Porsche 550 Spyder reimagined as the electric 550 J, a 250-unit run by Hedley Studios
Porsche has licensed UK-based Hedley Studios to hand-build the 550 J, an electric, 80-per-cent-scale tribute to the 550 Spyder that is limited to 250 examples and is not road legal.
- 250 examples
- approximately 8 kW standard, up to 16 kW with RS Package
- approximately 80 km/h
- 36 seconds
What Happened
The Porsche 550 J, with the 'J' standing for 'Junior', is an officially licensed reimagining of the 550 Spyder, handcrafted by Hedley Studios in Bicester in the UK and limited to 250 examples. During development, Porsche gave the Hedley Studios team extensive access to the Porsche corporate archives and supported them with guidance throughout the project. The car measures approximately 2.9 metres long and 1.2 metres wide, around 80 per cent of the size of the original, and accommodates up to two people. Aimed at collectors and design enthusiasts, it is an exclusive collector's item that is not road legal.
250examples
The Porsche 550 J is an officially licensed reimagining of the 550 Spyder, handcrafted in the UK by Hedley Studios.
“The Porsche 550 Spyder is far more than a legendary sports car. It embodies the pioneering spirit, innovative strength and passion that have defined Porsche from the brand's earliest days to the present. The Porsche 550 J celebrates this unique heritage and brings the story of one of the most significant sports cars in our company's history back to life in a contemporary and inspiring way.”
The 550 J draws on one of the most significant racing cars in Porsche's history. At the 1954 Carrera Panamericana, one of the most demanding road races of its era, factory drivers Hans Herrmann and Jaroslav Juhan competed in two Porsche 550 Spyder models over the race's full 3,077-kilometre distance. After five days of racing, Herrmann prevailed by a margin of just 36 seconds. The two cars outperformed numerous far more powerful rivals to take third and fourth places overall and win their class, and the 'Carrera' designation has since been used for numerous particularly sporty Porsche models.
“The Porsche 550 Spyder marked a milestone in the company's history as it was the first Porsche developed specifically for motorsport; a car capable of competing with and beating the best in the world. It was not only fast, but also lightweight, driver-focused and characterised by a remarkably clear and honest design language. With the Porsche 550 J, we wanted to preserve that spirit while making it relevant for a new generation.”
- approximately 8 kW from a fully electric 48-volt drivetrain
- up to 16 kW
- A wide range of striking paint finishes, from classic Porsche Silver to expressive heritage-inspired designs in blue, white, yellow and red
- The Bespoke programme, which offers near-limitless possibilities for a truly individual creation
- A curated selection of historic and contemporary colours
- Motorsport-inspired liveries
- Virtually every detail can be configured to individual preferences
- Available to order now through Hedley Studios
Previously from Porsche
In early September 2026, Porsche unveiled the GT3 Bergsport, a 100-car, Alpine-inspired 911 GT3 special edition for four European markets. That model debuts at Switzerland's Arosa ClassicCar hill climb on 3 September.
Background drawn from MotorClaw's earlier coverage of Porsche's official releases.
Why this matters
The 550 J shows how a heritage brand can turn a historic name into a product without touching its own assembly lines: Porsche supplied archive access and licensing, while Hedley Studios hand-builds the cars in the UK. It mainly concerns collectors and design enthusiasts, since the car is an exclusive collector's item rather than a road-legal Porsche, and the original 550 Spyder's race record is what gives the tribute its value.
Terms in This Story
- Space-frame chassis
- A vehicle structure built from a network of connected beams forming a frame, rather than a single stamped body shell.
- 48-volt powertrain
- An electric drive system running on a 48-volt electrical architecture, a low-voltage setup compared with the high-voltage systems used in full-size electric cars.
- Carrera Panamericana
- A historic long-distance road race known for its extreme length and demanding conditions.
- Bespoke programme
- A customisation service in which a buyer specifies individual details instead of choosing only from standard options.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.