Thursday, 30 December 2010
Wednesday, 29 December 2010
New section to the site
Our new section is www.nobleconceptz.blogspot.com
and deals with a gallery of the nobles that never made production.
and deals with a gallery of the nobles that never made production.
Tuesday, 28 December 2010
Latest noble pic
2003 Noble M12 GTO-3T prototype being tested at a track day, the 3T probably evolved into the M400.
Places where you will be able to buy the M600
1. Romans international. Address: Romans International Ltd, Brighton Road (A217), Banstead, Surrey SM7 1AT. Phone: 0844 249 5186. Website: www.romansinternational.com/
2. Peter smith sports cars. Address: Peter Smith Sportscars, Station Road,Hatton, Derbyshire DE65 5EL. Phone: 01283 813593. Website: www.petersmithsportscars.com/Monday, 27 December 2010
TOP 10: Weird and wacky Nobles
10. Noble M400 with racing numbers and personalised plate.
9. Noble M12 GTC concept, a fun and interesting concept.
8. Noble M10, its odd looks are always going to be an eye catcher.
7. Noble M12 with M400 mods and a very weird colour.
6. Noble M400 with white paint and green wheels, it is also the only noble in Singapore.
5. Noble M12 GTO-3 with extra mods and striking orange paint.
4. Noble M14 concept, Lee Nobles 2004 M14 concept is his wackiest design yet.
3. Noble M400, what can i say!, it is IRON MAN M400
2. Noble M400, noble with green paint, racing mods, and sponsorship decals, it's a wacky bit of track kit!
1. Salica M12 convertible, What do you get when you take a M12 and some loonys in a garage with crayons?, the Salica GTR, the maddest Noble of all!!Sunday, 26 December 2010
3 Nobles stolen in 2005
In 2005, a theft of the Noble factory led to an amazing scene of events, and Pistonheads was there every step of the way.
Thieves broke into Noble Automotive’s Leicestershire HQ on Monday night, stealing three Noble cars – an M12 GTO and two M400 models, one of which was brand new and awaiting delivery to a dealer. In total, the cars were worth £150,000.
The factory was burgled during Monday evening, and it has since been found that an out-sourced cleaning company failed to set the premises’ high-tech alarm system, which would have alerted police immediately.
Lee Noble, the company’s MD said: “The three stolen cars were driven away from the factory in convoy. But one of the thieves lost control of the Noble he was driving after less than a mile and the police retrieved it from a ditch. Given how unique the other two cars are, these criminals will have extraordinary difficulty selling them on. And since the cars are not homologated elsewhere in the world, selling them overseas will not be easy.”
Noble’s sky-blue coloured press demonstrator, which has appeared in magazines and newspapers around the world, is one of the stolen cars. Its registration is ‘M400 GTO’. The other, un-registered car is a silver-coloured model which was due for delivery to a dealer today.
The factory was burgled during Monday evening, and it has since been found that an out-sourced cleaning company failed to set the premises’ high-tech alarm system, which would have alerted police immediately.
Lee Noble, the company’s MD said: “The three stolen cars were driven away from the factory in convoy. But one of the thieves lost control of the Noble he was driving after less than a mile and the police retrieved it from a ditch. Given how unique the other two cars are, these criminals will have extraordinary difficulty selling them on. And since the cars are not homologated elsewhere in the world, selling them overseas will not be easy.”
Noble’s sky-blue coloured press demonstrator, which has appeared in magazines and newspapers around the world, is one of the stolen cars. Its registration is ‘M400 GTO’. The other, un-registered car is a silver-coloured model which was due for delivery to a dealer today.
Following the theft of a trio of Nobles last week (story link below), a PHer spotted the company's Portifino Blue M400 press demonstrator car, registration 'M400 GTO' last Saturday night in Norwich, travelling towards Great Yarmouth.
Simon Hucknall, Noble's press relations man, said, "the PHer spotted the car and immediately reported it to the police (many thanks for this, Peter). However, the police would not investigate the sighting because the car was not showing on their Stolen Vehicles Register. It turns out that they had forgotten to list it after we'd reported the car missing.
"However, my intention is not to bash police incompetence, but to alert anyone in the Norfolk area that the car just may still be around. The thieves have obviously not changed the plates (remarkably), but even if they now have, this car is the only Portifino M400, so it will still stand out to those in the know.
"Please also let me add, on behalf of everyone here at the factory, our thanks for the kind words and support expressed on this forum, since the break in last week."
Let PistonHeads add that we wish Noble the best of luck in retrieving the cars
Simon Hucknall, Noble's press relations man, said, "the PHer spotted the car and immediately reported it to the police (many thanks for this, Peter). However, the police would not investigate the sighting because the car was not showing on their Stolen Vehicles Register. It turns out that they had forgotten to list it after we'd reported the car missing.
"However, my intention is not to bash police incompetence, but to alert anyone in the Norfolk area that the car just may still be around. The thieves have obviously not changed the plates (remarkably), but even if they now have, this car is the only Portifino M400, so it will still stand out to those in the know.
"Please also let me add, on behalf of everyone here at the factory, our thanks for the kind words and support expressed on this forum, since the break in last week."
Let PistonHeads add that we wish Noble the best of luck in retrieving the cars
A sequence of events that would have done a Hollywood thriller proud has lead to the recovery of two stolen Noble cars, worth over £100,000 (see original story, link below).
The cars were stolen last January in a raid on Noble’s Leicestershire factory. Despite plenty of coverage in the media –- including a feature on BBC’s CrimeWatch UK programme –- the location of the cars remained a mystery until Noble’s MD, Lee Noble, received a call from someone calling himself ‘Tim’.
'Tim' claimed to know the whereabouts of the stolen cars and demanded a large cash payout to reveal the information. But Noble was having none of it: “I sensed that the guy was desperate, having had no luck in selling the cars on in the last five months. But on the other hand, one of the cars contained some bespoke development parts which were of value to us. I offered him £3000 cash and he reluctantly accepted it.”
Noble was told to drive to a TGI Friday restaurant on the Coventry by-pass, no more than 12 miles from Noble’s factory. “I thought we were being met there,” said Noble, “but I received another call in which I was sent on a wild goose chase all around Coventry – these guys obviously wanted to know that the police weren’t in tow.”
