Turbocharged K20-Powered 2005 Noble M12 GTO-3R
Vehicle Details
- Year: 2005
- Make: Noble
- Model: M12 GTO-3R
- VIN: NH009203
- Mileage Shown: 10,006
- Transmission: Manual
- Title Status: Clean
- Color: Red
- Seller Type: Private Party
- Location: West Redding, CT 0689
- Lot #: V-0051293
Manufactured by Hi-Tech Automotive of South Africa and assembled by Noble in England, the M12 GTO-3R is a high-performance component sports car bodied in a plastic composite that sits over a tubular chassis. This 2005 M12 is finished in red over a black leather interior and was previously owned and modified by Kachel Motor Company of Lawrence, Massachusetts. Modifications included the installation of a turbocharged Honda 2.0-liter K20A inline-four that features revised pistons, connecting rods, and fuel injectors, mated to a 6-speed manual transaxle with RSX-sourced final drive gears. Accompanying modifications consist of a Haltech engine management system, a high-capacity intercooler, custom fabricated exhaust components, AP Racing brakes, 18″ multi-piece wheels, and more. This Noble is now being offered for auction by its seller out of Connecticut showing just over 10k miles on the odometer.
The M12 GTO-3R’s plastic-composite clamshell bodywork manufactured by Hi-Tech Automotive of Port Elizabeth, South Africa, which is then sent to the Noble factory in Leicester, England, for final assembly. Finished in red, this 3R features a front splitter, a vented clamshell hood, side air intakes, a raised Reverie carbon fiber rear wing, and an integrated rear diffuser. It rides on 18” multi-piece alloy wheels wrapped in Kumho Ecsta V730 tires and the seller notes minor cosmetic blemishes and states that paint protection film has been applied to high exposure exterior areas including the mirrors and side skirts. Detailed images are provided in the gallery.
The cabin features Noble logo-embossed fixed-back bucket seats upholstered in black leather with Willans four-point safety harnesses for the driver and passenger, as well as a diamond-stitched headliner. Equipment includes a gated shifter, a three-spoke steering wheel adorned with a Noble-branded center pad and carbon fiber accents, and a push-button ignition system. Additional equipment includes a Pioneer Bluetooth-compatible head unit, a set of Alpine speakers, and an Odyssey battery mounted behind the seats. The seller notes wear on the driver’s seat bolster, as well as having replaced the factory coolant gauge with a Wi-Fi-enabled Haltech multi-readout gauge that displays coolant temperature, intake air temperature, fuel trim, boost, and more. The speaker in the driver’s door is said to be non-operational, and the air conditioning system is noted to be non-functional currently. However, the air conditioning issue is said to have been diagnosed with the necessary part on its way to the seller.
Powered by a mid-mounted turbocharged 2.0-liter Honda K20 inline-four, this Noble sends power to its rear wheels by way of a Honda 6-speed manual transaxle that has been fitted with a modified shift linkage, carbon synchronizers, a Honda limited-slip differential, and final-drive gears derived from an Acura RSX. The engine build features a ported head, JE pistons, Skunk connecting rods, and revised valves and springs. Additional equipment includes a Garrett turbocharger, a KMC intercooler, and a fabricated exhaust system. Services reportedly performed by Tailored Chassis Solutions of Millbury, Massachusetts, in August 2024 are said to include wiring repairs, along with the installation of ID1300x fuel injectors and a Haltech Elite 1500 ECU. The seller reports that the oil pan is seeping some and that the car produced 430 HP on a dynamometer and is not equipped with catalytic converters. It is also noted that the windshield washer fluid reservoir leaks.
This sale will include some documentation, the Lee Noble book, miscellaneous parts, the cable for interface with Haltech, and a clean title.
