In the pantheon of Italian grand tourers, names like Ferrari and Lamborghini dominate the conversation. Yet, nestled among these legends is a lesser-known but equally fascinating machine: the Iso Rivolta Lele. Produced between 1969 and 1974 by Iso Autoveicoli S.p.A., the Lele was a stylish 2+2 coupé designed to compete with the Lamborghini Espada and Maserati Mexico.
What makes the 1971 Lele particularly special is its combination of right-hand-drive configuration and the Chevrolet 327 V8 engine, a pairing that is exceptionally rare and highly sought after by collectors today.
Iso: The Company
Iso Autoveicoli S.p.A., commonly known as Iso, was an Italian automotive company founded by engineer Renzo Rivolta. Originally established in 1939 as Isothermos, the firm produced refrigeration units before shifting to motorbikes and scooters after World War II. In 1953, Rivolta rebranded the company as Iso Autoveicoli and entered the automobile market with a bold idea: a microcar that bridged the gap between motorcycles and traditional cars. This vision led to the creation of the Iso Isetta, a vehicle that would become iconic in post-war Europe.
Iso Isetta: originally an Iso, not a BMW
The Isetta debuted at the Turin Motor Show in 1953 and was immediately recognised for its unconventional design. Compact and egg-shaped, it featured a single front-opening door that swung out with the steering wheel, simplifying entry in tight spaces. Powered by a 236cc two-stroke motorcycle engine, the Isetta was economical and practical, achieving impressive fuel efficiency at a time when Europe faced fuel shortages and economic hardship.
Though it sold modestly in Italy, Iso licensed the design internationally. Manufacturers in France, Brazil, and notably BMW in Germany produced versions of the Isetta, with BMW’s model becoming a massive success and helping rescue the company from financial trouble. Over 160,000 BMW Isettas were sold, dwarfing Iso’s original production.
While Iso later shifted focus to luxury grand tourers like the Rivolta GT and Grifo, the Isetta remains a landmark in automotive history—a symbol of ingenuity and adaptability during an era of recovery and change.
1971 Iso Rivolta Lele: Origins and Design
The Lele was conceived as a personal gift from Piero Rivolta to his wife Rachelle, nicknamed “Lele,” and later evolved into a production model to replace the ageing Iso Rivolta IR 300. Styled by Marcello Gandini at Bertone, the Lele features angular lines, a dramatic fastback roof, and semi pop-up headlamps—hallmarks of Gandini’s design language during the era. Its proportions were bold yet elegant, echoing the Espada while maintaining a distinct identity.
1971 Iso Rivolta Lele: Engineering Excellence
Underneath its Italian skin lay a chassis engineered by Giotto Bizzarrini, the same genius behind the Ferrari 250 GTO. The Lele employed a pressed steel platform with unequal-length double wishbones up front and a De Dion rear axle with Watts linkage, delivering a blend of comfort and handling prowess. Four-wheel disc brakes and rear being inboard units (using a Jaguar diff) underscored its sophisticated engineering, for the day.
1971 Iso Rivolta Lele: The Chevrolet 327 V8
From 1969 to 1972, Iso sourced engines from General Motors, fitting the Lele with the legendary Chevrolet small-block V8. In 1971, the 327 cubic-inch (5.4-litre) engine was offered in two states of tune:
- 300 hp with automatic transmission
- 350 hp with manual gearbox
Coupled to either a 4-speed GM Muncie manual, a ZF 5-speed, or a GM-sourced automatic, the Lele delivered effortless performance and a top speed approaching 155 mph (249 km/h)—impressive figures for a four-seat GT of its time.
1971 Iso Rivolta Lele: Right-Hand-Drive Rarity
Numbers vary on how many Leles were produced, ranging from 285 to 317. Fewer than 50 were built in right-hand drive for markets like the UK and Australia. Most RHD cars were later Ford-powered, making a 1971 Chevrolet-engined RHD Lele an exceptionally rare find. These hand-built cars combined Italian craftsmanship, American reliability, and British driving orientation—a unique blend that appeals to enthusiasts who appreciate exclusivity.
1971 Iso Rivolta Lele: Luxury Meets Performance
Inside, the Lele was every bit a luxury GT: hand-stitched leather, plush carpeting, air conditioning and electric windows were standard. Campagnolo magnesium wheels wrapped in Michelin XWX tyres completed the package, ensuring that the Lele was as refined as it was fast.
1971 Iso Rivolta Lele: Legacy and Collectibility
Today, the Iso Rivolta Lele remains a hidden gem among classic GTs. Its rarity, especially in RHD form with the Chevrolet 327, makes it a prized possession for collectors. Values have risen steadily, with well-preserved examples commanding strong interest at auctions. For those lucky enough to own one, the Lele represents a fascinating chapter in automotive history – a car that married Italian style with American muscle in a way few others have achieved.
