Renzo Rivolta

In 1939 Rivolta founded ‘Isothermos’ a successful manufacturer of refrigeration units.[1] After World War II his company began producing motor scooters and then motorcycles. By 1950, Isothermos was renamed Iso Autoveicoli[2] and was Italy’s third largest two-wheel producer, behind Vespa and Lambretta.[1] Rivolta produced home appliances, and Iso scooters, before moving to car production. In 1952 he developed the Isetta microcar (which he described as "half motorcycle and half car")[3] and sold the car in Italy. The car became famous through the licensed production at BMW.[4]

The company later produced sports touring cars starting with the Iso Rivolta IR 300, using Chevrolet 327ci engines and gearboxes. Rivolta used to say "At the wheel of a car I enjoy myself only above 120 mph."[3] Iso entered racing, and won its class at Le Mans in 1965.[5] In the 1960s Rivolta's company produced the Iso Grifo, Bizzarrini, and other sports cars, all using the GM drivetrain. The Bizzarrini is now a much sought after model, having been developed by Giotto Bizzarrini, an ex-Ferrari engineer who designed their GTO models.

Rivolta was born in Desio, Italy on 5 September 1908. He had a good education and could speak several languages. He lived in Bresso, a Milan suburb in a mansion that was surrounded by gardens and the companies factories.[3] When Rivolta suddenly died in 1966, his son Dr. Piero Rivolta Barberi, who was only 25 at the time and also a mechanical engineer, took charge of the company.[1][6]

• Brian Laban. "Rivolta, Renzo", in The World Guide to Automobile Manufacturers. Facts on File Publications, 1987. pp. 247–9. ISBN 0816018448.