The British Underdog That Beat Ferrari AND Porsche - Noble M12 3R

[@genzigzag]

Thank you for your noble effort in presenting the M12 3R! 😅

[@Number27]

😆😆😆😆😆

[@TheSometimeAfter]

🙄

[@alaricbragg7843]

Thanks for this video. If Ford had kept making road versions of the RS200 after they got rid of Group B it would have evolved into this.

[@SteeeveO]

Our local vet had an RS200 back in the 80's - even then I knew I had missed my vocation.....

[@theraildynasty_]

Yeahh this reminded me of the Ford RS200 as soon as I saw it's side profile in the thumbnail....... Never seen this before only know about the noble M600 and noble M500.......

[@davekennedy6315]

Bit different to a Noble? The Noble is a cheapish, mid engine RWD small supercar. The RS200 was a Group B Racecar that tend to be horrendous to drive on the road. It's a rally car more like a Escort Cosworth, Evo or Impreza.

[@paultaylor5502]

Not with Reliant building it

[@jt-hb8lh]

​@@davekennedy6315Rs200 wasn't much of a performer on the WRC scene.Too heavy.The did quite good at regional championships and RX.

[@jase6370]

Wow!, W4 GTO was my car for nearly 5 years , fantastic to see it doing well. Always remember it being the best handling car I've ever owned. Only sold it because the offset pedals eventually caused me hip problems !

[@pgr3290]

Lighter cars have unassailable advantages. Besides the obvious power to weight the chassis can be so much more compliant, softer sprung and damped. When you have a heavy car you know you need stiffer and stiffer damping to control the mass on all axis. When you have so little weight like an Elise, this Noble or say a modern day Alpine A110 then you can build something amazingly comfortable but also supple and tractable. Heavy modern cars are so damn jiggly and stiff.

[@richardconway6425]

So true.

[@nickdhurt]

Yup. "Add lightness" as Colin Chapman said.

[@johnnyboy1586]

Not to mention soo much more earlier on tyres and brakes and fuel

[@stevenbraithwaite7366]

Hi I own that car 14 years ago great to see it going strong it’s on KZbin 👍

[@magnusevison311]

You don’t see many videos of these around at all, it’s a fabulous car and it’s owned by my dad, lovely to see.

[@geraint8989]

“The most reassuring front end of any car I’ve driven” is some endorsement. What cars come below it? The palpable emotion makes this a wonderful vid, even though passing motorists are probably thinking “Harry’s at it again”!

[@tigerpjm]

What other cars? All the other cars, I daresay.

[@Sleepy.Time.]

best car to ever come from a random industrial park shed

[@Number27]

Without a doubt!! And preferable to me over the later ones

[@TassieLorenzo]

Better than TVR? 😮

[@pegcity4eva]

​@@TassieLorenzo Yes because it wouldn't break down every 5 minutes.

[@grahambell4298]

@@pegcity4eva Ah, the "TVRs always break down' thing. Have you actually ever owned one? I've had one for 6 years during which it's given no more trouble than mass produced cars I've owned..

[@nickpotgieter3629]

The Noble M12 production was actually outsourced to Hi-Tech Automative from Port Elizabeth in South Africa.

[@paultease5095]

Gotta love an M12,every time I take mine out it's an event,totally raw and unfiltered,u gotta give them some respect in the wet but they are hands down the best handling car I have ever owned 😁

[@Spenny909]

Nice to hear. I'm always looking for the ultimate car. To help the comparison, what else have you driven that you rate the Noble above?

[@paultease5095]

@@Spenny909 Cayman,911,rx7,lancer Evo,360 among many others ,suppose it depends what your looking for and what your comparing it against,for an involving raw experience nothing betters it,but they do take some commitment

[@chrisreed3929]

There is no way you can stretch that beauty this side of a racetrack. Incredible driving tool.

[@stevewhite9653]

You looked like you were having an amazing time Jack. I remember driving one of these at an EVO track day at Bedford and it felt like driving a big exige. The added bonus was that Lee Noble was there - what a great bloke he is.

[@NaturallyAspirated]

Love the noble ! We recently took a Noble to the Isle of Man ! It was crazy and was going toe to toe with a McLaren and assorted other more modern cars!

[@demonstructie]

Always loved how these look. Philosophy wise, they seem to split the difference between an Exige and a 360/F430, carving out a niche for itself by being a better Ferrari than a Lotus, and a better Lotus than a Ferrari. The 2000s were a wild time in car land, never again will we see anything like it unfortunately.

