Iso Rivolta-inspired 2600 Spider

K_Dijkhuizen · #1 (**permalink**) 07-06-2005, 03:06 PM

This Iso Rivolta-inspired 2600 Spider by Ghia was allegedly for sale in Italy some time ago for € 26,000.

Any forum readers who know more about this car?

Cheers, Klaas

dretceterini · #2 (**permalink**) 07-06-2005, 05:37 PM

Ineteresting. I don't think I've ever seen that 2600 before.

**Alex** · #3 (**permalink**) 07-06-2005, 07:31 PM

Didn't that car get a mention in Winston Goodfellow's book a few years ago? For what it's worth, I recall seeing another Iso-inspired Alfa a couple of years ago, for sale through a dealer in France or Monaco - might have been Stefano Paracchi (sp?) or someone like that. The car was complete, but obviously in need of work, based on a 105 chassis but looked distinctly like a smaller version of the Iso Lele. My father has one, so the similarity was immediately obvious to me. I think it was a functional Bertone styling exercise, and it didn't seem expensive at the time for what it was, or might have been. Alas my photos of it were lost when my laptop suffered terminal meltdown in January. Like the Radford-bodied Sprint GT, has anyone else seen or got a photo of this car that they could post?

Alex.

dretceterini · #4 (**permalink**) 07-07-2005, 02:26 PM

There are 2 Boneschi 2600s that look somewhat like the car pictured; one is a coupe and one is a spider

K_Dijkhuizen · #5 (**permalink**) 07-07-2005, 02:38 PM

The only Boneschi-bodied 2600 Spider known to me so far is this horrible looking one, executed in American style.

dretceterini · #6 (**permalink**) 07-07-2005, 03:39 PM

There is also a coupe, which looks very much like the spider....and yes, it is rather ugly

**Farace** · #7 (**permalink**) 07-07-2005, 04:10 PM

I've never seen such an ugly car with the Alfa badge on it. It looks like . . like . . . an early 60s Ford Galaxie or something. Make it go away. :P

dretceterini · #8 (**permalink**) 07-07-2005, 05:17 PM

Many Boneschi cars are "unusual" to say the least. The 2600s look kind of like big, ugly mid-60s Plymouth Valiants to me. There is a book that exists on cars with Boneschi coachwork.

spider76 · #9 (**permalink**) 07-07-2005, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by K_Dijkhuizen

The only Boneschi-bodied 2600 Spider known to me so far is this horrible looking one, executed in American style.

**Alex** · #10 (**permalink**) 07-08-2005, 09:03 AM

I did email Stefano Paracchi today, and his reply is as follows:

Dear Alex,
The car is now restored, is body by Giugiaro, and in new good hand, show on Villa d'Este elegance concours in 2004 and in many other events in 2005, Alfa Romeo clasified a "Berlinetta Sperimentale"
When I find the pictures i send you.
Best Regards
Stefano

And this is the catalogue entry from the 2004 Villa d'Este Concours:

100. Alfa Romeo 1750, 1968
Carrozzeria/Body: Berlinetta prototipo
Concorrente/Entrant: Corrado Lopresto (I)

This interesting prototype was the only one produced. It was sold
by the Alfa Romeo Museum in 1985 in a batch along with other
technical and archive material (designs, engines etc..). Its shape,
in some ways precedes the Alfasud Berlinettas, despite its rear
traction mechanics. The design is of uncertain origin: some
believe it is the work of Giugiaro, others that of Frua.

I didn't have the time today to trawl through all the sites to find a photo to post here (dial-up modems suck, what can I say?!). It certainly wasn't the prettiest Alfa I have ever seen, but the Iso link did interest me. Maybe someone else can take up the baton unless I find some time this weekend?

Alex.

K_Dijkhuizen · #11 (**permalink**) 07-08-2005, 03:32 PM

Thanks Alex, for the further info.

However, since I thought that the styling of the red spider shown in the first post seems somehow out of place in 1968, I did a quick internet search on "Berlinetta prototipo". At the 2004 Concorso d'Eleganza Villa D'Este an Iso-inspired Alfa Romeo was indeed shown, but it was an Iso Lele-inspired one, not an Iso Rivolta-inspired car.

The car can be seen on:

http://www.prova.de/archiv/2004/00-a...te/index.shtml

A separate image is posted too.

The mystery around the red spider remains...

Cheers,

Klaas

**tubut** · #12 (**permalink**) 07-08-2005, 03:34 PM

Klaas beat me to the punch. Another picture of the car at Villa d'Este can be seen by going to http://www.carsfromitaly.com then navigating to the Alfa Romeo home page, then to the "Gallery", and from there to "Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este 2004" where an "Alfa Romeo prototype (1968)" is shown.

**Alex** · #13 (**permalink**) 07-08-2005, 05:39 PM

Great detective work guys!

Well, it looks considerably better now than when I first saw it! Stefano has promised to send me some photos of the car as it was when he had it, so we could do a little "before and after". I won't annoy everyone by revealing just how cheaply that car could have been bought for 3 years ago. It might not be to everyone's taste and, like my Dad's Lele, it is a little "heavy" at the rear of the car ... but I just love it. Am I the only one?!

Alex.

carlo · #14 (**permalink**) 07-12-2005, 06:42 AM

Quote:

The mystery around the red spider remains...

**tubut** · #15 (**permalink**) 07-12-2005, 11:58 AM

I think the segway into the Berlinetta Speciale came from this post where a ISO Lele was mentioned.

The red spider is indeed a mystery. While most designs at the time had a certain look that the designers adapted to certain marques (just compare a 2000 or 2600 Touring Spider to a Maserati 3500, a Sunbeam Alpine and/or an Aston Martin DB2 to see what I mean), this red prototype has a hodge-podge of styling elements that make the matter quite confusing.

It appears the ISO Rivolta GT was designed by Giugiaro. As for Ghia styling elements, this car reminds me of the Fiat 2300S Sartorelli designed for Ghia. Other than that, I see no resemblace to Ghia styling of that period. There are also design elements that could be attributed to Frua or Michelotti (who according to the Michellotti car register designed the OSI Alfa Romeo 2600 de Luxe).

This is a really interesting quest, Klaas. Thanks for tracking the forgotten 2600 children and orphans. I'll spend some time paging through old Quattroruote magazines to see if I can find any pictures or references...