The Noble M10 is the first sports car built by Noble Automotive, the low-volume manufacturer based in Leicestershire. Lee Noble developed it in his own garage, helped by several former Ascari employees who had recently moved from Leicestershire to Dorset. It was introduced in 1999, made in tiny numbers, and was replaced by the M12 almost as soon as that car’s credentials were announced.
Noble M10 at a glance
| Maker | Noble Automotive, Leicestershire |
|---|---|
| Production | 1999–2000 |
| Body | two-door, two-seat convertible only |
| Chassis | tubular steel frame with a central steel transmission tunnel |
| Bodywork | glassfibre |
| Kerb weight | 995 kg |
| Engine | 2.5-litre Ford V6, naturally aspirated |
| Original engine | 1.8-litre Ford Zetec, replaced after Tony Moy’s investment |
| Interior | two leather-trimmed seats, aluminium or veneer wood finish |
| Built | five, one demonstrator and four customer cars |
| Prototype | A18 NBL, sold at auction in Britain for £31,500 in 2021 |
The M10 is a very short page on English Wikipedia, and the car is barely documented elsewhere; this article is based on one source.
History of the Noble M10
Born in a garage
Lee Noble began developing the M10 in his home garage, with help from former Ascari staff who had moved from Leicestershire to Dorset. The car was first offered as a kit: buyers would complete it themselves. The kit route did not work, because the price was high and the construction complex enough to put off the customers Noble was hoping for, and the project ran into financial difficulty.
Tony Moy’s investment
The way out came from the tour operator Tony Moy, who put money into the project in a deal arranged by the former rally driver Roger Clark. With that backing the M10’s engine was changed from the original 1.8-litre Ford Zetec to a more powerful 2.5-litre Ford V6, which became the only engine ever offered for sale in the car.
Five cars and the press
Noble built five M10s in total: one demonstrator and four customer cars. The press took an interest out of proportion to the numbers. Mark Hales road-tested the car for The Telegraph, Autocar sent Steve Sutcliffe for the first drives and then Steve Cropley to Leicestershire for a full test that included laps at Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground, and the car was praised by Richard Meaden of Evo and by Richard Hammond, then a presenter for Men and Motors. The original prototype, registered A18 NBL, was sold at auction in the United Kingdom for £31,500 in 2021.
Design and features
- Tubular steel frame: a central steel transmission tunnel was built in to raise torsional rigidity.
- Glassfibre convertible body: the only body style offered, and the reason the car weighed just 995 kg.
- Ford V6: a naturally aspirated 2.5-litre unit, the only engine sold in the M10.
- Borrowed parts: switchgear came from Austin and later Ford, and the windscreen from Lotus.
- Simple cabin: two leather-trimmed seats and a choice of aluminium or veneer wood trim.
Noble M10 versions
- Kit car (1999): the original form, dropped because it was too costly and too complex.
- Factory car with 2.5-litre V6: the only specification actually sold.
- Prototype A18 NBL: the car sold at auction in 2021.
- Four customer cars: the rest of the production run.
The M10 was replaced by the Noble M12, the car that made the marque. The later track version was the Noble M400, and the whole story is in the Noble collection.
Video: Richard Hammond Reviews The 1999 Noble M10 V6
Video on YouTube.
Sources
- Noble M10, English Wikipedia: development, chassis, engine, production numbers, road tests
- Noble Automotive, English Wikipedia: place of the M10 in the range
