Wednesday 1st November 2017

Noble M12 GTO-3R: Spotted

Lee Noble's masterpiece still packs a punch. Especially with the right upgrade.

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If there's a sweet spot in the production history of Noble Automotive, it belongs to the M12. Sandwiched between the uninspiring M10 and the overambitious M15, the M12 was near note perfect: spiky to look at, as light as a falling leaf and - thanks to the turbocharged Ford V6 in its mid section - hugely fast around a track.

The car's long production history (a number of evolving models were built over eight years) is a testament to its popularity and a proper business model, where the majority of construction occurred in cost-effective South Africa, before being returned to the UK for final assembly.

In its original format, the M12 GTO used the 2.5-litre engine straight from a Mondeo, two additional blowers ensuring a 314hp output and - in a car that weighs 980kg - an eye-opening 320lb ft of torque. Ford discontinued the engine in 2001 though so Noble turned its attention to the larger 3.0-litre Duratec unit.

The new engine - with its internals modified and the turbochargers attached - proved as tuneable as an upright piano, and the firm's engine partner - the conveniently named Noble Motorsport - had it running at 500hp before you could say 'brisk'. A detuned 356hp version went into the GTO-3 with a five-speed 'box, but the one you want is the facelifted GTO-3R with the six-speed.

This gets you the slightly more attractive front clam, to boot - although it doesn't alter the V6's output. This was preserved for the M400, nominally a track version, which got the forged pistons, bigger blowers and unadulterated cam timing needed to have the car at its 400hp per tonne USP.

Alternatively, Noble Motorsport could do this for you as a post-op procedure, and that's precisely what you get in today's Spotted: a GTO-3R with a Stage 4 engine upgrade. As the car's impressive service history shows, this was done in 2005, upping the power to the prerequisite 425hp.

You'd still want to inspect it carefully (needless to say) but with the floor re-seal done and major service recently completed, the car looks very buyer friendly. Which is what you'd expect for a fiver shy of £50k. That's indicative of the market of course, but still surprising when you consider the last (admittedly older, lower spec) M12 Spotted contender was up for £22k just four years ago.

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NOBLE M12 GTO-3R
Engine: 2,968cc, turbocharged V6
Transmission: 6-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 357@6,200rpm
Torque (lb ft): 350@3,500rpm
MPG: N/A
CO2: N/A
First registered: 2004
Recorded mileage: 31,000 miles
Price new: N/A
Yours for: £49,995

See the original advert here

[snuffy]

I kept mine for 6 years and really enjoyed it.

[ChocolateFrog]

My brother's got one in almost exactly that spec but arguably the more desirable blue. If it sells for £50k then he'd nearly double his money in 6 years.

[Atomic12C]

These were selling for £25K-£30K a few years back. How have they gained £20K in value all of a sudden?

Bemused.



I have driven one of these on track and found them to be very uncomfortable. You sit at an angle with your feet to one side.
But having said that, they are capable track car. I was impressed with the performance (even though the one I was in had a slight brake judder).

[Desert Dragon]

Crazy money. As others have said £25-£30k its money if you want a unrefined weekend toy for the track.

[snuffy]

Atomic12C said:

These were selling for £25K-£30K a few years back. How have they gained £20K in value all of a sudden?

Bemused.

Yep. I traded mine in for £21k 5 years ago now. That car would be now on a dealer's forecourt for around £45k. I'd not consider paying that for it.

[Scooby P1]

£50k is cheap for a car that would be giving a GT3 RS 4.0 a seriously hard time on track.....and Leeds want £620k for the one they've got.

Now that IS ludicrous money.

[Desert Dragon]

Scooby P1 said:

£50k is cheap for a car that would be giving a GT3 RS 4.0 a seriously hard time on track.....and Leeds want £620k for the one they've got.

Now that IS ludicrous money.

Possibly the finest road car the guys from Weissach have ever made with final 4 litre version of a Le Mans winning engine architecture vs a Ford duractec based kit car built in a shed in Leicester.

A 250 LM is about £50m. Its slower than a GT3 RS

[myhandle]

The price point of the M600 and the generally more upmarket nature of the brand has dragged up the price of the older models.

