In his latest instalment, John Challen ponders the fleet merits of an £80,000 electric replica of the Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa from 1957.

The Ferrari Testa Rossa J is an electric, 75% scale replica of the 250 Testa Rossa, which won the 1958 Le Mans 24 Hours

Price  Starting at c.£80,000

Power  Between 1kW and 14kW

Driving modes  Four

Dimensions  3.1m x 1.2m x 0.7m

Rivals (for your affection) Aston Martin DB5; Bugatti Baby II

Likelihood of making it onto the fleet? 3/10

It’s fair to say that a lot of people are currently thinking about streamlining operations, cutting back where they can and reducing outgoings. In the world of fleet, mobility options are being explored and cars being evaluated on how much they are ‘fit for purpose’. However, it’s unlikely that anyone is looking at downsizing in the way that The Little Car Company goes about its business.

The Bicester-based outfit specialises in junior car variants – hand-built in limited production runs – of classic and/or iconic models of the past. For example, the current line-up includes a DB5 from Aston Martin, the Bugatti Baby II and Ferrari’s Testa Rossa J.

The shrunken Prancing Horse (Prancing Pony, maybe?) is a 75% scale reproduction of the much-adored 250 Testa Rossa and has been developed and built using original drawings that are kept within the hands of classic enthusiasts at the Italian manufacturer. It’s an official Ferrari product, too, which means drivers can expect the highest quality materials, craftsmanship and performance from their tiny Testa Rossa. In fact, up to 160 hours is spent on each of the Ferraris, the production of which is limited to 299 vehicles. Many of the items – including the paint, steering wheel and pedals – come from official Ferrari suppliers, while the tyres are, as you might expect, Pirellis.

In order to cater to the widest range of drivers, there are four driving modes: Novice; Comfort; Sport and Race. These distinctions ensure a power spread of between 1kW and 12kW under the bonnet, with top speeds ranging between the modes from 24km/h (15mph) to 80km/h (50mph). The electric powertrain is comprised of three batteries, positioned at the front of the car. Depending on how enthusiastically the car is being driven, they will offer up to 90km (56 miles) of fun!

One of the latest offerings from The Little Car Company for the Ferrari is the Pacco Gara race pack, which features performance enhancements to the electric powertrain – to 14kW – creating a more track-friendly offering. Other components given a makeover include the steering rack, which gets a quicker ratio, dampers, and brake discs. There’s also a removable roll cage, for extra protection for those drivers who might be tempted to be a bit over-zealous on the track.

The company says it wants to “produce beautiful cars that allow our clients to share the love of driving across generations and encourage every driver to create memorable experiences today and for years to come”. One of the wider goals is to build a community among little car owners, helped by every purchase coming with a lifetime membership to The Little Car Club.

The recent announcement of an expansion to the Bicester Heritage Centre will shine an even brighter light on these mini masterpieces. In fact, it was during a visit to the site that we discovered the business premises, having caught a glimpse at some of the models being given a little shakedown outside of the production site. The Little Car Company has big plans, so it’s worth keeping an eye on what other models might pop up next.