Nobel 200
The Nobel 200 is classed as a trike and was produced
in Belfast, Northern Ireland, during the late 1950s.
Approximately 1500 were made, of which there are
believed to be only 30-40 models surviving.The one
featured here has been lovingly restored by Winston Phair
T
he roots behind the Nobel brand
begin in Vienna during 1922, when
designer Jakob Knoblauch was born.
He eventually moved to the UK, adopting the
name York Noble. In May 1956 he formed the
company Noble Motors Ltd, which became the
UK concessionaires for the Heinkel Bubblecar
and remained as such until 1958.
In December 1957, Noble had set up
another company, York Noble Industries Ltd,
and it was this company that was tasked with
producing a suitable replacement vehicle for
the loss of the Heinkel franchise.
As a consequence a number of variations
were produced, including the Nobel 200
limousine (a hard-top saloon), and the Nobel
200 ‘Vicky’ (a van or pick-up variant with
detachable canvas top and side panels).
These vehicles would be made available
either as do-it-yourself kits or as ready-to-drive
vehicles. The vehicles were, in fact,
re-designed versions of the German
Fuldamobil S-7, for which a production licence
was obtained.The flamboyant York Noble (his name is
often misspelled as being the same as the
car) assembled a group of sub-contractors
to build it, including the Bristol Aeroplane
Company, Rubery Owen, Sachs, and local
suppliers for the smaller parts. The assembly
was carried out by aircraft and shipbuilders
Short Brothers and Harland of Belfast.THE IRISH CONNECTION
ON THE PRODUCTION LINE...
A unique insight to the Nobel production line78 WWW.CLASSICSCOOTERIST.COM