[Yipper]

It is like a Lidl Zonda. Great value for money, even accounting for the inevitable repairs and breakdowns.

[The Big G]

Very special cars. Haven’t found anything like them to drive. Still a bargain for the performance in my opinion but then I would be a bit biased they may have been built in a shed in Leicester but everyone remembers them from top gear etc. This means it has a place it people’s hearts. brits love the underdogs and that is most definitely what this car was when new and is remembered as, as a giant slayer. Most people know what it is and be surprised to see one out on the street or at a meet, not many were built. Only 74 M400s too if I remember correctly.

Here is a gratuitous photo of my M400

[Yipper]

Desert Dragon said:

Scooby P1 said:

£50k is cheap for a car that would be giving a GT3 RS 4.0 a seriously hard time on track.....and Leeds want £620k for the one they've got.

Now that IS ludicrous money.

Possibly the finest road car the guys from Weissach have ever made with final 4 litre version of a Le Mans winning engine architecture vs a Ford duractec based kit car built in a shed in Leicester.

A 250 LM is about £50m. Its slower than a GT3 RS

At the time it was launched, circa 2005, the Noble thrashed every single Porsche it was pitted against at Bedford Autodrome racetrack.

The Noble is no slouch.

[Scottie - NW]

Not all GTO-3R's are six speed, the early ones came with the 5 speed box.

I had the pleasure of looking after one for 6 months whilst the owner was in LA, and I've still not driven a car I enjoy more even over 10 years later.

Should have bought the damn thing, my friend offered it to me for a good price but I was just buying a house.

Interestingly the car's owner has gone through a fair bit of exotica, from British stuff, through Ferrari's, and onto Murcie LP640 and now an Aventador S, and none give him the driving pleasure the 3R did.

Was sold to a PH member via here and I hope he still has it.

[ZX10R NIN]

That car is worth the money they're a very good drivers car & this one seems to have been cared for, it has the desireable spec so I think the number being asked is okay once a bit of haggling has taken place the new owner will have a great car.

[snuffy]

Scottie - NW said:

Not all GTO-3R's are six speed, the early ones came with the 5 speed box.

Indeed you are correct.

And equally, some 3s had a 6 speed box (i.e. the one I owned).

[thegreenhell]

myhandle said:

The price point of the M600 and the generally more upmarket nature of the brand has dragged up the price of the older models.

It's nothing to do with the M600. Most people don't even know the M600 exists. It's simply the rising tide of the market as a whole where anything remotely desirable or rare is being touted at silly money.

[PHMatt]

When did they turn the engine round to longditudinal and ditch the Ford gearbox?

[sideways man]

Not driven one, but did have a passenger ride at one of those charity supercar days.
Most enjoyable £30'ive ever spent, the guy was properly going for it and the M12 went straight to the top of my 'I want one of those list'.....

[sjc]

I've had my M400 for 10 years, and had a 3R before that.
They aren't just a track toy, they are a road car that just happens to be bloody good on a circuit as well.The grip/handling/damping balance is as good as it gets out of the box,and the enjoyment factor is something that never goes away. It goes very well, and stops very well,and goes round corners very well, exactly what it was designed to do. You can do long trips and weekends,have the air con on and get out ok.The performance always surprised people, and the 3R at 0-100 in 9ish secs or the M400 at 0-100 in 8ish is still very very quick today.
To address a couple of comments above... the offset pedal position was addressed in later cars, and the M600 I'd suggest has nothing to do with earlier car values. It's simply that this type of car won't be built again at this price point,and there wasn't many to start with.They will have a celing though, and it's probably getting to it.

[hondansx]

thegreenhell said:

myhandle said:

The price point of the M600 and the generally more upmarket nature of the brand has dragged up the price of the older models.

It's nothing to do with the M600. Most people don't even know the M600 exists. It's simply the rising tide of the market as a whole where anything remotely desirable or rare is being touted at silly money.

A little pessimistic. I think it's also reflected by the fact cars like these simply don't get made any more.

[topless360]

I do love Nobles but I think prices are on the high side at the moment. That level of price increase can't be sustained for much longer surely, especially with interest rates on the verge of going up.