The P1800 was always an outlier for Volvo. As a company known for producing restrained and safe sedans and station wagons, the stunningly beautiful two-door coupe showed the breadth of the Swedish manufacturer’s abilities. With the first cars going on sale at the end of 1960, the P1800 was underpinned by a similar drivetrain to Volvo’s Amazon 122 passenger car, meaning that the P1800 was remarkably stout, but hardly a performance vehicle.

In 2021, Cyan Racing set out to give the classic P1800 a resto-mod treatment. Since 1996, Cyan Racing has successfully campaigned Volvo race cars around Europe and sought a new challenge. Starting with an original P1800, Cyan Racing essentially builds a new car from the ground up. Although the carbon fiber body retains the original car’s shape, the front wheels are moved forward, the rear overhangs are shortened, and the wheel arches have integrated flares to house the wide tires.

Like the original P1800, the Cyan utilizes a four-cylinder engine from Volvo’s passenger cars. However, unlike the original, this modern engine features dual overhead cams and a turbocharger. Producing 413 hp and 336 lbs./ft. of torque, power is sent through a five-speed manual gearbox built by racing parts supplier Holinger America to the rear wheels via a carbon fiber driveshaft and limited-slip differential. Weighing in at less than 2,300 pounds, the Cyan P1800 offers serious thrills behind the wheel, with no traction control, stability control, or power brakes. This Volvo Cyan P1800 is the second chassis built by the manufacturer and carried a base cost of $550,000. It is finished in Porsche GTS Red with a dark red accent around the lower portion of the car, with a matching hood and roof stripe. The wheels are finished in stunning satin bronze, with matching AP Racing brake calipers behind them.

The interior is finished in an appealing combination of materials, with the bucket seats upholstered in tan leather with fabric centers, and the door cards featuring a combination of textile cloth and black leather. The metal dashboard is painted to match the exterior color, and the classic P1800 gauges have been replicated with updated units to suit the car’s current powertrain.

Utilizing Cyan Racing’s experience building racing Volvos, the company’s P1800 provides the driver with a near-race car experience, just dialed back a few notches to remain enjoyable on the street. Pairing the attractive styling that people fell in love with more than 60 years ago with modern technology and performance, makes the Cyan P1800 a fitting tribute to Volvo’s first sports car.