Edgar Berney and his 250 GTO | FerrariChat

Edgar Berney and his 250 GTO

Discussion in 'Vintage (thru 365 GTC4)' started by radicalmagcom, Aug 8, 2015.

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  1. radicalmagcom

    radicalmagcom Rookie

    Apr 1, 2011
    37
    switzerland
    Full Name:
    peter
    #1 radicalmagcom, Aug 8, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Edgar Berney (1937 - 1987) was a talented Swiss racing driver with quite some Ferrari-history. I try to put some light into his history.

    it is said that Berney - after his great races in the «Tour de France» with his private Ferrari - was «given» a 250 GTO {#3909GT) for the TdF-1962. he did - together with John Gretener - amazingly well, was first overall until they had a mechanical breakdown close to the racecourse in Pau.

    so, my questions:
    - it is said that #3909GT was sold orginally to Scuderia Filipinetti - true? or was it sold directly to Edgar Berney?
    - Berney won on a 250 GTO a race in Spa and on the Avus in Berlin - and I can't find anything on those races...
    - there are some rumors that Berney sold #3909GT to Conte Volpi (and not, as it can be read in most literature, to Claude Bourillot) - what do you think about that?
    - there seems to be a quote of Enzo Ferrari to Berney: «You still can come to Maranello, but you will not be allowed to sit down. This is only allowed to Gentleman...» true? rumors? why?

    Ferrari-Results I have from Berney:
    1959, Tour de France, 250 GT, with Gretener, DNS
    1960, Coppa Inter-Europa, 250 GT, DNA
    1960, Tour de France, 250 GT, with Gretener, DNF
    1960, 1000 km Paris, 250 GT, with Seidel, DNS
    1961, GP Rouen, 250 GT, DNA
    1961, Rheinland Nürburgring, 250 GT, ?
    1961, Tourist Trophy, 250 GT, DNA
    1961, Tour de France, 250 GT, with Gretener, 4th
    1961, Hill Climb Marchairuz, 1st in class
    1962, Bruxelles, 250 GT, 2nd
    1962, Coupes de Vitesse, 250 GT, 1st
    1962, Avus, 250 GT, 1st
    1962, GP Spa, 250 GT, 1sr
    1962, Solitude, 250 GTO (what car?),, DNA (15.7.62?)
    1962, Rheinland Nürburgring, 250 GT, DNF
    1962, GP Albi, 250 GT, 2nd
    1962, Tour de France, 250 GTO, with Gretener, DNF
    1962, Coupes du Salon, 250 GTO (what car?), 1st
    1962, Mont Ventoux, 250 GTO (what car?), 1st in class/9th
    1962, 1000 km Paris, 250 GTO (what car?), with Bordeu, DNF
    1963, 500 km Spa, 250 GTO (what car?), DNA
    1963, Chamrousse, 250 GTO (what car?), 2nd in class/6th
    1963, Hill Climb Ollon-Villars, 250 GTO, (what car?), 2nd in class/10th
    1963, Tour de France, 250 GTO (what car?), with Gretener, DNF
    1964, Tour de France, 250 GTO (what car?), with Favre, DNA
    1968, 24 hrs Le Mans, 275 GTB, with Grossman, DNS (or was it: 250 LM with de Heredia, DNA?
    1969, 1000 km Spa, 275 GTB, 1st in class/14th
    1969, 500 km Imola, 275 GTB, with Rey, 15th
    1970, 24 hrs Daytona, 275 GTB, with Rey/Palayer/Verrier/Sage, DNA
    if you now more, better, more detailed - please let me know. best from Switzerland, peter
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  2. per904

    per904 Karting

    Feb 28, 2009
    85
    switzerland
    Hello Peter,

    #3909 was sold on 10 september 1962 to Edgar Berney. On the 12th (2 days later!) Volpi bought the car back for 4 Mio Italian Lira (28000.- CHF or aroud 6500 USD!) You may draw your own conclusions about who gave the money.