[@Gregorio-d3q]

Noble does much of its basic manufacturing in South Africa. The core body/chassis assemblies are shipped from South Africa to England, where Noble installs the drivetrain, for the European market, and performs final tests. Noble left Noble Automotive in the spring of 2008 and created a new company Fenix Automotive in late 2009, which was subsequently dissolved in late 2012. From Wiki

[@2702simmo]

I felt like I was there driving that !! You could tell you enjoyed that Love those things

[@Number27]

Thanks buddy, that's such a great compliment to say you felt you were there. Thank you so MUCH!!

[@oliabid-price4517]

Most people fail to realise that having a sensible amount of compliance in a car's suspension actually increases roadholding ability.

[@vincentschneuwly9783]

Couldn't agree more 👍👍👍 I would just add that the lighter the car is the more compliant you can tune the shocks

[@Ourdirtytwo]

Only with good tires

[@neilmarshment2910]

With decent profile tyres rather than rubber bands on big wheels.

[@brianshorey]

A boss of mine had one of these, along with a bunch of other exotics. I was fortunate to be invited to track events and got to drive them. This car was stunningly fast and fun to drive. I remember stuff falling off at every event. He took it to some specialist who upgraded all of the hardware that held on the body panels and underbody aero stuff, and it got better, but it still seemed like something would come loose or fall off at evry event. I'd love to have one of these in my garage!

[@1183newman]

Lee Noble was a bit of a genius, he also created Ultima cars. He just wasn't a businessman and sold Ultima as the sport and spyder released and Ultima went on to better and better things.

[@davidstuart4915]

indeed, ...Noble effort...

[@idokwatcher2062]

Noble's and Ginetta's and Ultima GTR's... English are so incredibly lucky to have these road legal and affordable.

[@davidstuart4915]

the new Marcos would have been great, what a waste..

[@mgbond]

Great Video. Just to clear up some bits. The 2.5 GTO was 310bhp from factory. The GTO3 and then 3R (headlight change and extra comfort) were 352bhp and as you say, the M400 was 425BHP. That particular car you drive had a different rear clam called the fast back clam and is not std.

[@margaretbehler4935]

I love it when you get this excited Jack.

[@Rich_Runs_Cars]

I bought one of these a few months ago - fantastic car, so much fun and so rewarding. Great review and excellent to see how much you enjoyed it 👍

[@davidstuart4915]

did u try a Cerbera 4.5 Red Rose, Sagaris, Griff?

[@barry7608]

The wife will never talk to me again, where do I sign. I’ve enjoyed fast cars all my life, sadly price prevented me from serious performance, so being a bike enthusiast, I bought a Hayabusa gen2. Fell in love, sure plenty of arguments many dismissible, but it supplied what I wanted perfectly but was miss 2 extra wheels BUT of your many drives this ticks the box’s I want!! Take, bring it to Australia I’ll find you the perfect run…all choices. Thanks loved it.

[@eric-wb7gj]

TY Jack 🙏🙏, looked a 9 out of 10 smiley faces review there!

[@johnblack9037]

Tub and chassis were built in South Africa!

[@UKBUILT]

👍

[@henwilvw9376]

@@UKBUILT Hi-Tech Automotive of Port Elizabeth, South Africa.

[@the5th2000]

What a machine. On my lotto win fantasy list for sure

[@MP-fw4ub]

Love how you went quiet on the first acceleration run and then had a massive cheeky grin. 😅

[@Number27]

Oh yeah! 😄

[@blowduke]

One of my favourite cars seen one advertised in the 08 recession for £18,000 wish I’d bought it now

[@MrPabsUk]

I sold my Ferrari 308 GTS QV for £18k at the same time, they seem to have risen at similar rates.

[@blowduke]

@@MrPabsUk 308 were a bargain for a while ,2000s 911s are going through the same seen them going for 15 grand you are never going to lose at that price

[@malcholden5357]

@@MrPabsUkI bought a Mondial in 2004 for £15k. I wanted a 308 which would have been about £22k. My then missus reminded me we had a daughter. Today own a 360. A 308 would cost more.

[@richdmay]

I usually dip in and out of the channel as and when the mood takes me, usually saving up a few videos to watch in one go, but this was a must watch as soon as I saw the subject. I've loved these since reading about them in Evo magazine back in the 2000s.

[@RamPMonyPers]

i seldom switch to full screen, and I absolutely never connect to my big speakers. But this was an exception, and you were enjoying it so much, I just had to do something different. And then I bumped up the volume, though it's well past sleeping time out here! The sound of that engine was pure music to my ears!