Noble and colleague Colin Bayliss finally met two men on a bridge over the A45. “They were as suspicious of me as I was of them – they even checked that the child locks were off on my BMW before they got in the back and directed us towards a row of council lock-up garages a couple of miles away.
“The men got out of the car and opened one of the garage doors to reveal a silver Noble. But I had to know that both of them were there, so I locked myself (and the cash) in the car until they opened a second lock-up, revealing our blue press M400 – still showing its original number plates! I wound down my window, handed them the cash, and then watched them run off, scaling a ten-foot high wall as they did so; they didn’t even count the cash.”
Within an hour, both cars were back at the factory. Apart from a missing stereo, they were found to be untouched and only required their batteries charging and a thorough valet.
Summing up the futility of such a theft, Noble said, “Cars like these are too unusual to sell on once they’ve been stolen. The low-volume sports car market is such a tight-knit community that someone is bound to spot a vehicle of dubious provenance a mile off.”
The cars were stolen last January in a raid on Noble’s Leicestershire factory. Despite plenty of coverage in the media –- including a feature on BBC’s CrimeWatch UK programme –- the location of the cars remained a mystery until Noble’s MD, Lee Noble, received a call from someone calling himself ‘Tim’.
'Tim' claimed to know the whereabouts of the stolen cars and demanded a large cash payout to reveal the information. But Noble was having none of it: “I sensed that the guy was desperate, having had no luck in selling the cars on in the last five months. But on the other hand, one of the cars contained some bespoke development parts which were of value to us. I offered him £3000 cash and he reluctantly accepted it.”
Noble was told to drive to a TGI Friday restaurant on the Coventry by-pass, no more than 12 miles from Noble’s factory. “I thought we were being met there,” said Noble, “but I received another call in which I was sent on a wild goose chase all around Coventry – these guys obviously wanted to know that the police weren’t in tow.”
Noble and colleague Colin Bayliss finally met two men on a bridge over the A45. “They were as suspicious of me as I was of them – they even checked that the child locks were off on my BMW before they got in the back and directed us towards a row of council lock-up garages a couple of miles away.
“The men got out of the car and opened one of the garage doors to reveal a silver Noble. But I had to know that both of them were there, so I locked myself (and the cash) in the car until they opened a second lock-up, revealing our blue press M400 – still showing its original number plates! I wound down my window, handed them the cash, and then watched them run off, scaling a ten-foot high wall as they did so; they didn’t even count the cash.”
Within an hour, both cars were back at the factory. Apart from a missing stereo, they were found to be untouched and only required their batteries charging and a thorough valet.
Summing up the futility of such a theft, Noble said, “Cars like these are too unusual to sell on once they’ve been stolen. The low-volume sports car market is such a tight-knit community that someone is bound to spot a vehicle of dubious provenance a mile off.”
Friday, 24 December 2010
Latest Noble pic
You've heard of, the M400, but what about the M460, a tuned GTO-3 which looks fantastic, nice vinyls.
with thanks to tuxman from Pistonheads
Noble prototypes
White Noble M10 prototype, built in Lee Nobles home.
The Black Noble M14 prototype going in for a spray
M15 prototype, also going in for a powder coat
The M600 prototype having a grueling track test in the desert
Thursday, 23 December 2010
Wednesday, 22 December 2010
Noble power to weight chart
Noble M10, 174 BHP/TONNE
Noble M12 GTO, 321 BHP/TONNE
Noble M12 GTO-3, 323 BHP/TONNE
Noble M12 GTO-3R, 325 BHP/TONNE
Noble M400, 400 BHP/TONNE
Noble M600, 509 BHP/TONNE
Noble M12 GTO, 321 BHP/TONNE
Noble M12 GTO-3, 323 BHP/TONNE
Noble M12 GTO-3R, 325 BHP/TONNE
Noble M400, 400 BHP/TONNE
Noble M600, 509 BHP/TONNE
Friday, 17 December 2010
Very funny video, just you watch!
by the way our 100th post!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thursday, 16 December 2010
Wednesday, 15 December 2010
Latest noble pic
The Noble M600 and it's neighboring cars on the island of skye for the EVO COTY* 2009
*Car of the year
Tuesday, 14 December 2010
Noble car review
In 2003 the original 2.5 litre engine was dropped from the M12 range, replaced with a 3.0 litre engine, so what was it like EVO was there to find out.
Things are going well for Noble. When I wander into its workshop in Barwell, Leicestershire, there's a snake of a dozen or so M12 GTOs lined up for completion, the last in line wearing a little strip of masking tape on its rear spoiler that reads '165'. It shows that from a standing start a couple of years ago, this small company is close to fulfilling order number 165. And it's a strong, steady demand now; when I drop in a couple of weeks later, the last car is numbered 170.
However, the model I've turned up to drive probably won't be made in such numbers. It's pretty much the original M12 GTO but instead of the 2.5-litre twin-turbo Ford V6, it's a 3-litre. Called the M12 GTO 3 and with power up from 310 to 344bhp and torque rising from 320 to 340lb ft, it should be even more rapid. So why won't it sell?
Founder Lee Noble explains: 'Because since we showed the GTO 3R, all the orders have been for that.' The R, we should explain, is the M12 evolved further, with a six-speed 'box, limited-slip differential, new wheels and a slightly more aggressive nose treatment. Oh, and the 3-litre twin-turbo, of course, only in a slightly higher state of tune.The GTO 3 makes do with the standard five-speed 'box and it's this that prevents it enjoying the R's 365bhp and 385lb ft - those outputs have proved just a bit too much for the five-speeder. Mind you, the GTO 3 feels fantastically muscular with 'only' 344bhp, which, with a fraction less than a ton of Noble to haul, has bumped the power-to-weight ratio up from a 911 GT2-matching 321bhp per ton to a Murciί¿½lago-beating 358bhp per ton. Judging by the figures we attained for the 2.5, the GTO 3 should crack 4.0sec to 60mph and hit 100 in well under 10.
