Noble Automotive Ltd. first opened its doors in 1999 in Leicester England. Its founder Lee Noble wanted to produce a more affordable rear engine, rear-wheel drive sports car. Their first offering was the M10 which had slightly quirky styling but backed it up with solid performance numbers. The M10 was quickly replaced by the upgraded and better-styled M12 in 2000. The M12 sold fairly well for a small manufacturer but as could be expected, customers wanted an even faster and rawer version. Much to the delight of the public, in 2004 Noble released the M400 which was a more track-oriented version of the M12. With 425 BHP and a curb weight of just 2337 lbs, the M400 was able to achieve a power-to-weight ratio of 400 bhp/ton, which is where the name comes from. Power for the M400 came from heavily worked twin-turbo 3.0L V6 Ford Duratec engine. This massaged power plant was able to propel the little Nobel 0-60 MPH in 3.2 seconds and onto a top speed of 187 MPH. Manufacturing rights for Noble cars were eventually sold to 1G racing in Ohio. Although it never received the accolades that some of its more famous supercar brethren achieved, the Noble M400 remains a rare and desirable way to enter supercar ownership without breaking the bank.