Pebble Beach usually showcases the best the automotive world has to offer, no matter the era. This year, something that felt like a time capsule stole the show. It looks like it could have come from a period when smoking was considered healthy, but the Nichols N1A is completely new. Making its debut at Pebble Beach at this year’s Monterey Car Week, it was designed by Steve Nichols, the man behind one of Formula One’s greatest cars. The N1A blends racing history with modern engineering in a way few others can.
1960s F1 Car Remastered
Nichols Cars
Nichols Cars
Nichols Cars
Steve Nichols is the designer responsible for the McLaren MP4/4, the car that carried Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost to a near-perfect season in 1988. After decades in Formula One, he decided to build something of his own: the N1A. Inspired by the McLaren M1A of the 1960s, it is light, simple, and full of Can-Am spirit. At its heart is a 7.0-liter LS3 V8 that has been completely reworked. It produces 650 hp, which might seem tame today, but the car weighs just 900 kg (1,984 lbs). That gives it a higher power-to-weight ratio than a LaFerrari. On top of that, a six-speed manual connects it all, keeping the focus on driver engagement.
Related: Gordon Murray Finnaly Fixes The McLaren F1 And Perfects The GMA T.50 With Two Bespoke V12 Hypercars
A Tribute To Racing Heritage
Nichols Cars
Nichols Cars
Nichols Cars
Only 100 Nichols N1A models will ever be built. The first 15 are called ICON 88, honoring the 15 wins of the McLaren MP4/4. Each is tailored to its buyer’s specifications, though the car is deliberately stripped back. Despite the $500,000 price tag, modern features like touchscreens are nowhere to be found.
Inside, the N1A keeps things minimal. The seating position is reclined like a classic Formula One cockpit, the gear knob takes inspiration from Senna, and all controls are simple and mechanical. Every detail is focused on an unadulterated driving experience.
Nichols Cars
Not Your Average “Race Car Built For The Road”
That phrase gets thrown around a lot, often for cars with huge wings and high-revving engines – looking at you, GT3 RS. The Nichols N1A is different. This is as close as you can get to a road-legal race car in 2025. It is the work of a man who shaped Formula One at the highest level, carrying forward ideas that defined the golden age of racing. Instead of being a flashy gimmick, the N1A is a genuine passion project, built by a Formula One legend, Steve Nichols.
Nichols Cars
Nichols Cars
