A custom-built Volvo P1800 has been chosen to represent the UK in the 2021 Hot Wheels Legends Tour.
The radical drag racer was picked by a special judging panel, including famed car designer Ian Callum CBE.
The Volvo now moves onto the semi-final round of the competition, with the chance to be immortalised as a scale miniature.
Devilish performance
The highly-modified Volvo P1800 Gasser is owned by Somerset-based Lee Johnstone. Under the JD Racing name, it is raced by Lee and his three daughters: Ellie, Tori and Sarah. Lee’s wife, Sue, is also a supportive member of the team.
Called ‘Ain’t No Saint’, its nickname is a nod to the P1800 driven by Roger Moore in The Saint TV series. Moore’s Simon Templar character, however, made do with rather less than the 600hp supercharged 454 cubic-inch Chevrolet V8 that powers the Volvo dragster.
Johnstone purchased the Volvo as a bare shell, then worked to turn it into the Gasser. It is now capable of running a quarter-mile in 10.01 seconds, hitting a top speed of 133mph.
On learning of the Volvo’s win, Johnstone said: “As a team, we were ecstatic to hear our car was chosen. We never thought it would be named against some of the other entries”.
He added: “Everyone always says it looks just like a Hot Wheels and maybe it will now become one!”
Super-scale Swede
The Volvo was picked unanimously by the UK judging panel. It was said to meet all the Hot Wheels criteria of ‘performance, authenticity and garage spirit’.
“This is a beautiful example of a gasser – a drag racer with street car form,” said judge Ian Callum. “Often with dragsters, the chassis is so important that the body gets overlooked, but this example is fabulous, with great attention to detail. It’s a super quality, beautifully built car. And it completely hits the Hot Wheels brief.”
‘Ain’t No Saint’ will now move onto the semi-final round of the Legends Tour, set to take place on 4 November. It could then reach the Global Final on 13 November.
Should it win, the car will be recreated as a 1:64-scale die-cast car, and sold around the world.
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