The Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa is a very special car, capturing the imagination of adults and children alike. Worth millions now, getting hold of one is the preserve of the rich and famous, but now there’s a chance to pick one up for a fraction of a per cent.
Around £80,000 plus taxes will get you a Ferrari Testa Rossa J, a 75% scale replica of the renowned classic, measuring just 3.1 metres long and powered by an electric motor. The car is a faithful reproduction of the 1957 250 Testa Rossa, one of the most iconic and successful cars in Ferrari and motorsport history, with one recently selling for more than £10m.
Ferrari’s Styling Centre in Maranello and the Italian firm’s Classiche department worked with The Little Car Company
, a British firm specialising in the production of junior cars, to ensure that the proportions, liveries, chassis and components were created to its exacting standards.
Ferrari Testa Rossa J: Design
The Testa Rossa J meticulously reproduces the lines of the 250 Testa Rossa in the original Scaglietti-designed barchetta version, nicknamed “pontoon fender”. Attention to detail is exquisite: the bodywork is constructed from hand-beaten aluminium, the same process that was employed in historical models. The paint is the same as that applied to Ferrari’s present road car range, as is the insignia on the front.
To accurately recreate the intricate chassis of the 250 Testa Rossa, the original paper drawings from the Ferrari Classiche Department were scanned and digitally recreated. The junior car retains the same steering and suspension geometry, giving it authentic handling to match its original appearance.
Ferrari’s Styling Centre has designed a single seat that accommodates an adult and a teen, incorporating the piping motif of the original and using the same leather upholstery found in the Ferrari range today. The steering wheel is made by Nardi, the same company that supplied the 1957 model, and features Ferrari’s smallest-ever quick-release system to facilitate driver entry. The classic dials have been remastered and repurposed for their new role in an electric car, but retain the original design and fonts; the oil and water gauges now monitor the battery and motor temperatures, while the fuel gauge is now the battery gauge.
The pedals are from the current F8 Tributo car, with handmade 12-inch wire wheels clad in Pirelli tyres. Suspension is taken care of with Bilstein coilover dampers and custom springs fine-tuned and signed off by Ferrari’s test drivers at the Fiorano test track in Maranello.
Ferrari Testa Rossa J: Performance
Three batteries power the electric motor, providing approximately 55 miles of range. Handily, the charging socket is located where the fuel cap previously resided.
The ‘Manettino’ dial gives the choice of four driving modes. The Novice mode provides 1.3hp and limits the vehicle to 12.5mph, easing rookie drivers into the driving experience with gentle acceleration. The car can also be disabled remotely with a key fob. The Comfort mode increases the power available to 5.4hp, with a maximum speed of 28mph. Sport and Race modes increase performance further, each allowing speeds over 37mph.
Brembo disc brakes replace the original drum system to maximize braking performance, and these are complemented by a hydraulic handbrake.
Ferrari Testa Rossa J: Pricing and Availability
The Ferrari Testa Rossa J is available to order now, with a vast array of personalisation options, including 14 historical liveries, 53 bodywork colours and additional personalized racing liveries, all authentically in keeping with Ferrari style. Prices start from €93,000 (£78,800) plus personalisation, shipping and taxes. Just 299 of the scale vehicles will be produced.
