Ferrari has announced the Ferrari Testa Rossa J, a special project developed in collaboration with The Little Car Company. The new limited edition electric car is a 75% scale replica of a legendary 1950s Ferrari. Just 299 examples will be built and while the Ferrari Testa Rossa J is designed to be driven by anyone over 14 years of age, it is not intended for road use.

The Testa Rossa J is a faithful reproduction of the original 1957 250 Testa Rossa, one of the Ferrari’s most iconic and successful cars and a motorsport legend. A key track protagonist in the 1950s and 1960s, the 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 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.

Working in collaboration with The Little Car Company, Ferrari’s Styling Centre in Maranello oversaw the proportions and liveries. Ensuring the project was as faithful to the original car as possible, the chassis and other components were created using original design drawings held by Ferrari’s Classiche department.

The Ferrari Testa Rossa J reproduces the lines of the 250 Testa Rossa in the original Scaglietti-designed barchetta version, which was nicknamed “pontoon fender”. The bodywork is constructed from hand-beaten aluminium, the same process that was employed in period. The paint is the same as that applied to Ferrari’s present road car range, as is the prancing horse insignia on the front.

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.

The same meticulous detail is found in the interior. Ferrari’s Styling Centre has designed a single seat that accommodates an adult and a teen, faithfully incorporating the piping motif of the original and using the same high quality leather upholstery found in the Ferrari range today. The steering wheel is made by Nardi, the same specialist 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 and the tachometer has become a speedometer. There is even a power gauge which also shows the level of regenerative braking being deployed.

Making a nod to the current generation of Ferrari road cars, the pedals are from the F8 Tributo and the tyres are supplied by Pirelli, which are fitted on handmade 12 inch wire wheels.

The suspension is taken care of with Bilstein coilover dampers and custom springs which were fine-tuned and signed off by Ferrari’s test divers at the Fiorano test track in Maranello.

The electric engine is powered by three batteries, which are located at the front of the car. They provide approximately 90 km range, depending on driving style. The batteries are accessed under the front bonnet Testa Rossa J be charged where the fuel cap was previously located on the full size car.

The ‘Manettino’ dial gives the choice of four driving modes, ensuring driving pleasure with the highest levels of safety. The Novice mode (1 kW / 20 km/h) eases rookie drivers into the driving experience with controlled acceleration and the ability to remotely disable the car from a distance with a key fob. The Comfort mode (4 kW / 45 km/h), Sport and Race modes become progressively sportier, with instantly responsive acceleration and increased maximum speeds.

Safety has been a priority throughout the car’s development: the metal side panels were reinforced and an optional roll-bar can be anchored to the chassis. Brembo disc brakes replace the original drums for maximum braking performance, and these are complemented by a hydraulic handbrake.

The Ferrari Testa Rossa J offers a wide range of personalization and colour combinations, all of which have been extensively researched by the Ferrari Classiche department. An online car configurator allows customers to choose from 14 historical liveries, 53 bodywork colours and additional personalized racing liveries, all authentically in keeping with Ferrari style.