ISO Lele 300 1970-

ISO Rivolat Lele 300 1970-

Iso Lele – Italian Sports Coupé with an American Heart

The Iso Lele (also known as Iso Rivolta Lele and Lele IR6) is a sports coupé produced by the Italian manufacturer Iso Rivolta from 1969 to 1974 – and the last new model the marque presented before ceasing production due to insolvency in 1974.
From One-Off to Series Production

The Lele traces its origins to a one-off built by Iso in 1969 for an American customer. Based on the technical underpinnings of the Iso Rivolta 300, Marcello Gandini designed a stylistically distinctive fastback coupé for Bertone. After its presentation at the 1969 Turin Motor Show, the car received unexpectedly positive feedback, prompting Piero Rivolta to approve series production. The name is a tribute to his wife Rachele, commonly known as "Lele."
Design and Interior

The most striking new feature of the Lele was its bodywork: a melange of curves and sharp angles. The front end featured twin headlights, half-concealed beneath a flap integrated into the bonnet – a design element later adopted for the revised Iso Grifo and copied by various competitors (including the Lamborghini Jarama).

The interior was particularly elegant, with lavish use of leather and subtle wood inlays. The tail lights came from the first-series Fiat 124 Coupé.
Technical Specifications

Chassis and running gear largely corresponded to the Iso Rivolta IR 300. After initially using Chevrolet engines, Iso switched to Ford V8s in 1971 – the reason being repeated payment difficulties, as General Motors thereafter demanded payment upon order.

Available engine variants:

Lele 300: 5.3- or 5.8-litre Chevrolet V8 with 304 SAE hp

Lele 350: tuned Chevrolet V8 with 335–350 hp

Lele IR6: 5.8-litre Ford Cleveland V8 with 330 SAE hp

Lele Sport / Marlboro: Cobra Jet V8 with 360 hp

The Special Editions

Lele Marlboro (1973): Developed by Giotto Bizzarrini and Giuseppe Caso, this version featured a tuned engine, reduced weight, and a striking black front spoiler – a nod to Iso Rivolta's Formula 1 involvement with Frank Williams Racing Cars.

Lele Sport (1974): Continued the Marlboro concept and was available to the general public. However, in light of the oil crisis, only a few examples were built – in total, approximately 20 cars of both versions are believed to have been produced.
Position in the Model Range

The four-seater Lele was positioned between the two-seater high-performance Grifo and the four-door Fidia saloon, thereby taking the place of the IR 300 introduced in 1963.