all my life and this stopped me in my tracks! What a drop dead stunning car, the noise and that colour!!

[@GeordieAmanda]

Breathtakingly beautiful ❤ Eloquence in metal. Imagine the sad world that will exist in 60 years time when Iain's KZbin descendants are looking at plastic blobs and discussing their remarkable charge times and number of USB ports. Stunning design like this will be in galleries that specialise in automotive artwork (and will still drive about late at night, when the green police are fast asleep, made possible by an underground network of 'real' car enthusiasts that manufacture their own fuel in hidden bunkers). I think this gorgeous and timeless design, illustrates why I don't worry when I'm told modern cars are mostly recyclable - will we ever see EVs that pull at the heart string like this car? To be fair, though, most of the Fiats and Lancias I've owned were naturally recycling themselves whilst sat on my drive.

[@devonbikefilms]

We won’t really though will we. We’ll be discussing the exotica like this not the grey porridge. 😂

[@richardstamper5630]

Wow this brings back memories. When I left school aged 15 I trained as a mechanic in a local crash repair / mot centre and general repairs garage. Alongside the workshop stood an Iso Grifo which was in a pretty poor state. It sat there for months while the owner tried to track down an new windscreen, which if I recall he never found. Everyone at the workshop hated the thing calling it Italian junk and we all applauded when it finally got towed away - Like all those others, I was a complete idiot and should have cherished it because with grown up eyes and the passage of time it's even easy for an idiot like me to see such beauty.

[@iain_tyrrell]

Don’t be too hard on yourself- we’ve all got stories like that!

[@UberLummox]

Glad you can see the beauty now. People grow & evolve & realize Nationalism is fking stupid. But I'm trying to relate. You likely had beautiful E-Types everywhere whereas here there was maybe 1 or 2 guys with Corvettes. (Never cared for them) Anyway, I've lost the plot, haha. What a car!!! 😁 👋

[@poplaurentiu4148]

@@iain_tyrrell Tank to Mr. Tyrell for such cool videos.. hard to find in real life such rare beauties those who spot them on the road should be privileged for such rare hoonicorn..

[@cepheus7850]

The paintwork on this Grifo is just sublime, didn't mind the looks of the dashboard at all either. Maybe it was just the way the sound was recorded, but it also sounds smooth and quiet at cruising speeds. Great stuff. 👍

[@lindaoffenbach]

Glorious, what else can I say. I've seen this one in the background ones or twice hoping it would be featured, and there we are. Taking us along in an Iso Grifo... I'm actually speechless..., only at Tyrrell's is this possible. I've never seen one featured on YT and the mystique around them is an understatement. These are an absolute pinnacle of stunningness. Iian, from the bottom of my heart..., thank you so much to have read my mind wishing you'd cover this one... 💓💓💓

[@iain_tyrrell]

Thank you! An absolute pleasure

[@charlie1832]

Jay Leno has a video about the Iso on his channel too

[@nickturner2813]

@lindaoffenbach It appears that you are _not_ "actually speechless".

[@lindaoffenbach]

@@nickturner2813 Metaphorically 😉

[@lindaoffenbach]

@@charlie1832 Thank you. Heaving searched it, I could find a few Bizzarinis on his channel, not an Iso Grifo. Bizzarini had been asked to develop the mechanical side for the Grifo but did not actually found Iso. The marque did exist already making refrigerators and the Isetta bubble car. Renzo Rivolta (owner of Iso) wanted to go upmarket. Anyway, no Iso Grifo on Jay's channel to be found...

[@manfredschmalbach9023]

"THE" all-time dream car of mine since I was allowed to sit on its driver's seat for a brief moment back in 1974 when my favorite aunt who also was a ralley driver dated an Iso-Grifo owner and shoe industrialist in Brescia ..... Obviously, the enthusiasm unravelled by an Iso Grifo didn't diminish over the decades. Thanks for sharing Your joy, Mr Tyrell!

