classic NSU Lambretta

NSU History

It all actually did not begin in Neckarsulm but in Riedlingen an der Donau. In 1873 two young mechanic named Heinrich Stoll and Christian Schmidt started a "Mechanical shop for manufacturing knitting machines". Instead they soon find a more suitable facility in Neckarsulm, and they took the NSU name from the first letters in the names of the river around the plant: Neckar and SUlm.
Knitting machines sold pretty good, but the world around bike into "craze" is not new and young entrepreneurs late in adopting it, and they become "Neckarsulmer Fahrradwerke". NSU bicycles immediately became popular and the development of high-wheeled vehicles to more modern, ballbearing equipped, bikes go fast.

From the bike did not move far on a motorcycle-and already in 1901 the first NSU motorcycle is ready. It has a 1.5 hp motor, imported from Zedel from Switzerland.


In 1903 NSU began their own production of motors and already in 1904 there are six different models to choose from. NSU is beginning to realize the importance of racing their product and that doing so has a positive effect both for developement, and sales. And a lot of records and victories.
Is there anyone who believes that the V-twin is a new discovery? No, in 1905 NSU has three versions are very popular in 1909 and raised nearly hp 1000cc V-twin introduced


Throughout the production side of the motorcycle managed to manufacture the car started slowly. In 1905 the first car presented and only a few years later some of the alternative motor rangeing from 1300CC to almost 4 liters are available. Soon also taxis and small trucks (trucks) are put into production. WW a slow speed of self-development as well contribute NSU cars and motorcycles to the "Wehrmacht".
During the years 1923-27 NSU car racing era was at its peak, and several Grand Prix victory is a fact. One race car, a 1926 26.6, can be seen in the picure here. Perhaps you also believe that the Audi A8 is the first car with a body made of aluminum intirely? No, already in 1923 NSU built an aluminum-bodied car, 8 / 24

After experiencing difficulty economical car division was sold to Fiat in 1928. This was shortly after the band's "walk" was introduced at the production plant. FIAT NSU is committed to building cars until 1932.

1933 NSU again to build a car - "beetle"! For Ferdinand Porsche NSU built three prototypes "Typ32", one of which is in the VW museum.

1931 NSU again motorized bicycles with these Motosulm. 1936 was a year of honors for NSU. Then Adam Opel bicycle production was taken over and the two major sales success quickly and Pony introduced.
Then came WW II and once again NSU ordered to produce for the military: 250ZDB motorcycles and Kettenkrad, a half track vehicles equipped with motorized Opel Olympia are two main items.

The factory in Neckarsulm partially destroyed in a bomb attack just a few weeks before the end of the war. This plant is used as a "workshop" for the Allies right after the war, but from the ruins of the Quick 98 built in 1945 as a perfect restart NSU.


In 1948 NSU was celebrating the 75year anniversary and Fox were presented, four stroke and 100cc. It was marketed with the slogan: fixe Fahrer Fahren Fox (smart riders ride Fox), in the campaign, large seldomly seen, ad.
Development and increase of ruins go fast, and in the early 50's NSU started manufacturing the Lambretta scooters with Italian license

Quick beeing I continue to be popular and Consul and II, 350 and 500cc, basically pre-war contructions, included live again in an effort to compete with BMW and Zundapp. The "oldtimers" disappeared in 1953 when Max, 4 - stroke, 250cc, was introduced. Max quickly gained a reputation for beeing a motorcycle very well built and driveable. Later that year Moped (50cc), quickly established on wheels. That may not need presentaion close, close to one million made!

In NSU 50 have had great success on race tracks around the world with their bikes. Many records were broken, and, as a matter of fact, NSU still holds some records today.
Permission to build Lambretta scooters expired in 1955 and created their own version of the NSU constructors, 147cc large Prima D, which hit the market in 1956. The scooter is growing rapidly and soon Prima 150cc 175cc Prima III and V (Fünfstern) placed on the market.

NSU even have a 4 - stroke, Max-based motor scooter, Maxima, is almost ready for production in the 60's, but as scooter sales dropped the project was canceled

During the 50's the thoughts that had not yet made the car realized. The first draft is the tricycle entity called kabine Max. At the beginning of automobile production in 1957 it has four wheels and was named Prinz fortunately I & II. Resources from minicar is the "double" Max motors in 598cc and 20 hp. Working closely with Dr. Felix Wankel is already underway and experiment with the Wankel motor is a fact.