It certainly feels that quick, though, as ever, what you initially notice about the Noble is how well mannered and tractable it is. There's less chuff and chatter from the turbochargers and wastegates of the 3-litre, partly because their plumbing has been changed, but in its place comes a meatier, more resonant exhaust note that somehow gives the GTO 3 a more serious feel.
As with the 2.5, there's a very smooth transition from off- to on-boost, thanks to plenty of low-rev torque, two small, fast-acting turbos and a relatively modest boost of 0.8bar (11psi). Given its head the Noble is seriously quick, with the sort of leggy, sustained, high-g acceleration that devours straights. It brings up three-figure speeds with deceptive ease, thanks partly to its finely judged chassis; firm but compliant enough that it isn't distracted by bumps, with steering that while initially quite light, weights up nicely at speed and is geared to be responsive but not so sharp it makes the car feel nervous.
More than ever, the GTO with the bigger engine is a car you can travel very quickly in without feeling that you're trying. Indeed, you can make serious progress using only the excellent part-throttle response in fourth and fifth, which makes the GTO rapid and refined for long distances.
Noble has always said the GTO is optimised for road use, but our test took in an evoactive trackday at Snetterton, and it stood up remarkably well. In a morning it did over 100 laps (200 miles), flat-out, and the brakes felt as good at the end as they did when we started, the tyres hardly marked. The GTO is remarkably well-balanced through both slow and fast turns. Push the front too hard and there's mild, scrubby understeer; get on the gas too early and, despite lacking a slippy diff, the tail will drift into oversteer. But you'll know early on when you're overdriving it and besides, it's fast enough for you not to have to push it that far. I'd never have guessed it was going quite so well without other machinery to pit it against. Our Caterham R400 was there, as was a Radical SR3. Only the R400 got by, and only after a few laps. Demerits? There's not much brake feel in the wet, so it's easy to lock-up a front wheel and not realise.
It's a shame so few GTO 3s will be made, but if the R version handles even better and goes even quicker for just £3550 more, who wouldn't go for the R?
However, the model I've turned up to drive probably won't be made in such numbers. It's pretty much the original M12 GTO but instead of the 2.5-litre twin-turbo Ford V6, it's a 3-litre. Called the M12 GTO 3 and with power up from 310 to 344bhp and torque rising from 320 to 340lb ft, it should be even more rapid. So why won't it sell?
Founder Lee Noble explains: 'Because since we showed the GTO 3R, all the orders have been for that.' The R, we should explain, is the M12 evolved further, with a six-speed 'box, limited-slip differential, new wheels and a slightly more aggressive nose treatment. Oh, and the 3-litre twin-turbo, of course, only in a slightly higher state of tune.The GTO 3 makes do with the standard five-speed 'box and it's this that prevents it enjoying the R's 365bhp and 385lb ft - those outputs have proved just a bit too much for the five-speeder. Mind you, the GTO 3 feels fantastically muscular with 'only' 344bhp, which, with a fraction less than a ton of Noble to haul, has bumped the power-to-weight ratio up from a 911 GT2-matching 321bhp per ton to a Murciί¿½lago-beating 358bhp per ton. Judging by the figures we attained for the 2.5, the GTO 3 should crack 4.0sec to 60mph and hit 100 in well under 10.
It certainly feels that quick, though, as ever, what you initially notice about the Noble is how well mannered and tractable it is. There's less chuff and chatter from the turbochargers and wastegates of the 3-litre, partly because their plumbing has been changed, but in its place comes a meatier, more resonant exhaust note that somehow gives the GTO 3 a more serious feel.
As with the 2.5, there's a very smooth transition from off- to on-boost, thanks to plenty of low-rev torque, two small, fast-acting turbos and a relatively modest boost of 0.8bar (11psi). Given its head the Noble is seriously quick, with the sort of leggy, sustained, high-g acceleration that devours straights. It brings up three-figure speeds with deceptive ease, thanks partly to its finely judged chassis; firm but compliant enough that it isn't distracted by bumps, with steering that while initially quite light, weights up nicely at speed and is geared to be responsive but not so sharp it makes the car feel nervous.
More than ever, the GTO with the bigger engine is a car you can travel very quickly in without feeling that you're trying. Indeed, you can make serious progress using only the excellent part-throttle response in fourth and fifth, which makes the GTO rapid and refined for long distances.
Noble has always said the GTO is optimised for road use, but our test took in an evoactive trackday at Snetterton, and it stood up remarkably well. In a morning it did over 100 laps (200 miles), flat-out, and the brakes felt as good at the end as they did when we started, the tyres hardly marked. The GTO is remarkably well-balanced through both slow and fast turns. Push the front too hard and there's mild, scrubby understeer; get on the gas too early and, despite lacking a slippy diff, the tail will drift into oversteer. But you'll know early on when you're overdriving it and besides, it's fast enough for you not to have to push it that far. I'd never have guessed it was going quite so well without other machinery to pit it against. Our Caterham R400 was there, as was a Radical SR3. Only the R400 got by, and only after a few laps. Demerits? There's not much brake feel in the wet, so it's easy to lock-up a front wheel and not realise.
It's a shame so few GTO 3s will be made, but if the R version handles even better and goes even quicker for just £3550 more, who wouldn't go for the R?
Sunday, 12 December 2010
The largest ever Noble track day
So, what was it like at the biggest ever Noble track day? In 2005 pistonheads was there to tell us .
They go in for big numbers at Noble: the prelude to last weekend's Britcar 24-hour race saw 72 Nobles crossing Silverstone circuit’s start line shortly before Noble’s own race car took its place on the grid. And even though the Noble racecar didn't finish the event, Noble's boss, Lee Noble, reckoned the company had learnt a lot.
Officially, this was the largest gathering of Nobles in the company’s history, narrowly beating the 70 cars that lapped Rockingham’s race circuit earlier in the year. All models were present for the one-lap parade, from a trio of early drop-top M10s (only six were ever produced) to the latest, hugely quick M400 model.
Lee Noble, said after the parade: “It’s quite extraordinary that a company of our size can summon up this level of support from owners on anything less than a fully organised owners’ day. Watching all these cars cross the start line illustrates how far we’ve come in a relatively short amount of time. With our new model out later this year, I’m sure next year’s pre-race parade will exceed 100 cars.”
