Created after a
revolt against Enzo Ferrari by a flamboyant European Count
in 1961, a legendary and unique sportscar machine was born,
the Ferrari 'Breadvan'. Christie's International Motor Cars
is honored to be offering this supercar, the 1961 Ferrari
250 GT 'Breadvan' Berlinetta, at its flagship California
sale on August 18.
A radical derivative designed and engineered specifically to
beat the dominant 250 GTO, its evolution marked the creation
of possibly the most distinctive Ferrari of all time. The
car carries a pre-sale estimate of $3,500,000-5,000,000.
Framed by the most prestigious of all car auctions, the
annual Christie's sale of Exceptional Motor Cars at the
Monterey Jet Center, the 'Breadvan' will be at the center of
the Monterey Week celebrations this August, with its sale
timed to coincide with the biggest annual gathering of
international motor car collectors.
Rupert Banner, Head of Christie's International Motor Cars,
says: "The Breadvan is one of the most instantly
recognizable Ferraris of all time, a truly evocative car
which was successful both in Short Wheelbase form and then
broke new ground as Count Volpi's GTO killer. With a long
racing career it is immediately visible in so many
contemporary photographs. Never previously offered publicly
for sale, it offers a once in a lifetime opportunity for
collectors across the globe."
The 1961 Ferrari 250 GT 'Breadvan' Berlinetta - A Short
History
The Breadvan, chassis 2819 GT, started life as a 250 SWB
(the predecessor to the GTO) and was raced immediately
following completion in September 1961, coming second in the
Tour de France. Before the year was out, it had passed into
the ownership of Count Volpi for competition use by his by
his Scuderia SSS team.
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A radical derivative designed and engineered
specifically to beat the dominant 250 GTO, its
evolution marked the creation of possibly the most
distinctive Ferrari of all
time |
|
|
|
Created after a revolt against Enzo Ferrari by a
flamboyant European Count in 1961, a legendary and
unique sportscar machine was born—the Ferrari 'Breadvan'.
Christie's will be offering this supercar - the 1961
Ferrari 250 GT 'Breadvan' Berlinetta - at its
flagship California sale on August 18,
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After an infamous internal revolt at Ferrari at the end of
1961, Count Volpi seized the opportunity to staff his team
with the Ferrari's top engineers - and in doing so provoked
Enzo Ferrari to refuse him the delivery of one of the
much-heralded GTOs. As Volpi now had the engineers that had
created the GTO working for him, he commissioned 2819 GT to
be 'evolved' in order to compete with Ferrari's official
race cars directly.
The result was the birth of a car that quickly earned the
name of 'La Camionette' (The Breadvan); engineered by
Bizzarrini and with aerodynamic principles pioneered by
Professor Kamm, the Breadvan featured a rakish nose and an
abrupt rear end.
The car may have lacked the five-speed gearbox of the GTO,
but using a similar mechanical specification proved a worthy
contender. At Le Mans in 1962 the Breadvan was leading all
the GTOs before a driveshaft failure in the fourth hour
forced retirement and later in 1962 at Montlhèry it finished
third overall, behind two and in front of seven GTOs, and it
also took class honors at Brands Hatch in the hands of Carlo
Abate.
In the years following retirement from the center stage of
GT racing, the Breadvan has led a documented, varied and
charismatic life and has traveled the globe many times, and
comes direct from long-term ownership in restored, yet used
and enjoyed, condition.
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