Hedley Studios, renowned for turning automotive legends into driveable works of art, has unveiled its latest special edition – the Ferrari Testa Rossa J ‘Lucybelle II’. Hand-built and limited to just three examples, this 75% scale recreation celebrates one of Ferrari’s most charismatic privateer entries at the 1958 24 Hours of Le Mans. Unlike pristine showpieces, this edition wears its scars proudly – capturing the essence of a car that finished the world’s toughest endurance race battered but beautiful.
A Story Rooted in Ferrari Folklore
The original ‘Lucybelle II’, a Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa (chassis 0732TR), was fielded at Le Mans by American privateers Ed Hugus and Ray “Ernie” Erickson. Painted in Bianco Cervino with vivid blue stripes and hand-applied markings, the No.22 entry became a cult icon for its individuality, standing out against the regimented scarlet factory cars. Hedley Studios’ latest tribute reimagines the machine not at the start line, but at the finish: worn, weathered, and steeped in character.
Twelve Months Of Crafting The Lucybelle II
To achieve this, Hedley Studios undertook a year-long project in collaboration with Centro Stile Ferrari. Historic photographs, archive documents, and period-correct accounts guided every brushstroke. The process began with a digitally mapped recreation of the livery using Ferrari’s original colour codes. Multiple hand-applied layers of paint created depth before the real artistry began: a painstaking 100-hour weathering treatment, applied by hand using water-based paints.
From subtle grime trails and scuffed panel joints to dirt-laden undersides and tyre weathering, every mark tells the story of a car that endured 24 relentless hours at Le Mans. Crucially, the patina remains un-lacquered, preserving a tactile, race-worn authenticity.
A Driveable Masterpiece
The Ferrari Testa Rossa J ‘Lucybelle II’ is far more than a static collector’s piece. Like all Testa Rossa J models, it’s a fully driveable 75% scale car built on aluminium bodywork using Ferrari’s original archive drawings. Beneath the artistry lies serious engineering:
Rolling Stock: 12-inch wire wheels inspired by Borrani, wrapped in Pirelli Cinturato tyres.
Lighting and Details: Functioning headlights, taillights, horn, and period-correct racing lamps.
Cockpit: Red leather seats with white piping from Ferrari’s own tanneries, paired with a quick-release Nardi steering wheel.
Instrumentation: Classic Ferrari dials, remastered for EV use while retaining the 1950s font and layout.
Performance With Ferrari DNA
Despite its scaled-down form, performance has been engineered to Ferrari standards. The electric drivetrain is powered by three front-mounted batteries, good for a range of up to 90 km. The charging port is cleverly disguised beneath a period-style fuel filler cap.
The Manettino switch, borrowed from the Ferrari 812, offers four driving modes:
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Novice – 1 kW, 24 km/h
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Comfort – 4 kW, 40 km/h
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Sport – 10 kW, 80 km/h
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Race – 12 kW, 80 km/h
Suspension is handled by Bilstein coilover dampers with custom springs, tuned and signed off by Ferrari’s own test drivers at Fiorano. This ensures the miniature racer doesn’t just look the part – it drives with the same DNA that defined the original Testa Rossa’s legendary balance. Just.. much slower.
A Tribute to Spirit, Not Just Speed
Speaking about the project, Ben Hedley, Founder and CEO of Hedley Studios, summed up its ethos: “Some cars win races, others win hearts — ‘Lucybelle II’ did both. Every detail in this edition, from the faded blue stripes to the hand-applied patina, has a purpose. It’s a tribute to endurance, individuality, and the human side of racing.”
With just three cars to be built, the Ferrari Testa Rossa J ‘Lucybelle II’ is destined for the world’s most discerning collectors. Yet beyond rarity, what truly sets it apart is the philosophy: not celebrating perfection, but immortalising the imperfections that define racing heritage.
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