1971 Iso Rivolta Lele: ‘ISO 1’ – the only New Zealand Rivolta Lele?
CarJam lists a single Iso Rivolta Lele registered in New Zealand, and this is it. Originally, this car was one of six imported new into Australia by British and Continental Cars, in Sydney. At the time, it cost more than the most expensive Mercedes-Benz.
The first New Zealand owner purchased the car in Sydney in 1984 and almost immediately took it to Classic Autocraft in Sydney, for restoration. It was taken down to bare metal, the interior stripped, and the engine/transmission removed and fully reconditioned.
Lead-wiping took the place of body filler, and a new headlining was fitted. The leather upholstery was deemed good enough to put back into the car. It was imported into New Zealand in 1990 with the original New Zealand ownership papers showing George McWhirter in Eltham, who restored then imported the car at 73K miles in May 1990. It was then sold to Michael Jones (and his wife, Benita) in Hawera 1992, at 75K miles.
A complete invoice for the restoration shows the total at AU$49,075.40. This includes $41,730.25 in labour costs at $20/hour.
The car comes with a box of papers and various receipts dated from 1984, including some road tests, and information that has obviously come out of a fax machine and is now faded. There is a card in the box that shows the Lele was valued in Hawera in 1995 for $40,000. Quite the price for that year.
It also includes a membership application dated 1993, from the Iso and Bizzarrini Owners Club in the USA and a card from an economy run in 1994 with the Egmont Classic Car Register, where Mike and his wife, Benita, managed to get 23.5 mpg (around 12L/100km), but did acheive a best on one run of 28 mpg (10.1L/100km).
1971 Iso Rivolta Lele: Impressions and a short drive
Finished in metallic blue, ISO 1 certainly looks striking. The looks overall could be a bit galvanising; at some angles it looks excellent, others, not so much; the rear three-quarter can look a bit heavy. Regardless of personal thoughts, it still has a real presence about it, hidden potential for 150mp/h+ performance. There are hints of Lancia design here, and perhaps a touch of Ferrari 308GT4, although the Lele predates that car.
While it looks like a hatchback, it’s a 2-door coupe with a normal – if not spacious, at around 300 litres – boot. Considering a 2025 Corolla Hatchback has 360 litres, that’s pretty damn good.
At the front, the partially hidden headlights look superb, and I’m a sucker for hideaway headlights. Under the forward-hinged bonnet, the 327 Chevrolet V8 sits nicely in the engine bay, although space to work on it is fairly limited down the sides. There are vents about the engine bay to let some of the heat out, at least.
Climbing into the car, it’s very low. The cockpit feels very much like other cars of this genre in the 1970s; all wood and black leather, and lots of gauges. True to Italian design, there are switches with icons on them that are hard to read at a glance, or are facing downwards. It’s a bit of a lottery of which switch does what, and they are splattered all over the cabin – and I love that.
The huge, wood-rim steering wheel is so fitting with this car, but on the road it’s pretty light with not much feel – again, true to the era. Air conditioning is fitted, and nice touch for a car from 1971.
Gauges are crisp and clear, with a redline that sits just below 5,000rpm. This is an American V8, after all.
Rear-seat passengers do not have a lot of room, so it’s really a 2+2 coupe rather than a 4-seater.
The Lele starts easily, with the petrol pumps (2 of them) whirring away in the background. On driving the car, memories of an excellent feature of cars of the past come flooding back: great visibility. The pillars are narrow all around, so the view out from the driver’s seat is superb. In comparison to today’s cars, this is a massive improvement.
On the road, the V8 burbles away nicely and it certainly has the feeling it can get up and go quite well, at any point.
The automatic transmission has all of three gears, pretty standard for the time. But it does just fine for what it is, and leaves the driver to get on with the job of pushing the gas pedal as hard down as they would like.
ISO 1 – up for sale
Unfortunately, both Mike and Benita have passed away, and so perhaps fortunately, it is time for ISO 1 to move on to a new owner and get out and be seen. It’s been sitting in a garage for around 20 years, but was recently recommissioned and carries a new WoF and registration, as well as four new tyres. During its garage hiatus, it was under cover, says Lucy, Mike’s daughter.
For someone who wants that one-of-a-kind car in New Zealand, it’s hard to go past the Lele. It’s got the look, history, V8 burble and Italian heritage. The Rivolta Lele was a rare car; add in RHD – even more rare – and then the fact that it runs the 327 Chev engine and not a Ford engine, and you have something that will surely raise in value in the coming years.
If you are interested in purchasing the rare Lele, offers of around $175K are sought. Contact Lucy Hopkins: [email protected]
