Niels van Roij Design Breadvan Hommage
Do you know the Ferrari 250 GT Breadvan? This racing car was created in 1962 as an aerodynamic test laboratory for an unusual body shape. This body was designed by Giotto Bizzarrini and produced by Drogo. In the background sat Count Volpi with his racing team Scuderia Serenissima, who wanted to race this car against the Ferrari factory team with their 250 GTOs. He hadn’t received one from Enzo Ferrari due to previous disputes. So he wanted to take revenge at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In fact, the unusual racing car was running promisingly in the race when a technical defect led to its retirement. Only a few more races followed before the Scuderia Serenissima switched to a 250 GTO after all.
Modern homage for the Breadvan
The 250 GT SWB with chassis number 2819GT was given the nickname ‘Breadvan’ only after the race, mainly through articles in British car magazines. Spectators at the 24 Hours of Le Mans called the car ‘Le Camionnette’ (little truck). Today, the Ferrari belongs to a collector who drives it regularly. But since there is only this one example, there is always more demand than supply in the market. Accordingly, there have been many conversions based on more modern Ferrari models in recent years. Niels van Roij, a designer with his own design studio in London, set about building a corresponding vehicle at the beginning of 2019. He chose a 550 Maranello as the basis.
Based on a Ferrari 550 Maranello
In contrast to other similar projects, Niels van Roij and his team didn’t simply build a Shooting Brake. Instead they tried to transfer the classic design language of Bizzarrini into the present day. This starts at the front with a newly designed bumper including additional lights as well as a bonnet with new air intakes and a glazed bubble view into the engine bay. The side air outlets behind the front wheels, familiar from the base car, flow into a slight recess that has been continued into the doors. Really new is the rear body. The roof extends to the tear-off edge and slopes only minimally. Underneath, the upper edges of the rear fenders take up this shape. Air outlets behind the side windows and behind the rear wheels quote the original. The rear end has two round taillights arranged one below the other on each side, four exhaust pipes and a glazed hatch.
Blue Alcantara and black leather
On behalf of a wealthy customer who had approached Niels van Roij with his idea of a Breadvan Hommage, the interior of the Ferrari 550 Maranello also received some modifications. For example, the round instruments received new dials in heritage design. New aluminium switchgear sits on the dashboard. The quilted black leather is joined by blue Alcantara. No changes have been made to the 5.5-liter naturally aspirated V12 engine with 357 kW/485 hp. A small series of the Breadvan Hommage isn’t planned. However, Niels van Roij is already known for similar one-offs. He and his team have already converted a Tesla Model S into a station wagon and a Rolls-Royce Wraith and a Range Rover into three-door Shooting Brakes.
Images: Niels van Roij Design London, Robbert Moree, Luuk van Kaathoven
