This drivable 3/4 scale Ferrari Testa Rossa J replica will be auctioned off

MANILA: At the upcoming Silver Anniversary Bonhams Quail Lodge Auction, a 2022 Pebble Beach Edition Ferrari Testa Rossa J — a 75% scale replica of the 1958 Le Mans 24 Hours 250 Testa Rossa "Lucybelle II" — will be offered for sale.

The limited-edition Ferrari Testa Rossa J is a realistic recreation of one of the most iconic and successful cars in Ferrari and race history, and it is powered by an electric motor. The winning bidder will be able to skip the 12-month wait list because this will be the first Testa Rossa J to ever show up at auction.

Ferrari has taken the lead on the project, which is strictly limited to 299 automobiles, collaborating with The Little Car Company, a company located in the UK that specializes in producing scaled-down versions of properly licensed vehicles.

Each Testa Rossa J is made with hand-beaten aluminum panels, paying homage to every detail of the original 250 Testa Rossa, including the iconic "pontoon fenders," and is developed and handcrafted using the original drawings, supplied by the Ferrari Classiche department, that have been scanned and digitally recreated.

A key track protagonist in the 1950s and 1960s, the Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa is one of the all-time great Ferraris, distinguished by its lengthy list of honors and its longevity. The car claimed some 18 victories in its history, and three World Sportscar Championship titles in 1958, 1960 and 1961. It is also the only Ferrari to have won the 24 Hours of Le Mans four times – in 1958, 1960, 1961 and 1962 (considering the 330 TR – the last evolution).

This specific model, a one-of-a-kind special edition, honors "Lucybelle II" (chassis 0732TR), the vehicle raced by US driver Ed Hugus and Ray "Ernie" Erickson at the 1958 Le Mans 24 Hours under the race number 22. Hugus is a resident of Pebble Beach.

This Ferrari Testa Rossa J will be the only one in the world to wear the original paint job of Bianco Cervino with blue stripes and the matching number 22. The vehicle also features period-appropriate racing lights, "Lucybelle II" handpainted on one side, and the American flag on the other.

The Little Car Company and Ferrari worked to make sure the product was as similar to its predecessor as it was feasible. Its handling is real because of original aspects that have been implemented, such as the identical steering and suspension geometry. Additionally, it features re-proportioned wire wheels with Borrani alloys that match the original's and Pirelli Cinturato tires wrapped around them for total accuracy.

The original Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa's craftsmanship served as inspiration for the attention to detail on every component of the car. The front logo and color are identical to what is used on Ferrari's current line of road cars. The horn, rear brake lights, and front lights all function properly.

Inside, the automobile is equally beautiful and meticulously designed. The Testa Rossa J, offered at the 2022 Bonhams Quail Lodge Auction, is commemorated with a plaque on the dashboard identifying it as a "1 of 1 - 2022 Pebble Beach Edition."

The seats are built to look exactly like the original "Lucybelle II" Testa Rossa, right down to the white piping, and are trimmed in plush red leather from the same tanneries that supply Ferrari with leather for their road cars. The two original seats have been replaced with seats that can hold an adult and a child when the transmission tunnel has been taken out.

The world's smallest quick-release steering wheel system, created by Nardi to make it easier for the driver to get into the automobile, is provided on the steering wheel, just like it was on the original vehicle.

On the other hand, the traditional dials have been updated and reused for their new function in an electric vehicle while keeping the original layout and typefaces. While the fuel gauge is now the battery gauge, the tachometer is now the speedometer, and the oil and water gauges monitor the temperatures of the battery and the motor, respectively. There is even a power gauge that displays the degree of applied regenerative braking.

Modeled after the one used in the Ferrari 812 Superfast and is located next to the instruments, the Manettino switch enables the driver to switch the vehicle's driving style. Four carefully researched driving modes (Novice, Comfort, Sport, Race) have been created to accommodate drivers of all ages and skill levels and to make the experience as secure as possible.

With novice mode, the Testa Rossa J uses only 1kW of power for a top speed of 24kph. Comfort mode unlocks 4kW of power and 40kph. Sport and race modes both allow the Ferrari Testa Rossa J to run at 80kph, with available power of 10 and 12kW, respectively.

The pedals are from the F8 Tributo as a nod to the current generation of road cars. Pirelli, Ferrari's official technical partner, provided the tires that were mounted on the custom 12-inch wire wheels. Bilstein coilover dampers and bespoke springs, which were tweaked and approved by Ferrari's test drivers at the Fiorano test track in Maranello, take care of the suspension.

Depending on driving style, the three batteries that power the electric engine are located in the front of the vehicle and offer a range of about 90 kilometers. The Ferrari Testa Rossa J can be charged where the gas cap formerly stood, and the batteries are accessible beneath the front hood.

“The Little Car Company are honoured to be able to support The Pebble Beach Company Foundation at this year’s Bonhams Quail Lodge Auction, with the sale of the 2022 Pebble Beach Edition Ferrari Testa Rossa J, Lucybelle II,’” CEO of The Little Car Company Ben Hedley said.

“As one of the most respected and highly regarded events on the motoring calendar, we are proud to be able to offer this wonderful tribute and are very excited to see this one-of-one car raise funds for a worthy cause.”

The Quail Auction takes place on August 19. All profits from the sale of "Lucybelle II" will be donated by The Little Car Company to The Pebble Beach Company Foundation.

Photos from The Little Car Company

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