The parade was led by the company’s M400 press car with Lee Noble’s eight-year-old daughter, Amy, in the passenger seat.
After the parade, the assembled ‘Nobility’ – a name increasingly used to describe a gathering of Noble owners – converged on the race team’s pit garage to watch Noble’s competition car start the 24hr race.
The race
Last weekend’s Britcar 24-hr race at Silverstone gave the Noble race team its first chance to rigorously test an all-new platform that will underpin its upcoming road car, due out later this year.
Noble himself started the race in rain-soaked conditions from fifth place on the grid, after qualifying second in the GT3 class with a time of 2:00.11 -- an average speed of 95.72mph.
Within a few laps, Lee had settled into a steady rhythm behind the wheel of the 500bhp Noble, maintaining his grid position in a sea of spray thrown up by the Mosler and Porsche GT3 Cup cars ahead of him. Lee said: “The car felt as steady as a rock, even though there were rivers running across the track at times. Even when I did push it a bit too hard out of the corners – sometimes at over 120mph – the car was easy to control and gave me no worries at all.”
While the profile of Noble’s racer looks similar to the M12 model, its heavily re-designed chassis and in-line drive-train mark a big departure from those in the current road car. These features, along with its bespoke gearbox, dry-sump and twin intercoolers will be shared with Noble’s new supercar.
As Lee was about to finish his stint after the first hour, a fuel pump relay tripped, losing the team around eight minutes and plunging them into 41st place overall. The setback was frustrating, but as number two driver Alistair Mackinnon took over from Lee, and continued to drive the Noble harder than ever in the worsening rain, the team rapidly clawed back lost ground.
In the next five hours, Mackinnon and fellow team drivers Phil Quaife, Keith Robinson and Dave Baseley pulled the 1,093Kg Noble back 25 places to 16th position overall.
“The car felt invincible,” said Noble. “Other than the blown fuse, it really looked like we were on a roll and would finish well up with the front-runners.”
But just before 11.00pm, the car pitted with serious power loss problems. After checking the engine, it was decided that the fault was beyond repair and a decision was made to withdraw from the race after six hours.
In terms of development, though, Lee and his team gained valuable feedback from the outing at Silverstone. “Our race and road car projects are heavily linked,” said Lee, “So we’re not frightened to experiment with new or re-designed components in the race car if it means that the road car will be better as a result. Next year we’ll be back, faster and stronger than before!”
They go in for big numbers at Noble: the prelude to last weekend's Britcar 24-hour race saw 72 Nobles crossing Silverstone circuit’s start line shortly before Noble’s own race car took its place on the grid. And even though the Noble racecar didn't finish the event, Noble's boss, Lee Noble, reckoned the company had learnt a lot.Officially, this was the largest gathering of Nobles in the company’s history, narrowly beating the 70 cars that lapped Rockingham’s race circuit earlier in the year. All models were present for the one-lap parade, from a trio of early drop-top M10s (only six were ever produced) to the latest, hugely quick M400 model.
Lee Noble, said after the parade: “It’s quite extraordinary that a company of our size can summon up this level of support from owners on anything less than a fully organised owners’ day. Watching all these cars cross the start line illustrates how far we’ve come in a relatively short amount of time. With our new model out later this year, I’m sure next year’s pre-race parade will exceed 100 cars.”
The parade was led by the company’s M400 press car with Lee Noble’s eight-year-old daughter, Amy, in the passenger seat.
After the parade, the assembled ‘Nobility’ – a name increasingly used to describe a gathering of Noble owners – converged on the race team’s pit garage to watch Noble’s competition car start the 24hr race.
The race
Last weekend’s Britcar 24-hr race at Silverstone gave the Noble race team its first chance to rigorously test an all-new platform that will underpin its upcoming road car, due out later this year.
Noble himself started the race in rain-soaked conditions from fifth place on the grid, after qualifying second in the GT3 class with a time of 2:00.11 -- an average speed of 95.72mph.
Within a few laps, Lee had settled into a steady rhythm behind the wheel of the 500bhp Noble, maintaining his grid position in a sea of spray thrown up by the Mosler and Porsche GT3 Cup cars ahead of him. Lee said: “The car felt as steady as a rock, even though there were rivers running across the track at times. Even when I did push it a bit too hard out of the corners – sometimes at over 120mph – the car was easy to control and gave me no worries at all.”
While the profile of Noble’s racer looks similar to the M12 model, its heavily re-designed chassis and in-line drive-train mark a big departure from those in the current road car. These features, along with its bespoke gearbox, dry-sump and twin intercoolers will be shared with Noble’s new supercar.
As Lee was about to finish his stint after the first hour, a fuel pump relay tripped, losing the team around eight minutes and plunging them into 41st place overall. The setback was frustrating, but as number two driver Alistair Mackinnon took over from Lee, and continued to drive the Noble harder than ever in the worsening rain, the team rapidly clawed back lost ground.
In the next five hours, Mackinnon and fellow team drivers Phil Quaife, Keith Robinson and Dave Baseley pulled the 1,093Kg Noble back 25 places to 16th position overall.
“The car felt invincible,” said Noble. “Other than the blown fuse, it really looked like we were on a roll and would finish well up with the front-runners.”
But just before 11.00pm, the car pitted with serious power loss problems. After checking the engine, it was decided that the fault was beyond repair and a decision was made to withdraw from the race after six hours.
In terms of development, though, Lee and his team gained valuable feedback from the outing at Silverstone. “Our race and road car projects are heavily linked,” said Lee, “So we’re not frightened to experiment with new or re-designed components in the race car if it means that the road car will be better as a result. Next year we’ll be back, faster and stronger than before!”
Pistonheads 2005
Friday, 10 December 2010
Convertible M12
If you ever want a convertible Noble, you're only choice is the M10, But Noble did have something in the pipeline called the M12 GTC, it had the 3 litre engine from the GTO-3, and it only weighed as much as the M400. It also came with a clever fold away targa roof. 0-60 took just 4.5 seconds and the top speed was 160 mph. And it came with an estimated price of just 45,000 pounds, Sadly none were actually built, but there were two press demonstrators
This M12 GTC was the finished product, it was first shown at the 2004 Birmingham motor show
This was the original M12 GTC, it was just a show car and it didn't actually move.
