19th Jun, 2024 13:00

Imperial War Museum | Duxford, Cambridgeshire

 
Lot 84
 

2002 Noble M12 GTO-3
Desirable 3-litre, twin-turbo variant

Estimated at £40,000 - £45,000

Lot details

Registration No: HJ52 HXP
Chassis No: SA9M12R1M2G113104
MOT: September 2024

  • Just 29,800 miles from new
  • Current ownership since 2014 and just three former keepers
  • Significantly improved while in the vendor's custodianship with considerable expenditure
  • Supplied with a history file including the original stamped service book

Noble Automotive Ltd. was founded in 1999 by British entrepreneur, car designer and engineer Lee Noble and, using his experience from his time spent at Ascari, he quickly established his company's commitment to designing and manufacturing high-performance sports cars with a mid-engine, rear-wheel drive layout. Lee Noble sold the company in August 2006 to Peter Dyson and later moved on in 2008 to work on other ventures, however, as well as being a knowledgeable collector of exotic cars and a successful business entrepreneur, Dyson was an M12 owner and a huge admirer of both Noble Automotive and the M12's attributes.

The M12 was produced in four versions (GTO 2.5, GTO-3 3.0, GTO-3R 3.0, with the M400 being the ultimate variant), all being powered by a sympathetically tuned (forge decompressed rods, cylinder block modifications with cylinder bore oil spray jets, crankshaft balancing, and turbo oil feeds built into the heads, along with ST 220 camshafts, coil top plugs, and a new MBE engine management system) twin-turbocharged Ford Duratec V6 engine. The basic structure consists of a steel tub with a full steel roll-cage and G.R.P composite clamshell body parts. These cars are extremely lightweight and stiff, with the ability to perform very well on both road and track, and offer surprisingly good ride quality and lots of confidence-inspiring feedback.

At launch, the M12 had 310bhp with the help of its pair of Garrett T25 turbos, giving a top speed of 165mph and a 0-60mph time of 4.1 seconds. With its quasi-racer feel, being heightened by the very visible Alcantara-trimmed roll-cage and no-nonsense instruments, this really is a driver's car. There was no ABS, no traction control and no ESP, just real engineering integrity and a brilliant design and the M12 was able to compete dynamically with the best junior supercars of the day.

Manufactured in 2002, the M12 GTO-3 offered was supplied new to the United Kingdom being first registered on the 30th of November that year. Fitted with the 3.0-litre variant of the V6 engine, chassis ‘113104’ has covered a mere 29,800 miles from new (at the time of consignment). Entering into the vendor’s custodianship in 2014, the Noble has had just three former keepers. Well-maintained before the vendor’s ownership, the M12 received seven services during the first twelve years of its life (up to 2014), with several of those completed by Noble. Thereafter, the vendor continued servicing work with Noble Motorsport themselves.

Further embarking on significant improvements across the vendor's ten-year ownership, the work completed has included a full repaint in 2022 in Ford ST Metallic Orange with Black roof; fitment of Revotech double front fans and well-known Noble tunnel air-flow modification (to keep the car cool even in heavy traffic); Willans five-point harness sets; recent new Yokohama tyres; stainless flexi brake hoses fitted (HEL) all corners; new Dunlop race brake pads; new Gaz Gold fully adjustable coil overs; large intercooler fitted with further electric fan assist to maximise the cold air to the turbos; insulation to the ducting; recent new battery and new door lock alarm and immobiliser; and rear exhaust heat shield wrapped.

Offered with a history file that contains the original owner’s handbook and the stamped service book, a large selection of previous MOTs and tax discs, numerous previous invoices for work completed from both the current and previous ownerships, tracker documentation, and a current V5C document. Recently returning from a trip to Scotland from the Peak District without issue, the Noble started readily and both ran and drove well during our recent photography session. A well-maintained and sensibly improved example of the highly capable Noble M12, in the desirable 3.0-litre variation.

PLEASE NOTE: The registration number shown in the images is not included in the sale.

For more information, please contact:
Paul Cheetham
paul.cheetham@handh.co.uk
07538 667452

 

Auction: Imperial War Museum | Duxford, Cambridgeshire, 19th Jun, 2024

An auction of classic, collector and performance motorcars held at the iconic and visually stunning Imperial War Museum, Duxford. Venue Details 

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