Iso Griffo: The forgotten classic

Italian car marque Iso is primarily famous for its Isetta 'bubble car'. Despite accelerating with all the gusto of a sickly Flymo, the Isetta took the 1950s by storm. Yet another of its creations - said my many car geeks to be the most beautiful coupé ever built - remains a footnote. Behold, the Iso Griffo. Penned by 250 GTO designer Giotto Bizzarrini after he was fired from Ferrari, the Griffo was named after the Italian word for Griffin, the mythical creature that preyed on horses (in this case, the prancing kind). The best Griffo's had an insane 7.4-litre, 396hp V8 engine and a swooping body that Bizzarrini dubbed his 'improved GTO'. Only around 400 were built, but you can pick one up now for £45K. A beautiful thing - born out of bitterness.

£45,000 | www.classiccarlife.com