July 22, 2009

Two Italian Rally car specialists have bred the world’s fastest bread van.  The unusual combination of a Ferrari F355 Berlinetta and Citroen 2CV Fourgonnette has produced a 180 mph delivery vehicle.

Taking five years to put together the project started when Nicolo Lamberti, 35, and Milko Dalla Costa, 51, who run the Italian Nimik rally team, spotted the Ferrari on offer at an “interesting price”. 

The idea to combine it with the 2CV came after seeing it abandoned in the back of a garage in Turate, in Northern Italy.

Lamberti commented: "We decided to purchase the Ferrari even though we didn't know what we were going to do with it.

"But because of our crazy minds we were confident that an idea would soon come to us.

"Then we saw the 2CV and Mr Dalla Costa, who is a Citroen collector, had the idea of combining its body shell with the Ferrari.

"The 2CV hardly cost anything because it was in such bad condition. It had no engine and all that was left was the body shell."

With access to the team at Nimik they were able to modify and widen the 2CV's body, in order to house the engine.  The huge V8 engine is mounted in the middle of the rear wheel drive car, which still features the 2CV's familiar circular headlights.  Cooling is aided by a giant air vent to either side

Beneath the expanded wheel arches the car sits on the original alloy wheels from the Ferrari, the 2CV wheels were designed for transmitting 12 bhp of muscle onto the tarmac and weren’t up to the new levels of Italian power!

Inside, the car's two seats are decked out in plush black leather and there is even the polished silver gear stick from the F355.

Mr Lamberti added: "It took us so long to build so at the moment we are just enjoying it and showing it off to people who are passionate about this kind of work.

"But if we meet someone willing to offer us an interesting price then we could sell it."

It seems in that part of Italy bread really is the new fast food!

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