It is sad that it never was built, but we still have the M10, which at the time was cheaper and was only a fraction slower.
This M12 GTC was the finished product, it was first shown at the 2004 Birmingham motor show
This was the original M12 GTC, it was just a show car and it didn't actually move.
It is sad that it never was built, but we still have the M10, which at the time was cheaper and was only a fraction slower.
But for those who wanted a M10 drop-top mixed in with the M12's performance, sorry, this is as close as you'll get.
Thursday, 9 December 2010
What iv'e been doing (again)
The big news this month is i enjoyed my visit to Lee ( See, Our meeting with Lee Noble ) Which has neglected another thing i was going to right up on, my latest brochure, a 1999 Noble M10 brochure, see pics below (beware amateur photography!)
CAR FOR SALE
This immaculate example of an M400 has only covered 19,000 miles!
RED,
RED,Manual,
Noble service history,
air con,
anti theft system,
radio/CD player,
Black alcantara interior,
Just been serviced,
19,000 miles
54 plate
M400 coupe
£35,950
website: http://www.mole-valley.co.uk/
Phone:01306 710088
Sunday, 5 December 2010
Noble Video game
Not many people have heard of "Noble Racing" but if you like nobles, its probably the only game that matters.
CARS: the game features the M12 GTO-3R, M400, a Noble racing car and the M14 concept car
GAME: it features a track challenge, club event, practise drive. It also has a single player and 2 player challenge.
Saturday, 4 December 2010
Friday, 3 December 2010
CAR FOR SALE
This car is pristine, and has a rare carbonfibre wing
2002 Noble M12 GTO-3
2002 Noble M12 GTO-325'157 miles
air con
M400 suspension
cd player
carbon wing
29,495 pounds
contact: www.dadsspeedshop.com
Send us your stories
do you own a noble? have you seen one?, have you been at a noble track day? then send us your stories at: damienpeterwilson@hotmail.co.uk
we'd love to here them, and we'll even put them on the site
ThankYou, Admin
we'd love to here them, and we'll even put them on the site
ThankYou, Admin
Sunday, 28 November 2010
Minty spearmint goodness:Noble M400
What does it feel like to own the only Noble in Singapore, find out below
Vital StatisticsCar: Noble M400Owners: 2Registered: 2nd November 2005Mileage: approx. 9,800 kmRevisited: 19th July 2010 / 22nd October 2010
With only one example in town, it's no surprise that the sight of the Noble M400 on our roads causes some amount of consternation, especially when you say, “It's not a Lotus.”
Previously a nondescript silver (some earlier snapshots here), the M400 (a track derivative of the earlier M12) has been resprayed in a fetching pearlescent White with fluorescent green accents, which serves to highlight its exotic, otherwordly looks even further.
The M400 is a true blue-collar, working class hero that has been endowed with supercar performance and dynamics without the corresponding price-tag.
Dubbed 'M400' for its spectacular power-to-weight ratio, the Noble puts out a seismic 400 (or 400.1bhp if you want to be precise) bhp per tonne (or 425bhp for its 1060kg kerbweight). For a sense of perspective, the modern day Godzilla, the Nissan GT-R (R35) doesn't even manage 290bhp per tonne!
View Image Details]' >Noble Automotive is the brainchild of founder/chief designer Lee Noble (started in 1999 and then sold in 2006 to entrepreneur and exotic car collector, Peter Dyson; Lee Noble would leave the company in 2008 to found Fenix Automotive, which also announced a new supercar dubbed the 'Fenix' in 2009 and slated for production in 2010), who combined Colin Chapman's lightweight rear-wheel driven philosophy with a hearty helping of 'HOLY MOLY' from the fire-breathing mid-mounted engines that served as donor powerplants to the Noble cars.
Due to the general lack of familiarity in Singapore, it's no surprise that most people instinctively (and rather predictably, we might add) say, “I'd rather have a Lotus,” or more bizarrely, “Why is the rear wing so big?”.
View Image Details]'This is in spite of the fact that many of them have never really experienced the Apocalyptic force-of-nature that is a Noble M400 before, not least because, well, there's just this single car in town and UK-based Noble Automotive no longer produces the M400 (the rights were sold in 2007 to a company in the USA called 1G Racing, which showcased and is now selling an updated version of the M400 called the Rossion Q1).
View Image Details]' Even our initial impressions were that this was some sort of a Lotus clone. However, it's not til you experience the elemental forces on tap from the M400 that you really appreciate the potent combination of a featherweight body with a twin turbocharged 3L V6 engine.
Although we seldom talk about straight-line acceleration, the M400's ferocious turn of speed compels us to mention its 3.5 seconds sprint timing to the 100km/h mark.
View Image Details]' With the augmentation by a pair of sweetly spinning turbochargers, the Ford-sourced V6 (from the Mondeo ST220) punches hard and keeps you down for the count as you ride the crest of the car's seemingless limitless wave of torque.
The close-ratio Getrag gearbox keeps you well within the turbo band and the shifts are precise and short-of-throw for satisfyingly quick action.
View Image Details]' Originally factory-shod in Pirelli PZero Corsa tyres, the current foot-wear takes the form of Falken Azenis RT615. However, the previous owner sold the car with an ultra-sticky set of Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tyres, which continued to offer stupendous grip even though it was coming to four years of age.
Ultimately, the plan may be to keep the Falkens' for street/demo use, but slap on a set of grippy Cup or Pirelli rubber for serious track work, thereby allowing the M400 to really shine. The car is currently under Exotic Tuner and there is some talk the owner will enter the M400 in a drag run at the 2010 Mettle Games, before it eventually takes to the track.
View Image Details]'The M400's role as track tool is clear enough when one slips into the cabin. Apart from the minor concessions to luxury in the Alcantara-clad bits (headliner, most consoles, seats and roll-cage frame), everything else is purely functional (especially the gauges, which allow one to keep an eye on the engine's vital statistics), which could also be why the interior looks like the parts were scavenged from a late night raid to the Ford and Demon Tweeks spare parts bin.
