In 2017, in the year Ferrari turned 70, we were present for the first time at the Arts & Elégance concours of Peter Auto on the domains of the Chateau de Chantilly. 2017 was truly a Ferrari year. Everywhere we passed we saw the mostly red Italian thoroughbreds in abundance.
It already started in January at Interclassics Maastricht, which was followed in February by Rétromobile Paris. Also our local organisers of Antwerp Classic and Autoworld Brussels could surprise us with beautiful specimens. After the Festival of Speed in Goodwood, we really thought: now we have seen them all. But that was wrong. Peter Auto once again presented a beautiful collection in the gardens of the Chantilly Castle.
For the occasion, Patrick Peter had assembled the most beautiful Ferraris that had ever taken part in the mythical Le Mans 24 Hours. They were divided into five classes. Although the number of cars was significantly less than at the FOS in Goodwood, the quality level was certainly as high as in Sussex. Some of the cars had been specially flown in from the USA. Among the participants was the remarkable 250 GT Breadvan.
The “Breadvan” or camionette as the French call it, is a one-off creation whereby the Italian Count Giovanni Volpi commissioned Giotto Bizzarrini to rebuild this 250 on the basis of a 250 SWB. ( Chassis 2819 GT ) Volpi wanted to order a 250 GTO from Ferrari but Enzo refused to sell the Count one. He decided to build an alternative for it himself, with the help of Giotto Bizzarrini. Bizzarrini was involved in the start of the 250 GTO project of Ferrari but due to a disagreement Giotto was turned away by Enzo. Both men therefore still had an outstanding account with “il Commendatore”.
The donor car had finished second in the 1961 Tour de France Auto with our fellow countrymen Olivier Gendebien and Lucien Biancht. Maybe it is already clear to connoisseurs but we mention that, if there are Belgian pilots at the wheel, there is a very good chance that it is a car of the Belgian Ecurie Francorchamps. After this the 250 SWB was sold to Count Volpi. The Count competed in the Monthléry 1000 km race in Paris with Maurice Trintignant and Nino Vaccarella. They achieved a third place overall. After this race, the transformation followed. The 250 GT SWB was adapted in many areas with techniques that came directly from the 250 GTO. Piero Drogo designed the streamlined bodywork, which looks somewhat like the shape of a van. The car was soon nicknamed “Breadvan” by the British press.
In June 1962, the Breadvan made its debut at Le Mans with Carlo Maria and Colin Davis at the wheel. In the first hours of the race he is clearly faster than Enzo’s GTO’s. He passes them one by one and, after 4 hours of racing, is leading the GT class and seventh in the general classification. Ferrari does not like to see it happen. A broken drive shaft (a Ferrari part) causes the team to retire a little later. Afterwards a GT victory is obtained in Brands Hatch and a third place, just like the year before, in the 1000 km of Monthléry.
Besides participating in Arts & Elégance Chantilly, the Breadvan was also seen at Goodwood, the Nürburgring, Spa Classic and Rétromobile. The current owner is not afraid of a dent. During the practice runs at the Goodwood Revival we saw the car return to the pits with quite a lot of damage to the right front. The next day an emergency repair was already carried out and at the Rétromobile fair everything was back to normal.
Ex Le Mans winner Emanuele Pirro regularly has the pleasure of taking a seat in the Breadvan, along with its owner. Together they won the prestigious Kinrara Trophy at the 2018 Goodwood Revival. Also at this year’s, Festival of Speed, Pirro storms the Goodwood hill. After more than 60 years, the Breadvan is still “Alive and kicking”.
Recently, you were able to read about the book about this car published by Porter Press in our sections. We can strongly recommend it to you. You will find the complete story and history of this very special Ferrari.
Report: Joris de Cock
Photos: Joris de Cock & Patrick Verheeken