THE RED GRIFO - Iso Grifo documentary short film

The Red Grifo recounts a family’s multigenerational influence of a rare automobile that bore the signatures of automotive icons like Bizzarini and Giugiaro. Learn the unique history of a small, family-based, car company in Bresso that welded high Italian design together with American muscle to form one of the most desirable gran touring cars of all time, the Iso Grifo.
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2016 | directed by Guy Smith
Documentary Short Film | 20 mins
Official Selection:
2016 London Motor Film Festival
2016 Charlotte Film Festival
2017 Beaufort International Film Festival
2017 Amelia Motoring Film Exhibition
Special Screenings:
2016 Vintage Auto Film Exhibition
2017 Cobble Beach Concours d'Elegance
2018 Hershey Concours d'Elegance
The Red Grifo is currently available to screen at film festivals and special invitation screening events.
For media inquiries, more information and screening licenses please contact: popcornoctane at gmail.com Electronic Press Kit available upon request.
©2016-2019 Popcorn Octane, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Music in this film is used under license from rights holders.
Original Score Composed by Scott Hampton
www.scotthampto...
Additional licensed music:
"Italian Gigogo" by Konrad Kania
"Italian Way of Life" by On Both Sides
"Inspiring Ambient" by bdProductions
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Tech: 1080P, 24FPS, Dolby 5.1

[@francescotrevisan4453]

I was born on Jan 30, 1963 in Milan and my parents at the time lived in Bresso, right across the street from the Iso factory and a few blocks from the Villa Rivolta. My father used to hold me while at window overlooking the factory and the small test track, Iso motos and Iso Rivoltas used to rev their engines and honk their horns for us.

[@Silodrome]

This is such a well-done film, miles better than most of the car shows on television.

[@thomasmulhall4873]

Amen!

[@betaorionis2164]

15:46 Must be one of the extremely rare occasions in which two of the 400 Iso Grifos produced can be seen together in a picture, outside the factory or classic car shows.

[@kycklingsallad2414]

I wish that was my car... To the person who filmed this, if you're not a professional, you should be. Really excellent production. Not just showing those beautiful cars to the rest of us, but also the remarkable story Mr Frank told us. Really well done! Thank you.

[@TheLRider]

Beautiful on so many levels. Congratulations.

[@octaviopicavet4763]

Thank you, for this red beauty ! when I was a little boy, and I was on vacation in St Tropez with my parents, this car (a red Grifo) was parked at our Hotel 'Coste'. The chauffeur of the owner of a yacht in St Tropez, stayed at our hotel. He took me for a ride .....I never forgot this sensation ! I am 63 now, but this brings a big smile on my face ...

[@thomasmulhall4873]

I have been a docent at the SF Auto Show, San Francisco. You never know how the little feller who you just let see an engine up close, or sit in a car may become!

[@Tardis216]

Just like the man said: when I was a child, my blue Matchbox Iso Grifo was my favourite toy car. So rare in Europe, I never saw a real one. Thanks for the upload.

[@paultucker1272]

What a fantastic story!

[@fredtracy1673]

Come on guys, admit it, this story tugged at your heart strings! I did to mine.

[@fernarias]

I kept thinking, his mom sold the car. She must have hated that car.

[@HumanityWillPrevail]

Stunning. No other word for it. The Iso Grifo is a hell of a car and this example is achingly beautiful.

[@normandunckley3926]

In the early 2000's i was in Monte Carlo and seen a Iso Grifo my blood went cold it was beautiful i knew what it was. After 1/2 hour of slobbering and drooling the owner appeared. I told him i had "the match box car" as a child. He opened the glove box and pulled out the exact same one ( blue as yours is). When he started it up the sound OMG. The Iso Grifo & Facel Vega my 2 dream cars

[@timrogers1857]

What a wonderful story ❤

[@brianeddy6937]

Without question the Iso Grifo is perfection on four wheels. I vividly remember in1977 touring Italy and noticing one in a paddock all but over grown. It hounds me to this very day. Safe and happy motoring.

[@Pauley_in_GP]

Incredible story and a great video of one of the most gorgeous sports cars ever! Well-done! You took your dad's legacy and created a new one for your daughter. Wow. That's so precious. (You know, this is one place where KZbin shines - delivering wonderful old stories like this to the future.)

[@matiasdamian8106]

I almost cried when the guy told you he bought your dad's grifo... what a amazing story that shows how SMALL this world is, great video!

[@gro9465]

A truly remarkable story indeed.

