Ferrari Bread Van Officially Recognized as Classic

Ferrari Bread Van Officially Recognized as a Ferrari Classic

Ferrari has issued a special certificate of authenticity to the Ferrari ‘Breadvan’ racing car that recognizes it as a classic Ferrari although the modifications that turned it from 250 GT Berlinetta passo corto into the famous Ferrari Breadvan make it ineligible for the normal certificate.

Amongst the cars of historic interest from Ferrari, the Breadvan is probably one of the most emblematic models, thanks to 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 Le Mans 24 Hours 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 Paris 1,000 km 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, more than 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.

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