In 1959 Bertone designed Sport Prinz intelligent search is introduced. 2.400 The first car that is completely assembled in Torino in Italy. Prinz emphasized motor to 30 hp and the engine is also placed on the Prinz III which basically is a fresh Prinz II. Not to forget: Bike production is still fully operational parallel to all of the above!.

NSU Wankel built the first motor is ready to be tested in the car in 1960, and in September 1963 Wankel Spider presented at the Frankfurt exhibition. It looked good, like, open a small, Sport Prinz if you like. Some 2.400 cars built until production was confiscated in 1967. Spider is the source of many problems, not just one rotor engine, completely finished and tested enough, the product. And, besides, the owners are pretty hard on the throttle, on the written instructions in the manual. Rev the engine just soo fun!
In the same year, 1963, "mini-Corvair" Prinz4 introduced. This sharing of motorization with small Prinzes, ca 600cc/30 hp. P4 was in production until the end bitter all of NSU car production, 1973. It was the most produced car of all NSU: s, and at some point it was to sell some imported cars in Italy!

Prinz1000 came in 1964. As the models show that the appointment is equipped with a liter 1 (996cc), cooling fan, straight 4 cyl. OHC, 45 hp motor. With only 700 kg and the grip is really good, it is a fast car that became popular for racing. Some, even sporty, the TT version, which came in 1965, with 1085cc/65 hp (which later developed into 1200TT with 1177cc) and TTS are only produced in ca 2.400 units and most of them sold as a racing car. That's a big 997cc and with two Solex 40: s was delivered 70 hp.

Scooter last to leave the band in 1964 and the era of motorcycles stopped in 1965 with the Quick50. Even bicyles really NSU license anymore because they are made by Heinemann.

The long-nosed Typ110 (1085cc) sees the streets in 1966. That is the limousine of the NSU-family. Shortly after came 110SC which is the first car to have a 1200 engine (1177cc) and 60hp. In 1967 the followers of a logical set 1200, 1177cc as well, but reduced to 55hp. NSU's 1200 and 1000 along with Prinz4 continue until 1973.

NSU Ro80 was found in the Frankfurt autumn of 1967. This is a car revoulutionary in size quite a new bracket for NSU. Both rotor Wankel motor, with nearly one-liter displacement, 115 hp giving. It is a modern, efficient, a car carrying a design that almost stood still at this time. Unfortunately the machine here also suffer from many diseases of children and that the cost of both effort and money to the company NSU.

In the mean time NSU also works on the model of K70, another car but the modern family, size wise and just below the NSU Ro80-first: watercooled engine. The machine looks a bit like 1000 - 1200 Motorcycle at first sight, but also includes 1600 cc. Only 23 prototype made under the name of the NSU. Already at the Frankfurt exhibition in 1969 was changed to the VW emblem. This was made as the VW K70 until 1975.

Under preassure from one of the major shareholders, a large German bank, NSU sold to VW / Audi in 1969. Wankel cars have been, simply put, cost NSU too much.

Much work on R & D performed in the NSU Wankel motor in Neckarsulm. Ro80 was produced for up to 1977, in a total of about 33.000, unfortunaley without applying one of the things that they find during the process of developement. One can put this way VW / Audi choosed to kill the Wankel-project!
The fine technicians and constructors, the key to NSU: s successful years, the total lack of previous VW, scattered in the scope of the VW / Aud. Some of them continue to work on a new generation of car: Golf (in the U.S.: Rabbit), Passat and more. The first to hit the streets of the Audi 50, which more or less took over from small NSU: s in 1973. One can clearly see that legacy, like the Passat, which claims to have at NSU-drawing table already in 1969! The 100-year anniversary in 1973 wasn'ta happy one at NSU!

In 1984 the name NSU was stopped in the concerns of VW / Audi.

But still today, the Audi-Werke in Neckarsulm, is the Audi A2, A6 A8 och, produced, has the address: NSU-Strasse! In 1998 Audi holds the 125 - anniversary as a tribute to NSU. And as you probably know there is a car that bears the name of the TT is in production. Audi has now realized the importance of knowing, and confess, one's history and they have established the NSU-GmbH, a department serving under Audi Tradition GmbH.