[@keyboarddancers7751]

The standard of some independently produced documentaries is quite exquisite. This is a wonderful example.

[@PopcornOctaneProductions]

Thank you!

[@jmsjms296]

Super polished production. Fits the car well.

[@petergoose8164]

This beats all of the puffed up videos of rich guys exotica hands down. It's the real deal from an absolute enthusiast. The quality and content are superb.

[@Rog5446]

When this car reached the UK in the 60s, it was the fastest road car at 160mph. I lived in London, possibly the only place in the UK where you could see a Grifo, and I saw one and fell in love. I've seen a few over the years and lately at car shows and I always make a Bee-line to one at a show. It's true that the Ferrari 250 GTO would have looked like this if Bizzarrini had not left Ferrari.

[@markbehr88]

One of my all time favourite cars.

[@jjefferyworboys8138]

I have never enjoyed a car video as much. I agree with your daughter, you can never sell it. Having both Grifo's, now that would be really something.

[@user-sb3dg8ch5m]

Really nice story 😊👍… I also had a blue matchbox ISO Grifo 😊…I understand you sooo good😊… we are all petrolheads in our family … my mom 92 years old drives allways her 1982 Porsche 911SC , which she bought 1982 as new… and me ? When I was 8 years old , I was with my father at the Nürburgring / Germany and I saw first time my dream car , a Shelby Daytona Coupé…and as time goes by, 2019 I found a superformance continuation car , got connection to Peter Brock ( now 86) , the designer of all Daytona Coupes … and with his help , we restored 4 years the Daytona and now it is ready to rumble😊 …. Very sad , that I can t put some pictures in here. Best regards from Germany, Bernd

[@JDSFLA]

The story of your connection to this car, and how fate brought you back to your father's Grifo, is as touching as this car is beautiful.

[@uweheinrich6784]

wonderful story....I was born in 1965 and grew quickly into a petrohead....The Iso Grifo became my first dream car (prior to any Porsche LOL) when I saw a picture of it in an auto card game for kids. It was depicted and described as a 300 HP car, which was performance from another planet back in the days as young boy growing up in Germany. Later, I got it as a matchbox car and it remained my favorite car for a very long time. Now, I am a Porsche man but the ISO always stayed with me. As you and your family know, there is something magical about the car. I like to think that BMW got inspiration for the 4 round head lights by ISO and the Corvette in the 60 had a similar hood.....So, automotive competition paid the biggest compliments to Iso Grifo by copying some trademark styling clues......To this day, the Iso Grifo remains stunning.....

[@matthewlee1498]

This is a LOVE story. Not only the love to car also family love. Well done.

[@MsSoulProvider]

Saw this film in Lockdown and I realised that it sums up a few things that are essential to the most of us: - Memories make us be who we are and give each one of us our identities - If you dont have passion in your life ( regardless of your age) you're just as good as dead

[@rogermouton2273]

When he called it voluptuous, he was exactly right. Like many Italian cars of this era, this is rolling art. You could spend hours staring at this car and admiring the details. Spectacular

[@ragazzi25]

Bertone, Bizzarini, Giugiaro, Rivolta, Frua, the list goes on and on...Italy was making some incredible cars in the 60/70s!!!!

[@astrafalustre8259]

My favourite car since I got my Matchbox SF 14A minicar as a kid. Beautiful story here.

[@franciscoespirito-santo3121]

At nearly 62 years of age, I still recall my childhood's Matchbox miniature ISO GRIFO. Magical times!

[@scottbowers7248]

Beautiful story,Beautiful Car

[@beatglauser9444]

I had several favourite cars in my life. But probably the rarest and most desirable of all of them was the Iso Grifo. I know this car since I am a little child and I come from a family that was very fond of Italian sportcars. My Grandpa owned Alfa Romeos an Maseratis in the Fifties and early Sixties. I have seen and touched many Ferraris and Lambos, Maseratis, Aston Martins and such. My Dad used to work on them in his body shop. But the Grifo is a very, very rare car. I have only seen one in my life and it was parked in a showroom of a classic car dealer. My father had been working in a body shop where he had still learned to build one of cars from scratch. The other two cars I was nearly as fanatic was the Maserati Ghibli, (also a quite rare car, but I have touched the Convertible and the Coupe) and maybe the Ferrari 275 GTB. Nothing beats the classic high class GT cars of the Fifites and Sixties. The other Iso Rivoltas like the Lele and the Rivolta never made my blood boil like the (earlier )Grifo. Those cars are undescribable!