[@OnTrackDetailing]

Iain , another wonderful video. Thank you so much for making this content. Even without filming and framing etc, taking time out of your day to simply present can take a lot of time up. I can only imagine how busy you are so it's appreciated you still take the time to make this content. 🙏

[@iain_tyrrell]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it

[@acrocco]

Love that you use it some minutes to running temperature! Some KZbinrs accel the cars where stone cold !! Love when you “open the tap” jeeee. Cheers from Montevideo URUGUAY Ian

[@johnlawrence9066]

Not too many years ago, whilst working for a well known restoration company , I was lucky enough to work on a Bizzarini and met him and his wife . If I remember rightly , he was compiling info for a book . Many happy years working on lots of rare makes of performance classic cars . Really enjoy your videos and technical info . Luv the " boy ish " excitement at its performance , and it reminds me of my lucky drives Keep the videos coming .

[@Slingshotgixxer]

One of my cherished toys as a kid was a blue Matchbox Iso Grifo, it seemed like a mythical unicorn of a car that no-one knew about , stunningly beautiful . So great to see you feature this car, the Italian supercars with american power plants are my dream cars , cheers

[@joewicker8599]

One of my favorite videos! As an American, the overlap cam profile, long duration, high lift is our nation's special sound. I can only guess, the gourgeous straight six sound of an XK Jag would be yours. You really explained it well!

[@claudiomarangone614]

And of course, not forgetting the cross plane crank sound

[@richarddawson5802]

😊😊😊😊😊

[@firefighterps2]

Or a Merlin V12 perhaps? 😊

[@joewicker8599]

Even Better! Helped win the War.

[@simoncarney9944]

What a beautiful car! Normally I don’t like red cars but this is the exception. The grin on your face, Ian, when you opened the taps was a sight to behold! Great video.

[@trainmanbob]

And that Iain is probably the most excited and happy I have ever seen you in a video. That is simply Utopia on wheels...it is utterly gorgeous. The sound of the engine, the stunning appearance, the Triumph 2000 dashboard (lol), what more could anyone want (apart from a De Tomaso Pantera). Thanks Iain...made my day. Cheers, Bob

[@Steve-rv1ql]

Iain’s videos are just so amazing, the best of Italy combines with the best US tech, stunningly beautiful car meets properly hardcore American V8, quite a combination. I love this channel and that sound, nothing better than a V8.

[@stephenscholes4758]

a pushrod v8 is "tech"?

[@UberLummox]

@@stephenscholes4758 When you have that much torque, who the hell cares about "tech"?

[@grumpy9478]

@@stephenscholes4758 our modern era definition of "technology" was recorded in 1859.

[@mrspandel5737]

​@@stephenscholes4758Tech is the abbreviated form of technology. So yes, american engineering is indeed "tech". Simple and effective.

[@gastondeveaux3783]

Iain , you are a genius, a maestro, a PhD in garageology, a true gentleman, and that car is an absolute work of art. Thank you for such a special video.

[@simonelliott5956]

Well that was everything I was hoping it would be, what a truly beautiful car, the small block definitely looks better than the bigger engined car’s with the storage heateresque lump on the bonnet. Great video Iain, what a privilege to drive such a beast!

[@markusdascher4181]

I think the dash is beautiful and fits the cars design perfectly. Beautiful car.

[@pasha12343]

It’s incredible how the Italians make such beautiful looking cars 👍🙂😎

[@murraydowie7032]

Iso Grifo, just absolutely stunning. Thanks again Iain for taking the time to do these videos, much appreciated 👍

[@slwtype]

The quad Webers on the Iso Grifo A3/C Bizzarrini are eye candy, but this set up with the Corvette 327 and massive Holley would be close in performance I imagine. Than you Ian and friends for showing this car

[@Haffschlappe]

You can install a Bendix 1960s fuel Injektion

[@stephenshepherd9297]

ISO Grifo is on my top 5 cars to own, if I won the lottery, Had a green matchbox car when I was younger, And I always thought they looked incredible… As stated in the video you don’t see videos of them being driven about… And that’s a shame as watching and listening to that V8, What more could you want from a car… incredible looks and amazing soundtrack 👍

[@jazzjokesjalopies]

This rare beast could not be in better hands. Thanks for sharing it with us.😊

[@local56]

I've always believed car design should be considered art, this car alone backs my claim. Another beautiful classic, another lesson in car history, thank you again Mr Tyrrell.

[@lewisgeyer1440]

Your passion for anything automobile is infectious.

[@anglodutch8321]

I remember gawking at this car at age 16 in a dealership window in Amsterdam around 1970 (?) What an absolute beauty.