    Rgds
     
  3. lgs

    lgs Formula Junior

    Mar 26, 2006
    503
    #3 lgs, Aug 9, 2015
    Last edited: Aug 9, 2015
    This was also the very reason that Ferrari told Berney that he is no 'gentleman' after having personally cancelled end February 62 the delivery to Volpi of the two first GTOs for Sebring and having called him a 'traitor' ... It's also the background why #3909 (on Swiss plates GE 2534) was entered as #14 in October 62 the 'Paris 1000 Kms' in Montlhéry from Scuderia SSS Repubblica di Venezia for Edgar Berney/Juan Manuel Bordeu ...
     
  4. radicalmagcom

    radicalmagcom Rookie

    Apr 1, 2011
    37
    switzerland
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    peter
    Berney is said to have been in finacial problems all of his life. he probably was agood racer but not a good businessman. one reason, maybe: his father, also a quite famous racedriver, died when Edgar was 19. he had to take over the Alfa-dealership without any decent knowledge.

    however - thanks! and please go on, there are still many questions open in the relationship Berney/Ferrari.
     
  5. radicalmagcom

    radicalmagcom Rookie

    Apr 1, 2011
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    switzerland
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    peter
    another question: you write that #3909 was sold to Berney in September. but he already was driving a GTO before, at Solitude on 15.7.62 - which car was that?
    and: what do you know about the relation of Berney with Giotto Bizzarrini?
     
  6. per904

    per904 Karting

    Feb 28, 2009
    85
    switzerland
    I just found the paper I was refering a few days ago and I have to correct my previous post

    1) according to Jess Pourret #3909 was delivered on the 10th of september 1962

    2) the invoice is dated by the 12th of september 1962 and is a sale slip from Scuderia Serenissima to Edgar Berney! SSR certifie to have received "4.000.000= Lit (quattromilioni) per la #3909 (In Switzerland the list price of a 250GT SWB was 46000 CHF at this time...).So this paper was obviously for custom tax. There is a stamp of the Swiss custom at the bottom.

    As you mention still lots if questions about the relation between Berney, Volpi, Bizzarini and Ferrari
     
  7. per904

    per904 Karting

    Feb 28, 2009
    85
    switzerland
    Peter,

    For La Solitude in July 1962, you wrote DNA (did not arrive). At this date Berney was still driving his 250 SWB #2939
     
  8. tongascrew

    tongascrew F1 Rookie

    Jan 3, 2006
    2,989
    tewksbury
    Full Name:
    george burgess
    Ferrari had it in for Volpe when he found out Volpe had hired Bizzarinni who had left Ferrari during the 1961 coupe, to build a car to beat the GTO, ie the breadvan. The two GTO orders for Volpe were cancelled by E.F. personally for this very reason. tonga's crew
     
  9. radicalmagcom

    radicalmagcom Rookie

    Apr 1, 2011
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    peter
    #9 radicalmagcom, Aug 17, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  10. lgs

    lgs Formula Junior

    Mar 26, 2006
    503
    Wonderful, thank you! Do I correctly recognise a 'Scuderia SSS Repubblica di Venezia' tag on the car's side?
     
  11. Boudewijn

    Boudewijn F1 Rookie
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    May 15, 2003
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    Boudewijn Berkhoff
    #11 Boudewijn, Aug 17, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Yes (copyright unknown).
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  12. lgs

    lgs Formula Junior

    Mar 26, 2006
    503
    Thank you! And this is the answer why Enzo Ferrari told Edgar Berney: «You still can come to Maranello, but you will not be allowed to sit down. This is only allowed to Gentleman...»
     
  13. radicalmagcom

    radicalmagcom Rookie

    Apr 1, 2011
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    peter
    #13 radicalmagcom, Aug 18, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    lgs likes this.
  14. lgs

    lgs Formula Junior

    Mar 26, 2006
    503
    Automobil Revue, p. 11, Nr. 41, 20.9.1962: " ... Edgar Berney ... in seinem der Scuderia Serenissima gehörenden nagelneuen Ferrari GTO sicher schlug und sich an zweite Stelle des Zwischenklassementes setzte. ..." (... Edgar Berney ... drove Scuderia Serenissima's brand new GTO to a safe 2nd OA of the temporary classement)
     
  15. VAN DEN HOVE

    VAN DEN HOVE Rookie

    Jan 10, 2011
    1
    I am looking for BERNEY pictures with 250 gto #3909 with race number 109, this during OLLON VILLARS hillclimb in 1963 ?

    Rgds
     

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