Iso Fidia

The Iso Fidia designated initially as Iso Rivolta Fidia S4 or iso 4S (4 Sportelli = 4 doors), is a four-door sports sedan of the Italian car manufacturer Iso Rivolta, which was produced 1967-1974 in small numbers.

The concept

In the course of 1966 Piero Rivolta developed, who took over after the death of his father Renzo Rivolta the management of the northern Italian sports car manufacturer Iso Rivolta from Bresso, near Milan, the idea of ​​the established Gran Turismo sports cars Iso Rivolta 300 to complement a four-door sedan. Reason for this was the success of the Maserati Quattroporte I ( then the fastest with 225 km / h sedan in the world ) with which should compete the new iso- sedan in the first place.

The technical basis of the sedan chassis of the IR 300 with independent suspension double wishbones front and served De Dion axle at the rear, which was extended slightly in wheelbase. The exterior design of the car was more independent and more from the conventional one than that of the comparatively restrained coupe. The design was a work of Carrozzeria Ghia led by Giorgetto Giugiaro, who had already designed the IR 300 coupe (at the time, however, even for Bertone ). The design of the front end took on some elements of the De Tomaso Mangusta, which was also designed by Giugiaro. A special feature of ISO sedan was in the region of the A - pillar falling, then rising again before the C-pillar waistline, which is sometimes described in British parlance as Cow - hopping Belt Line. Followed the line of the rear doors of the alignment of the A-pillar. This, together with a very gently sloping rear window, the C-pillar fell unusually massively; she stood thus in striking contrast to the filigree A- and B-pillars. This design feature Pininfarina grabbed more than three decades later the Maserati Quattroporte V again.

Chassis and drive Technically corresponded to the iso- sedan IR 300 iso attacked again back on American V8 engines.

  • Initially, the Iso Fidia had a 5.4 liter, 5.7 liter later V- eight-cylinder Chevrolet, whose performance was given as 355 SAE hp. As power transmission was offered as standard manual fully synchronized four-speed transmission by General Motors; request was a manual five-speed transmission from ZF or a two -speed automatic transmission from General Motors with the name " Powerglide " available. A little later the Powerglide automatic transmission of a new three-speed automatic from GM with the name was " Turbo Hydra-Matic 400 " replaced.
  • From 1973, the limousine made ​​with the completed in other models of the brand change to Ford engines. Since then iso installed a Ford eight-cylinder series " Cleveland ", which had a displacement of 5.8 liters and 325 hp SAE gave. Standard transmission was now the manual five-speed transmission from ZF on offer; alternatively could be a three-speed automatic Ford ( " Cruise -O -Matic " ) be ordered.

In detail, numerous mounting parts from Italian suppliers were used. The square headlights came initially from the Fiat 125 Special, later they were replaced by double round headlights. The tail lights, which were also used in the Lamborghini Espada, came from the Fiat 124 Coupé of the first series

Model history

Iso Rivoltas sedan was unveiled at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt in September 1967 on the Main. Initially it was called Iso Rivolta S4. To market it was important to represent the car as a combination of sportiness and comfort; why the model was described in a prospectus as " Le quattro poltrone piu veloci del mondo " ("The four fastest- chair of the World" ). 1968 Iso Rivolta S4 cost a DM 51 315 or 56.900 SFr.

Two years later, the S4 was named Iso Fidia without the renaming were associated substantial technical and optical modifications. The new name should Phidias to a builder of ancient Greece remember. Accordingly, was the presentation of the "new " model in February 1969 in Athens.

In 1971, the Fidia received a new interior, which was essentially identical to that of the Iso Lele. Instead of a solid, wood-paneled dashboard, one saw a leather-covered unit; the peripheral precious wood strips was significantly smaller, and sat down in the door panels continued. The new dashboard was much more elegant, but less convenient. The instruments were now arranged scattered and were partially obscured by the Nardi steering wheel.

From 1973, the Fidia was V8 engines from Ford

In 1974 (according to other sources: 1975 ) production was stopped.

The production

The Iso Fidia was not a commercial success. A total of only 192 were made (according to other sources 194) copies in nine years, 12 of which were equipped with right-hand drive.

As long as both vehicles were produced in parallel, the Fidia was clearly in the shadow of the Maserati Quattroporte I. However, it was not possible Iso Rivolta Even after setting Maserati to achieve higher penetration figures. Thus, in 1971 only 15 cars were produced in 1972 and 1973 there were 21 again 20

The reasons for the lack of success are complex. The press is always pointed to the lack of prestige of the brand and to the fact that the Fidia did not reach the level of thoroughbred Italian sports car brands like Maserati or Ferrari with its perceived as undemanding drive technology from the U.S. mass production. Under this widespread especially in the European market criticism Iso suffered as well as other manufacturers of "hybrid" models, in particular de Tomaso. In addition, there have been numerous criticisms that were moored in fact and were repeatedly taken up in driving reports. The journal engine stopped the car for poorly processed and constructed carelessly in detail; such as the unsuitability of the allegedly too small wipers and the low speed of electric window has been criticized. In addition, the car was much harder - and therefore more uncomfortable - tuned as the Maserati Quattroporte.

Trivia

Competitors

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