[@ca9968]

I remember hearing rumors of a guy in South Africa that had one of these using it on a quiet day in the week and smashing the "underground official record" for the fastest time posted for a drive between Johannesburg and Durban (570 or so kilometers), normally a 6 hr 41 min drive, he apparently creamed it in 4 hours...I didn`t see it so not sure if it`s true, my record was 5 hr 15 in an Opel Kadett 200TS back in 2003 and that was terrifying so if he did do it in that time I can only imagine what that drive must have been like...

[@torstenhein2979]

I managed Joburg Durban in about 4 hours and then an hour to Ramsgate. Left Joburg in the evening and thus Dbn to Ramsgate late at night. Total trip time around 5 hours for the 700km. In an E36 320i in the late 90's

[@nickpotgieter3629]

Noble M12 production was actually outsourced to Hi-Tech Automative from Port Elizabeth in South Africa, a British car made in South Africa under license from Noble Automotive.

[@torstenhein2979]

@@nickpotgieter3629 correct

[@ca9968]

@@torstenhein2979 that`s good going! I only did it once at night heading for Banana Beach on the South Coast in a 1995 model E36 325i, Van Reenens Pass in the dark with zero traction control was, well...erm...interesting and utterly terrifying....this was all before they put up those pesky speed estimate cameras all the way there...I did get pulled over just past Middleburg for speeding though, luckily the cop was hungry and gladly took a crisp R200.00 note to get a KFC Streetwise 2...or 6...and let me carry on...as is usually the case in SA...

[@Lucan-ve6zc]

A pal raced in and owned a BTCC team called Boulevard. He took me out in his Noble. Utterly bonkers. Most incredible car experience I've ever had.

[@amgguy4319]

They really are incredibly underrated...

[@fudganuld]

The way the whole engine moves on its mounts under throttle...Ha ..Nice..!😎

[@delukxy]

Made me smile too. I was going to comment. Lots of flex too at the rear of the engine cover/window.

[@stuh4645]

The engine noise is an upshot of being able to meet the DB requirements of any track.

[@davidhedley1225]

Another great video 😀 Any progress with the DeTomaso Pantera that you can report?

[@Number27]

It’s painted but no point doing a video just on that.. so holding back any video updates for now!

[@russellhammond4373]

I like it when Jack is having so much fun. Great review.

[@keithwillett1109]

Lucky enough to have track-dayed one of these in 2005. Awesome handling! One of the best handling cars of the noughties.

[@joncon1901]

Spent a lot of time in the Noble from ‘03-06 Great car…surprisingly good motorway car too Couple of trips to Le Mans, track day at Rockingham with 71 other Nobles. Fantastic memories…

[@larrygerfen2801]

I’d love to see as part of any vehicle review the process of getting in and out. That element can be a significant determiner of desirability.

[@drivelaughing7905]

It's so weird you posted this review today. It was literally just yesterday I was saying I haven't seen a noble in ages!!

[@philipdubuque9596]

"It makes me feel like I'm a good driver - which I'm not." Well Jack, you're a damn sight better than I am. And it's great fun watching your connoisseurship develop over time. Comparisons with the Elise started occuring to me long before you mentioned it. Probably due the the grin that pretty much never left your face. Great video!

[@richcoleman469]

First time I have ever seen one. Looks great and handles better. Thanks for sharing what we don't get in the US.

[@jdm1hunter]

There are 200+ in the US, LHD in either 3R and M400 spec. Just have to find one.

[@grahambell4298]

Once they'd finished making them, Noble actually sold on the production rights to a US company. Look up Rossion Q1.

[@gordtulk]

Very well done drive and commentary. Thx as always.

[@domenica1968]

It leaves a nice track of some fluid behind, when you pull up at the beginning

[@johnmac8084]

Wow, what a breathtaking performance Jack!

[@CoreRye]

The engine had different con rods to reduce the compression ratio. That was it in the GTO 3R the rest was standard ford. The M400 had forget pistons also.

[@johnnysmith863]

I used to see a chap commuting in his M12 GTO in all weathers, including snow. Respect.

[@stephenricketts7764]

Nice car and looks well on the road, great stance.. Thanks for the review Jack 👍👍

[@richardadams1641]

What a machine, such fond memories driving the engineering director’s car, which had tweaked mapping and even bigger turbos. I borrowed it for a bit of PR for the BBC around a speeding offence committed by a PC Milburn, who had recoded himself speeding at something like 168mph, without blues and tries and was facing a stretch inside for being a v. naughty boy. So I took the transport correspondent out for a quick trip upto that speed on the proving ground. The journo was meant to do a piece to camera while this was happening, but all he ever said was.. oh my god, oh my god- then he puked. That was not the edited version that went out on the 6 o clock news that night. What a car, savage transition to boost, wheel spin in a straight line in 4th gear in the dry coming on boost. Crazy car, just bonkers. Not quite a P1 in terms of rawness, but close

[@christopherjhall]

This is a car. I remember living on the Kings Rd SW11 around 2000 and saw a Noble for the first time at Chelsea harbour. It just blew me away. Proper sports car.

