NICHOLSON-MCLAREN GOES ELECTRIC
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Electric vehicles represent a new avenue for Nicholson-McLaren. The Berkshire operation was originally set up in 1972 by John Nicholson to maintain the Cosworth DFV engines used by McLaren Racing. The partnership wasn't without success, as it resulted in Fl World Championship titles for Emerson Fittipaldi in 1974 and James Hunt in 1976. Today, much of its business comes from providing engines for Historic Fl and leading hillclimb and sprint competitors. When we visited, it had just completed the first of a dozen brand new scratchbuilt Matra V12 sports racing engines. Its other major area of expertise is as an accredited repairer of Lycoming and Continental aero engines. More recent times have seen the firm diversify into LPG conversions, including those provided for Citroen's Ready-to-Run light commercial programme.
Its latest project is electric vehicle conversions, and the two Nemos on the Brighton to London Run are the first prototypes. The vans originally come with 1.4-litre petrol engines. Many of the ancillaries are retained, as is the original transmission, albeit locked in the most suitable gear to match the motor. The motor pack is a straight bolt-in replacement for the discarded engine.