Porsche has added its name to an electric, 80-percent-scale tribute to the 1953 550 Spyder, but there is a major limitation: the 550 J Junior Spyder cannot be registered or homologated anywhere. Built by Hedley Studios under official Porsche license, the two-seat collector car starts at £69,500—about $93,800—before taxes and customization. Production is limited to 250 examples, with deliveries scheduled to begin in early 2027.

Porsche positions the 550 J for private estates, closed courses, and track days rather than public-road driving. That makes it less a conventional new car than a hand-built electric collectible inspired by one of the brand's most recognizable racing machines.

Scaled-down Porsche 550 Spyder design

Hedley Studios, formerly known as Little Car Company, assembles each 550 J in the United Kingdom. The car uses a steel space-frame chassis and a carbon-fiber body, replacing the aluminum construction of the original 550 Spyder.

At approximately 2.9 meters long and 1.2 meters wide, the Junior Spyder occupies roughly 80 percent of the original car's footprint. It retains seating for two, while its 728-pound curb weight is far below the 1,213-pound figure quoted for the 1953 model.

The original 550 Spyder used a 1.5-liter boxer engine producing between 109 and 133 horsepower. Porsche and Hedley instead give the 550 J a compact 48-volt electric drivetrain.

Electric powertrain and performance

Standard cars produce 11 horsepower and have a 40-mph top speed for use on private property or closed courses. Buyers can specify an RS Package that raises output to 22 horsepower and increases top speed to 50 mph.

The RS upgrade also provides a driving range of 30 to 50 miles, depending on how the car is driven. The source material does not state a standard-model range figure.

Price, production, and road legality

The 550 J is part of Porsche's 75-year motorsport celebrations and will be hand-assembled in a run of just 250 cars. Its £69,500 starting price converts to approximately $93,800 before taxes, with customization available at additional cost.

Despite its Porsche branding and official license, this is not a road-legal replica. Porsche says the 550 J is neither registered nor homologated anywhere, so owners will need suitable private property or closed-course access rather than a normal title, registration, and insurance policy.

The model follows Hedley Studios' earlier junior electric interpretations of cars such as the Aston Martin DB5 and Bentley Blower. For the 550 J, the appeal centers on its limited production, period-inspired design, and direct connection to Porsche's racing heritage—not everyday transportation.