Lee Noble has left the building...

[peterguk]

Hunttheshunt said:

Actually it was this:-

Owners of Noble M12s have today been presented with the chance to breathe new life into their cars. Bristol-based Salica Cars is offering a conversion service for M12s that brings an overhauled engine, a new body and – for the first time on a Noble M12 – a convertible roof into the mix.

“Salica Cars exists because there’s a gap in the market for Noble owners,” explains company founder Steve Rubie-Todd. “I’m an M12 owner myself, and have for a long time been waiting for a convertible version. When Noble announced that it had canned the M12 GTC (pictured), an opportunity arose to make a convertible M12 ourselves.”

As an outfit, Salica is totally unconnected with Noble Automotive, but its conversion has been brought about with the help of several ex-Noble employees, notably ex-Noble body designer Paul Bailey and former parts designer Ashley Gaunt.

But I guess you knew that already

£20K and prototypes to date limited to some coloured doodles.....

[imclueless]

joust said:

I've actually been away skiing so Rob, I think you might need another UFO theory.

All I'm prepared to say on this is that some of the people purporting to know the truth seem to be somewhat missinformed.

Finally, as this is speculation about an individual, I don't think it's appropiate, and it's against the guidelines on posting (2.1. for those that read the rules), for anyone that actually knows anything to post on here about the subject.

Justin

Couldn't find the rules but....

I hope that Lee does very well in what ever he does in the future.

But what happens to Noble owners both current and future is a concern surely? So yet again everyone is to be treated with silence and ignorance by the company (no matter who runs it)

[UFO 2 NOB]

imclueless said:

joust said:

I've actually been away skiing so Rob, I think you might need another UFO theory.

All I'm prepared to say on this is that some of the people purporting to know the truth seem to be somewhat missinformed.

Finally, as this is speculation about an individual, I don't think it's appropiate, and it's against the guidelines on posting (2.1. for those that read the rules), for anyone that actually knows anything to post on here about the subject.

Justin

Couldn't find the rules but....

I hope that Lee does very well in what ever he does in the future.

But what happens to Noble owners both current and future is a concern surely? So yet again everyone is to be treated with silence and ignorance by the company (no matter who runs it)

My own rules are that I wont buy anything LN again.

Quite frankly I got hacked off being one of many financial backers for a guy that has a passion for a hack saw and constant changes of direction.

A business and brand needs to be built around solid foundations and consistency over a long period.

I guess that the average person does not like Russian Roulette or regular trips to the Dentist either

Edited by UFO 2 NOB on Wednesday 20th February 23:15

[AMG Merc]

Yep, treating people (ie: past and potential customers) like mushrooms does tend to rile them!

[georgeM400]

Joust has quite rightly pointed out that whats been posted on this thread is unsubstantiated therefore should be taken with a pinch of salt. If and when there is an official comment from the company then we should assume that whats been written is total rubbish.

As for the future of current owners of nobles which someone has asked about, i can't speak for anyone else however i purchased my car knowing full well that Noble is very small British company and that small car companies come and go like a cat on heat.

Nevertheless i went ahead with the purchase after 8 months of searching for the right car. As for parts, thankfully our cars contain a lot of Ford components so finding parts is straightforward. As for the internals of the engine, if there are any problems with the Noble dealers supporting the cars in the future, then there will always be Roush to fix anything and manufacture specific parts. There are also many companies around the UK who will happily duplicate specific car parts too. Im not sure, but the Americans should be able to ship parts over to us if needed. I don’t see how damaging it would be if the company does dissolve, the TVR guys seem to be doing fine as I still see loads on the road.

It would be nice to hear from Noble Automotive a little more often though . An open day at the factory would be a nice idea

[AMG Merc]

Agree George and your TVR comparison is sound. The only area of concern, IMHO, would be body panels and parts.

[imclueless]

georgeM400 said:

Joust has quite rightly pointed out that whats been posted on this thread is unsubstantiated therefore should be taken with a pinch of salt.

I agree - which is why it only takes someone at the factory to say "Lee has not left the building" to put these rumours to rest. Why in all honesty would you want people to speculate on such things.

If there was nothing up at all Joust is forthright enough to tell people they are talking crap but reading Joust's comments you know that isn't correct.

How daft can one company be

[Jenx]

Sales said:

I think that it is sad that Lee has left Noble, but to be honest i am not surprised. Lee is a talented chassis designer... in fact an amazing one. However just because one can do 1 element doesn't mean that automatically he can do all aspects. This was always the difficulty with Lee. Also how many of you have worked with development people? sometimes commercial pressures, such as 'how much does this cost' spoilt the end result of just how good you could make something. However no one can sustain any business like this.

I have always said that Lee's ideal role is with a race team, here he would be perfectly suited. he could always tinker with the car, trying to make it better and better and compete with the best of them. Designing a road car to compete with serious cars such as Aston's, Ferrari's even Audi... never going to happen. It is pure economics people, work out the figures.

I do however wish lee all the best in the future, i hoped that it would have worked out for him this time. We had our ups and down but i do not wish him or his family ill

Was this not factory confirmation that Lee has left?

I'm assuming that Stuart still has somes ties with the company?

[Mr Noble]

.......and the fact that Worty said he is no longer listed as a Director since 8th Feb 2008??