[@verdict1163]

I think my favorite part of Iain's videos besides the amazing cars is the fact that I usually learn a new vocabulary word with each viewing. This episode: diffident.

[@charliejackman2953]

Tyrellisms?

[@jimanderson1355]

Thank you for the overview of this magnificent automobile, which is a rare bird indeed. As you know by now, the LT1 was a 5.7, 350 cu. Inch with 11.0-1 compression, high-rise aluminum intake and solid lifter cam. Corvette did offer a 350hp. 327 with a hydraulic cam in ‘65 -68, which for all intents and purposes was the equal of the 365hp L76 327 without the valve lash hassle. Good tuners lashed the 30-30 cam at 26-26. Given the aluminum heads and modern hydraulic lobe design It’s small wonder you were having a delightful time! Bravo!

[@crimsonghost6454]

The style and luxury of an Italian exotic paired with the power of an American muscle car is epic. What is there not to like? What a great machine!

[@BullittHilts]

Your channel is my absolute favorite car channel on KZbin - the unique variety of vehicles you get to service, learning about the history as well as some of the techniques to tuning these vehicles is simply wonderful. One of the most beautiful cars I’ve ever seen, thank you for sharing! Much thanks from a life-long car nut in the States.

[@sdc8547]

Haven't seen one of these in a long time. What a car! I'll never tire of admiring Italian classics like this. 👍

[@daveshongkongchinachannel]

I've lost count of the number of times I've watched one of these videos and come away thinking, there can't be many more really special cars left that he hasn't already done. Of course, each time another video comes out I am reminded of yet another rare classic I had long forgotten about.

[@stevennazar2102]

What a stunning car,the paintwork is absolutely flawless, credit to the restoration company.😍😍

[@martnfreeman3899]

Many Thanks Iain for the presentation of this car! In the late 80s I visited a fellow student who was inherited a farm. In the barn he showed me (besides other things) a Grifo which was for sale. I could have bought it for 70k DM (35k€) but at that time I neither had money, knowledge or time. This car is a real thoroughbread! It's not small and very impressive, still very elegant till today.

[@vintagevinylvets1187]

Thank you so much for sharing this Iso with your audience. Another great example of why we watch your channel-cheers!🙏🏻🏁

[@-ZIO]

I suspect that Ian did not expect this channel would achieve such a level of popularity. I also suspect Ian did not expect his channel would achieve this level if significance in automobile history or this much adoration across the globe. Ian has filled a void for those of us born before 1970. And some of us Italians too :) Ciao

[@iain_tyrrell]

Thank you- you’re right!

[@jesper.schmidt]

One of the prettiest cars ever built. Simply amazing looks.

[@Haffschlappe]

Dont forget the Leyland Princess 2200 HLS!

[@stephenboitoult8774]

This car has been top of my lottery list since I was 12 years old in 1967. Simply the most stunning car ever made.

[@dekkerlundquist5938]

Probably the most beautiful car ever made. What a thing!

[@clivefrear1784]

My all-time favourite car! I have only ever seen two on the road and they are truly stunning! And almost unheard of! My second all-time favourite in the background! Muira a close second…..

[@markscungio2996]

An American V8, properly "hotted-up", and put into a Detomasso, Bristol, Iso, Jensen...just such a GREAT combination!!!!

[@billturner6564]

That's the most beautiful car I've ever seen in my life

[@blackbuttecruizr]

Being an American who grew up on lumpy V8's, I too appreciate the sound and performance.

[@aja4191]

I was a young boy in 1970/1 & I had a Merak, a Miura and an Iso Grifo. My favourite toy cars to play with. I wish I had them now.

[@davidpaulfogarty2287]

Stunning car, great review. Loved every minute. Especially liked the very big grin on Iain's face when he opened the taps. Great to see such a wonderful car restored so nicely and still bringing such joy.

[@kwitee]

My absolute favourite, ever since I saw an ad for it in the 80s. Bizzarrini, Bertone, Guigiaro, Chevy V8, this is what you would drive having come back from the Moon.

[@strongereveryday2302]

The smile on your face when you got on the power was awesome! Looked like a LOT of fun :)

[@dappergent9422]

Totally agree.

