The traditional NSU brand, which will celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2023, stands for transformation. This becomes particularly clear in the 1950s with the example of the "NSU Prinz" small car. In 1955, NSU is the largest employer in the Neckarsulm region and also number one in its industry, the largest two-wheeler manufacturer in the world. At the same time, demand for motorcycles declines: With increasing prosperity, people want a "roof over their heads", they want to drive a car. NSU reinvents itself once again, re-entering the market as a car manufacturer in 1958 with the NSU Prinz.
It is the time of the economic miracle: after the Second World War, Germany's economy is on the rise again in the early 1950s. Incomes are rising and more and more people can afford a car. However, NSU does not immediately go from two to four wheels; the development department initially experiments with a three-wheeled scooter, the "Max-Kabine". Its name was derived from an NSU motorcycle: the NSU Max. However, the test drives of the Max cab prototypes were not so promising and so at the end of 1955, the NSU management instead gave the go-ahead for the small car project.
Expanding a two-wheeler factory into a car plant is a feat of strength - both organizationally and financially. But thanks to a bank loan of around 30 million marks at the time and a guarantee from the state of Baden-Württemberg, NSU is able to complete the plant as planned. At the same time, a development team works on the new car project. By mid-1956, the first three prototypes of the new NSU automobile were already on the road for testing; they were ready for series production just one year later. In the summer of 1957, the Neckarsulm-based company presented the "NSU Prinz", which was initially known internally as the "NSU Lido" in the pre-series.
The NSU Prinz is a modern two-door saloon with a self-supporting all-steel body. The advertising brochure states: "The Prinz has everything you would expect from a car in its class today: it is well proportioned, offers enough space for four adults, has excellent engine performance, top driving characteristics and good ride comfort." NSU relies on the rear-engine principle (with a 20 hp two-cylinder) and offers two variants: the Prinz I as a simple basic version, only available in the exterior color light green, and the Prinz II in so-called export equipment - with chrome swing arms at the front and rear, Prinz lettering on the side, instrument cluster on the dashboard and crank windows. There is a wide range of paint colors to choose from for the Prinz II: Calla White, Indigo Blue, Hedera Green, Lava Gray or Sahara Beige, to name but a few. The basic version of the NSU Prinz costs 3,645 marks at the start, while the Prinz II is available ex works for 3,985 marks at the start of series production.
Hoped-for commercial success only through Prinz family members
The first NSU Prinz rolls off the production line in March 1958. The 6,500 NSU employees at the time had high hopes for the small car. However, sales success was initially slow to materialize: During the production period (from 1958 to 1960), only 1,648 of the basic Prinz I version were sold; it became apparent that customers preferred to order the better-equipped Prinz II, which sold 62,587 units in its three-year production period.
In 1959, the company launched the NSU Sport-Prinz, another variant with an independent body, which was based on the Italian design language of the time. From 1961, the advertising slogan was: "Drive a Prinz and you're king". After the NSU Prinz III, of which a total of 30,332 cars were built between 1960 and 1962, it was above all the newly developed successor, the Prinz 4, which had been a hit with many drivers since 1961; it was produced until 1973 and reached a production volume of 576,619.619. After the Prinz 4 had successfully established itself in the small car segment, NSU dared to move upmarket in 1964: the Neckarsulm-based company entered the lower mid-range segment with the Prinz 1000.
To this day, the little Prinz has a loyal - and not so small - fan base that regularly takes it out for rides, club meetings and even racing series.
