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NSU RO80
Country of Manufacture: Germany Vin
#: 3800102255
Model Type: 4 Door Sedan
Body Designer: NSU in house designers Ewald Praxl and
Claus Luthe
Engine: 2 Rotor Wankel (1990cc) driving the front wheels
Horsepower: 128 bhp at 5500 rpm
Torque: 117 lb at 4500 rpm
Transmission: Fichtel and Sachs 3-Speed Semi-automatic
with electro-pneumatic clutch actuation
Suspension:
Front- Lower wishbone, MacPherson strut, anti-roll bar
Rear- Independent, trailing arms, coil shock absorbers
Brakes:
Front- 11.2 inch discs mounted inboard
Rear- 10.7 inch discs
Top Speed: 110 mph
History: Up until the 1960’s, NSU was known primarily
for its motorcycles, although it had
produced economy cars up until 1930. NSU began economy car
production again in 1958 and these cars resembled a smaller
version of the Chevy Corvair in both design and use of a rear
mounted, air cooled engine. NSU hired Felix Wankel in 1951
with the purpose of further developing the rotary engine for
its motorcycles. Continued rotary engine development led to
production in 1964 of the world’s first rotary powered
car, the NSU Spider. The next car from NSU was the revolutionary
RO80 luxury 4 door sedan that was launched at the 1967 Frankfurt
Motor Show. Hailed as a "tour de force" for its
body design (which still looks current some 34 years later)
and its incredibly smooth and silent rotary power, the NSU
was destined for great success. So modern was the design that
over the 10 year life of the car, the only visible changes
were the addition in 1975 of wrap around taillight clusters
and rubber faced bumper strips. However, the early cars were
plagued with rapid wear of the rotor seals and engines had
to be replaced often after just 20,000 miles. The expensive
engine warranty program crippled NSU and ultimately resulted
in NSU being acquired in 1969 by the Audi division of VW.
Production continued under VW auspices and by 1971 engine
improvements extended engine life to 60-70,000 miles. However,
the damage was done and RO80 sales never recovered from the
negative publicity directed at the earlier cars. Production
ceased in 1977.
Production: 37,204 examples were built between 1967
and 1977.
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