There's a rare chance to see the Noble M600 supercar at the Autosport/PistonHeads NEC show this weekend, as work progresses on the company's first full production model.
The M600 on the Autocar magazine stand at the NEC is prototype number two, and instead of the production model's full carbon bodywork it sports panels made from glass fibre.
The first true production model is currently in build at Noble's new Leicestershire facility, according to company MD Peter Boutwood, and it will be used as the factory demonstrator. Customer cars will follow, with the 15-strong factory team hand-building a maximum of 50 cars a year once fully up to speed.
Apart from the proper carbonfibre bodywork, the M600 production models will be externally identical to the show car, so although there remain a few details beneath the skin that may be tweaked to facilitate production, the car you can see at the NEC is the car that buyers will get.
The specification remains as announced last year
A chat with Peter on the stand yesterday revealed some interesting facts, too. First of all, that Noble's new(ish) MD has a colourful CV including designing stage outfits for the likes of David Bowie and Madness, a bit of F3 racing, and also a spell as Damon Hill's F1 race manager. Wearing his designer hat, he also claims responsibility for some well-known F1 and motorsport graphics including the 'cartoon' style treatments of the Jordan F1 team. With a creative background like that, it's unsurprising that Peter also took charge of the final design of the M600 itself - although he modestly reckons the car looks the way it does 'because everything is shaped to do a job'.
In its understated baby-blue paintjob, the M600 certainly isn't an ostentatious way to part with circa £200k (in fact Peter hinted the final price may come in a little way under that hotly debated figure), although there's no accounting for customer taste and Noble will paint the car (and trim it) in any colours you want at no extra charge. Either way, a random poll of people seeing the car for the first time at the show yesterday suggested general agreement that it's a looker 'in the flesh'.
There is a healthy waiting list for the M600, too. 75 individuals have placed deposits, and while Peter accepts not all of those may go on to actually confirm an order he reckons there are already enough commitments to keep the factory busy for the next couple of years.
The original waiting list that Noble's new owners inherited has been sorted out, says Peter, with deposits refunded to those buyers who had wanted the less expensive car that was originally planned. However, the new company is keeping faith with buyers of those previous generation models, maintaining parts availability and even considering upgrades where appropriate.
"We know we disappointed some Noble customers by launching a car at this price level," says Peter, "but we are sure that the new interest we are creating will help to support values of the earlier cars, and we will not turn our backs on any existing owners."