Very sad news if it is the case. I wish the company would comment as this 2 years silince is getting rather annoying not to mention rude to its existing customer base. (even those of us who never bought a new car, we still help prop up the company in one way or another)

[AMG Merc]

joust said:

All I'm prepared to say on this is that some of the people purporting to know the truth seem to be somewhat missinformed. Justin

Justin, did you mean Stuart Jones is misinformed?

[P490KVP]

There seems to be a huge aversion to anyone with knowledge that opens eyes. I've lost count of the aggressive "you know jack.." or the "the M14, M15, M600, M-XYZ will be ready for the press/dealer launch, customer viewings in 2005, New year 2006, Spring 2007, early 2008".

I'm sick and tired of that old line "until something offical from the factory gets announced I'll not believe it.." Well can someone tell me when anything Noble has said in the last 3 years has been the whole truth? Even when change of director forms have been flagged by companies house the dealers still deny the LN is gone chat.

This new car may well be a finished product, but if it is then why isn't it on sale, because they didn't build it just to look at. If on the other hand it isn't finished then who is the engineering resource because for sure LN has been that pretty much solely since the start.

Nay sayers - wake up.

[georgeM400]

AMG Merc said:

The only area of concern, IMHO, would be body panels and parts.

I've just had a search around the net but did not find a bodywork specialist that deals with Nobles. If somebody knows a company, please let us know.

On the other hand, somebody could take their car to a bodywork specialist such as - http://www.tvrbodywork.co.uk/default.asp
And get a complete mould of all body panels etc so that there'll always be a template. Basically follow what TVR do really

[l6nex]

This might sound daft, but sounds like an opening for someone to set up a place like Dom has at TVR Power, a parts shop, speaking to the factory and buying their parts stock to supply to all of the owners??

Maybe a daft idea, I don't know.

Dave

[ThatPhilBrettGuy]

l6nex said:

This might sound daft, but sounds like an opening for someone to set up a place like Dom has at TVR Power, a parts shop, speaking to the factory and buying their parts stock to supply to all of the owners??

Maybe a daft idea, I don't know.

Dave

That's what NobleParts was set up for in some part, but currently there's no parts issues (for the most part) so that's not been pushed.

[CRB1]

Noble have produced correspondence. The latest I (& a number of others -presumably all M15 deposit payers)received was in July 2007 from Peter Boutwood. Basically to say that work was progressing on the new car.
But to re-iterate, I believe they should now post something informative on their website.
Chris.

[l6nex]

ThatPhilBrettGuy said:

l6nex said:

This might sound daft, but sounds like an opening for someone to set up a place like Dom has at TVR Power, a parts shop, speaking to the factory and buying their parts stock to supply to all of the owners??

Maybe a daft idea, I don't know.

Dave

That's what NobleParts was set up for in some part, but currently there's no parts issues (for the most part) so that's not been pushed.

I understand that, but you still have to go through a dealer for parts and once the factory and their premium is added on, prices are quite frankly ridiculous compared to going to a ford dealer with a relevant part number.

[ThatPhilBrettGuy]

l6nex said:

I understand that, but you still have to go through a dealer for parts and once the factory and their premium is added on, prices are quite frankly ridiculous compared to going to a ford dealer with a relevant part number.

If you're expecting someone to take on stock and the risk of doing so, you'd be surprised just how much you have to charge over the Ford etc list price to make it worth while.

Exhaust manifolds are a classic case in point. We all know they're rubbish and the thing to do would be to commission a nice strong set to be made. But has anyone? No. That's because when people do such work, loads of people post 'Yes, count me in!' but when it comes to putting their hands in their pockets it all goes quiet.

Yes parts are marked up from the factory, and yes some are just bog standard Ford parts with a bigger price tag, but it's not always just money grabbing.

[peterguk]

dan12 said:

i have heard that customers with deposits are asking for their money back

If the company does go to America you will lose your money

Edited by dan12 on Thursday 21st February 14:05

This whole thread is getting so boring..

Why will customers lose their money?

Who says its going to America?

God, it's like Chinese Whispers in the school playground..

[l6nex]

ThatPhilBrettGuy said:

l6nex said:

I understand that, but you still have to go through a dealer for parts and once the factory and their premium is added on, prices are quite frankly ridiculous compared to going to a ford dealer with a relevant part number.

If you're expecting someone to take on stock and the risk of doing so, you'd be surprised just how much you have to charge over the Ford etc list price to make it worth while.

Exhaust manifolds are a classic case in point. We all know they're rubbish and the thing to do would be to commission a nice strong set to be made. But has anyone? No. That's because when people do such work, loads of people post 'Yes, count me in!' but when it comes to putting their hands in their pockets it all goes quiet.

I realise that and I wasn't disregarding the fact of the outlay it would take, It was just a simple suggestion of something that would be beneficial if it ever did get to the point parts were becoming difficult to come by. I relaise if someone did do it they would have to make their money out of it too for it to be worthwhile.
Yes parts are marked up from the factory, and yes some are just bog standard Ford parts with a bigger price tag, but it's not always just money grabbing.

[joust]

dan12 said:

i have heard that customers with deposits are asking for their money back
If the company does go to America you will lose your money

Edited by dan12 on Thursday 21st February 14:05

Well, that isn't me.

Oh, and as deposits paid by CC are covered by the consumer credit act, you are talking out of your smelly bit.

Justin