In its annual Fantasy Gifts catalog, Neiman Marcus has pulled out all the stops: for 2025, the retailer is offering a fully electric, 75 percent-scale version of the legendary racing car, the Bugatti Baby II. At a price tag of $135,000, this is no mere toy—it’s a fusion of heritage, high craftsmanship and collector appeal.
The roots of the Baby II trace back to 1926, when designer Ettore Bugatti built a half-scale version of his famed Type 35 race car for his youngest son. That one-off became so adored that Bugatti later produced around 500 examples of the child-sized race car replica between 1927 and 1936. Today’s revival takes that lineage seriously.
The Baby II is developed by Hedley Studios in partnership with Bugatti, using a 3-D scan of a 1924 Grand Prix car to recreate every curve and contour. Limited to a production run of 500 units worldwide, it features a 10 kW electric powertrain, three driving modes (Novice, Expert and Speed Key unlock), and a top speed of around 40 mph depending on region. Dimensions: approximately 109 inches long, 39 inches wide, and 31 inches high, making it large enough for an adult and child to share a ride.
Inside, materials and detail speak to the luxury-heritage story: genuine solid-silver Bugatti Macaron on the nose, Michelin tires, leaf-spring suspension, and finishes worthy of a design studio. For the Neiman Marcus edition, the story goes further: white leather upholstery, a limestone-effect dashboard inspired by the marble floors of the Dallas flagship, custom color detailing and a commemorative plaque stamped with the buyer’s name and edition number.
What sets the Neiman Marcus Edition apart isn’t just the badge. The Fantasy Gifts catalog has long been a holiday spectacle—think high-concept objects d’art meeting shopper fantasy. This year’s Baby II ticks: it offers nostalgic racing lineage + electric luxury + exclusivity. When buyers in the four- to six-figure space look for something different this holiday season, this is it.
For the automotive-minded, the ride experience matters: testers of the Baby II report a surprising level of driving fidelity for a scaled driver-toy. Reports confirm the Speed Key effectively unlocks higher performance, the leaf springs behave like real mechanical components, and the finished product drives more convincingly than many might expect. That realism strengthens its appeal not just as a display piece—but as a drivable sculpture with provenance.
From a collector’s standpoint, the Neiman Marcus-branded Baby II offers a triple narrative: beloved Bugatti history, ultra-limited modern production, and the cachet of an iconic luxury retailer. For a newsletter audience tuned to automotive trends, the car stands at the intersection of heritage, electric future and luxury retail storytelling.
In short: this is more than a toy. If a buyer says yes, they’re not just acquiring a one-off for grandchildren; they’re investing in a piece of motoring heritage, scaled for a modern garage (or man-cave) and holiday-headline ready.
For comparison, Neiman's offered a Barbie X Maserati Grecale Trofeo SUV in its 2022 gift catalog, and a $975,000 Neiman Marcus Cadillac Celestiq in 2023. Surprisingly. it did not offer a Fantasy vehicle for the 2024 holiday season
Photos: Neiman Marcus.
