What if you could drive a piece of art? Since 2019, Hedley Studios has been turning this dream into a reality, transforming legendary race cars into high-powered feats of craftsmanship. Blending classic design with cutting-edge technology, the Oxfordshire, England-based studio brings automotive history to life—now against the snowy backdrop of Aspen, Colorado.
This spring, art, automotive, and ski lovers alike can experience Hedley Studios's latest U.S. residency at Aspen’s Gondola Plaza, where three of the world’s most classic cars—recreated by hand—are on display from March 14 to 23. Located at the base of Aspen Mountain, just steps from the Little Nell hotel, the showcase offers spring breakers the perfect respite from the cold weather before hitting the slopes.
Visitors can see a limited-edition yellow Ferrari Testa Rossa J with a bordeaux interior, the first scaled recreation that delivers handling similar to the original. There’s also an Aston Martin DB5 J, made famous by the James Bond films, in a warm blue with an ivory interior—complete with the car’s iconic “wings.”
The alpine setting couldn’t be more fitting for founder Ben Hedley, who spent a decade as a speed skier with the British ski team. Following that chapter, Hedely received an engineering degree from Cambridge University and was commissioned by Bugatti to build the first-ever Hedley Studios product, the Bugatti Baby II, also on display in Aspen. The model has a bold red exterior with a rich saddle-brown interior and was developed using a 3D scan of a real 1924 French Grand Prix car.
Since its founding six years ago, Hedley remains the only studio globally authorized to re-create these officially licensed vintage race cars. Despite their retro fashioning, each model is fully electric, powered by zero-emission electric propulsion systems, and can be customized by the owner.
In partnership with Aston Martin, Bentley, Bugatti, and Ferrari, the limited-edition automobiles are handcrafted, numbered, and signed by the maker, much like a coveted painting or print. Just how many Aspen visitors will ditch their skis in favor of something with a little more kick? Only time will tell.
