hedley studios shrinks the porsche 550 spyder into a handcrafted electric two-seater

 porsche 550 spyder at 80 percent of its original size

There’s a tiny silver Porsche parked among a sunlit meadow in the English countryside. With its rounded rear fenders and tiny windshield, it’s quite similar to the 550 Spyder that Porsche raced in the 1950s. The proportions are familiar, but something is slightly off. This is the Porsche 550 J, a miniature, fully electric version of the historic race car, recreated by British manufacturer Hedley Studios at roughly 80 percent of its original size.

Developed in collaboration with Porsche to celebrate 75 years of the company’s motorsport history, the 550 J is an officially licensed, handcrafted vehicle limited to 250 examples. The ‘J’ stands for ‘Junior,’ although the little roadster is large enough to accommodate two people. Measuring just 2.9 meters (9.5 feet) in length and 1.2 meters (3.9 feet) wide, it retains the low profile and flowing aluminum-like contours of its predecessor.

a miniature tribute to porsche’s first purpose-built racing car

The original Porsche 550 Spyder holds a special place in the company’s history. Developed specifically for motorsport, the lightweight, mid-engined racer made its name competing against considerably more powerful cars. At the grueling 1954 Carrera Panamericana in Mexico, Porsche drivers Hans Herrmann and Jaroslav Juhan finished third and fourth overall after five days of racing. The two Spyders also won their class, which helped to establish the ‘Carrera’ name that Porsche continues to use today.

For the miniature recreation, the team at Hedley Studios was granted access to Porsche’s corporate archives, allowing the team to study the historic vehicle and reproduce its distinctive form. The round headlights and sculpted wheel arches are immediately recognizable, while the rear bodywork retains the original’s characteristic twin ventilation grilles. Inside, a cream-colored steering wheel sits ahead of a compact dashboard with circular gauges. The open cockpit is wonderfully spare, with just enough contemporary technology to accommodate the electric drivetrain.

an electric drivetrain modernizes the vintage roadster

Beneath its 1950s-inspired bodywork, the Porsche 550 J is powered by a 48-volt electric system, producing approximately 8 kW, or 11 horsepower, in its standard configuration. An optional RS Package doubles that output to 16 kW, or around 21 horsepower. The little racer can reach a top speed of approximately 80 km/h (50 mph), a surprisingly brisk pace for something with such compact proportions. The 550 J is intended as a collector’s vehicle, with public-road driving off limits.

Each example is built by hand at Hedley Studios in Bicester, England, with a selection of finishes drawing from Porsche’s racing history. Alongside the classic silver bodywork, customers can choose bright heritage-inspired colors and racing liveries, including the vivid blue example pictured with white competition numbers. A bespoke program offers further customization.

With just 250 units planned, the 550 J miniaturizes one of Porsche’s most iconic racing silhouettes, while retaining enough power to be driven and enjoyed.

project info:

project: Porsche 550 J
designer/manufacturer: Hedley Studios | @hedley.studios
collaboration: Porsche | @porsche

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