American M12 ?

[gadgeroonie]

Am I right in understanding that the M12 available to the USA market is sold in a 'kit' ? and the engine can be a choice by the customer ?

If so can this kit be ordered in the UK

or what is to stop me importing one myself ?

suggestions ?

[m12_nathan]

The main poonts are that it'll cost you more than a secondhand UK car, the rear lights are not legal, and they are left hand drive. I assume you want it because without an engine you can build a silly power car?

[gadgeroonie]

Yes - basically i'd like to build one with a more extreme engine - I guess the other option is a UK model that needs a rebuild

[micknall]

The M12 GTO-3R and the M400 are both available in the States through our distrutor, 1g Racing. The rolling chassis (basically the complete car, less drivetrain) is sold by 1g, and a separate drivetrain kit, using identical mechanicals to Euro production cars, is then available for installation by an independent workshop.

To date, not one of the 140-odd Nobles has been fitted with anything other than our Noble-spec Ford drivetrain.

As mentioned, the rear lights and rear panel are different to the Euro production cars, so I'm not sure how that would affect the car's compliance with UK SVA, which it would need to pass.

Simon Hucknall
Press Officer
Noble Automotive Ltd.

[gadgeroonie]

Simon - could I buy a UK spec Noble kit - minus the engine ??

[micknall]

No, I'm afraid that we only sell complete production cars. Sorry.

Simon

[amg merc]

micknall said:

To date, not one of the 140-odd Nobles has been fitted with anything other than our Noble-spec Ford drivetrain. Simon Hucknall Press Officer Noble Automotive Ltd.

Simon, are you saying that Noble has shipped 140+ motors to the US?

[Mr Noble]

amg merc said:

Simon, are you saying that Noble has shipped 140+ motors to the US?

IIRC its about that now. Some crazy rich dudes even pay lots of cash to have them flewn over so they get them 6 weeks sooner! Same with some crazy brits apparently!

GN

[mikes_3r]

Actually the engines are builtup/sourced from AER in Texas. Almost all of the items are identical although we now use the Ford Lightening 42lb injectors rather than the Volvo units that used to be installed.

[v6gto]

mikes_3r said:

Actually the engines are builtup/sourced from AER in Texas. Almost all of the items are identical although we now use the Ford Lightening 42lb injectors rather than the Volvo units that used to be installed.

Mike,
Are they a straight swap? And what is the benifit? Does this affect the mapping?

Martin.

[gadgeroonie]

I've heard of a USA Noble that was a ford v6 tuned with slightly larger turbo's and a ported cylinder head and low comp pistons

it made over 450 bhp at the wheels !!

apparently the chassis lapped up the extra power and begged for more !!!

[micknall]

As we have stated before, it is possible to get bigger power outputs from the Noble engine (we run 500bhp in the race car) but we have not tested other associated components beyond 430bhp in production form.

The US Noble units are all-but identical to those in UK cars, so the power outputs will be on a par with them, too.

Simon Hucknall
Press Officer
Noble Automotive Ltd.

[brav]

I beleive the M12 engine here (US) has forged components like the M400. Also, we use BB turbos (T25s). And may make a little more power. A lot of people change a few little things here or there. Many people are using new FPR and software making 400+ HP without a hitch. I think we may have different intercoolers available as well.