The classy $86,000 M400 is a lot of car for the money, not a bull

Nobody builds sports cars like the British. Obscure badges, handsome fiberglass bodies, high performance, parts bin looting and a (sometimes) charming lack of refinement are hallmarks of cars from the Kingdom. And when it comes to rarity and performance, some of them offer good value for money. For example, the 2006 Noble M400 that sold this week for $86,625 is the second most expensive Noble we’ve seen at auction and the most expensive sold on Bring a Trailer. But considering how much car the buyer got for that price, it’s hard to call it a bad deal.

Having designed the early models for Ultima and Ascari, engineer and designer Lee Noble was already a big name in the world of British low-volume sports cars when he founded his eponymous company in 1999. Nobles follow the same basic formula: a powerful engine behind the driver, rear-wheel drive and fiberglass or carbon fiber bodywork. The first Noble, called the M10, quickly evolved into the M12, the company’s first volume model.

Early M12 models received a transversely mounted 2.5-liter version of the Ford Duratec V-6, coupled to a Getrag six-speed manual transmission. The capable hands of Porsche and Cosworth had already picked up the Duratec, but Noble modified it even further with twin turbochargers for 310 hp and 320 lb-ft. However, the ultimate evolution of this car was the M400. A 3.0-liter displacement, forged pistons, and various turbos helped boost output to 425 hp and 390 lb-ft, getting a sub-2,400-pound car to 60 mph in the low 3-second range . The M400 also features improved suspension and a front anti-roll bar. Traction control, airbags and ABS were not on the list of standard (or optional) equipment. Most sources assume a production run of 75 units, although some claim a higher number.

As with the M12, Noble outsourced assembly of the M400 to a company called Hi-Tech Automotive in South Africa. A small number of these were sold in the US through a company called 1g Racing in Ohio and as kits to circumvent safety and emissions regulations. Prices were just under $100,000. So it wasn’t a car for the common people, but despite the word “Noble” on the nose, you didn’t have to be a member of the aristocracy to own one.

Anyone who has ever driven a Noble will tell you it is a gasand in his 2007 test Car and driver enthused: “Here we have a kit car that is livable, sophisticated and insanely fast… The acceleration is initially disorienting and frightening, like waking from the dream in which you fall and let out an embarrassing scream. Behind the firewall, the twin-turbo six-cylinder produces a hoarse exhaust note, accompanied by whistling turbos and a wastegate that cracks like Indiana Jones’ whip.” Sounds exciting. Road testers also praised the M400’s stability and predictability at the limit.

The M400 was originally sold new in Ohio this week, has only one owner and shows 2,758 miles on the odometer. It also features an aftermarket engine build with new pistons and heads, revised turbos, a larger intercooler and a custom exhaust. It looks good, is fast, rare and rarely used.

Other Noble M12/M400s have sold in the US $50,000 to $60,000 range. That’s the money for the Lotus Elise and Exige, which is much more powerful than either, even if its badge is less prestigious. Even though over $86,000 is significantly more than the rest, it’s still good value for money. I can’t help but think about how much a Porsche with this performance would cost.