Nobel Fuldamobile Coupe

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The Fuldamobil was a small three-wheeled car produced by Elektromaschinenbau Fulda GmbH of Fulda, Germany, between 1950 and 1969.

Though numbers produced were relatively small, the cars attracted sufficient attention to see licensed construction on four continents including Europe. In its ultimate configuration it is said to have inspired the term "bubble car". The car's original design was conceived by engineer Norbert Stevenson, who, with financial support from Karl Schmitt, a wealthy engineering graduate with a business in Fulda, Germany, designed a very simple three-wheeled car with accommodation for two people inside (a four seater version was later added to the range).

Initially built in Germany, the Fuldamobil was licensed for manufacture in various countries where it was known by a variety of names. In the UK it was known as the Nobel (also the name used in Chile and Turkey), in Argentina it was the Bambi, in the Netherlands; the Bambino, in Sweden the Fram King Fulda, in Greece the Alta or Attica, and in India they were called the Hans Vahaar.

In Britain, the Nobel was built by York Noble Industries between 1958 and 1962, financed by textile magnate Cyril Lord and these were available in three different models; the Noble 200, the Noble Pick-up and the Noble Sporty. It had two steerable wheels at the front and the driving wheel was at the rear. The steel chassis was initially made by Rubery Owen in Birmingham and was fitted with a glass fibre body made by the Bristol Aeroplane Company (unlike the original Fuldamobils which used aluminium panels fixed onto a wooden frame).

Power came from a Sachs 191cc two stroke engine (although other Sachs engines were available from 200cc up to 360cc), which gave the car a top speed of approximately 50-55mph with 60mpg economy. Production later moved to the ship builders Short Brothers of Newtownards, Northern Ireland.

Although the car was built across four continents, it was only made in relatively small numbers. Introduced in Britain shortly before the Mini made its debut as the latest automotive marvel, the Nobel struggled and production ceased in 1962.

Thought to date from around 1958, there are no documents with this Nobel Fuldamobile which has been on display at the Stondon Museum for many years. There is a copy of the RUMcar News (Register of Unusual Motorcars) with this little car, with a letter from the register in 2002, so the purchaser should be able to contact them for further details on the club.