Ferrari
has recently issued an Attestation for vehicles of
historic interest by the Ferrari Classiche department to
the 250 GT Berlinetta passo corto (chassis 2819)
nicknamed the “Breadvan”. The special document, which
has been available since 2009, is dedicated to Ferrari
cars that, although they do not comply with the strict
Ferrari Authenticity Certification criteria, have been
deemed, as a result of their competition and/or
international recognized show history, to be of historic
interest. Amongst the cars of historic interest from
Ferrari, the Breadvan is probably one of the most
emblematic models, considering its peculiar
configuration.
The Breadvan is a unique model and the result of a very
particular story. The car left the factory in Maranello
in 1961 as a 250 GT Berlinetta passo corto (short
wheelbase) “Competizione”, participating the same year
in the Tour de France with Gendebien and Bianchi behind
the wheel, before it was bought by Count Volpi di
Misurata, who fielded it in the 1,000 km of Paris with
Trintignant and Vaccarella with the Scuderia Serenissima.
In 1962 the Count
instructed engineer Giotto Bizzarrini to re-design this
car in order to compete with the 250 GTOs. Therefore the
brakes and the suspension were modified and the car was
fitted with an innovative and aerodynamic body, with a
lowered engine, improving the car’s performance. The
nickname Breadvan was invented by the British press, due
to the characteristic shape. The first race the car
participated in this configuration was the 24 Hours of
Le Mans with Abate and Davis in the year of its
transformation, although the car didn’t finish due to
transmission problems. The Breadvan participated in
several races with exceptional drivers like Scarfiotti
at the 1,000 km of Paris until 1965 when it ran its last
race, the Coppa Gallenga in Rome.
FERRARI CLASSICHE
This department was
set up in 2006 to provide owners of classic Ferraris
with maintenance, repair and restoration services,
technical assistance and authenticity certification.
Thus far, over 1,250 authenticity certificates have been
issued. The certification process involves researching
the cars’ original designs which are held in the
Company’s own technical-historical archive.
The
Certificate of authenticity is aimed at road-going
Ferraris of 20 years of age and over as well as all
limited edition and competition cars, Formula 1s
included, regardless of their year of construction. The
certification document officially attests to the
authenticity of the car for which it is issued. This
acts as additional guarantee of the car’s status should
the owner decide to sell it on. In 2009, Ferrari also
introduced the new Attestation for vehicles of historic
interest aimed at Ferraris that, although they do not
comply with the strict Ferrari Authenticity
Certification criteria, have been deemed, as a result of
their competition and/or international recognized show
history, to be of historic interest.
Of the restorations
recently completed by Ferrari Classiche, five can be
considered of particular relevance. The first two of
these was the 250 GT (chassis no. 0419 GT), which won
the Best Restoration prizes at the Villa d’Este and
Cavallino Classic Concours d’Elegances. The second was
the 250 GT Berlinetta passo corto (SWB, chassis no.
2735), driven to victory in four races in 1961 by
Stirling Moss, who himself was present when the owner
collected it from the Ferrari Classiche workshop. The
other two were the 1955 750 Monza (chassis no. 0554),
which was repainted in its original white livery with
light blue central finish, and the Monoposto Corsa
Indianapolis (chassis no. 0388), a unique 1953 single-seater
developed as a prototype in preparation for the Indy 500
in which it never actually raced. It did, however,
compete in several other events in the course of the
1950s. The most recent restoration work to be completed
is the 250 LM (chassis 5845), year of construction 1964,
winner at the 1965 Austrian GP held for Sport cars with
a young and promising Jochen Rindt behind the wheel.
