1992 Noble M10 Prototype *Sold £31,500*

MAKENoble
MODELM10 Prototype
REGISTRATIONA18 NBL
ENGINE SIZE2500
TRANSMISSIONManual
MILEAGE48,000
MOT EXPIRY DATE26/05/2022
CURRENT V5
COLOURBlue
INTERIORCream / Grey Leather

1992 Noble M10 Prototype *Sold £31,500*

In stock

The 1st car built by Noble Automotive

  • THE first production prototype Noble – the Noble M10
  • This particular car was the Press car that launched the M10 and Noble to the world
  • A television celebrity in its own right
  • Parked at Noble HQ for many years
  • It has covered 6,000 miles since 2006
  • Completely and sympathetically re-commissioned with no expense spared
  • Only four other M10’s were built
  • This 1992 Noble M10 Prototype sold for £31,500
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Description

The 1st car built by Noble Automotive

  • THE first production prototype Noble – the Noble M10
  • This particular car was the Press car that launched the M10 and Noble to the world
  • A television celebrity in its own right
  • Parked at Noble HQ for many years
  • It has covered 6,000 miles since 2006
  • Completely and sympathetically re-commissioned with no expense spared
  • Only four other M10’s were built

The Noble M10 was the 10th car to be designed by Lee Noble, including the Ultima, Ferrari P4 replica, Lotus 23 replica, Prosport LM etc. The Noble M10 was the first car to be designed and built under the company name of Noble Automotive Ltd. Making it the first true Noble.

Also believed to be the only, if not one of the only Nobles to be built wholly in the UK. With all others being built in South Africa with final assembly in the UK. This Noble was built in Lee Noble’s home garage and further developed at the Noble Automotive factory.

The British sports car manufacturer, Noble, needs no introduction, now building and selling cars in excess of £300,000. Noble Automotive was established in 1999 by ex-racing driver Lee Noble. Once he’d finished racing, he wanted to build sports cars that he wanted to drive. Noble is famous for building exceptional quality, high speed, road going sports cars with a mid-engine rear wheel drive layout. That configuration results in a superb driving experience. The two-seater soft top Noble M10 was the first car the manufacturer made and it is extremely sought after. Even more so because Noble produced just one prototype and this is it. Very rarely does a car like this come to the open market. This will be the first time this prototype M10 has appeared in more than 15 years. What an opportunity for one lucky bidder.

Our vendor bought this prototype M10 direct from the Managing Director of Noble Automotive and collected it from the factory in Leicester. The car had been at the factory HQ for a number of years with Noble Automotive showing as the registered keep on the V5 and not been on the road. It was a very valuable show piece and is a part of Noble’s history. How he managed to lever the M10 away is anyone’s guess. Bought from Noble Automotive as a restoration project as it had been off the road for many years. Although it looked great, anything rubber had perished and needed replacing etc. Once he’d secured the M10 our vendor set about re-commissioning the car with no expense spared.

Exterior

The metallic blue paint works looks stunning, but remains untouched and original. The sumptuous contours of the GRP composite bodied car are really highlighted. It looks as fresh now as it did when introduced to the world.

Interior

The original M10 was a nice place to be. But now resplendent with white dials and clocks along with soft doe skin leather replacing the previous all black cabin space, the two-seater cockpit is now fabulous place to be. (The clock change, wheels, V6 engine and interior replacement were carried out by Lee Noble and the Noble factory as part of the cars development). The car factory originals have been retained by the vendor.

Engine and Transmission

The original engine in the prototype launched to the Press was a four cylinder 1,800cc unit. When the Press drove it, see the video, they raved about it. However, Lee Noble always planned to use a 2.5 V6 unit as an option. The prototype has been upgraded by Lee Noble with that 170bhp option. This howling V6 propels the car from 0-60 in 5.9secs. Our vendor confirms it is like driving a supercar.

Wheels, tyres and suspension and additions

A one-off custom built stainless exhaust has been made to match and replace the original rotten steel one. New tyres are fitted along with new poly bushings. The vendor also advises that the M10 has an MOT until May 2022, has had brake overhaul, bespoke hand brake cables, hand built and bespoke steering arms, complete water pipes, all new fuel pipes, fuel pump, new battery, full service including plugs and filters, new K&N air filter, 1.75 litre lifeline fire extinguisher, electrics and more.

Our View

We see many adverts with phrase such as ‘a true one-off’, ‘unique’ or ‘find another one’. We hesitate here, but come on – THE original prototype Noble M10! The four others that followed will be rare, we cannot recall one ever coming to market, but THE original?

It isn’t just the exclusivity that makes this car so special either. The money that has been lavished on it mean it is exceptional and all ready to go. A genuine jump-in-and-drive opportunity.

We expect this to attract a great deal of interest. Not just here in the UK but much wider, because it is so rare, it is in such outstanding condition and because it is such a great driving car. The M10 is capable across the board. It can pootle around, you can bomb off for a weekend or turn up at a track and trounce Italian exotica.

All for a fraction of the price of said exotica.

How do we value such a car. We are going to be honest, it is tremendously difficult. There are a couple of baselines though. Our vendor has spent a small fortune on the car. He is nothing other than pragmatic and he understands the sums he has spent are unlikely to be returned. With that in mind he has set a reserve, which to be honest bears no resemblance to what he’s spent. We’ve all done it haven’t we.

The other benchmark is the Noble M12 which was the successor to the M10. These do come to market, albeit infrequently. They typically sell for somewhere between £30,000-£35,000. Although prices are rising, with the most recent sale in December 2020 achieving £40,750.

Our vendor has asked to place a guide price in line with these figures..but to be honest, with this provenance, magazine & TV featured in stunning restored condition, we’d expect THE prototype M10 to surprise everyone.

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