PROJECTS
V12 POWERED COACHBUILT ONE-OFF
BREADVAN HOMMAGE
THE ICONIC BREADVAN HOMMAGE
When a true admirer of an Italian brand reported to Niels van Roij Design with a special request to custom build a Breadvan Hommage, the design studio saw it as an honourable task to translate the iconic racing car into a car from the more recent past. The Breadvan was built by Sports Cars of Modena, owned by Piero Drogo, for Count Giovanni Volpi di Misurata, owner of the Scuderia Serenissima.
Car designer Niels van Roij: “We see it as a great privilege that we can honour the Breadvan through this Hommage commission. It is a complex task to translate the essence of the legendary ’62 car into a contemporary design. We intend to be inspired by the old car, but will ensure we are not limited by it in our creativity”.
NIELS VAN ROIJ DESIGN COACHBUILT
ONE-OFF V12 ITALIAN ICON
The body of the Breadvan Hommage was hand beaten. Also the clay model was done by hand based on the donor vehicle. Only the windscreen of the Breadvan Hommage base car remained OEM. The car was painted in one of the eight hues of red, specially designed for the Breadvan Hommage.
COACHBUILDING AN ODE
DESIGNED BY PASSION
As is the case with all Niels van Roij Design coachbuilding projects, the Breadvan Hommage started with ideation sketches: quick drawings made by hand. These ideation sketches are crucial for every automotive design project and one of many iterative stages of the car design process. “Automotive design is about the search and the experiment” according to Van Roij “Which is only truly achievable in a handmade sketch. In the ideation sketches differences can not only be seen in proportions and surfacing, the skin of the car, but also in the application of graphics and other details. Such as the bespoke exhausts and unique headlights.
COACHBUILT ONE-OFF
KINETIC AUTOMOTIVE SCULPTURE
Van Roij: “A car is a complex, three dimensional sculpture, which has to look right from all angles and under different light circumstances. Like sketching, the clay modelling process is iterative and the Breadvan Hommage was reshaped many times, to get it spot on as can be seen in the photos of the final car. After establishing the correct proportions the search for sophistication in the surfacing, or skin, started: finding the right subtleties for transitions from one element to another. It includes the exterior graphics like the richly sculpted air vents on the front fenders.
Curious about the possibilities of coachbuilding by Niels van Roij Design for you? Let's discuss all options for your tailor made car!
SUPERB ONE-OFF MOTORING
PURE AND RAW
Just like your bespoke suit, house and garden, your car deserves your excellent taste. Through coachbuidling by Niels van Roij Design it is possible to co-create your own dream car with us.
HAND MADE CAR INTERIOR
BESPOKE COACHBUILT ONE-OFF
The Breadvan Hommage features a handmade interior. The iconic outline of the exterior design has been embroidered into the blue Alcantara carbon fibre backed seats. The monogram can also be found on the dials, all 7 boasting pure silver inlays. The clock says: ‘che importa’. Italian for ‘who cares!’ All switchgear is made out of milled aluminium, linking to the gated shifter, which is set on a raised block. The driver is surrounded by quilted black leather: it can be found on the centre console, the lower door cards and the headliner. The door panels feature an unpainted, hand beaten aluminium element, which links to the custom body, made in the exact same way. A small embroidered Italian flag in the corner of the aluminium insert is highlighting the roots of the vehicle. The door is opened through pulling a lightweight red cord, whilst a blue Alcantara insert functions as grab handle to close it.
VOLUMES AND SURFACES
BOLDNESS OF LINE
The iconic front end of the '62 Breadvan features soft and rounded volumes with extremely sharp cuts and intakes. After numerous crashes the appearance of the nose was changed many times. The air intakes were remodelled almost every time after each of the crashes. The front grille did not only change shape, during some time it even completely disappeared. The classic Breadvan is a true character on its own and very functional. That car however isn’t the most well balanced piece of automotive design. In early sketches the search and experiment with the graphics found on the nose and side of the car can be clearly seen. Aiming to make a clear bloodline visible through design, particularly by focussing on the proportions and the graphics identifying the '62 Breadvan.
Eventually the ideation design process produces a so called key sketch: the one sketch chosen to be developed into more elaborated, rendered ideas. The next step, after selecting one of the ideation sketches, was fitting the design precisely over the technical layout of the base car and presenting it in a more refined way. All the surfacing and volumes were developed into a large variety of high resolution images. These renderings make the shapes easier to read and again a selection is made. This selection was developed into the clay model.
One of the focal points on the nose was experimenting with either keeping or changing the OEM headlights. We decided eventually to redesign the headlights. To alter the base car’s character, different graphics were needed. In particular to make this car a true Breadvan. The team has narrowed the headlight graphic. The two large openings in the bonnet have more space by the change in width of the headlights. Rather than cut out, these intakes are sculpted into our design. We’ve decided to go for a visor-like graphic of the windscreen. In fact the side windows and windscreen will appear as one. This is a subtle reference to the original car horizontal window lines. This meant extensive changes to the skin of the A-pillar. To make this work visually also the roof, bonnet and fender have to be changed.
HAND MADE DETAILS
ENDLESS HOURS
The Breadvan Hommage is the dream of our patron that became a reality. This car had to be a truly individual design statement. It exudes artistry and performance in every bit of its surfacing. The base vehicle lines were not ignored either, as this car was an important piece of automotive design. Looking at the Breadvan Hommage from the perspective of a car design exercise means the following. The idea is to in fact enhance the experience of the sculpted shapes of the base car. We do this by intensifying its qualities. We make the bespoke body of this extraordinary commission more outspoken in its appearance.
GET IN TOUCH
Are you curious about the possibilities of coachbuilding by Niels van Roij Design for you? Let’s discuss all unique options for your tailor made dream car! Just like your bespoke suit, house and garden, your car deserves your excellent taste. Through coachbuidling by Niels van Roij Design it is possible to co-create your own dream car with us
BESPOKE CAR DESIGN JOURNEY
STAGES OF MAKING A TAILOR-MADE CAR
The Breadvan Hommage car design features a bespoke interior. We designed a host of elements for this. For example the new door panels, centre stack and instrument cluster are an important part of the redesign. Lightweight components replaced OEM units. Consequently, the newly designed elements have their own character. The interior was cleaned of clutter. The team used an unique blend of materials, a blend of black leather and blue Alcantara. The leather wrapped dasboard links to the design of the '62 Breadvan,. We used black leather elsewhere too. For instance to cover the headliner. We apply a special quilted pattern in different places ensuring a consistent design. The upholsterers installed blue Alcantara elements. A subtle touch. But, very important for good tactile properties.