Noble M12 to the US

Marty Howard · **Posted:** Sun Feb 25, 2007 11:38 pm

Racing fans and weekend skidders know the Noble supercar as one ofSouth Africa's finer exports. Now, Ohio-based 1g Racing has secured rights to sell the Noble M12 GTO-3R and M400 in the U.S.

The sales, though, will be chassis-only. The British-designed bodies, built in Port Elizabeth, South Africa , will be shipped without an engine or a transmission, as a component - albeit an assembled, painted, and upholstered one with brakes, suspension, wheels, and tires.

A number of independent houses are ready to fit powertrains to the car, 1g says in a release. Their Web site suggests the Duratec V-6 found in the Mazda6 might be a good fit - after turbocharging and other mods.

The outfit, near Cincinnati, can be found on the Web at www.1gracing.com.

Marty Howard · **Posted:** Mon Feb 26, 2007 6:21 pm

And now I know why it's news:

LEICESTERSHIRE, England — 1g Racing has secured the production rights to the British-designed Noble M12 and M400 supercars. The Ohio-based company will now be free to modify the cars for sale in the U.S.

Under the terms of the agreement, Noble retains the U.K. rights to the cars and also the use of the trademarks and names. 1g is required to rebadge and rename the cars by July 15.

The deal allows Noble to focus its resources on the development of the much-delayed M15, a rival to the Audi R8 and Porsche 911. Company founder Lee Noble said, "Our new model will be a big step forward and this will leave no room in our lineup for the M12/M400."

1g Racing is no stranger to the Noble brand. The company already had a deal to sell the M12 and M400 in kit form. To legally register the car in the U.S., customers were required to purchase a rolling chassis from 1g and then source the engine from elsewhere. The new deal will allow 1g to develop U.S. versions.

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Noble M12 to the US

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