Iso SpA

Iso Rivolta is an Italian manufacturer of automobiles and motorbikes, established in 1938 in Bresso, near Milan. It grew out of Isothermos, an earlier factory making electric heaters and refrigeration units, which founder Renzo Rivolta converted to vehicle production after the Second World War, initially building motorcycles and the compact Isetta microcar that was later licensed abroad. In the 1960s the company moved upmarket, building luxury grand touring cars and sports cars such as the Grifo and the IR 300, competing with established Italian marques. Financial pressure from the 1973 oil crisis, competition from bigger luxury brands, and the cost of a Formula One racing venture forced the company to end car production on 31 December 1974. The Iso Rivolta name was revived in 2017 as Iso Rivolta S.p.A, building small runs of exclusive collectible cars in partnership with the coachbuilder Zagato.