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Citroën DS 21 versus NSU Ro 80 - in the historic "hobby" super test

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Created on June 26, 1968

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hobby

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Archiv

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Archiv

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This has never happened before! At the gates of Marrakesh, bold "Fantasia" riders go on a daring private hunt with the two hobby test cars - NSU RO 80 versus Citroën DS 21 in the hobby Super Test in Africa

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Title of the magazine - NSU RO 80 versus Citroën DS 21 in the hobby Super Test in Africa

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Wedel test in the desert sand - NSU RO 80 versus Citroën DS 21 in the hobby super test in Africa

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Adventurous off-road driving on caravan trails in the Sahara - NSU RO 80 versus Citroën DS 21 in the hobby super test in Africa

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Until now, we only knew King Hassan II of Morocco from his stamps. Now we experienced him as a car expert and enthusiastic sports driver at the wheel of the hobby test car - NSU RO 80 versus Citroën DS 21 in the hobby super test in Africa

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Welcoming the king - NSU RO 80 versus Citroën DS 21 in the hobby Super Test in Africa

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In the splendor of his palace in Fez, Minister Moulay Ahmed Alaoui gave the hobby testers a reception - NSU RO 80 versus Citroën DS 21 in the hobby super test in Africa

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Icy interlude in the High Atlas at 3000 m altitude - NSU RO 80 versus Citroën DS 21 in the hobby super test in Africa

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The Wankel was only freed from its flying sand grip with a "Hau-Ruck" after neither its own 115 hp nor the Citroën tow made it - NSU RO 80 versus Citroën DS 21 in the hobby super test in Africa

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Pleasantly cool but not without danger are the many fords, which are so deep in places that they can only be driven through with a lot of momentum - NSU RO 80 versus Citroën DS 21 in the hobby super test in Africa

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Astonished looks from the sons of the desert - surely no production sedan has ever driven on this beaten track - NSU RO 80 versus Citroën DS 21 in the hobby super test in Africa

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Cheerful interlude, Kranz, Gebhardt and Lanek try out the advantages of local clothing - NSU RO 80 versus Citroën DS 21 in the hobby super test in Africa

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Adventurous route through Africa - NSU RO 80 versus Citroën DS 21 in the hobby Super Test in Africa

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The NSU was better in the waggle test - NSU RO 80 versus Citroën DS 21 in the hobby super test in Africa

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Wedel test on the Monza racetrack - NSU RO 80 versus Citroën DS 21 in the hobby Super Test in Africa

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We looked for and found the ideal hill climb track on a lonely mountain flank, the DS 21 pushes the tires away in narrow hairpins and requires a lot of effort - NSU RO 80 versus Citroën DS 21 in the hobby super test in Africa

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In direct view and in constant radio communication, we can follow every single ride from start to finish - NSU RO 80 versus Citroën DS 21 in the hobby super test in Africa

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No fear of 2000m passes in Morocco, both the Col du Tichka and the passes of Talhremt (2397m) and Zad (2178m) are wonderfully developed - NSU RO 80 versus Citroën DS 21 in the hobby super test in Africa

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Sophisticated details in the DS, clarity in the Ro 80 - NSU RO 80 versus Citroën DS 21 in the hobby Super Test in Africa

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After the Super Test, the NSU is put through its paces - NSU RO 80 versus Citroën DS 21 in the hobby Super Test in Africa

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A close look at the Citroën too - NSU RO 80 versus Citroën DS 21 in the hobby super test in Africa

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The rotary pistons showed similar running patterns to the piston crowns of reciprocating pistons in good condition with only slight, dry deposits - NSU RO 80 versus Citroën DS 21 in the hobby super test in Africa

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We found a "hot track" in the cylinder head, cylinders 3 and 4 showed normal images, while 1 and 2 (valves) did not fully cooperate - NSU RO 80 versus Citroën DS 21 in the hobby super test in Africa

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Summary

The new NSU RO 80 with the Wankel engine was to show whether it was superior to the Citroën DS, which was 13 years older. To find out, the test drivers of the magazine "hobby" set off on a journey in 1968 that would take them all the way to Africa. The two vehicles were tested under extreme conditions and, after almost 10,000 km on their own wheels, were driven home to be dismantled and analyzed.

This article contains the following chapters

Procurement problems
Day 1: "Feeling out" until San Sebastian
Fuel consumption also counts
Day 2: Opinions differ
Day 3: Is the Wankel now a two-stroke?
Day 4: Morocco - paradise for fast drivers!
On we go at breakneck speed!
Day 5: Autofantasia in Marrakesh
Paradoxical experience
Day 6: High school in the High Atlas
Day 7: 5 hours at full throttle
Day 8: Car torture in the desert
Day 9: King Hassan II "tests" for hobby
Let there be light!
Meeting with the king
Day 10: Fighting for minutes
Day 11: Night drive in a "couchette car"
Day 12 and 13: The moment of truth in Monza
Day 14: Final spurt over the Alps
Every car is as good as its performance!
Advantageous front-wheel drive
Deceleration values
Differences in driving dynamics
Everything was demanded of the chassis
What you get for your money
If it crashes, good night!
The 'legs' of the cars wear expensive shoes
More service points in an emergency
The bottom line

Estimated reading time: 55min

Preview (beginning of the article)

This super test comes a little late. This time, however, the reason is not, as so often, the choice of competitors, because never before has there been such perfect unanimity among all those involved as in the pairing of the Ro 80 versus the Citroën DS 21. Not only because many hobby readers requested this comparison in their letters, but also because it simply suggested itself due to the nature of the matter. After all, what could be more obvious than to compare the most modern car of today, the first big Wankel, with the most modern car of yesterday, the still revolutionary top model of Citroën's DS series, almost 13 years after its sensational premiere?

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