[@dantheman7357]

Greetings Jack, I just love that Noble so much!. If I owned it I would re-do that awkward center gauge/vent stack as it looks like a rushed afterthought. I would also tune the exhaust note to be more Porsche or Ferrari if possible. The body design and handling appear to be terrific. Another great review by the Maestro, thanks Jack.

[@Gozar111]

Built in Port Elizabeth South Africa…

[@kramnam4716]

Had an M12 GTO 2.5L .. the slow one 0-60 in 3.9 and 100 in 9.4. It was quick in 2003.. loved,it Great in the wet. Mine was 980kg and 340bhp. Met Lee N at the factory and he popped across the road and got a custom made gear leather gaiter made for me while I waited for it to be serviced. The front splitter was exactly that , you had to choose your petrol stations and angles of approach! 😊otherwise you’d split it.

[@alexj8947]

I have been tempted to get one of these for a long time, this video confirms why - Car & Classic here I come....

[@Wargasm54]

Very cool car! I think there’s a club in the USA of a few guys that own Nobles. They go off on jaunts together. Hey Jack, what’s the latest update on the Pantera?

[@Number27]

It’s painted but no point doing a video just on that.. so holding back any updated for now!

[@wakakaforever007]

So looking forward to that!

[@Wargasm54]

@@Number27 thanks for the update! Looking forward to seeing some videos on it. Even if it’s just a few snippets on its progress. And thanks for showing us this lovely Noble!

[@murrieteacher]

Oh, yes please Jack. Can I have one of those! None for sale in Australia. Because we have such a nanny state as for as imports are concerned, it probably didn't make it through DOT.

[@512Berlinetta]

Had one with the engine/transmission built by Rousch and nearly 500 hp. It was a bonkers car, but one of the best handling and engaging cars I ever had. Had a 996 GT3 at the time, too, and 8 out of 10 times would take the Noble. Absolutely love these cars.

[@TorqueCurve]

Have a real soft spot for these things. Great video as always :)

[@thatcheapguy525]

thanks Jack. that is one hell of a bargain and a very useable super car. a genius concept and very very good looking car.

[@toucan221]

This is THE Best real world review of the Noble, I Definitely want one now. ✔✔😀😀❤❤

[@Number27]

Thank you 🙏

[@445fhn]

A few months back, I was following a blue Noble on the south coast along the A27. After a while the Noble started chasing a C63 with a noisy raspy exhaust. I couldn't keep up with the pair of them..........

[@michaelhughes3302]

Forgive me for saying this, but I believe that we're looking at a very cheap alternative to an F40. And without much argument, just as dramatic looking. Incredibly sharp!

[@martinhowell5775]

Saw 1 of these go past at speed sounded amazing

[@julianbrown1331]

Passed the link onto Lee Noble himself :D

[@julianbrown1331]

I think Lee might want a word about factual correctness 😂

[@trentweston8306]

​@@julianbrown1331He would be a fantastic guest to have on the channel.

[@autiomaaelokuva-forsakenla2337]

I do like the engine noise, sounds great.

[@MrSimonfoz]

That’s the best car you have had on yet , very nice .

[@caeserromero3013]

*No Ducks were harmed in the making of this video 😂😂

[@patmatten]

Has anyone else noticed the puddles underneath (@2:00) as it pulls away 😊 Still a lovely car though.

[@jdm1hunter]

AC drain more than likely, like most cars this time of year running AC leaving watery puddles everywhere 👍

[@Tom_Hadler]

Thumbs up to petition / suggest nicely that spark to make 1:43 scale model 👇

[@WhiteMouse77]

This is like simplier budget friendly baby-koenigsegg...😎 Reminds me some semi-profi custom builds based on re-ingeneered roof-lowered Pontiac Fieros which american enthusiasts did in past...

[@TIWNA851]

I like the way the M600 looks, and it sounds epic.

[@alexandernicholas244]

Hi Jack. Loving all your road tests. Unfortunately for us in Aust, we never see these cars due to our draconian protective goverorulrs for imported vehicles. Would love a Noble. Do you think you could try for a later model one for a comparison. Keep up the good work.