[@sandymilne224]

I spent my last years of high school hot rodding Chevy motors in cars, THEN I went backpacking in Europe in 1972. While in Sitges, Spain, I hung around with a British motorcycle racer who had a shop. In that shop, he had a yellow ISO Griffin he was working on. I remember that so well because of it’s beautiful styling. Great memories!

[@redkite6752]

Yes so wonderful to see this cat combining Italian design flare and American muscle. I like that you give due credit to the functional simplicity yet superlative performance of these American engines.

[@berndbanken3256]

This car brings back special memories... It was the time of IAA in Frankfurt in the seventies when a friend worked for Auto Becker in Dusseldorf, the german importer for Iso Rivolta. His job was, to bring the smaller Iso Lele from Dusseldorf again to Frankfurt airport/AirFrance plane with destination Paris - Salon d'automobile. It looked like a fast job-the second car to join and to bring back the drivers to Dusseldorf was an Opel Commodore GSE, a not so slow car... Today those sensible cars will be transferred in close trailers, but at that time rolling on it's own wheels was the task. The journey started excellent - the Iso in front kept the left lane on the highway A3 free from smaller cars and the Commodore with me as the driver followed close behind... the Iso was mutch faster and disappeared a few kilometers until i could see him standing on the emergency stripe with a dead engine. Pulling the Lele to the next gas station and pumping petrol direct from the pistol into the carburettor brought life back to the engine for 30 seconds...verdict: interruption of gas hose from tank to engine...solution: towing the 100 km to Frankfurt because the tight departure schedule. Long story short, the fast towing was ok until the right rear wheel lost most of its nuts and the wheel stuck in the wheel arch. It was directly in the Frankfurter Kreuz where many highways come together like spaghetti. Separeting the cars my friend my friend tried to get tools for the 22/24? nuts and some minutes later he came back driving backwards with the Opel. Minutes we arrived at the Air France office to check in the Lele and the first question was "Is there gas in the tank?" We replied that this V8 engine is so thirsty, that from Düsseldorf to Frankfurt the tank must be almost dry... This saturday trip was the most challenging drive i ever made in a car. I guess that this Lele was nearly hand built and should have been put in a trailer. Happy end😅 A guy im my small hometown owned the bigger version of the Grifo: the 7 ltr. Grifo Lusso with the raised bonnet - funny looking🥹

[@kevingrant918]

My all time favorite Italian car!

[@gp92510]

This was my dream car...1970...thank you Tyrrell for this...I'm ever more pleased that you love it as well...🎉

[@petemorris6191]

Excellent episode and what a weapon that sixties icon is. .. and yes: we do want to see a nerdy expose of the overlapping valve opening effect. Thanks Ian!

[@iain_tyrrell]

Looks like we’ll need to do a video on that…

[@mrentertainer47]

Very interesting! When I was in the Royal Navy in the late 60's I was hitch-hiking home for a long weekend and a lady stopped by in her Iso Grifo and gave me a lift for several miles before she had to turn off my route. Until I saw this video, I have never heard anything mentioned about this sports car over the many years since then. I am clearly a lucky person to have had that experience - and the lady even bought me a meal;. a great memory!

[@miamimo70]

Oh yes ! Beautiful car, the door cards are a work of art ! Look at the rear glass, very much like my boattail Buick Riviera. Waiting for a Monteverdi 375 next ❤

[@neuzeehland]

That again was a pleasure to watch. Thanks for sharing your pleasure driving that wonderful car.

[@mrdainase]

What an absolute beauty. I think you were a bit reluctant to hand the keys back for this!

[@paulwalker6297]

Another great video about a truly fabulous car which was something our Italian friends excelled at doing back then. Thanks Ian 🙂👍🙂

[@iain_tyrrell]

Pleasure- thank you

[@geoffreydemaesschalck6065]

What an absolutely fantastic car. Stunningly beautiful!!! I used to play with a blue Matchbox version as a kid. How I would love to own one... Good for getting pizza, right Iain 😂Edit after reading the other comments: I was not the only one with that blue Matchbox car!

[@seal010101]

Me, too! Blue Matchbox!

[@petergardner5002]

I had a blue Corgi model too

[@UberLummox]

The youngsters here had the light blue one. But us old bastards here had (still have) the dark blue one!