Anoraks might be interested to learn that the body and chassis of the Noble is built by Hi-Tech Automotive, which is based in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, after which it is shipped to Noble Automotive for everything else to be added.
Surprisingly, there's even a decent amount of storage space in the M400, especially behind the seats... not that we'd expect this to be a compelling point to purchase the car of course.
View Image Details]'On full throttle runs, the M400 also emits all the right noises that you'd expect from a dedicated sports-car. The gasps, sighs and wheezes help turn any drive in the Noble into a full-blown mind blowing experience and there's nothing close to asthmatic about this car whatsoever.
Needless to say, the Noble garners loads of variety of attention from car-spotters and ignorant bystanders alike, so travelling incognito is somewhat of an uphill challenge.
View Image Details]'During our time with the car, we found owners of much more exotic vehicles rubber-necking to catch a better glimpse of the M400.
The perfectly weighted steering is razor-sharp and the turn-in, near immediate. Apart from the off-set pedal placement, the controls are easy to modulate and the braking force, painfully effective (4-pot AP Racing callipers all-round).
View Image Details]'Contrary to what many may expect of a sportscar, the clutch action is unexpectedly light and will not require thighs the size of small buildings to operate. More importantly, the M400 is raw, yet retains some element of comfort, since the damping and ride are well-sorted and surprisingly civilised, even despite its track-ready credentials.
View Image Details]' From the get-go, the M400 gets into stride almost instantly (thanks to its flyweight) despite just a smidgen of turbo-lag. Once the turbos kick in, prepare to reel in the horizon as the M400 bends time and space with neck-straining ease and spits you towards your destination with all the explosive spurt of a wayward spitball.
View Image Details]'However, never mistake the M400's power as being unfocused and misdirected, since the agile chassis easily allows drivers of all skill levels to exploit the car's potential: it's as scary (or not) as you want it to be, but never forget that the engine is mid-mounted, which can typically make for some tricky handling at the limit.
Moreover, unlike so many modern cars (sportscars included), there's no form of traction control (electronic or otherwise) nor ABS, save for your discipline, self-restraint and right foot.
View Image Details]'With the potential violence and 'Judgement Day'-type pyrotechnics from the twin-turbochargers a mere foot-prod away, it is even entirely possible to exit every corner in a state of opposite lock Nirvana, not that Motor Prime condones this sort of anti-social behaviour, of course!
View Image Details]' The Noble's compact proportions allow one to place the car confidently; it almost seems as though the car wraps even closer around you like a pair of sleek Oakleys when you get into the cabin. If it's purely superficial aesthetics you're after, you're unlikely to be convinced by the M400, since in these minds, the Lotus more often than not will seem to be a more appealing package.
(Conclusion after Fast Facts)
FAST FACTS : Noble M400ENGINEEngine: 2967cc, 24-valves, V6, twin-turbochargedMaximum power @ rpm: 425bhp @ 6500rpmMaximum torque @ rpm: 529Nm @ 5000rpmBore x Stroke (mm): 89 x 79.5Compression ratio: 8.0:1
TRANSMISSIONDriven wheels: Rear with Quaife LSDTransmission: Getrag 6-Speed ManualGear Ratios: 3.15/1.95/1.52/1.19/1.31/1.03:1 / R 3.87:1Final drive: (1st-4th): 3.87 / (5th-6th): 2.76
PERFORMANCE0-100km/h: approximately 3.5 secondsTop speed: 282km/h
SUSPENSIONFront: Wishbones, Coil Springs, Dynamic Dampers, Anti-Roll BarRear: Wishbones, Coil Springs, Dynamic Dampers
BRAKES & TYRES/WHEELSFront: 330mm x 13" AP Racing discs; 4-pot callipersRear: 330mm x 13" AP Racing discs; 4-pot callipersWheels: (f) 8.5x18; (r) 10x18Tyres: (f) 225/40 R18; (r) 265/35 R18
DIMENSIONSL x B x H: 4089 x 1885 x 1143 mmWheelbase: 2438mmLock-to-lock: 2.5 turnsKerbweight: 1060kg
Summary
Based on mere appearances alone, it's easy to mistake the M400 for just another Lotus clone, but as with everything else, one needs to appreciate the raw fury of the Noble's unleashed elemental forces to truly understand its place among the rarefied echelons of sportscars... like Wrigley's Spearmint's finest, the M400 provides enthusiasts with a welcome breath of fresh air. - story by dk ; photos by Vanq
Vital StatisticsCar: Noble M400Owners: 2Registered: 2nd November 2005Mileage: approx. 9,800 kmRevisited: 19th July 2010 / 22nd October 2010
With only one example in town, it's no surprise that the sight of the Noble M400 on our roads causes some amount of consternation, especially when you say, “It's not a Lotus.”
Previously a nondescript silver (some earlier snapshots here), the M400 (a track derivative of the earlier M12) has been resprayed in a fetching pearlescent White with fluorescent green accents, which serves to highlight its exotic, otherwordly looks even further.
The M400 is a true blue-collar, working class hero that has been endowed with supercar performance and dynamics without the corresponding price-tag.
Dubbed 'M400' for its spectacular power-to-weight ratio, the Noble puts out a seismic 400 (or 400.1bhp if you want to be precise) bhp per tonne (or 425bhp for its 1060kg kerbweight). For a sense of perspective, the modern day Godzilla, the Nissan GT-R (R35) doesn't even manage 290bhp per tonne!
View Image Details]' >Noble Automotive is the brainchild of founder/chief designer Lee Noble (started in 1999 and then sold in 2006 to entrepreneur and exotic car collector, Peter Dyson; Lee Noble would leave the company in 2008 to found Fenix Automotive, which also announced a new supercar dubbed the 'Fenix' in 2009 and slated for production in 2010), who combined Colin Chapman's lightweight rear-wheel driven philosophy with a hearty helping of 'HOLY MOLY' from the fire-breathing mid-mounted engines that served as donor powerplants to the Noble cars.
