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... and it still drives - NSU Wankel Spider in the test

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Created on October 7, 1964

Reading time 8min

Written by:

Heinz Kranz

Photos:

Archiv

19

Archiv

19

NSU Spider (1963) - mit dem Wankel-Spider ist man immer gut angezogen

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NSU Spider (1964) - Titelbild der Zeitschrift 'hobby'

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NSU Spider (1963) - mit geschlossenem Dach

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NSU Spider (1963) - mit offenem Dach

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NSU Spider (1964) - Abbildung aus dem Verkaufsprospekt

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NSU Spider (1964) - Durchsichtszeichnung - Abbildung aus dem Verkaufsprospekt

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NSU Spider (1964) - Bombenfest ruht man auf den Einzelsitzen

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NSU Spider (1964) - alles dran ist an den Armaturen mit Tacho, Drehzahlmesser und Benzinuhr

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NSU Spider (1964) - eine runde Sache, der Wankel - oben die Lichtmaschine, ganz links der Auspuffdämpfer

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NSU Spider (1964) - vorne bleibt nicht viel Platz für das Gepäck - Benzintank und Kühler brauchen viel Raum

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NSU Spider (1964) - Der Wankelmotor sitzt unter dem Gepäck, die Luft wird in der Heckklappe gefiltert und über den Gummitrichter rechts oben angesogen

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NSU Spider (1963) - hübsches, kompaktes Cabriolet mit Wankelmotor

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NSU Spider (1963) - Vorderansicht

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NSU Spider (1963) - Blick ins Interieur

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NSU Spider (1963) - Vorderansicht des hübschen Cabriolets

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NSU Spider (1963) - 'Unterflur' Wankelmotor mit geschlossener Klappe

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NSU Spider (1963) - 'Unterflur' Wankelmotor im Heck des Cabriolets

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NSU Spider (1963) - Durchsichtszeichnung des 50 PS starken kompakten Kreiskolbenmotor

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NSU Spider (1963) - Mit Röntgenblick - Durchsichtszeichnung

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Summary

The NSU Spider was the first production vehicle to be equipped with a Wankel engine. And this small rotary engine, revolutionary at the time, gave it driving performance that was otherwise only achieved by much larger vehicles. The magazine 'hobby' was one of the first to test the car and was pleasantly surprised by the new engine's readiness for series production. This report reproduces the original text of the test at the time and is supplemented with early factory photos of the NSU Spider and the original folding brochure.

This article contains the following chapters

Unpathetic premiere
Accelerated like a rocket
A top speed of over 150 km/h
No problems in city traffic
Increased idling speed and rhythmic vibrations
Lots of water for cooling, noisy gearbox
Still 700 kg
Buyers are also test drivers
Fair price for a spirited car
Rendezvous with golf lover Daimler
Not overly fuel-intensive
Production readiness confirmed
The test results in detail

Estimated reading time: 8min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Gottlieb Daimler looks dismissively from his Canstatter Monument at the piston-less competition from Neckarsulm. The hobby tester disrespectfully placed the NSU Wankel Spider in front of him. Will this vehicle overtake Daimler's 'fast runner', the father of all piston engines? Does it mark the beginning of a new car era? That's the way people are: a creaking concert hall chair occupies them more than Beethoven. This is exactly what happened to me when I got into an NSU Wankel Spider for the first time. At first, I was more interested in the pedals, which were very close together, than in the noble feeling of being one of the three or four chosen ones who were the very first to drive an almost standard automobile with an NSU Wankel engine.

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