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.
Weekly updates
Because this car design for coachbuilding commission includes a full re-body and major interior changes it is a unique opportunity for Niels van Roij Design to allow full insight into the entire development: from ideation process, exterior and interior design, to clay modelling and coachbuilding of the Breadvan Hommage body. The complete openness that there car design studio offer on a weekly basis is exceptional within automotive design.
For those who are interested it is a great opportunity to follow the creation of this one-off, step by step, through social media.
“We see it as a great privilege that we can honour the Breadvan through this Hommage commission,” says Van Roij. “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”.
The Breadvan Hommage by Niels van Roij Design
Two years ago nielsvanroijdesign wrote about the Breadvan Hommage. They have shared the complete car design and coachbuilding process. Everything went through there social media. Today, at Breadvan Update 90 they are looking back. This is the last update on the built. When a true admirer of the Italian brand reported to us with a special request to custom build a Breadvan Hommage, they saw it as an honourable task to translate the iconic racing car into a modern piece of design. They see it as a great privilege that they can honour the Breadvan through this Hommage commission. It is a complex task to translate the legendary original into a contemporary design. So, they intend to be inspired by the original, but will ensure they are not limited by it in there creativity.
Bespoke car design
Because this coachbuilding commission includes a full body make over and major interior changes they decided it would be an unique opportunity for Niels van Roij Design to allow people full insight into the entire development. Starting from the car design ideation process. Therefore, they showed exterior and interior design sketches. Then, renderings of final design work. For instance, they also shared the clay model. Even coachbuilding of the aluminium Breadvan Hommage body was shown. This complete openness on a weekly basis is exceptional within automotive design. For those who are interested it is a great opportunity to follow the creation of this one-off. A detailed step by step. The elaborate story was shown on there website. With smaller updates with images on social media. Up until today they reported every Friday on the development and progress of the Breadvan Hommage.
Breadvan Hommage
Now the car has been painted and most elements of the interior have been made, they are stopping the updates for a couple of weeks. This gives the team the possibility to put the Breadvan Hommage together. Up until the reveal of the finished design they will look back. They have two years of images and movies on designing and building this one-off. It has truly been a great time! Thank you all for tuning in, commenting and tagging, sharing and liking there posts on the social media platforms. In conclusion: pease keep on doing this! Keep on conntecting! They will share the end results with you once they’re set and done. So the final car will remain a bit of a surprise!
Car interior design
In today’s update they share some individually tailored details. Firstly, the Breadvan Hommage interior is fully bespoke. Designed to the customer’s exacting expectations. They’re using only the very best materials. These materials are consistently used. As a result, they match both the Breadvan heritage and the owner. The materials are crafted together by hand. Consequently, all elements combined create a relevant interior. Of course, there is a near endless range of different materials. In other words, choosing the right ones is important and complex. Moreover, the range is huge. From the finest Italian leathers to the ink on the dials in the dashboard. And Alcantara on the seats. The aluminium on the doors… So, the question is: what material is required for the Breadvan Hommage? And, on top of the material options, they’ve got endless stitching options. For example, contrast stitching. Or stitching in a colour matching the seat.
Bespoke Breadvan Hommage interior
The coachbuilding and design team makes big changes to the interior. In other words, the coachbuilt Breadvan Hommage is a bespoke one-off. The exterior exudes its goal: racing. The Breadvan Hommage interior promises absolute sportiness. Above all, the craftmanship of the upholster is evident in every detail. This is a sentiment that runs through all elements. For example, this includes one of the pieces designed to enhance this motorcar’s interior. For instance, the bespoke clocks in front of the driver! So, the iconic outline of the exterior design is not only embroidered into the headrests of this car. In other words: the monogram can also be found on the dials. On there social media and YouTube channel you can find movies of the design process. The quilted leather centre stack can also been seen. It matches exactly with the quilting on the door. And the quilting on the headliner.
Alcantara as understated decoration
The embroidered outline is enhancing the headrests elegantly. It is a design exercise of nuance. The colour of thread used is slightly lighter. This coloured thread is complementary. Not a high contrast. Only slightly lighter compared to the Alcantara blue. Sufficient contrast that makes one see the embroidery only at second glance. The blue Alcantara is celebrated on the Breadvan Hommage door panel design. An ode through colour. The door panel can be seen on a photo. It is almost completed. The ingredients are simple. But they make a delicious Italian dish. A black leather base. Featuring a quilted leather bottom. And an unpainted aluminium decoration element. This makes a link to the handmade custom body of the car. And last but not least: a small Italian flag is highlighting the roots of the vehicle.
How to design a car?
The Breadvan Hommage base vehicle interior is a great place to be. However, they wanted to make the vehicle more outspoken. And the interior more relevant. The interior should match the exterior design. So, they re-designed many items. The factory installed sport seats finished with carbon fibre backs remained. Apart from these, the standard interior is not very convincing. Colours and materials are rather poor. Therefore, exquisite individual details are specifically important in this one-off interior. The materials will be interacted with. Often and intensely. On a close and personal level. In other words, the tactile experiences are of high importance. For instance, all switchgear is replaced by handmade aluminium buttons. And the seat covers are made of a blue Alcantara. Inspired by ‘60’s race car colours. The seats feature a thicker padding. Making the seats more voluminous. The headrests feature the outline of the exterior.
Bespoke one-off V12 powered supercar
Other customised items? For instance the complete centre console delete. Making way for a H-pattern shifter. With custom surrounding in quilted black leather. Above all, the gear lever in H-pattern reminds one of motorsport heritage. In addition, the air vent bezels and switchgear are made out of solid aluminium. One of many reasons to focus on the bright work of the interior is to make interior and exterior design language consistent. The OEM switchgear is of inferior quality. In addition, the switches lack quite a bit of character too. So, this is another important reason the buttons and switches will be replaced. The fact is they will be interacted with often. This close contact with the coachbuilt car needs to provide the driver a unique feeling. He is driving a handmade one-off. All materials in this coachbuilt motorcar should feel high quality.
Car design project
Everything the owner will touch should be adding to the experience. For example, from standing outside of the Breadvan Hommage to entering the car. And, from opening the door, to closing. This is done by grabbing the door panels on the inside. So, these panels will are redesigned. In addition, they’ll be equipped with appealing materials. For instance, a black leather base. Quilted leather bottom. Alcantara insert around the grab handle. In other words, all materials are part of a bigger whole. All contribute to the sense of occasion. A part of this is touching the exterior paint. In the image the last layer of clear coat is applied. It makes for a rather special scene!
Report by nielsvanroij.com
