1965' NSU Wankel Spider

1965 NSU Wankel Spider

One of only 2,375 ever build. Very rare second-year production car in outstanding condition. The car's history is available and will be included in the sale. Very original condition and owned by a Danish NSU collector for many years.

Car specifications:
Manufactured: April 21, 1965
VIN: 5601522
Odometer: 69236 km
Engine: 498 cc (30.4 cu in) single rotor Wankel
Transmission: 4-speed all-synchromesh manual

History of the 1964–1967 NSU Spider:
The NSU Spider is an automobile which was produced by NSU Motorenwerke AG, Germany from 1964 to 1967 (NSU was founded in 1873 and later acquired by Audi).

The Spider was the first Western production car in the world to be powered by a Wankel rotary engine. Invented by Felix Wankel, the Wankel engine differed from a piston engine because the quasi-oval design of the combustion chamber, containing a rotor that ascribed within the chamber an Epitrochoid shaped trajectory, enabling the combustion pressure to be converted directly into a rotary motion. There was no need to lose energy converting reciprocating movement into rotational movement. The result was a remarkably compact free-revving engine which, in the 1960s, was hailed as the next major step forward in automobile design. Claimed output was initially 50 bhp (37 kW) at 5500 rpm, though in later models 54 bhp (40 kW) at 6000 rpm was advertised.

The rotary engine was installed above the rear axle. It was compact, light, and very free revving in comparison with conventional engines of the time.

Large sales volumes were never envisaged for the car, and this was reflected in a relatively high retail price. Between 1964 and 1967 only 2,375 were built.