By purchasing through the links, you support this site at no extra cost to you. Learn more >

Ferrari 250 GT, 250 GTE, 250 GTO and 250 LM: Illustrated History Books & Guides

Explore the best illustrated books on the Ferrari 250 GT, 250 GTE, 250 GTO and 250 LM. Discover the history, models and evolution of Ferrari sports cars. Perfect for enthousiasts, collectors, and anyone passionate about Ferrari..

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 recognisable 'Breadvan' - a fan favourite around the world. This book 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.

The book is packed with new research, such as confirmation of 2819 GT's 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 Serenissima's life after the Breadvan, and brings the car's story up to date with its successful 'second life' in historic motor racing.

Features:
- 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 Günter 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 motor sport, from its return to Le Mans to victory at Goodwood.

Product details

Author:Richard Heseltine, Nicola von Dönhoff, Keith Bluemel
Details:224 pages, 11.6 x 9.7 x 0.98 in (29.5 x 24.5 x 2.5 cm), hardback
Illustrations:220 b&w and color photos
Language:English
Publisher:Porter Press International (GB, 2021)
ISBN:9781907085369
Book cover: Breadvan - A Ferrari to beat the GTO | Porter

Breadvan - A Ferrari to beat the GTO

Language: English

View offers:

Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta 'Tour de France'

The Ferrari GT Berlinettas are undeniably beautiful and, arguably, the greatest Ferrari racing cars ever built. The 250 GT Competizione Berlinetta - now popularly known as the Tour de France Berlinetta, in honour of the model's domination of the great French event with four outright victories - was the true forerunner of the series of cars which established Ferrari as a major force in sports car racing.

Here is the story of the development, building and racing of the Tour de France Ferraris. Importantly, the book also contains individual histories of the Ferrari TdF Berlinettas.
Out of print for many years, this classic edition has been reissued in paperback format, due to popular demand.

Product details

Author:John Starkey
Details:144 pages, 9.8 x 3.4 x 0.12 in (25 x 8.5 x 0.3 cm), paperback
Illustrations:extensively illustrated
Language:English
Publisher:Veloce Publishing Ltd (GB, 2017)
Series:Veloce Classic Reprint
ISBN:9781787112575
Book cover: Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta 'Tour de France' | Veloce Classic Reprint | Veloce

Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta 'Tour de France'

Language: English

View offers:

Ferrari 250 GTO - L'empreinte d'une légende (Collection Prestige)

Considered the quintessence of Ferrari models, the Ferrari 250 GTO is one of the most famous sports cars of all time. Produced in only 36 copies, it became the most expensive Ferrari in the world.
The Ferrari 250 GTOs were produced between 1962 and 1964, you will discover them all, classified chassis by chassis.

Pages of the book Ferrari 250 GTO - L'empreinte d'une legende (1)

Pages of the book "Ferrari 250 GTO - L'empreinte d'une légende"

The Ferrari 250 GTOs have become legendary. But what were they like in their time? This is the subject of this book illustrated with the best photographs by Bernard Cahier.
A true window on a bygone past, it brings us back to life in minute detail the events they dominated: the 12 Hours of Sebring, the Targa Florio, the 1 000 Kilometers of the Nürburgring, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Tour de France automobile.
Events and so many others where the thirty-six GTOs, detailed in these pages chassis by chassis and race by race, left the deepest mark. Thirty-six, plus three. To be complete and multiply the emotions. History of perpetuating the legend.

Texts in French and English.

Pages of the book Ferrari 250 GTO - L'empreinte d'une legende (2)

Product details

Author:William Huon
Details:240 pages, 11.4 x 9 in (29 x 24 cm), hardback, in cassette
Illustrations:250 b&w and color photos
Language:French
Publisher:ETAI (F, 2020)
Series:Collection Prestige
ISBN:9791028303976
Book cover: Ferrari 250 GTO - L'empreinte d'une légende | Collection Prestige | ETAI

Ferrari 250 GTO - L'empreinte d'une légende

Language: French

View offers:

More titles on Ferrari:

Book cover: Ferrari 328, 348, Mondial (1986-1994) | Ultimate Portfolio

Ferrari 328, 348, Mondial (1986-1994)

English | paperback | 208 p. | 1999

Book cover: Ferrari 308, 328 & 348 - The Complete Story | The Complete Story

Ferrari 308, 328 & 348 - The Complete Story

Robert Foskett | English | hardback | 192 p. | 2015

Book cover: Ferrari F355 - F360 - F430 (1995-2006) | Road & Track Portfolio

Ferrari F355 - F360 - F430 (1995-2006)

English | paperback | 120 p. | 2006

Book cover: Ferrari 288 GTO

Ferrari 288 GTO

Stefan Bogner, Jürgen Lewandowski | English + German | hardback | 240 p. | 2022

Book cover: Ferrari 308 & Mondial (1974-1985) | Ultimate Portfolio

Ferrari 308 & Mondial (1974-1985)

English | paperback | 208 p. | 2007

Book cover: Ferrari F355 & 360 (1995-2004) | Gold Portfolio

Ferrari F355 & 360 (1995-2004)

English | paperback | 160 p. | 2005

Book cover: Ferrari 288 GTO | Supercars

Ferrari 288 GTO

Gaetano Derosa | English + Italian | hardback | 168 p. | 2024

Book cover: Ferrari 308 - 208 - 328 | Supercars

NEW

Ferrari 308 - 208 - 328

Gaetano Derosa | English + Italian | hardback | 168 p. | 2025

Book cover: Ferrari F40

Ferrari F40

Gaetano Derosa | English + Italian | hardback | 168 p. | 2022