[@Davidm1956]

I fell in love with these cars in the mid sixties. I think I would have been about 10 - 11 years old. I thought they were simply stunning. And I had forgotten all about them until this video. Thanks for reviving that memory!

[@phillm156]

Beautiful design. Itallian style with American muscle! Great video Ian. During the drive, you sounded like a proper American gearhead😂

[@danielmendricks7205]

!, myself being an American must say the best thing about our V8 engines is all the mid-range torque they produce! But I still love the sound of a flat-plane crank as well. Great Video!

[@paddle_shift]

The 1970 LT1 had mechanical cam not hydraulic, standard aluminum cylinder heads (w/ iron block) 11.0 to 1 compression pistons. Also, the shielding on the corvette ignition was there so one could listen to their own radio in the car. But it did have the secondary benefit of preventing "drive by" TV interference.

[@BuzzLOLOL]

1970 LT1 350 came with iron heads... 1991 EFI LT1 350 came with aluminum heads in Vettes, iron heads in other vehicles...

[@paddle_shift]

@BuzzLOLOL You are correct. I intended to type aluminum INTAKE with iron heads but i obviously lost my train of thought and typed cylinder instead.

[@BuzzLOLOL]

@@paddle_shift - LOL! You lost it again... meant heads, not cylinder... that 50 year old info can be hard to keep straight... surprised youtube allowed my link above to stay in...

[@vandalorianvandalorian4769]

I’ve owned a 1970 Corvette LT-1. What an engine. This car is so beautiful!

[@jeffarchibald3837]

The best US engined exotic by far. Stunning.

[@papaloongie]

Bizzarini no slouch either.

[@philroder4878]

Best of both worlds-Italian design and All-American muscle...Thanks Zora...

[@stephenmeehan9961]

Some car and definitely a rare one for anyone to own.... Just love to hear you explain the mechanical aspect of all parts... Class video

[@barryvyner1161]

Iso Grifo: never heard of them, never seen one before but damn, I want one! Agree completely wth Iain's assessment of the looks - it is stunning. Possibly the best looking car I've ever seen. Also, can't go wrong with an exhaust note like that.

[@Brookspirit]

Sometimes you should meet your heroes. I've always loved this car, it's good to know it's also great to drive.

[@rockatansky1305]

I've loved Iso's for years and the Grifo in particular, achingly beautiful, in fact I would go as far to say that it is the most beautifully shaped car ever created, thank you for the indulgence.

[@lfo414]

I had a blue toy one as a kid in the 70s {still got it!) 45 years later I heard one roar for the first time. Thankyou Mr. Tyrrell.

[@wheresfekkesh7375]

Matchbox 😀

[@lfo414]

@@wheresfekkesh7375 with the pharoahs btw.

[@andrewcooney2387]

Me too the same.

[@johnboth5262]

I had one as well. Disappeared during my mother’s purge of my room while away on vacation with grandparents. 😠

[@robertmaitland09]

Me too!

[@lorisherman-lh9gq]

So proud to say that I grew up right near the Chevy factory that built these bulletproof V-8s 26:58 in various configurations for decades in Tonawanda NY, just a few miles from Niagara Falls. The plant continues to pump out all sizes of GM engines including big V-8s that are badged for Volvo.

[@TomSnyder--theJaz]

That road trip had me laughin' and smiling! Well done, Iain. Cheers

[@Elon6of9]

Thanku for a fantastic driving experience.

[@DavidDatura]

Gorgeous car! The rear end in particular, with the way the body curves wrap around the rear light clusters is stunning! And a lovely color too, is it factory? I’d imagine a Chevy small-block V8 would be the ideal motor back then for a front-mid engined application like this, due to its relatively compact size, as compared to a traditional Italian V12 anyway. And due to its rarity, this video by default is probably the best one of its type on KZbin now, pertaining to the Iso Grifo 😁

[@aussiebloke609]

Its compact size and its reliability. Another engine I would have loved to find in there is the Alfa Montreal's 2.6 V8 (or the Alfa 33 Stradale engine it was based on, including its flat place crank) - but their reliability (or lack thereof) just wouldn't cut it in my book.

[@user-vv9zo4sc4k]

One of my bosses back in 1971 had one of these ISO’s and I can remember drooling over it it was gorgeous and the sound of it going up the road was music to your senses