This kids' Ferrari could raise $120,000 for charity

05th August 2022

Ethan Jupp

A very special Ferrari is going up for auction with Bonhams at the Quail Lodge Auction later this month, though perhaps not the Ferrari you might expect. Though it resembles Lucybelle II, the 1958 Le Mans 250 Testa Rossa, this example won’t set the records that chassis would be liable to, given it’s a 75 per cent scale reproduction.

Yes, this is a Testa Rossa J (for junior), a collaboration between Ferrari and The Little Car Company. ‘Lucybelle II’ (chassis 0732TR), the car this commemorates, was raced by Ed Hugus and Ray Erickson at La Sarthe in 1958, finishing a respectable seventh overall. The Testa Rossa J wears that car’s Bianco Cervino white paint, with blue stripes.

Of course the 3.0-litre Colombo V12 that powers the full size car won’t be present in this scale model, though it will have some power underfoot for the lucky would-be racer that snags it. In its most powerful ‘Race Mode’, the electric motor will deliver 16PS (12kW), and allow a top speed of 50mph. In the least powerful ‘Novice Mode’, it’ll have 1.35PS (1kW), allowing for a 15mph top speed.

There are four modes overall, with Comfort and Sport in between, controllable via an 812 Superfast-style Manettino switch next to the instruments. The pedals are also a modern touch, borrowed from the F8 Tributo, while there’s a Nardi wheel and red leather from Ferrari’s own tanneries. Under the skin, there are also Bilstein Coilovers and Pirelli tyres for optimised handling.

All proceeds of the sale, expected to be between $90,000 and $120,000, will be donated by The Little Car Company to the Pebble Beach Company Foundation, benefiting education and local youth in the Monterey area.

“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,” said Ben Hedley, CEO of The Little Car Company.

“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.

“This beautiful Testa Rossa J is a perfect example of the phenomenal detail and handcraftsmanship that our team devote to manufacturing these stunning cars.”