[@fb3824]

Really identifed with this story. The memories your daughter has formed with your red car, the connection to your father. Brought me to tears, very touching!

[@greycats99]

Stories like that are the ones that bring tears to a man's eyes. Thank you.

[@beatglauser9444]

The Grifo is like high class wine: It gets onyl better with age. The lines of the cars seem to get prettier and prettier each time you look at it. If you look at Giugiaro's Fiat Dino Coupe, the influence is obvious: It is a toned down version of the Grifo. I own GM cars of the Sixties and some classic Italian cars as well. I like the reliability of the GM mechanics. Combined with Italian suspension and body work you obviously have the best of two worlds.

[@arisgod2749]

My parents had a garage they rented out in the late 70s to a used car dealer that wanted the space. Usually, he had jaguar E types, plenty of Alfas GTVs (I love these cars also) and once he actually had a Muira S for sale that was around 32K in 1981. But the car that struck me silly was a Bizzarini GT 3500 and one of these. Both were in the low 20s for sale if I remember right. To this day I wish the old man bought either one and kept it, I begged him to do it but he was not a gearhead like me.

[@TheJensenInterceptor]

I loved everything - I love Iso Grifo's - I had the chance to buy 2 in the 1980's but that's history now, one was in boxes, oh how I kick myself. Love them for ever.

[@VesaGuardian]

A beautiful car and a beautiful story behind it. And the cinematography was out of this world.

[@automotivetestdriver3473]

Big compliments. You bring me on tears with all this romantic Beauty. When the the passion takes over everything...Thanks Sir

[@darticulate8751]

Just so beautiful , the car & the commentary too, thank you !

[@christianmichael1970]

Ive lost count how many times ive watched this over the last few years. It jumped in my head today while building a slide show for my best friends fathers funeral and I saw his dad with a car in his youth, the later in life. It reminded me of this wonderful story and I sent him a link to this video. Naturally, I had to enjoy it again myself :0)

[@albertseabra9226]

A fantastic video, a fabulous Car, a moving story! The quality of this documentary is first-class. Absolutely superb. Move over, Hollywood! I totally related to your amazing life experience -- the Twilight Zone truly exists. Thank you -- a powerful, poetic and tasteful rendition. Warm Regards, Albert

[@leno4920]

A beautiful Work of Art that captures a truly beautiful Work of Art..... An exquisite exhibit of automotive pleasure from Start-up to Park-up. I'm still smiling at the joy of it. Thanks.

[@RogerBaileyOnCars]

i had the exact same matchbox car which is why I've always remembered the Iso Grifo, thanks for the memory, great video.

[@gro9465]

What a truly remarkable story, tearjerkingly moving. Strange how cars can affect us like this. We are fortunate to have a small collection of motor cars dating from 1920 to 1997 of Rolls Royce and Bentley, and some others, E type etc. all were acquired new by my Great Grandfather whom I remember vividly as a small child, my Grandfather and my father. I have very happy memories of being in all of them with my relatives, and my father and I still use all of them regularly today. I could never part with any of them, we are the custodians for our children and their childen. As difficcult as it must have been not to have sold your car to buy your Dad's, I can empathise with the predicament, however, you are creating a legacy for your children, and hopefully their children too. Perhaps one day the owner may choose to sell you his car, then everything will be complete. My kindest thanks for this presenation, one of the most enjoyable I ever watched 🙏

[@grifo327]

I have owned a red Grifo exactly the same as this for 19 years and have done over 90,000km in it. I’ve smiled every time I got in it the same as Darren. They are a truly remarkable car. So glad to see such a wonderful story.

[@anridapu]

grifo327 I’m jealous! Are you located in Australia by any chance?

[@grifo327]

anridapu Hi yes, I am in Australia, not far from Newcastle. Have you seen my car ? It’s the only red one in Australia.

[@anridapu]

grifo327 Yes, we communicated briefly several years ago just after I’d learned of your car when it was featured in ‘Unique Cars’ magazine. So pleased to hear you’re still owning and enjoying it!

[@nigelsandeman2642]

My favourite car of all time. First saw one in the Observers book of Automobiles 1966, then Corgi 7 litre, which I still have.

[@whogivesacrap84]

Beautiful story

[@frankdaelemans4488]

What a beautiful story and what a beautiful car. This is a magnificent film, congratulations to the makers and to the owner of the Iso Grifo. One of the best car films I've ever seen on KZbin. Authentic to the core.

