Business 193
Jaguar Type 01 Debuts as Brand Bets on Electric Luxury
Heritage Racers D50 Electric Go-Kart Offered at No Reserve
A Miami-built electric go-kart styled after Juan Manuel Fangio's 1956 Ferrari-Lancia D50 is being offered at no reserve, complete with a charger, cover and bill of sale.
By Edward Beaumont · 4 min read
A Miami company is offering a scaled-down electric tribute to one of Formula 1's most celebrated cars. Heritage Racers of Miami, Florida, markets the D50 as a go-kart styled after the 1956 Ferrari-Lancia D50 driven by Juan Manuel Fangio, and an example is now being sold at no reserve through a local partner in Miami Beach.
The machine pairs a fibreglass body finished in red with a steel frame, and power comes from an electric motor providing both forward and reverse operation. The sale includes a protective cover, a specifications sheet, a battery charger and a bill of sale, giving the buyer everything needed to run and store the kart.
The D50's visual references are deliberate. The bodywork carries a yellow nose stripe and white number 20 race markings, while faux side-mounted fuel tanks and twin quad simulated exhaust outlets echo the layout of the original racer. A mesh grille, a plastic windscreen, body-colour side mirrors and a removable hood panel with a faux scoop and vents complete the period look. An aluminium fuel filler cap flips up to conceal the battery charging port.
The rear bodywork features Argentine flags and white signatures in the style of Fangio, a nod to the driver who took his fourth Formula 1 World Drivers' Championship in the 1956 car. The kart rides on 8-inch white-finished steel wheels with 4.80-4.00 Load Star tyres, and braking is handled by a drilled disc on the rear axle.
The cockpit is trimmed for a single occupant, with a brown leatherette seat and matching headrest, a removable three-spoke steering wheel and adjustable foot pedals. The body-colour dashboard houses an analogue clock on the left and a faux tachometer on the right that incorporates a digital voltage display. A power button sits on the right side, and a rocker switch below the dashboard selects forward or reverse.
Dimensions are modest: approximately 89 inches long, 35 inches wide and 27 inches high at the top of the windscreen, with a weight of 210 pounds. The seller notes that the cockpit accommodates drivers up to 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighing around 155 pounds, which positions the D50 as a compact machine rather than a full-size kart.
The backstory behind the styling is well established. In 1953, Gianni Lancia tasked Vittorio Jano with leading a team of engineers to develop a single-seat race car for Formula 1 competition, and the result was the D50. Its design included fuel tanks mounted on either side of the cockpit, a feature echoed in the go-kart's faux side tanks. The Ferrari-engineered 1956 version adopted quad side-exit exhausts and was driven that year by Fangio.
For collectors and enthusiasts, the appeal lies in the combination of accessible electric propulsion and a shape drawn from a defining era of grand prix racing. The no-reserve format removes the usual threshold for entry, and the included charger and cover make the kart usable without additional outlay. The specification sheet supplied with the sale documents the details of the build.
The D50 is offered by a local partner in Miami Beach, Florida, and the listing presents it as a complete package rather than a project. With its fibreglass body, steel frame and electric drivetrain, it occupies a niche between a display piece and a drivable toy, aimed at buyers who want a recognisable slice of motorsport history in a compact, battery-powered form.
11
