Silverstone Auctions will soon announce an auction for a unique Iso Grifo racecar that used to belong to Mike Hailwood, a Formula One pilot and nine times World Champion in motorcycle racing.
The lot is expected to fetch a good price – and not just because of its former owner. The vehicle itself is quite rare and expensive, with only 400 Iso Grifo’s produced over the course of nine years. Vehicles from the main batch used to sell for £150,000. Mike’s racecar may net as much as £260,000, since it is one of the 26 Iso Grifo’s with the right-hand drive.
The retro car packs a serious 5.0-liter V8 Chevrolet engine partnered with a four-speed Borg Warner box. Despite having been produced as early as 1966, it has never been in a major road accident. Its history starting from 1970 can be found in the accompanying documents.
Remarkably enough, Mike Hailwood used to own another Iso Grifo as well. That vehicle suffered pretty badly when, driven by Mike at high speed, it rammed into a herd of cows on a road in South Africa. The car was restored and sold, and made its last public appearance at Coys Auctions 15 years ago.
Mike Hailwood launched off his incredibly successful motor racing career when he was only 17 in 1957. He participated in Formula One tournaments and met a tragic end in a road accident when his car collided with a truck in 1981.
Photo: silverstoneauctions.com