The Ferrari 250 GT SWB Breadvan is a distinctive vehicle adapted from a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta SWB with chassis number 2819 GT. It was specifically designed to rival the new 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO at competitions like the 24 Hours of Le Mans and other events in the FIA World Sportscar Championship.
The inception of the Breadvan commenced following a dispute between Enzo Ferrari and his senior management that resulted in several employees, including engineers Giotto Bizzarrini and Carlo Chiti, departing to join another racing team, Scuderia Serenissima, headed by Count Giovanni Volpi of Misurata.
The Scuderia Serenissima squad, comprising Bizzarrini and Chiti, aimed to create an enhanced version of Ferrari’s 250 GTO, leveraging their prior knowledge. They initiated the process by customizing chassis 2819GT, which was a competition SWB 250 crafted for Le Mans and served as the immediate precursor to the GTO. Bizzarrini integrated the successful attributes of the GTO, such as dry sump lubrication, a lower, more centrally positioned engine, and a groundbreaking body designed by Piero Drogo’s coachworks.
The Breadvan made its first appearance at the 1962 24 Hours of Le Mans, piloted by Carlo Maria Abate and Colin Davis. Despite being categorized in the prototype category rather than the GT class due to administrative constraints, the Breadvan exceeded the Ferrari 250 GTOs and reached a velocity 7 kph (4.3 mph) faster on the Mulsanne Straight. Regrettably, the vehicle had to withdraw after four hours owing to a malfunction in the driveshaft.
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