Due to the general lack of familiarity in Singapore, it's no surprise that most people instinctively (and rather predictably, we might add) say, “I'd rather have a Lotus,” or more bizarrely, “Why is the rear wing so big?”.
View Image Details]'This is in spite of the fact that many of them have never really experienced the Apocalyptic force-of-nature that is a Noble M400 before, not least because, well, there's just this single car in town and UK-based Noble Automotive no longer produces the M400 (the rights were sold in 2007 to a company in the USA called 1G Racing, which showcased and is now selling an updated version of the M400 called the Rossion Q1).
View Image Details]' Even our initial impressions were that this was some sort of a Lotus clone. However, it's not til you experience the elemental forces on tap from the M400 that you really appreciate the potent combination of a featherweight body with a twin turbocharged 3L V6 engine.
Although we seldom talk about straight-line acceleration, the M400's ferocious turn of speed compels us to mention its 3.5 seconds sprint timing to the 100km/h mark.
View Image Details]' With the augmentation by a pair of sweetly spinning turbochargers, the Ford-sourced V6 (from the Mondeo ST220) punches hard and keeps you down for the count as you ride the crest of the car's seemingless limitless wave of torque.
The close-ratio Getrag gearbox keeps you well within the turbo band and the shifts are precise and short-of-throw for satisfyingly quick action.
View Image Details]' Originally factory-shod in Pirelli PZero Corsa tyres, the current foot-wear takes the form of Falken Azenis RT615. However, the previous owner sold the car with an ultra-sticky set of Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tyres, which continued to offer stupendous grip even though it was coming to four years of age.
Ultimately, the plan may be to keep the Falkens' for street/demo use, but slap on a set of grippy Cup or Pirelli rubber for serious track work, thereby allowing the M400 to really shine. The car is currently under Exotic Tuner and there is some talk the owner will enter the M400 in a drag run at the 2010 Mettle Games, before it eventually takes to the track.
View Image Details]'The M400's role as track tool is clear enough when one slips into the cabin. Apart from the minor concessions to luxury in the Alcantara-clad bits (headliner, most consoles, seats and roll-cage frame), everything else is purely functional (especially the gauges, which allow one to keep an eye on the engine's vital statistics), which could also be why the interior looks like the parts were scavenged from a late night raid to the Ford and Demon Tweeks spare parts bin.
Anoraks might be interested to learn that the body and chassis of the Noble is built by Hi-Tech Automotive, which is based in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, after which it is shipped to Noble Automotive for everything else to be added.
Surprisingly, there's even a decent amount of storage space in the M400, especially behind the seats... not that we'd expect this to be a compelling point to purchase the car of course.
View Image Details]'On full throttle runs, the M400 also emits all the right noises that you'd expect from a dedicated sports-car. The gasps, sighs and wheezes help turn any drive in the Noble into a full-blown mind blowing experience and there's nothing close to asthmatic about this car whatsoever.
Needless to say, the Noble garners loads of variety of attention from car-spotters and ignorant bystanders alike, so travelling incognito is somewhat of an uphill challenge.
View Image Details]'During our time with the car, we found owners of much more exotic vehicles rubber-necking to catch a better glimpse of the M400.
The perfectly weighted steering is razor-sharp and the turn-in, near immediate. Apart from the off-set pedal placement, the controls are easy to modulate and the braking force, painfully effective (4-pot AP Racing callipers all-round).
View Image Details]'Contrary to what many may expect of a sportscar, the clutch action is unexpectedly light and will not require thighs the size of small buildings to operate. More importantly, the M400 is raw, yet retains some element of comfort, since the damping and ride are well-sorted and surprisingly civilised, even despite its track-ready credentials.
View Image Details]' From the get-go, the M400 gets into stride almost instantly (thanks to its flyweight) despite just a smidgen of turbo-lag. Once the turbos kick in, prepare to reel in the horizon as the M400 bends time and space with neck-straining ease and spits you towards your destination with all the explosive spurt of a wayward spitball.
View Image Details]'However, never mistake the M400's power as being unfocused and misdirected, since the agile chassis easily allows drivers of all skill levels to exploit the car's potential: it's as scary (or not) as you want it to be, but never forget that the engine is mid-mounted, which can typically make for some tricky handling at the limit.
Moreover, unlike so many modern cars (sportscars included), there's no form of traction control (electronic or otherwise) nor ABS, save for your discipline, self-restraint and right foot.
View Image Details]'With the potential violence and 'Judgement Day'-type pyrotechnics from the twin-turbochargers a mere foot-prod away, it is even entirely possible to exit every corner in a state of opposite lock Nirvana, not that Motor Prime condones this sort of anti-social behaviour, of course!
View Image Details]' The Noble's compact proportions allow one to place the car confidently; it almost seems as though the car wraps even closer around you like a pair of sleek Oakleys when you get into the cabin. If it's purely superficial aesthetics you're after, you're unlikely to be convinced by the M400, since in these minds, the Lotus more often than not will seem to be a more appealing package.
(Conclusion after Fast Facts)
FAST FACTS : Noble M400ENGINEEngine: 2967cc, 24-valves, V6, twin-turbochargedMaximum power @ rpm: 425bhp @ 6500rpmMaximum torque @ rpm: 529Nm @ 5000rpmBore x Stroke (mm): 89 x 79.5Compression ratio: 8.0:1
TRANSMISSIONDriven wheels: Rear with Quaife LSDTransmission: Getrag 6-Speed ManualGear Ratios: 3.15/1.95/1.52/1.19/1.31/1.03:1 / R 3.87:1Final drive: (1st-4th): 3.87 / (5th-6th): 2.76
PERFORMANCE0-100km/h: approximately 3.5 secondsTop speed: 282km/h
SUSPENSIONFront: Wishbones, Coil Springs, Dynamic Dampers, Anti-Roll BarRear: Wishbones, Coil Springs, Dynamic Dampers
BRAKES & TYRES/WHEELSFront: 330mm x 13" AP Racing discs; 4-pot callipersRear: 330mm x 13" AP Racing discs; 4-pot callipersWheels: (f) 8.5x18; (r) 10x18Tyres: (f) 225/40 R18; (r) 265/35 R18
DIMENSIONSL x B x H: 4089 x 1885 x 1143 mmWheelbase: 2438mmLock-to-lock: 2.5 turnsKerbweight: 1060kg
Summary
Based on mere appearances alone, it's easy to mistake the M400 for just another Lotus clone, but as with everything else, one needs to appreciate the raw fury of the Noble's unleashed elemental forces to truly understand its place among the rarefied echelons of sportscars... like Wrigley's Spearmint's finest, the M400 provides enthusiasts with a welcome breath of fresh air. - story by dk ; photos by Vanq
Saturday, 20 November 2010
Our meeting with Lee Noble
It's the big day, and our chat with Lee Noble.
