The Volvo P1800 from Cyan Racing combines the very best of the 1960s with modern technologies and recently, Jay Leno had the opportunity to check it out in person.
When Cyan Racing unveiled the car back in 2020, it’s fair to say that it shocked many. After all, the Volvo P1800 isn’t a car that many had thought about serving as the base for a wild restomod project, let alone one from the Geely-backed racing team that would actually be produced in limited numbers for wealthy enthusiasts.
While speaking with a representative from the Cyan team, Jay Leno learns that the original steel chassis of the P1800 was thoroughly upgraded for the project, ensuring that the car is much more rigid than it once was. Cyan Racing has also adorned it with lightweight bodywork made entirely from carbon fiber, resulting in a car that weighs just 990 kg (2,182 lbs).
Watch Also: The Volvo P1800 Cyan Racing Really Is A Fantastic Restomod
The engine is also quite special. It takes the form of a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that’s actually used in the Volvo S60 TC1 race car, although it has been tuned to run more like a naturally-aspirated mill. It is good for 413 hp and 335 lb-ft (455 Nm) of torque which is sent through the rear wheels courtesy of a dog-leg five-speed manual transmission sourced from Holinger.
Leno is a huge fan of the car’s design, noting that it has a timeless shape and still looks contemporary, despite its age. After talking about the car for a little bit, Leno then hits the roads of Los Angeles, and immediately says that it feels like it has just the right amount of power.