The Fuldamobil S-7 for the British market.

SPECIFICATIONS

Manufacturer: York Noble Industries Ltd.

Origin: London, England

Production: 1,000

Motor: Fichtel & Sachs 1-cyl., 2-stroke

Displacement: 191 cc

Power: 9.5 hp

Length: 10 ft. 6 in.

Identification No. 200268

Heinkel distributors, Noble Motors, needed something new when Heinkel folded in 1958. An associated company, York Noble Industries, purchased a license to build the Fuldamobil S-7 for the UK. Manufacturing would be by several firms. Short Brothers and Harland Ltd. in Belfast, who had a background in aircraft and shipbuilding, agreed to assemble the cars. Rubery Owen would build the frame, and the fiberglass bodies would be handled by the famed Bristol Aeroplane Company. The motor was from Sachs, and local suppliers were used for smaller parts. The arrangement with Bristol was soon terminated due to cost issues, and Shorts took over the body moulds.

Meanwhile, the flamboyant company head, York Noble (often misspelled to be the same as the car), embarked on a Europe-wide publicity blitz, aided by the beautiful ex-Princess Soraya of Iran, whom he had appointed to co-director in a clever marketing move. Company Chairman Cyril Lord, the “carpet king,” announced the launch of the car in February 1959.

German Fuldamobil S-7 cars were brought in until production got underway. This project car is one such example, with its single tone, sunroof, and curved side trim not seen on the Nobel version.