The Noble M12 GTO and GTO-3 Sports Car

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from Classic to Modern

The Noble M12 GTO

THE CAR

The Noble M10 sports car was introduced in 1999, and produced for just a year when it was replaced by the Noble M12, a two seater that was offered as both convertible and fixed head coupe variants.

Like the M10, it was built with a composite glass fibre body, but the glass fibre chassis was replaced by a steel tubular space frame version.

As a result, it had a curb weight of just 980 kg, the same as the M10, which meant that it was not only lightweight but had a firm construction.

Of particular note was the distinctive rear wing which, together with a front splitter, increased down force.

It was designed to be street-legal for use on both road and track, and produced good ride characteristics, which was helped by the fact that it was not fitted with anti-roll bars.

The build quality was widely regarded as of the highest standard.

For this reason, coupled with the outstanding performance, the scene was set for the successful development of the Noble brand.

It was fitted with 13 inch vented and drilled disc brakes all round, a full roll cage, but no ABS or traction control.

Designated the Noble M12 GTO, it was powered by the same aluminium, Ford Duratec 2.5 litre, V6 engine, from the Mondeo, as used in the M10 variant.

However, the M12 GTO featured the addition of two Garrett T25 turbochargers, plus an intercooler, to the specially tuned V6 engine which now developed 310 bhp at 6000 rpm, and 320 ft/lbs of torque at 3500 rpm.

This was a very flexible engine, with some three quarters of the torque being available at around 3000 rpm.

Once again, fitted with a five speed manual gearbox, also from the Mondeo, it produced a top speed of 165 mph, with a 0-60 mph time of 4.1 secs, and 0-100 mph in 10.2 secs.

2002 Noble M12 GTO This 2000-05 sports used a Ford 310 bhp, 2.5 litre, V6 linked to two Garrett T25 turbochargers which gave it a top of 165 mph and 0-60 in 4.1. This mean looking motor was spotted during a 2015 Bahn-Stormer Sunday at Goodwood

2004 Noble M12 GTO Powered by a twin turbocharged 2.5 litre Ford V6 it maxed at 165 mph with 0-60 in 4.1 secs. Smart

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The Noble M12 GTO-3

THE CAR

Following the success of the M12 GTO, Noble went a step further by launching, in 2003, the M12 GTO-3 sports car, in which the 2.5 litre engine in the GTO variant was replaced by a heavily tuned 3 litre, Ford Duratec V6 unit.

Again fitted with twin Garrett turbochargers and an intercooler, the engine now developed 352 bhp at 6200 rpm, and 350 ft/lbs of torque at 3500 rpm.

Retaining the five speed gearbox, the GTO-3 kept the same 165 mph top speed, but reduced the 0-60 mph time to 4.0 secs.

It had a price tag of $48,000.

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Technical Data M10 M12 GTO M12 GTO-3
Production 1999 2000-2005 2000-2005
Engine, cc 2500 2500 2968
Cylinders, bhp 6, 168 6, 310 6, 352
Torque ft/lbs 162 320 350
Top Speed mph 135 165 165
0-60 mph, secs 5.9 4.1 4.0
0-100 mph, secs 16.9 10.2 9.5
Standing 1/4 Mile, secs 14.5 12.8 12.6

COMPETITION

Some of the competitors of the Noble M12 GTO-3 included the following sports cars: Lotus Esprit V8, Porsche 996 GT3, and TVR Tuscan. Noble performance:

Noble Lotus          Porsche          TVR
Technical Data   M12 GTO-3     Esprit V8 996 GT3 Tuscan
Production 2000-2005 1996-2003    1999-2001 2000-2005
Engine, cc 2968 3512               3611 4005
Cylinders, bhp 6, 310 8, 348 6, 355 6, 356
Torque ft/lbs 350 290                269 305
Top Speed mph 165 174                 185 177
0-60 mph, secs 4.0 4.6 4.8 4.5
0-100 mph, secs 9.5 10.7 10.9 9.7
Standing 1/4 Mile, secs 12.6 13.0 13.3 12.9

SPORTS CARS FOR SALE

On the second hand market, the typical selling price of a Noble M12 GTO in good condition was around £24,000/$38,000, whilst a comparable M12 GTO-3 would fetch around £28,000/$45,000.

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