The history of this factory is in paractice the history of the origins of Iso itself. When in 1939 Enzo Rivolta bought the villa, at that time owned by the nobles Patellanis, and changed its name into Villa Rivolta, a great park full of trees, gardens and stables was enclosed to it. Towards the end of World War II the enterprising Renzo decided to sacrifice a part of the holding to build some hangars, meant for the production activity of his just founded factory, the Isothermos, which mainly produced radiators and refrigerators. This kind of production required a larger area than the one the villa could offer. So the hangars, still visible from via Vittorio Veneto 66, were built up.
After the War the factory production was converted into
motor production, scooters and light motor-cycles became the core business
of Isothermos, whose name was changed simply into Iso in a very short time.
The raising necessity of larger spaces compelled the construction of new
buildings and hangars for the assembly line, the storehouse and the canteen.
In the middle of the 50s the factory had reached considerable
dimensions, annexing an area next to the villa, where the test track rose,
edged by other hangars and the aqueduct tower. The connection between the
two areas was underground, through a tunnel which is still practicable.
The Iso counted formerly 300 employees; that was a significant
figure of Bresso active population. The Rivoltas’ factory definitely marked
the inhabitants’ daily life, governed by the hooter which drew the workers
in the morning or announced the end of the day in the evening. Every inhabitant
had practically a relative or a friend at least working for the Iso!
In the large and modern hangars the production of Isetta
could be started parallely to the production of motor-cycles and four and
three wheeled vans. But from 1962 the beginning of the gran turismo era
compelled a rational altering of the inner spaces and the introduction
of the new machinery, as the modern and efficient car assembly lane.
Iso rivolta GT, Iso Grifo, S4 and Fidia were conceived
and projected in those spaces. But during the presentation period of Iso
Lele in 1969 an agreement was signed to decree the assignment of the hangars
from Iso to other factories. The conception of all the models (except the
Varedo) is strongly bound to Bresso, where the commitment and the phantasy
of many men contributed to teh rising of original and fascinating vehicles,
which are nowadays difficult to find.
Text by Flavio
Campetti
Translation
by Irene Pullella
P.S. In Turin the old FIAT factory, was friendly called
by everyone “The Lingotto” (“the ingot”) for his particular shape. Today
this large building is used as an importat exhibition center (the International
Turin Motor Show, is organized right here).
So we hope that Iso Factory could follow this example.