[@gr8pony727]

I parked next to one at the Irvine Cars & Coffee 8 yrs ago. Same red color, but faded and showing wear of a car it’s age. People walked by it like it was nothing, while I just stood there gawking at it. Great car, great story.

[@cyanah5979]

Great car, lovely story, beautiful video. Very well done, thanks for sharing. My daughter somehow has the same relationship to our 911 - the car was 3 days old, she was a lovely school girl strapped into the rear seat and enjoyed my drift escapades when suddenly she felt sick and vometed all over the place. Now that the car was 'baptized', it became clear we had to keep it for her. She grew up with it, I taught her how to drive it, and eventually she made her driving licence with it. Although still referred as 'Daddy's Porsche', it's her everyday car now and she will pass it on to her children.

[@DrivingwithGloves]

What a fantastic story. I loved watching it.

[@philc4520]

A beautiful, well articulated, heart warming family story. Thank you & well done!

[@isosaab5843]

That's the best Iso stoy I ever seen! Very much love within it make it fantastic! Thank you Darren Frank!

[@h.r.puffnstuff8705]

Wonderful cinema.

[@babibabi4800]

"An Iso Rivolta is unique." Thank you Darren. Your film is perfect. You caught very well the grace and the seduction of this fantastic car. One of the most fascinating gifts in automobile history ! (I am actually restoring my #097 Iso Fidia). Fabien. (in FRANCE).

[@Marthaviews]

The Iso Grifo is my number 1 car. Not many people know about them, even car enthusiasts. I would love to own one. This was a fabulous film. I am sure l will watch it many times. Cheers

[@suzyolsen4820]

Most beautiful car ever made.

[@waynesimpson2074]

The production values on this video match the subject matter. The camera framing/angles/composition/ lighting are very well thought out and downright gorgeous. Thank you.

[@joecatetal3889]

jeez this hit every car guy button...awesome story!

[@INDIGOBLUE555]

Touching story indeed....The Iso Rivolta Grifo was in my teenager's dreams.My dad was a car guy and for years he took me to the Turin car show which was a higly celebrated event back then.I still have bright recollection of the Iso Rivolta stand....As a grown-up guy I used to own several high performance cars,albeit I could never afford an Iso Grifo...its unrivalled appeal still is in my dreams. Thanks a lot for the upload.

[@mikeroberts5646]

This guy has the same Love and deep passion as I have for my 1970 Dodge Charger,People including my Wife don’t get that, Born and raised in Germany under difficult circumstances I experienced many of these Sports cars mine at the time loving the Lamborghini Maura and the De tomasa Pantera ,living in ILLinois I will die with the Passion that he has Thanks graciously for showing this Video

[@keithsclassicgarage1133]

I had the opportunity to see one in person many years ago. A top tier exotic.

[@classix0707658904]

Awesome video with good information about the Iso brand and very touching story.

[@mohammednkhan7667]

Lovely!!!! And I still have my metallic blue Matchbox car from the 70's!!

[@robertmagee8223]

Beautiful car...your Dad would be proud 👏

[@voight-kampff3611]

In the league of the De Tomaso; beautiful italian design with american power again. Thank you so much for the lovelely video.

[@studio-flash]

The worlds best engine Corvette V8..Bizzarrini said he wanted a Corvette engine for bulletproof reliability..unlike the ferrari. This car is better looking than a ferrari gto ...lambo or anything else out there. 190mph supercar and that V8 sound...wow! They drove it to Le Mans..won Le Mans then drove it home...beautiful..wow what a car.

[@anridapu]

A magnificent tribute to a magnificent car -one of my all time faves - and beautifully filmed too. The night driving scene at around 11:30 was incredibly evocative! Kudos and well done. Thanks for posting this.

[@colinwatson4123]

A wonderful story from a true enthusiast

[@tabyomper4745]

A great story and what a fabulous car

[@bandicoot2016]

Fantastic story....this is what a great car can bring to a family. Enjoy.

[@arielert1563]

GRACIAS POR LA CALIDAD Y BUEN GUSTO .......

[@ajmavb]

I am from the Netherlands and as a kid I had a photo of an Iso Grifo on the wall of my bedroom. Thank you for bringing back memories.

[@uwesalzmann3398]

Beautyful car, two good fathers, great story. Gave me goosebumps :-)

[@petyrkowalski9887]

Wonderful. Great car and what a nice guy. A labour of true love. The Grifo is more than a work of art...its a time machine to a byegone age.

[@Automobiliart]

Wonderfully done little film ... bravo to the director and bravo to Darren for telling this story!

