The M12 was the car that saw Noble hit the big time, and the M400 was the fastest, most hardcore evolution of all. We reacquaint ourselves with the noughties road-racer -
It all comes flooding back. I’m delivering the M12 back to Noble in Barwell, Leicestershire, a couple of miles north of Hinkley, and this mini-movie is all about the sound and feel of the effortlessly gutsy, twin-turbo V6 behind. I’m in a high gear, savouring the rich, indulgent, smooth delivery – automotive triple-layer chocolate cake – relishing how the M12 growls and scoots forward on just a whiff of throttle.
The driving position was imperfect in the early cars too, but that was remedied on the M400 partly through the use of Sparco buckets. It’s a bit of an effort to get in and out past the side bolsters but reassuringly snug when you’re in. And don’t judge a driver who gets out wearing racing boots or some similar footwear; the footwell is very compact so anything else feels like you’re wearing clown shoes.
It’s always a good sign when power-assisted steering doesn’t feel assisted. There’s a crisp, roll-free response to inputs, though the ride is firmer than I recall. The original M12 had no anti-roll bars but the M400 has one at the front, and also tighter damping. After a brief run up the A1, which reveals a lack of wind noise refinement, I foolishly trust my phone nav to direct me to Lee Noble’s workshop, and end up pootling along in traffic for almost the length of Lincolnshire.
He spots that Lee Bolding’s car has had its number plate removed from the mesh and replaced with a stick-on one above the diffuser. ‘Why do people do that?’ he asks, before answering his own question. ‘They think it allows more air through the intercooler but it makes no difference. I know it doesn’t; we had sensors all over the back of the car.’ Then, grumbling and slightly bemused by the request, he leans in and scribbles his signature on the centre console.
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