Finally after correspondence with Lee, we finally got to meet the man himself, the founder of Noble and his latest venture Fenix.
I must say, right from the off, i thoroughly enjoyed the visit. It took us two hours to get to his house. The satnav coordinates that he gave us took us to his area, but not his house, in which we had to ask an old lady to direct us to his house.
We arrive at a pretty white house in the countryside, i was excited but nervous about meeting my design hero, we rung the doorbell and the man himself answered
"Sat nav take you the wrong way", he says, "They all do that" he added. He was a very nice man, as soon as we came in he asked us if we wanted a drink and invited us to go into the living room, as we were heading to the living room we noticed a half-built M12 sitting in the back garden, "I'm doing it up for a friend" he says
We head into the living room, we sat down, and Lee was more than happy to answer any questions that i had. In my conversation, i asked how many M12's and M10's were built?
As regards the m12 said Lee he wasn't 100 percent sure because of the American market, but reckoned he had built about 1700 cars, now as regards the M10, he said 6 and he started to recount the M10's in order and who had bought them, which was good because it was 11 years ago.
I wondered where his passion for designing cars came from, he said that he had wondered about that himself but from being young he had had a job repairing lawn mowers, and also use to design and build model aeroplanes with his dad, i suppose that's where his design and mechanical interest started.
The conversation turned to his early cars, such as the Ultima and the Prosport, and told us amusing stories about his racing days, including one where he went a whole night mending his Lotus Europa and still won the race in it the next day.
I asked him about the Midtec spyder, i said "Yeah, the Midtec, it looked a bit..." "Weird?" Lee finished, he said he'd done the chassis, and left it to a workmate, who used to live in a caravan, and would go to the gym for 9 hours at night to design the body.
After the Midtec, while lee was chatting, i pulled a book out of my bag, a Brooklands book of Noble sports cars ( which compiled a list of road tests from magazines from the M10 to the M600 ) He'd never seen it before and was really interested, so interested, he has now become it's new owner.
After giving him the book, we asked him a big question, what was his greatest achievements, for engineering, he said it was the M12, for design the M14 and for interior he chose the M15.
He went on to talk about the M12 and how reliable it was, he told us a problem regarding the oil sump which was something he didn't dismiss, he spent the whole weekend resolving the problem, which happened on the first 20 cars, what that impressed on me, was here was a man who took pride in his work and wanted to do a job well after all his name and reputation was attached to the car.
We later got around to talking about the new Fenix which is something he is very excited about and without giving anything away in a word is going to be AWESOME.
My conclusion about my visit to see mine and many enthusiasts design hero is, here is a man that is so passionate about designing and building sports cars that which each design he just gets better and better but i think deep down inside he lives for the challenge to build the ultimate sports car. Roll on 2011, bring on the fenix...!
Lucas Wilson
Finally after correspondence with Lee, we finally got to meet the man himself, the founder of Noble and his latest venture Fenix.I must say, right from the off, i thoroughly enjoyed the visit. It took us two hours to get to his house. The satnav coordinates that he gave us took us to his area, but not his house, in which we had to ask an old lady to direct us to his house.
We arrive at a pretty white house in the countryside, i was excited but nervous about meeting my design hero, we rung the doorbell and the man himself answered
"Sat nav take you the wrong way", he says, "They all do that" he added. He was a very nice man, as soon as we came in he asked us if we wanted a drink and invited us to go into the living room, as we were heading to the living room we noticed a half-built M12 sitting in the back garden, "I'm doing it up for a friend" he says
We head into the living room, we sat down, and Lee was more than happy to answer any questions that i had. In my conversation, i asked how many M12's and M10's were built?
As regards the m12 said Lee he wasn't 100 percent sure because of the American market, but reckoned he had built about 1700 cars, now as regards the M10, he said 6 and he started to recount the M10's in order and who had bought them, which was good because it was 11 years ago.
I wondered where his passion for designing cars came from, he said that he had wondered about that himself but from being young he had had a job repairing lawn mowers, and also use to design and build model aeroplanes with his dad, i suppose that's where his design and mechanical interest started.
The conversation turned to his early cars, such as the Ultima and the Prosport, and told us amusing stories about his racing days, including one where he went a whole night mending his Lotus Europa and still won the race in it the next day.
I asked him about the Midtec spyder, i said "Yeah, the Midtec, it looked a bit..." "Weird?" Lee finished, he said he'd done the chassis, and left it to a workmate, who used to live in a caravan, and would go to the gym for 9 hours at night to design the body.
After the Midtec, while lee was chatting, i pulled a book out of my bag, a Brooklands book of Noble sports cars ( which compiled a list of road tests from magazines from the M10 to the M600 ) He'd never seen it before and was really interested, so interested, he has now become it's new owner.
After giving him the book, we asked him a big question, what was his greatest achievements, for engineering, he said it was the M12, for design the M14 and for interior he chose the M15.
He went on to talk about the M12 and how reliable it was, he told us a problem regarding the oil sump which was something he didn't dismiss, he spent the whole weekend resolving the problem, which happened on the first 20 cars, what that impressed on me, was here was a man who took pride in his work and wanted to do a job well after all his name and reputation was attached to the car.
We later got around to talking about the new Fenix which is something he is very excited about and without giving anything away in a word is going to be AWESOME.
My conclusion about my visit to see mine and many enthusiasts design hero is, here is a man that is so passionate about designing and building sports cars that which each design he just gets better and better but i think deep down inside he lives for the challenge to build the ultimate sports car. Roll on 2011, bring on the fenix...!
Lucas Wilson
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