Breadvan: A Ferrari to Beat the GTO

Built as a Ferrari 250 GT Short Wheelbase Competizione, chassis number 2819 GT has become famous as the instantly recognizable Breadvan a fan favorite around the world. This latest book from Porter Press tells its full story, from being delivered new to sports car ace Olivier Gendebien and its 1962 conversion into the Breadvan by Count Giovanni Volpi di Misurata, to its recent appearances at Goodwood and Le Mans.

Written by renowned author Richard Heseltine, with contributions from Nicola von Dönhoff and leading Ferrari historian Keith Bluemel, it documents the development of the 250 GT Berlinettas, the Palace Coup’ at Maranello that led to the birth of the Breadvan, and the car’s racing career in the hands of aces such as Ludovico Scarfiotti and Carlo Maria Abate.

Breadvan – A Ferrari To Beat The GTO is packed with new research, such as confirmation of 2819 GTs appearances at Daytona and Sebring in 1962, as well as profiles of all the main players in the story and hundreds of archive photographs. Heseltine also documents Serenissimas life after the Breadvan, and brings the car’s story up to date with its successful second life’ in historic motor racing.

• History of the Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta, plus the racing life of 2819 GT before it was converted into the Breadvan.
• Profiles of all the key players in the car’s period competition career, including Giotto Bizzarrini, Olivier Gendebien, Carlo Maria Abate and Ludovico Scarfiotti.
• Detailed reports of each of 2819 GT’s race appearances at events such as the Le Mans 24 Hours, Tour de France and Paris 1,000Km.
• Why Gianni Agnelli painted the Breadvan black – and Gunter Sachs got arrested in it.
• Full story of the car’s later life, from its adventures in the US to its return to racing in the UK during the 1970s.
• Details of the Breadvan’s recent success in historic motorsport, from its return to Le Mans to victory at Goodwood.