Stunning Nichols N1A evokes Can-Am McLarens
Modern supercars too soft? Welcome the 7.0-litre, six-speed, 900kg N1A...
Though not as well-known on this side of the Atlantic for obvious reasons, Can-Am ranks very, very highly in the ‘most incredible motorsport ever’ leagues. Monstrously powerful V8s, tiny yet beautiful racing cars and some stunning circuits saw to that. Furthermore, it’s the series in which McLaren established itself as a builder of serious racers, the orange cars utterly dominant between 1967 and 1971. It was only once Porsche rocked up Stateside with 1,500hp 917s that the McLaren era came to an end. By 1974, the energy crisis meant Can-Am folded.
Steve Nichols is a man who wanted to recreate a car like the M1A and other iconic Can-Am McLarens. Many of us would, of course, only Steve has some idea what he’s doing: he was lead designer for the McLaren F1 team in the late 1980s. The first car he was responsible for was the 1987 MP4/3, which won Prost a few GPs; that was followed up with the dream-grade MP4/4, aka the car the Senna drove to his first championship and which won 15 of the 16 races in the 1998 season.
Nichols also worked for Ferrari, Sauber, Jaguar and Jordan, before rejoining McLaren for the Mika Hakkinen period - talk about glory days. He’s also credited with introducing the application of carbon fibre to F1 and, according to the press release from his eponymous company, ‘is a firm believer that the racing cars of the 1960s are among some of the best ever created’. You can probably see where this is going…
The Nichols N1A is a new British sports car inspired by the McLaren M1A (probably the most famous of those old orange Can-Am cars), with graphene-infused carbon panels, a 7.0-litre LS3 in the middle, a six-speed manual and a 900kg kerbweight. If such a thing as a Can-Am restomod could exist, this is it. And it looks epic.
Let’s start with the engine. Originally a 6.2-litre Chevy LS3, it’s been bored out to 7.0-litres with bespoke pistons, conrods and liners. It’s dry-sumped and said to be capable of 650hp, which is a healthy bump from the 430hp claimed for a stock motor. Probably helps that the V8 is going to be hand-built at Langford Performance Engineering, a company that’s headed up by Richard Langford. Not a household name perhaps, but one of the important folks behind developing the Cosworth DFV. So he knows what he’s doing with a racy V8. Power will reach the rear wheels via a Graziano six-speed manual - there’s no other transmission option.
Speaking of which, the Nichols N1A really is as pared back as it looks, with the truly committed able to have a car without even power steering or ABS. Which isn’t to see it’s back to basics, however: the chassis is made from carbon and aluminium, there are double wishbones at each corner, and dimensions that have grown compared to an M1A (wider tracks, longer wheelbase) should help stability. Traction control is standard, as are Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres. Stopping power is provided by ‘motorsport-derived multi-piston front and rear brakes’ - note the AP Racing calipers nestled in behind the wheels.
Though designed to evoke the M1A (see the headlights in particular), the N1A has spent a lot of time doing wind tunnel testing to keep it looking classic and cool while also optimising drag and downforce. The press release states that both ‘have been achieved’, which bodes well for the seriously high speeds this must be capable of. Buyers will be offered a choice of liveries for the completed car, which can be customised as well - handy if more than one of you goes for McLaren Orange…
The interior follows the theme established by the rest of the Nichols N1A in celebrating the past with the highest quality bits and bobs available. There’s solid billet aluminium almost everywhere and leather where the metal can’t reach, an ‘Ayrton Senna-inspired gearknob’ and even a driving position said to mimic the recline of an MP4/4. Certainly, there’s going to be nothing inside to distract the driver from grappling with that monster V8. Modes, screens and other frivolous features are notable for their absence here.
It's taken six years for the N1A to reach this point, Nichols Cars having been founded back in 2017, so this is no small project. The production run will be kicked off with a 15-car launch edition, each commemorating an MP4/4 victory from that famous 1988 season. There will not be more than 100 N1As produced in total. Steve Nichols said of his car: “Having experienced amazing racing cars over the decades, I’ve never been able to implement those quirky qualities into a road car, until now. Taking into account all the people that have worked on the N1A, I’m incredibly proud that the car is part of the next chapter in sports car history and is the next step for us and Nichols Cars. The process from pencil to production model has been extremely gratifying; this should be a reminder to the entire automotive industry that combining the past, present and looking to the future, is the way forward for this entire community.” Preaching to the converted here, Steve - hopefully we can get a PH bum in that dramatically reclined seat very soon.
In a world where every mainstream manufacturer is rushing to build an electric SUV, manual gearboxes are rare and governments look to make combustion engines obsolete, this is a piece of motoring paradise.
Agree with the comments on the grill but sure this could have a colour change when ordering one.
Also, are PH articles being proofread at all any more? Lotta errors and typos in there.
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