For three years, I’ve watched the Nichols N1A with a mix of fascination and healthy scepticism. In the boutique supercar world, promises are easy; production is hard. But as of mid-2026, the narrative has shifted fundamentally. The N1A has moved from a legendary engineer’s dream to an impending production reality, and LaSource is finally ready to step forward and recommend it.
The turning point for us boils down to one word: confidence. With the first customer cars officially scheduled for delivery this summer, and crucially the announcement that the world-renowned RML Group has been appointed to handle the build of around 25 cars per annum initially, any lingering “startup anxiety” has evaporated.
The industry’s most discerning Tier 1 journalists have finally had their turn in the N1A development cars, and their reactions perfectly mirror my conclusions after I experienced the car both on road and on track recently.
Historically, 1960s Can-Am cars, like the original McLaren M1A that inspired this machine, were notorious “death traps.” They were fragile, unpredictable, and terrifyingly overpowered. If offered a go in one, the sensible answer is a polite “no.”
The Nichols N1A completely flips that script. Masses of grunt, lightweight, retro looks, road legal and relatively affordable. To my surprise it isn’t intimidating to drive on the road either. In a nutshell it is an absolute riot! Steve Sutcliffe agreed, writing in MotorSport….
“There isn’t a supercar, or hypercar for that matter, that offers such a brutal, unfiltered experience… the Nichols balances precariously on the precipice between raw exhilaration and occasional moments of terror. It’s wild.”
The engineering pedigree here runs deep. Underneath the skin, the N1A features a bespoke extruded, bonded aluminium and carbon fibre chassis designed alongside Bob Mustard, the structural genius who originally introduced the bonded aluminium concept to Lotus for the iconic Elise S1.
To manage the massive footprint of the 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels without slapping gaudy modern wings onto a 1960s shape, Nichols utilized former Mercedes F1 chief aerodynamicist Ben Wood to refine the underbody physics in the MIRA wind tunnel. The result: zero lift achieved.
The car is quick, as Jethro Bovingdon discovered while testing it for Top Gear.
“The Nichols managed a 1min 16.1secs, a hell of an effort for something designed primarily as a road car… it’s a 10th of a second faster than the McLaren MP4-12C, right alongside the 991 GT 3RS, and a tenth behind the standard Ariel Atom 4. It also claims some other significant scalps namely the Aventador LP700-4, Maserati MC20, and Bugatti Veyron Super Sport. It’s also – fact fans – the fastest manual gearbox that we’ve ever had around the track.”
Up close, the build quality is where the N1A really surprises, separating itself from typical lightweight specials that can often feel like glorified kit cars.
The cabin is a masterclass in “minimalist premium.” It is completely stripped back to the racing essentials, yet it is adorned with exactly the right amount of leather to bring a genuinely premium, luxury feel to the touchpoints without diluting those raw, purposeful race-car vibes.
The instrument cluster is a machined from solid billets of aluminium, housing beautifully clear, tactile dials. After stepping across the sill and onto the seat, once you settle into the fully reclined, MP4/4-style driving position, your hand naturally falls to the gear knob—an anodized unit that directly mirrors the shape and texture of the one Ayrton Senna used during his dominant F1 seasons. It’s a tactile link to motorsport history that feels earned, not gimmicky. (So much so that one lucky customer will soon take delivery of his car, fitted with a genuine original from the 1980s)
While I opted for the passenger seat during the track sessions, prioritising an understanding of how the car behaves in the real world rather than chasing lap times, it was immediately clear how approachable this giant is.
The 7.0-litre heart, hand-assembled by Langford Performance Engineering, features wide-open, naked intake trumpets breathing directly behind your head. It develops up to 730bhp in a car weighing less than 900kg.
Despite that ballistic power-to-weight ratio, it is “super easy” to drive when you are just trickling along. Dynamic development has been led by Bart Horsten – a sim development driver at the Aston Martin F1 team. It swaps digital safety nets for total mechanical transparency, managing bumpy, real-world road surfaces with an engineered compliance rather than shaking itself apart. It is an utterly joyful, deeply communicative experience.
Writing in Evo Magazine, Dickie Meaden had this to say:
“Beyond the ability to instantly flood your system with adrenaline, the N1A makes a surprisingly civilised road car. It has a very impressive sense of integrity, with tremendous rigidity and a complete absence of squeaks or rattles. Fit and finish are first rate… it has you beaming from walking pace.”
Our Verdict
We’ve waited three years to make sure the N1A wasn’t just a beautiful tribute, but a viable, high-quality motor car. By pairing the pure engineering philosophy of Steve Nichols with the world-class manufacturing execution of RML Group, Nichols Cars has delivered exactly that.
The N1A is the definitive antidote to the modern crop of heavy, 2,000kg hybrid appliances. It proves that with enough engineering genius, a thumping atmospheric V8, and some colour and trim in just the right places, “less” is significantly, unforgettably “more.”
Limited to a total production of 150 cars, including 14 Icon 88 Editions, the N1A starts at around £500k and is road legal in many territories. If you’d like to explore adding one to your collection, do get in touch and we’ll arrange a test drive.