Lee Noble
Encyclopedia
Lee Noble is a British entrepreneur, car designer and engineer. He is the founder of the sports car
companies Noble Automotive Ltd in 1999 and Fenix Automotive
in 2009. He is also the designer of some low-volume sports cars, including the Ultima Mk1, Ultima Mk2, Ultima Mk3, Midtec Spyder, and Ascari FGT. His designs have also been further developed beyond Noble's involvement, resulting in successful designs such as the Ultima GTR
, Ascari Ecosse
, Rossion Q1
,, and designs such as the Salica GT. which has never made production. Noble’s basic theme for designing sports cars is to start with a lightweight space frame, have a big powerful engine and an aerodynamic sports-racer body. Almost all the cars Noble has designed have been mid-engined which makes his cars notable for good handling.
Noble started Noble Automotive after he finished his involvement with Ascari, a manufacturer of supercars with a commensurately high price and small market. Lee Noble’s passion is to achieve something closer to everyman price levels, so Noble Automotive set out to build a relatively affordable but still really fast car. To sell cars in the hundreds or thousands per year, build costs need to be low, and quality needs to be high. As a result, 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 does final tests. Noble left Noble Automotive in the spring of 2008 and created his new current company, Fenix Automotive in late 2009.
Sports car
A sports car is a small, usually two seat, two door automobile designed for high speed driving and maneuverability....
companies Noble Automotive Ltd in 1999 and Fenix Automotive
Fenix Automotive
Fenix Automotive Ltd is a British supercar manufacturer founded by Lee Noble in 2009. Lee Noble created the company ten years after the founding of his previous company Noble Automotive. Noble left Noble Automotive in the spring of 2008.-Projects:...
in 2009. He is also the designer of some low-volume sports cars, including the Ultima Mk1, Ultima Mk2, Ultima Mk3, Midtec Spyder, and Ascari FGT. His designs have also been further developed beyond Noble's involvement, resulting in successful designs such as the Ultima GTR
Ultima GTR
The Ultima GTR is a sports car manufactured by Ultima Sports Ltd of Hinckley, Leicestershire, England, and described by commentators as a supercar. The car is available both in kit form and as a "turnkey" vehicle. The design is mid engined, rear wheel drive layout, with a tubular steel space...
, Ascari Ecosse
Ascari Ecosse
The Ascari Ecosse is a mid-engine sports car produced by Ascari Cars from 1998 to 1999. It was the second production car released by the company and is based on the Ascari FGT.- FGT :...
, Rossion Q1
Rossion Q1
The Rossion Q1 is a sports car from US car maker 1g Racing/Rossion Automotive. It is based on the Noble M400 and built by Hi-Tech Automotive. Founders Ian Grunes and Dean Rosen began development on the Rossion Q1 after acquiring the rights to the Noble M400 in February 2007...
,, and designs such as the Salica GT. which has never made production. Noble’s basic theme for designing sports cars is to start with a lightweight space frame, have a big powerful engine and an aerodynamic sports-racer body. Almost all the cars Noble has designed have been mid-engined which makes his cars notable for good handling.
Noble started Noble Automotive after he finished his involvement with Ascari, a manufacturer of supercars with a commensurately high price and small market. Lee Noble’s passion is to achieve something closer to everyman price levels, so Noble Automotive set out to build a relatively affordable but still really fast car. To sell cars in the hundreds or thousands per year, build costs need to be low, and quality needs to be high. As a result, Noble does much of its basic manufacturing in South Africa. The core body/chassis assemblies are shipped from South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, where Noble installs the drivetrain (for the European market) and does final tests. Noble left Noble Automotive in the spring of 2008 and created his new current company, Fenix Automotive in late 2009.
Cars Developed under Noble
- (1983) Ultima Mk 1
- (1984) Ultima MK 2
- (1986) Ferrari P4 replica
- (1987) Lotus 23 replica
- (1989) Ultima MK 3
- (1989) Prosport LM 3000
- (1991) Midtec Spyder
- (1995) Prosport spyder
- (1996) Ascari FGT
- (1999) Noble M10
- (2000) Noble M12 GTO
- (2002) Noble M12 GTO-3
- (2003) Noble M12 GTO-3R
- (2005) Noble M400
- (2009) Noble M600
- (2011) Fenix GT