Nichols N1A ICON 88 Debuts at Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance
Nichols Cars has begun building the first customer N1As and made its USA debut at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance on 17 August. Shown in ICON 88 specification, the launch-series Nichols N1A is a 900-kilogram, Can-Am-inspired British performance car that blends motorsport heritage with cutting-edge materials and engineering. Nichols Cars will build only 15 ICON 88 models, each individually tailored to commemorate one of the 15 Grand Prix victories of the McLaren MP4/4, one of the most dominant Formula One cars of all time, which founder Steve Nichols designed in 1988 for Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost.
Steve Nichols also served as an Honorary Judge at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Drawing on decades of Formula One design experience, he applied his famously meticulous “eye for detail” to the Concours entries.
Nichols takes inspiration from the original McLaren M1A of the 1960s and executes it in modern form. The team constructs the body from Formula One-grade graphene-infused carbon fibre to achieve exceptional rigidity and strength at remarkably low weight. Engineers developed the aerodynamics in the MIRA wind tunnel to balance drag and downforce while preserving the car’s purity of form. In top specification, the N1A weighs just 900 kilograms and delivers a power-to-weight ratio approaching 700 bhp per tonne. A hand-built 7.0-litre naturally aspirated V8, developed from a GM LS3 block and extensively re-engineered with steel liners, custom pistons and conrods, a dry sump system and drive-by-wire throttle bodies, produces 650 bhp. A Nichols-developed six-speed manual gearbox provides precise, mechanical control and sends power to the rear wheels.
The chassis draws on deep motorsport expertise. Engineers hand-fabricate independent suspension with double wishbones and anti-roll bars, and fit motorsport-derived multi-piston brakes. Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres sit on staggered 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels. The setup delivers an unfiltered, analogue driving experience that rewards skill and engagement.
Inside, the cockpit mirrors the minimalism of a racing car and showcases bespoke craftsmanship. The fully reclined seating position recalls the McLaren MP4/4, and the Senna-inspired gear knob, classic analogue dials and billet-machined aluminium switchgear provide a tangible link to motorsport’s golden age. Craftspeople upholster the cabin in top-grade leather and fabrics, tailored to each customer’s specification. Nichols deliberately limits driver aids to protect purity, fitting traction control as standard and offering ABS or power steering only as options.
Steve Nichols and CEO John Minett founded Nichols Cars in 2017 to build a valid driver’s car that feels immersive, emotional and timeless. The marque will cap total N1A production at 100 vehicles worldwide, with the first 15 forming the ICON 88 series, which positions the N1A among the most exclusive and desirable British performance cars of the decade.
Steve Nichols, Founder of Nichols Cars, said: “The N1A, and especially the ICON 88, is the culmination of everything I have learned in racing and engineering. It combines the quirks and excitement of the great cars of the past with the technology and precision of today, creating something genuinely special for the road.”
With its rarity, craftsmanship and motorsport lineage, the ICON 88 appeared in the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance “Concept Beach” enclosure on 17 August. It proved a highlight of the event, a celebration of design, performance and a remarkable career in motor racing.