[@davidraezer5937]

That video really captured it. Awesome production!

[@rockatansky1305]

Enzo Ferrari once said that the Jaguar E-type was the most beautiful car ever, if it is then the Grifo is more than a very close second, stunning !

[@anridapu]

Rocka tansky The XK-E is indeed very pretty (especially the earlier cars) but to my eye the Grifo just nips it by a pinch! 👍

[@studio-flash]

Better looking than an e-type..better engine. Then again a 1967 or 1969 Corvette coupe are better than the jag in my opinion.

[@inigomontoya6806]

My father was one who bought a BMW Isetta, which in turn funded this wonderful car. If I had a choice between the two, I would choose the Isetta, for you can't ignore a connection like that. I loved the video and the story.

[@snakeconsulthailand767]

Thank you very much to share with us your very emotional memories with this beautiyfull car. P.S. i had the same Matchbox Car

[@Nogitaman]

Class car, class story, class gentleman - class EVERYTHING! Felt the twist coming; gave me goosebumps! Thanks so much :-)

[@yankee2yankee216]

Great little documentary, personal, well-made and about a truly GREAT car. I LOVED it.

[@pieterk4960]

What a wonderful story of a outrageously beautiful car. Iso is the best that ever came from Italy.

[@thomaspotschka5618]

I had a matchbox car, too. It had a steering knob at the side, that makes this matchbox car unique. Thank you, for reminding

[@jorgemsandrade]

Come on!! What a beautiful story! You deserve to own that car, it's part of you and a legacy for your daughter. Congratulations Sir!

[@ashleyrhodes9974]

Beautifully produced film and exquisite Grifo.

[@cableguy786]

Great story great car I want one

[@twcmaker]

Beautifully filmed and produced. Found myself in tears when the guy answered the phone.

[@oddvin31]

THX popcornoctane.com, for this beautiful automotive story of one of the worlds most stellar automobiles! 🙏🏼 1❤️

[@PopcornOctaneProductions]

Our pleasure, glad you enjoyed it.

[@oddvin31]

@@PopcornOctaneProductions 😊

[@4WDIESEL1]

truly beautiful, brings tears to my eyes that some one could design something that bring pleasure to one just by looking at it.

[@larrycork1420]

this is why the italians have a reputation for art

[@anthonyxuereb792]

So true

[@LaSouthernGemini]

Good call.

[@AMCmachine]

Magnificent!! I have read and heard about them for years but never seen one that I know of. I think I recall one of the Motion Performance guys had a performance-tuned Grifo--not Joel Rosen, maybe it was Marty Schorr? I'd have to go back and check my history of Motion book I bought several years ago. I think the final run had Ford Boss 351s and I know some were big block Chevys as well. Compares nicely with one of my lifelong dream cars, the DeTomaso Pantera. (There was actually one in my neighborhood in the early '80s when I was 8 or 9 years old. Even then you didn't spot a Pantera every day.) The elusive Intermeccanica Omegas and Italias may be the rarest of all these Italian-American "hybrids." Just a handful made with Ford's 289 and 351. Hope I get to see a Grifo and a Mangusta in person someday. Thanks for sharing, great video!! : D

[@ProgMindProductions]

Happy to hear my track at the beginning . Really cool documentary!

[@PopcornOctaneProductions]

Music to our ears! Thank you for your help.

[@That_AMC_Guy]

6:40 the picture of Giotto Bizzarini has him standing next to - of all things - the aborted 1970 American Motors AMX/3 built by Bizzarini!! Very cool.

[@CPBassman]

What a truly beautiful machine, to be the natural engineering evolution of the Ferrari 250gto says it all really. Perfection from every angle and they should release an Mp3 of the engine and gearbox working. Art on wheels.

[@bretthatfield2516]

Love this! I love that this story belongs to one of my friends! Amazing story, Darren!

[@schubertjorg7428]

In the early 70's I had such a car in turquoise blue. I had about 50 cars and this was my favorite car. It was a model of the "Matchbox"-brand.

[@terryorcutt8739]

Thank you SO much for making this video! The Grifo is one of my all time favorites (yes, I had the Matchbox). One of Giugiaro's masterpieces, truly. Wonderful family story, too. Cheers!

[@SilverSurfer5150]

Such a beautiful machine, especially in red, it’s the only colour true Italian super cars should be in. I had a Matchbox model of the Grifo back in the 1970s, and the one in the video is just concours level pristine and a tribute to its owner. Really enjoyed the video!