Iso Rivolta A3 Competizione

Vehicle Overview

The Iso Rivolta A3 Competizione was a limited-production grand touring competition vehicle developed in the early 1960s through the collaboration of Iso Automotoveicoli S.p.A. and engineer Giotto Bizzarrini. Emerging from a period of postwar industrial diversification, the A3/C represented a synthesis of Italian chassis development and American powertrain reliability, configured with the specific intention of achieving success in endurance racing. The A3/C was derived from the Iso Rivolta IR 300 platform, itself a high-speed touring saloon designed under the supervision of Renzo Rivolta. For the competition variant, the wheelbase was shortened and the steel bodywork was replaced by hand-formed aluminum panels. These were fabricated at Carrozzeria Sports Cars of Modena under the direction of Piero Drogo, with design input from Giorgetto Giugiaro of Bertone. The exterior form emphasized aerodynamics and lightness, distinguished by a low roofline, extended rear deck, and the use of exposed rivets along the body seams, earning the car the moniker millechiodi (thousand nails) among period observers. At its core, the A3 Competizione employed a Chevrolet-sourced 5.3-liter V8 engine, positioned far to the rear of the front axle to optimize weight distribution. This configuration conferred a front-mid-engine layout and facilitated both high power output and enhanced handling stability. Output figures exceeded 400 horsepower in racing specification. The suspension consisted of independent front wishbones and a De Dion rear axle, retaining a layout favored by Bizzarrini for its balance of performance and durability. The vehicle’s racing record includes class victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1964 and 1965, as well as appearances at other international endurance events. Its successes were achieved in the face of competition from more established marques, underscoring the effectiveness of its mechanical formula. Production of the A3 Competizione was limited to approximately two dozen examples, and the project was curtailed following Bizzarrini’s departure from Iso. The design, however, would continue under Bizzarrini’s independent marque as the 5300 GT. The A3/C remains a reference point in the history of hybridized sports car engineering, notable for its embodiment of transatlantic collaboration and its role in the lineage of Italian competition GT cars.