[@theapplepaul]

Amazing lightweight rocketship, great video. My '02 Toyota MR2- S weighed about the same- but made do with only a third of the power of the Noble. And was still fun. So this should be brutally quick.Handling trumps all though, and this has that too. Other than the Ferrari emgine sound, it apparently walks all over its contemporaries.

[@johngribble6500]

I saw 1 in the flesh at Brandshatch last year and then they were even better value at £30k for the earlier 2.5litre twin turbo and fell in love with it

[@R-Tap]

What bets this becomes Jack's most watched? These cars are cool, the Top Gear review by Clarkson of a red one was hilarious and excellent. Lovely machine.

[@bernardh9908]

​@Number27 Jack, that smile/grin/blush at 11:16 pretty much says it ALL! Makes me hope to wear a matching one. Hopefully sooner, rather tgan later.

[@AC-id5ow]

Farm tractors cost similarly to sports cars. Yet don't turn heads. Perception of value is an interesting human phenomenon.

[@allareasindex7984]

A few Nobles made it to the USA, but had to be sold without an engine. Therefore they each are slightly different. I saw one at a car show here in Texas. Most people just walked by it, no idea what it was.

[@NYHeeb]

Always loved those Noble and thought it was a steal when they came out. Another if I was rich.

[@joelhenderson4450]

The M600 has been my favourite supercar since launched.

[@mersmithy1269]

Yes, and the best dump valve noise... next advert!

[@stevenjervis1184]

Great review Jack

[@grayfool]

These were always an amazing car and now, as a used buy, they must be near the top of the list.

[@colinscutt5104]

Ive always loved these ever since i heard of them , but that interior light behind you WTF

[@romanoguttadauro6116]

Hi Jack and Damon, Thanks for another great video, I always liked the Noble line of cars, one for the bucket list. Thanks for sharing. Romano

[@ajkilgour]

After watching this, I want one. Great video.

[@ianmangham4570]

Stunningly beautiful looks 😮

[@drumtum]

I really like Noble. My favourite is actually the M600. That rebuilt Volvo/Yamaha engine is very underrated.

[@markbray2988]

The Volvo/ Yamaha V8 was also a very underrated engine... But it was incredibly well engineered and extremely fuel efficient for a V8... I really love mine😊

[@canucklehead0]

There's something about the lines of the Noble M12's that I always liked, like a stronger more forceful Ferrari 308GTB or Mondial Coupe kind of way, that you could feasibly afford unlike the new Ferrari 360 Modena or the rare 288 GTO,....weird messy kinda way, anyway, and as far as I know there weren't many, if any at all ever landed in Canada. That said, I wish there were cause I'd love to ask to drive one, hell just ride in one, it's like Sports car Royalty with that "guy tinkering in his shed one day ethos)! I remember this on Top Gear when it came out and you are absolutely right, Clarkson loved it!! I love it, I think it's sensational as a Sports car and you wouldn't have it raiding your wallet every time maintenance needed doing, provided you were "Driving" and not Showing Off with the car. I could take it away for a weekend, with a friend etc. I think it's a darn fine Automobile!!!

[@muchkysledja]

9:05 that face when you wrestle 400+ hp around tight road with no electronic aids...

[@TheBrendonian]

Nice video! Interesting that you compare it to the Elise at the end - surely the Exige V6 would make a far better comparison. Have you driven one, Jack?

[@honda4185]

Damn it looks soo raw and hot and sounds truly amazing!! Super great video👍👏

[@problemchild1976]

Stunning car - it looks mega Quality isn't quite there but a good owner can make these great. Shame Vauxhall stopped the VX220 cars

[@ryanmccormick2150]

It's one of my all-time favourite cars!

[@MrFlazz99]

Forget the fizzy wheezebox Ferraris with their four-cylinder-sounding flat-crank V8s, THIS is the car I've coveted ever since it first appeared. The V6 and the turbo noises, plus the proper lightweight construction (no pretending and obfuscating a la Ferrari - quote a weight that turns out to be the dry weight rather than the kerb weight, for instance) - a proper weapon. When Noble did the M600, they possibly overstretched themselves - you don't just make a 225mph car in a shed, after all - the M12 would be enough for most people, I'm sure. Certainly for me!

[@michaelpegasiou4531]

What a fantastic drivers car,always wanted one but will have to settle for watching you tell me about it 😊

[@adrianmonk4440]

Oh Magoo, You've Done It Again.

[@Lemma01]

I can't remember any normal person perspective on this: bravo, Jack! 🎉

[@73Fluxx1]

That turbo blowoff whoosh🤩