6 photos

1972' Iso Lele

£80,000

Published 20 March 2026ID: j1E8mB

Oxfordshire
+44Show phone

Information from the owner

Age: 54 years

Mileage: 2963 km

Displacement: 5700 cc

Fuel: Petrol

Transmission: Automatic

Exterior color: Red

Electronics: AM/FM Radio, Bluetooth

Seller's comments about 1972' Iso Lele

Offered for sale is a rare, low mileage and highly original 1972 Iso Lele (Chassis 165/ D), a right-hand-drive car with a remarkable and well-documented history stretching back to its delivery from the factory in December 1972. Background to the Iso LeleThe Iso Lele is one of the more understated Italian grand tourers of the early 1970s. Produced by the Italian manufacturer Iso Autoveicoli S. p. A, it combined Italian design and luxury with reliable American V8 power — a formula that defined many Iso cars.• Italian styling and chassis engineering• American V8 enginesThis produced cars that were exotic but easier to maintain than many contemporary Italian GTs. Development of the LeleThe Lele was introduced in 1969 as a more practical alternative to Iso’s flagship models such as the Iso Grifo and Iso Rivolta IR 300.It was designed by Marcello Gandini at Bertone, the same designer responsible for icons like the Lamborghini Miura and later the Lamborghini Countach.The result was a compact four-seat GT with sharp, modern styling typical of Gandini’s early 1970s work.The key design goals were:• More usable rear seats• A comfortable long-distance GT EngineeringLike most Iso models, the Lele used a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout and American Ford or Chevrolet V8 engines.Typical specifications included:• Engine: Chevrolet small-block V8 or Ford 351 Cleveland engines• Displacement: usually 327 or 350 cu in (5. 4–5. 7L)• Power: roughly 300–325 hp depending on specification• Transmission: ZF 5-speed manual or automatic• Top speed: approx. 150 mph (240 km/ h)This drivetrain made the car both fast and mechanically robust, particularly compared with some more delicate Italian rivals. ProductionProduction numbers were always low. Approximately 285–300 Lele models were built between 1969 and 1974, including:• Lele (Series I) – early Chevrolet-powered cars• Lele IR6 / IR6 Sport – later cars using Ford 351 Cleveland enginesRight-hand-drive examples were particularly rare, with only a small handful produced for the UK market.Reputation TodayToday the Iso Lele is appreciated as a hidden gem of Italian GT cars. Collectors value it for several reasons:• Elegant Bertone design• Usable performance and reliability• Extremely low production numbers• Strong enthusiast communityBecause of the American mechanical components, the cars are often considered one of the more practical classic Italian exotics to own and drive.Chassis 165/ D Factory & Early HistoryChassis 165/ D left the Iso factory on 11 December 1972. The history file includes factory documentation and original test-drive notes from Roberto Negri, the factory manager responsible for testing Iso cars at the time. The car was supplied new to London through well-known Iso dealer Nicholas Van Der Steen, located on Lower Thames Street.First OwnershipAfter approximately a year with the dealer, the car was sold to its first owner, based in Wimbledon, purchased for her by her husband, an import entrepreneur. She used the car primarily for everyday driving, including school runs, covering only a few thousand miles. Around 1976 the car suffered minor damage to a front wing after being struck by a bus while parked on a London street. At the same time, the 1973–74 oil crisis had severely impacted large-capacity cars and both Iso and the supplying dealer had ceased trading. With limited support available, the car was placed into storage.The Barn FindRemarkably, the car then remained unused and untouched in a garage for approximately 35 years, preserving its interior, carpets and many original components in exceptional condition – a genuine barn-find example. Rediscovery & RestorationThe car resurfaced around 2015, when it was sold via eBay and briefly exported to Sweden with the intention of being used as a parts donor for another Lele restoration. Fortunately, it was rescued before dismantling by a UK-based German motoring journalist, who purchased the car back and began a restoration project. During restoration it became clear that significant structural work was required due to corrosion in the hand-built body. Extensive metalwork was undertaken including new sills and substantial fabrication work to return the shell to a sound condition.As the car was only used around London for a few years before being placed into storage, its low mileage meant that the interior saw very little wear and tear. As a result the interior has been kept original and – in our view – it is one of the most beautifully crafted cabins seen on such a car.The restoration was completed gradually over several years, with invoices retained in the history file. During this process the car was refinished in Rosso Cordoba, while otherwise retaining its original specification.Current OwnershipThe current owner purchased the car in May 2020 with the aim of completing and preserving one of the most original surviving RHD Lele examples. The car was recommissioned and inspected by respected UK Iso specialists McGrath Maserati, receiving a clean bill of health aside from preventative cooling system work. Since then the car has been regularly exercised and maintained, addressing typical recommissioning items such as ignition components, alternator and cooling improvements. The radiator has recently been rebuilt and the car now drives reliably.A period-correct radio has been fitted with hidden DAB/ FM/ Bluetooth functionality, maintaining an original appearance while allowing modern connectivity.Driving & Ownership ExperienceThe Iso Lele is widely regarded as one of the most usable Italian GTs of its era, combining Italian design with dependable American V8 power. This example offers:• Excellent ride quality and touring ability• Strong V8 performance• A beautifully preserved and distinctive interior• Genuine rarity as a right-hand-drive LeleThe car has been driven on longer journeys including trips to Iso Owners’ Club events, where it performed faultlessly.DocumentationThe car comes with a comprehensive history file including:• Factory documentation and build information• Period records and provenance• Restoration invoices and photographs• Owner correspondence and researchFurther historical material is known to exist from previous ownership and may be available to the next custodian.SummaryThis is an exceptionally interesting Iso Lele with a compelling story:• Rare RHD example• Long-term original ownership• Genuine 35-year barn find• Saved from being broken for parts• Carefully restored and recommissioned• An authentic and stylish interior with many beautiful features, right down to the original and rare toolkit, (shared with Ferrari models)• Known within the small and supportive UK Iso communityThis represents a rare opportunity to acquire a charismatic Italian GT with fascinating provenance and strong enthusiast appeal.