Celebrating an icon: Hedley Studios collaborates with Bugatti and the brand’s Managing Designer for Sur Mesure and Individualisation, Jascha Straub, to create a one-of-one Bugatti Baby II
Hedley Studios has worked closely with Bugatti and its in-house Manager of Sur Mesure and Individualisation, Jascha Straub, to design and create a bespoke, one-of-one Bugatti Baby II.
The striking yet elegant Bugatti Baby II turns back the sands of time, honouring the French marque’s incomparable 115-year heritage. A three-quarter-scale, driveable and electrified interpretation of the inimitable Type 35 – Ettore Bugatti’s visionary creation and the most successful racing car of all time, celebrating its 100th anniversary last year – it represents a unique, loving, and dynamic tribute to a design etched into automotive history.
Through many years of experience with the brand, Straub has become an established, trusted advisor to discerning Bugatti owners across the world, utilising his extensive expertise and creative vision to bring their inimitably personalised designs to life. Designs made possible by offering unmatched levels of insight to customers, as Bugatti and Straub accompany them on the journey to curate and commission their hyper sports cars to their own individual taste, a collaborative process to which he contributes with all of his passion for Bugatti.
For this unique example of the Bugatti Baby II, they curated a mesmerising duo-tone of ‘Nocturne’ black and ‘Giallo Midas’ yellow – a celebration of a colour-scheme personally favoured by Ettore Bugatti himself, and one that has adorned such legendary Bugatti models as the beautiful Type 57 Grand Raid Usine. Reaffirming Bugatti and Straub’s keen eye for deeply personal touches, the special Baby Bugatti II is resplendent in its captivating blend of history and beauty, its unique design infused throughout with the designer’s affinity for the marque and profound appreciation of its history.
The eye-catching exterior finish beautifully complemented by an elegant interior – featuring black leather cured by ‘Bridge of Weir’ – is a celebration of Bugatti’s rich heritage – honouring not only Ettore Bugatti’s creative mind and his use of the elegant black and striking yellow, but also paying homage to the marque’s home of Molsheim, where the legend was born.
Bugatti and Straub’s designs also feature touching tributes to one of Ettore Bugatti’s lesser-known passion for horses. With his love for horsepower extending from machines to living thoroughbreds, Ettore worked with horses in the grounds of Molsheim, and drew inspiration from the beauty of ‘Pur Sang’ purebreds for his vehicles.
But this one-off example of the Baby Bugatti II integrates more subtle references paying tribute to the rarely shared intricacies of Bugatti’s heritage, elevating the Bugatti Baby II further as a collector’s item, to create a pure manifestation of driveable art. Indeed, the influences on this special vehicle did not stop with just Ettore, with the prowess and countless on-track successes of the Type 35 being beautifully reflected in Straub’s incredible sketches.
Developing and refining the concept in his mind’s eye on paper, and perfecting his art on separate body-panels, Straub proceeded to commit himself to creating the final masterwork: an exquisite collection of hand-drawn sketches, from horses and winning racing-cars, to the legendary Château Saint- Jean, and Ettore and Jean themselves. At Bugatti’s historic home in Molsheim, Straub drew on a rich repository of inspiration, etching the pieces with masterful precision onto the car itself – accounting for complex contours and uneven surfaces, bringing the precise perspective to the detailed depictions. Finished with a fine layer of clear-coat, the works of art are frozen in exquisite clarity on the Baby Bugatti II’s body-panels – tributes to unparalleled skill and a uniquely rich story, preserved for eternity.
Ben Hedley, Founder and CEO of Hedley Studios, said: “Since 2019, we have been collaborating with Bugatti to create wonderfully unique pieces of automotive art, and this partnership with Bugatti and its Managing Designer for Sur Mesure and Individualisation projects, Jascha Straub – one of Bugatti’s most knowledgeable, talented, and creative minds – has seen the Bugatti Baby II reimagined in a way that commemorates the heritage of the marque. It’s been a pleasure for the Hedley Studios team to work with Bugatti and Jascha throughout this creative process, combining the engineering and technical skills of our team of experts with his inimitable artistic style, encyclopaedic knowledge, and deep connection with the Bugatti brand.”
Jascha Straub, Manager for Sur Mesure and Individualisation at Bugatti, added: “It has been a wonderful experience collaborating with the Hedley Studios team once more, moving from the remarkable commission inspired by the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport ‘Golden Era’, to create another truly unique example of the Bugatti Baby II. Throughout the process of conceptualising the design, to sketching directly on the car, it was clear that the Bugatti Baby II is a carefully and meticulously crafted piece of engineering, forming a brilliant canvas for a one-of-one piece of art.”
“Maintaining and celebrating the heritage of the brand, and its founder, was a major consideration for both the Hedley Studios team and I throughout the process – exploring the fascinating influences that have become an integral part of Bugatti’s story. Bringing this to life took time and collaboration, the result of which we are all very proud of.”
The Bugatti Baby II was the inaugural model created by Hedley Studios, formerly known as The Little Car Company, and is a meticulously engineered reimagining of the Bugatti Type 35.
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About Hedley Studios
Hedley Studios redefines collectible art through its hand-crafted, driveable artworks. Led by Founder and CEO, Ben Hedley, a team of specialist artisans creates scaled, electric icons of the automotive world. Hedley Studios’ vehicles are enjoyed and driven by a global clientele, and form valuable and treasured collections, proving that they are no toys, but collectible and driveable pieces that celebrate craftsmanship and expert engineering.
With official partnerships with elite brands, Hedley Studios combines meticulous craftsmanship with innovative engineering to produce stunning, collectible vehicles that transcend traditional automotive boundaries. This marks the beginning of a new era for Hedley Studios, reinforcing its position as a leader in the creation of luxury, driveable artworks. With a clear vision and a commitment to excellence, Hedley Studios is poised for sustainable growth and continued success in the global luxury market.