Autoforma Norrsken drops T5 power into P1800ES

Iconic Volvo shooting brake gets modern overhaul courtesy of new Niels van Roij offshoot

By Matt Bird / Friday, 13 February 2026 / Loading comments

It says something of how far reaching the restomod trend now is that this isn’t even the first to be based on the Volvo P1800. Which was already a pretty niche interest classic, let’s be honest. The car that’s already out there is the Cyan Racing GT, complete with a touring car engine; this P1800 ES, the creation of Autoforma (itself an offshoot of Niels van Roij design), is a less extreme prospect, but no less interesting for that. It’s hardly like you could make a modernised P1800 undesirable, after all…

The car you see here is called the Autoforma Norrsken, which is Swedish for the northern lights. Apparently this is because the Volvo-shaped project is a lot like the aurora borealis itself, ‘defined by precision, atmosphere and quiet impact rather than excess.’ Certainly the visual overhaul is fairly restrained (in most specifications), the broader tracks housed by carbon arch extensions are probably the most obvious giveaway that this is no longer a standard 50-year-old Volvo. It’s lower, wider and meaner, sure, with bigger wheels, new lights and a spoiler or two, if recognisably still a P1800. There’s even still some chrome.

Autoforma will build each Norrsken according to set themes, ranging from a fairly restrained rework to a total reimagination. But don’t be surprised if commissions pick ‘n’ mix from different mood boards to create their own thing. ‘Heritage Heaven’ is the first level of modification, which we’re going to guess is the sandy-coloured car here, given the mention of ‘period-correct colours, materials and detailing.’ It’s more about making a P1800 work well and look even cooler in the 2020s than any drastic performance uplift.

‘Modern Marvel, the green render, brings more power and sharper handling alongside ‘contemporary design solutions.’ Then there’s ‘Forward Fashionista’, the ultimate evolution of the Norrsken concept and launch spec for the project. That gets the Volvo T5 engine, quicker steering, ‘modernised’ transmission and drivetrain bits, plus better suspension and brakes. Autoforma hasn’t confirmed a power output for the five-cylinder, though it has suggested that the overhaul has been focused ‘on engagement, balance and everyday usability, rather than headline figures’. So it probably isn’t another 400hp maniac, despite what the pink wheels and interior (!) might suggest.

Speaking of the inside, clearly the Autoforma wouldn’t be able to claim its restomod title without a lavishly appointed driving environment. So everything has been reupholstered, repainted and retrimmed, with colours again to be the customer’s choice. Everything from wood and chrome to aluminium and Alcantara is available, and the shooting brake boot hasn’t been forgotten either: polished metal rails, leather straps, even bespoke luggage is on offer. Autoforma reckons its work on creating the Norrsken makes the P1800 ES into ‘a modern classic that is not just a car, but a collector-grade statement of design, luxury, and Scandinavian elegance.’

Which is a fairly punchy claim, of course, though when you think of what’s been created by Niels van Roij in the past - the Wraith Shooting Brake now owned by Dario Franchitti, most notably, but also the Fiat Panda - there’s the potential for something very special to be created with these old Volvos. With sufficient budget, of course. Commissions for the Norrsken are being invited now - and if you need a donor car…