History often lingers not only in trophies but in the stories cars leave behind. Hedley Studios has tapped into that narrative with its latest special edition: the Ferrari Testa Rossa J ‘Lucybelle II’. Limited to only three examples, the hand-built model revives one of Ferrari’s most distinctive endurance racing entries from 1958.
The original ‘Lucybelle II’ was a privateer Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa, entered at the 24 Hours of Le Mans by American drivers Ed Hugus and Ray “Ernie” Erickson. Painted in Bianco Cervino with bold blue stripes and hand-detailed markings, it carried the No.22 and quickly became a cult favorite. More than its race result, it was its individuality and character that stood out against Ferrari’s factory-backed cars.
Hedley Studios has revisited that story before. In 2022, it revealed the Pebble Beach Edition, a pristine one-off that recreated Lucybelle as it appeared at the starting grid. This new version tells the car’s story differently. Instead of perfection at the start, it shows the machine as it would have looked after 24 hours of racing, worn, weathered, and carrying the marks of endurance.
The tribute took more than 12 months to develop, with Hedley Studios working alongside Centro Stile Ferrari and studying historic photography to achieve accuracy. Each car’s livery begins with a digital mapping process based on Ferrari’s original drawings, followed by hand-sprayed paint using authentic Ferrari color codes. Only after the clean base is complete does the weathering begin, a 100-hour process applied by Hedley Studios’ in-house artist. Dirt streaks, paint bleed, and subtle scuffs are added with precision, even in hidden sections under the bodywork. The finish is left un-lacquered, preserving the tactile, race-worn feel.
Each of the three examples carries the familiar white-and-blue paint scheme, No.22 roundels, US flag, Ferrari shields, and the ‘Lucybelle II’ name. The body panels are hand-beaten aluminium, and the interior uses authentic Ferrari-sourced materials, including red leather with white piping. A Nardi steering wheel with quick-release hub, remastered dials adapted for EV use, and period-correct racing lights continue the detail.
The car is a fully driveable 75% scale recreation and built to the same standards as earlier Testa Rossa J models. It features Bilstein coilover dampers with custom springs, signed off by Ferrari’s test drivers at Fiorano. Power comes from three front-mounted batteries, providing up to 90 km of range. Four driving modes, Novice (1kW / 24 km/h), Comfort (4kW / 40 km/h), Sport (10kW / 80 km/h), and Race (12kW / 80 km/h), can be selected using a Ferrari 812-inspired Manettino. Charging is done through the original-style fuel cap, now repurposed as a charging port.
Ben Hedley, Founder and CEO of Hedley Studios, said: “Lucybelle II’ is a true part of Ferrari folklore. It was a privateer car that stood out not just for how it looked, but for the story it told. Some cars win races, others win hearts — ‘Lucybelle II’ did both. With this edition, we wanted to bring that character to life as authentically as possible. From the blue stripes to the hand-applied patina and every race-worn detail, nothing has been added for effect. Every mark is there for a reason. It’s a tribute to endurance, individuality, and the spirit of racing.”
Production is capped at just three units, each hand-weathered and built to tell its own story. The edition underlines Hedley Studios’ philosophy of treating cars as living narratives rather than static objects, where endurance and imperfection are preserved as part of history rather than polished away. And in case you were wondering where the original Lucybelle II is, it is currently owned by billionaire Giorgio Perfetti and was most recently seen at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2023.
