Noble has sold the rights to its M12 and M400
more details here
Noble Automotive, the Leicestershire-based sports car builder, has sold the manufacturing rights to its M12 cars in the US.
The rights have been sold to 1g Racing, based in Ohio, which will now be able to build and sell the M12 (and M12-based M400) in America.
1g must rename the cars by 15th July 2007, and can modify the design as it sees fit. Noble still retains the rights to the car in the UK – including its name. However, Noble has already stopped production of the M12 and M400, which were built in South Africa.
Noble's owner, Lee Noble, has said that the firm is concentrating on its new model, the more upmarket M15. There are also rumours of another entirely new model.
Judging by Noble's last efforts, they'll be worth waiting for.

Whether it's American or not, it's still a Noble. Little disappointing for it to be sold to the Americans, but nonetheless they will still be great cars. Just hope nothing else gets sold off though.

Yeah, they will be great cars. Nice to see America can get in on the great British action!

its about time, now im happy, I love noble and am really happy to hear about the move. Why Ohio!?! I have nothing against Ohio but why couldnt they have moved down the road from me? Haha, can't wait to see one on the road.

Why is this disappointing? Hell they are a Leicestershire-based company, but the cars are built by Hi Tech Automotive in South Africa.

Whether it's American or not, it's still a Noble. Little disappointing for it to be sold to the Americans, but nonetheless they will still be great cars. Just hope nothing else gets sold off though.

oh wow, more cars we can say we own, ill just add it to the list *checks off noble*

Why is this disappointing? Hell they are a Leicestershire-based company, but the cars are built by Hi Tech Automotive in South Africa.

Because Noble is only one of the true British brands left, and selling it to the Americans is a little annoying, because before you know it, they'll be gone.

Because Noble is only one of the true British brands left, and selling it to the Americans is a little annoying, because before you know it, they'll be gone.

But its not like it is British built. Ok It was British Designed thats cool . But the production is done in South Africa. Explain to me how this is a True British Brand? Im just curious.

Yeah, when i first heard of them I thought they were made by south africa, but then I was informed by a brisitishman that Noble is a british brand. They just subcontract all the work to south africa.

Most of the early Nobles were built by a few blokes from Leicstershire in a barn. You don't get more British or passionate than that. Then (I think) they moved the production of the models to South Africa.

This isn't that interesting.

No offense, it's news worthy, but 1g Racing has been Noble's avenue of exporting their cars here for the last few years. The only difference now is that you no longer have to buy the car and engine seperately for it to be legal under the "Kit car" regulations.

It's. the same. car.

Just a bunch of paper got swapped, that's all.

Nice...the cars should hopefully be sold a little more cheaply Stateside.

But its not like it is British built. Ok It was British Designed thats cool . But the production is done in South Africa. Explain to me how this is a True British Brand? Im just curious.

to me it dosen't matter were its built, its were its designed and who its designed by that makes it british, the design and car is all british.

to me it dosen't matter were its built, its were its designed and who its designed by that makes it british, the design and car is all british.

Of course, otherwise we can all say the C-Class Merc is a Thailandese (is that correct?) car.

I don't like Nobles although they are great, so I don't really care.
Btw, it is better to have the whole car than buying engine and make a kit car.

excuse me... whats wrong with south africa???

sure, our politicians are all corrupt, crime is at an all time high, rape and murder are everyday (make that every few second) occurences...

but hey, at least we make produce decent cars.

and our tuning is some of the best i've seen...