LONDON: Wealthy parents seeking the ultimate present for their car-crazy teenager should take a look at the reborn Ferrari Testa Rossa which is a scaled-down and electrified version of the 1950s racer.
Ferrari’s Maranello styling centre joined forces with the British-based Little Car Company to produce exactly 299 of the Testa Rossa J – which stands for junior.
Each one carries a price ticket of £95,000 (RM551,000).
The two-seater is a 75 per cent scale replica of the real thing with an electric motor and three batteries up front instead of the original’s rorty V12 engine.
The 1957 Testa Rossa was one of the most iconic cars in Ferrari history.
Original drawings were used to create the chassis and many other parts of the working model car which measures 3100 mm long, 1100 mm tall and 700 mm wide.
The junior Testa Rossa version is aimed at owners as young as 14 which explains why top speed has been limited to just 60kph. The junior racing car is not designed for use on public roads.
The makers offer four driving modes from novice to race which should enable young users to gradually get to grips with the performance.
The finish and fittings are up to to Ferrari's usual high standards, with the bodywork made from hand-beaten aluminium. The car rides on 12 inch wire wheels.
In a nod to the current generation of road cars, the pedals are from the F8 Tributo, the tyres from Pirelli and the cockpit boasts leather seats and classic instrument dials.
Safety is a priority and the metal side panels have been reinforced. An optional roll-bar can be anchored to the chassis.
Brembo disc brakes replace the original drum set-up to maximize stopping performance and these are boosted by a hydraulic handbrake.
The pint-sized Testa Rossa looks great in Ferrari red but customers can also order 14 historic liveries and 53 bodywork colours.
The Little Car Company specialises in replicas and already offers downsized versions of the Aston Martin DB5 and a vintage Bugatti.
