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Eighty-one - NSU Ro 80 (historical test)

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Created on May 1, 1972

Text:

Herbert Völker

Photos:

Bruno von Rotz

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Bruno von Rotz

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Archiv

35

NSU Ro 80 (1967) - in full driving dynamics

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NSU Ro 80 (1969) - in the most beautiful snow flurries

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NSU Ro 80 (1969) - no fear of winter - ADAC Motorwelt advertisement

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NSU Ro 80 (1969) - why do you compromise on your car - ADAC Motorwelt advertisement

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NSU Ro 80 (1967) - the new reliability - ADAC Motorwelt advertisement

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NSU Ro 80 (1968) - the Wankel NSU was always shown with airplanes

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NSU Ro 80 (1968) - See-through drawing - Technology made visible

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NSU Ro 80 (1970) - transparency drawing - special attributes of the Wankel sedan

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NSU Ro 80 - The Wankel engine in sectional view - the two rotors and the flange-mounted semi-automatic gearbox are clearly visible

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NSU Ro 80 (1971) - elegant lines, even after years

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NSU Ro 80 (1971) - a milestone in design

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NSU Ro 80 (1971) - always enjoyed being photographed in the flower bed

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NSU Ro 80 (1974) - 180 km/h, 0-100 km/h in 14.2 seconds

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NSU Ro 80 (1970) - simple elegance, designed by an expert

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NSU Ro 80 (1967) - Broadband headlamp with asymmetrical low beam

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NSU RO 80 (1967) - on a test drive

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NSU RO 80 (1968) - dynamic movement

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NSU Ro 80 (1973) - still the only European production car with a Wankel engine - at the 1973 Geneva Motor Show

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NSU Ro 80 (1968) - Rear

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NSU Ro 80 (1967) - practically insensitive to crosswinds thanks to its low front end

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NSU Ro 80 (1971) - contemporary photography and not just a car

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NSU Ro 80 (1967) - a bird's eye view

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NSU Ro 80 (1967) - the body design was developed point by point according to functional aspects

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NSU Ro 80 (1967) - with open doors

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NSU Ro 80 (1968) - front page of a sales brochure

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NSU Ro 80 - NSU Ro 80

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NSU Ro 80 (1968) - Interior in a sales brochure from back then

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NSU Ro 80 (1967) - the seats were moved inwards to provide better protection in the event of a side impact

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NSU Ro 80 (1967) - large windows and plain surfaces in the interior

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NSU Ro 80 (1970) - Interesting detail - ventilation slots in the area of the rear footrests

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NSU RO 80 (1968) - Engine compartment

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NSU Ro 80 (1968) - the actual engine is barely visible

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NSU RO 80 (1968) - Engine compartment

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NSU Ro 80 (1967) - Brake disk and caliper

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NSU Ro 80 (1968) - the spare wheel sits on the right in the trunk

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NSU Ro 80 (1973) - on the club stand - at Retro Classics Stuttgart 2013

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NSU Ro 80 (1969) - keine Angst vor dem Winter - Werbung in der ADAC Motorwelt

NSU Ro 80 (1969) - warum schliessen Sie bei Ihrem Auto Kompromisse - Werbung in der ADAC Motorwelt

NSU Ro 80 (1967) - die neue Zuverlässigkeit - Werbung in der ADAC Motorwelt

NSU Ro 80 (1968) - der Wankel-NSU wurde immer gerne mit Flugzeugen gezeigt

NSU Ro 80 (1968) - Durchsichtszeichnung - Technik sichtbar gemacht

NSU Ro 80 (1970) - Durchsichtszeichnung - besondere Attribute der Wankel-Limousine

Summary

In 1972, the Wankel euphoria was at its peak, GM even predicted Wankel dominance for 1980. It was therefore fitting that Auto Revue tested the mature NSU Ro 80 and awarded it top marks. The problems that had plagued the car at the beginning were considered solved. This test report reproduces the original wording from the time and shows the car in many historical photographs.

This article contains the following chapters

Wankel engine dominance?
Reorganized after great difficulties
The second career
Long list of sins
Smooth-running, free-revving and quiet
Low maintenance requirements
Timeless and practical beauty
The benchmark for driving culture
Unique
Comparison of the NSU Ro 80 with the competition

Estimated reading time: 8min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Ford Motor Company was number 21 on the list of Wankel licensees. General Motors transferred the second 10 million dollar installment (out of a total of 50 million, which gives the Americans the right to produce Wankel engines from 1976). This brings the giants into the club: GM, Ford, Toyota, Toyo Kogyo, Daimler Benz, Nissan and Suzuki by direct contract, Volkswagen through ownership of the entire NSU company, Fiat via the Citroën Comotor cross-link. Alfa Romeo, Rolls-Royce and Porsche are also involved, as are Krupp, Fichtel & Sachs, MAN and Klöckner-Humboldt-Deutz. Technician David Cole, son of the General Motors president: "By 1980, the Wankel engine could be the dominant engine in the USA." That would be eight years from now. It is also eight years since the first production car with a Wankel engine - the 50 hp NSU Spider - was presented, so we are halfway between the start of series testing and the predicted date of rotary piston domination over the reciprocating piston.

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Images of this article

NSU Ro 80 (1969) - keine Angst vor dem Winter - Werbung in der ADAC Motorwelt

NSU Ro 80 (1969) - warum schliessen Sie bei Ihrem Auto Kompromisse - Werbung in der ADAC Motorwelt

NSU Ro 80 (1967) - die neue Zuverlässigkeit - Werbung in der ADAC Motorwelt

NSU Ro 80 (1968) - der Wankel-NSU wurde immer gerne mit Flugzeugen gezeigt

NSU Ro 80 (1968) - Durchsichtszeichnung - Technik sichtbar gemacht

NSU Ro 80 (1970) - Durchsichtszeichnung - besondere Attribute der Wankel-Limousine

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