The seller would like you to know: “The is an extremely rare car (approx. 218 in the US), and what was already a very fast car has been made faster, lighter, and more reliable with the K20 swap. The Honda K20 is legendary in the tuner world for its power capabilities, strength, and reliability. These get built out to over 1,000 HP regularly now. Kachel did a great amount of well-executed fab work for this swap, and Tailored Chassis added the finishing refinements under my watch. For reference, I am 6'1" and fit well in this car. I highly recommend that a good pair of driving shoes be worn to drive this car. The peddles are well-positioned but close together. I’ll work to answer questions and add more detail in the comments section as the auction progresses.”
Auction Results
- Highest Bid: $54,500
- Auction End: Nov 11, 2024 08:03:16PM UTC
- Number of Bids: 25
Comments (44)
Highest Offer Received $57,000.00
Bid in the amount of $54,500
Bid in the amount of $53,500
Bid in the amount of $53,000
Bid in the amount of $52,000
Bid in the amount of $51,500
Bid in the amount of $50,500
Bid in the amount of $50,000
Bid in the amount of $49,500
Bid in the amount of $49,000
Bid in the amount of $48,500
Bid in the amount of $48,000
Bid in the amount of $47,000
Bid in the amount of $46,000
Bid in the amount of $45,500
Bid in the amount of $45,100
Bid in the amount of $44,500
The final hours of this auction are here! Please let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks
Bid in the amount of $43,500
Bid in the amount of $42,250
Bid in the amount of $42,000
Bid in the amount of $36,250
Bid in the amount of $36,000
Did an oil and filter change today. Notes for next owner if it sell: use an extractor, oil filter socket style wrench worked well, took about 5.5L out so oil capacity is higher than a normal motor I believe. The oil pan is an aftermarket baffled setup, and there is a Setrab oil cooler with dedicated fan. Pic of oil change supplies is included in the gallery.
Bid in the amount of $16,000
Just got the new book out on Lee Noble.. pic in the gallery.. will go with the car.
Additional content has been added to the gallery for this listing.
@Viporghini before I drove it to Vermont for a weekend car cruise in mid Oct… and then to a few area car meets and shows. It was at a shop for almost a year and I wasn’t about to sell not without driving it. There is an updated pic of the odometer in the gallery. It’s still a very low mile car for a 2005 ;)
Bid in the amount of $15,000
@Dsgray16 When were the photos taken? I see 8,xxx miles on the dash in the gallery. Has the condition of the car changed in the past 2,xxx miles?
Bid in the amount of $9,000
New AC line has been received from Noble. Pic added to gallery. I’m going to look into installing it. Will update on status over the weekend.
Additional content has been added to the gallery for this listing.
Additional content has been added to the gallery for this listing.
Just to clarify on the millage, I think PCar pulled from earlier photos vs the number I gave in the action “interview”.. current mileage stands at 10,006.
PCar, please update listing info accordingly.
I remember idolizing this car as a teen. I remember it being one of the best handling cars in existence at the time. The designer built it around having the most mechanical grip possible. Great fun car.
If I wasn’t building my Lotus S4S, I would be adding this to my garage.
Welcome to the Noble K swap auction. First things first, yes, this is the car that was on B A T recently.. I think about 15k people that like Nobles never even realized this car was up for sale until that auction ended... this is based on the feedback and outreach I received. Hopefully this go-around we can get a few more real bids in and get this thing sold. Please reach out if you have any video or photo requests, and obviously ask any questions on the car you may have.
If you appreciate a rare car that will always start a conversation but that is also very drivable and extremely fast.. this is for you. This car offers modern supercar performance for the price of mid level new sport sedan.
This must be an absolute blast to drive. GLWS! Hope to see this meet reserve.
@4Speedy oh awesome.. love those things. Was great to have a truly local event.
Bid in the amount of $6,000
@Dsgray16 - i had the blue morgan 3 wheeler that was parked a few cars away.
This car was beautiful and in really great shape! Quite the looker and got a lot of attention at the show. Good luck with your auction!
@4Speedy yeah I was there
I swear that I've seen this car.... were you at the Weston car show a few weeks back?