 | |
| NSU | |
| Industry | Automotive |
| Predecessor | D-Rad  |
| Founded | 1873; 152 years ago (1873) |
| Founder | Christian Schmidt |
| Defunct | 1969 (1969) 1977 (1977) |
| Fate | Acquired byVolkswagen, merged withAuto Union to createAudi, production of high-end Audis |
| Successor | Audi |
| Headquarters | , Germany |
| Products | Knitting machines,automobiles,motorcycles,mopeds andscooters |
NSU Motorenwerke AG, orNSU, was a German manufacturer of automobiles, motorcycles and pedal cycles, founded in 1873. Acquired byVolkswagen Group in 1969, VW merged NSU withAuto Union, creatingAudi NSU Auto Union AG, ultimately Audi. The NSU is an abbreviation of the nameNeckarsulm.
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NSU originated as the "Mechanische Werkstätte zur Herstellung von Strickmaschinen",[1] aknitting machine manufacturer established in 1873 by Christian Schmidt, a technically astute entrepreneur, in the town ofRiedlingen on theDanube.[2] The business relocated in 1880 to Neckarsulm.[2] There followed a period of rapid growth and in 1886, the company began to producebicycles, the first of them a 'high wheeler' or 'Penny-farthing' branded as the "Germania".[3] By 1892, bicycle manufacturing had completely replaced knitting machine production. At about this time, the name NSU appeared as a brand name.
The first NSU motorcycle appeared in 1901,[4] followed by the first NSU car in 1905. DuringWorld War I the company produced motorcycles and trucks for theGerman Army.
In 1932, under pressure from their bank (Dresdner Bank), NSU recognised the failure of their attempt to break into volume automobile production, and their recently built car factory in Heilbronn was sold toFiat,[5] who used the plant to assemble Fiat models for the German market. From 1957, NSU-Fiat cars assumed the brand nameNeckar.
DuringWorld War II NSU produced theKettenkrad, the NSU HK101, ahalf-tracked motorcycle with the engine of theOpel Olympia. They also made the 251 OSL motorcycle during the war.[6]
In December 1946,Das Auto reported the company had resumed the manufacture of bicycles and motor-bicycles atNeckarsulm.[7] For Germany, this was a time of new beginnings, and in July 1946, a new board was appointed, headed by General Director Walter Egon Niegtsch, who earlier in his career had spent 17 years withOpel.[7]
NSU motorbike production restarted, in a completely destroyed plant, with prewar designs like the Quick, OSL, and Konsul motorbikes; furthermore, the HK101 continued to be sold by NSU as an all-terrain vehicle in a civilian version. The first postwar model was the NSU Fox in 1949, available in2-stroke and4-stroke versions. In 1953, the NSU Max followed, a 250 cc motorbike with a unique overhead camdrive driven by reciprocating rods. All these new models had an innovative monocoque frame of pressed steel and a central rear suspension unit.Albert Roder, the chief engineer behind the success story, made it possible that in 1955, NSU became the biggestmotorcycle producer in the world. NSU also holds four worldrecords for speed: 1951, 1953, 1954, and 1955. In August 1956, Wilhelm Herz at theBonneville Salt Flats,Utah, became the first man to ride a motorcycle faster than 200 mph (322 km/h).
In 1957, NSU re-entered the car market with the newPrinz (Prince), a small car with a doubled NSU Max engine, anair-cooled two-cylinder engine of 600 cc (37 cu in) and 20 hp (15 kW). Motorbike production continued until 1968. NSU's last production motorcycle was theQuick 50.[8][9]
In 1964, NSU offered the world's firstWankel engined car: theWankelspider. In development of the project, NSU built theSport Prinz, with a 129 hp (96 kW) 995 cc (60.7 cu in) 2-rotor.[10] In the same year Prinz 1000 and derivatives like the TT and TT/S followed. The Typ 110 (later called 1200SC) was launched in 1965 as a family car with a more spacious body design. The last NSU cars with a conventional four-stroke engine had the air-cooledOHC four-cylinder engine in common. The car was marketed in the U.K. as "NSU TYP 110", andKarobes, a major supplier of car accessories, provided a head rest specially for this car: "A new one which can be fitted without a screw, and may be adjusted forwards and backwards."[11]
Also in 1964, NSU partnered withCitroën to develop theWankel engine via theComotor subsidiary, which resulted in the abortive 1973Citroën GS Birotor production car.
In 1967, the four-doorNSU Ro 80, with a 115 hp (86 kW) version of the same 2-rotor,[10] was presented to the public. Weighing 1,200 kg (2,600 lb), it had aCd of 0.36,disc brakes,independent suspension, and front wheel drive byFichtel & SachsSaxomatic three-speedtransmission.[10] It soon gained several design awards such as "car of the year 1967", while drivers liked its performance.[10] Virtually all the world's major motor manufacturers purchased licenses from NSU to develop and produce the rotary-piston engine, with the notable exception ofBMW.[12]
Despite its public acclaim, sales of the Ro 80 were disappointing. The transmission drew complaints and the engine suffered numerous failures even at low mileage.[10] Competitor automakers, apart fromMazda, held back from taking a lead in developing and marketing the Wankel technology, and anticipated income associated with those royalty deals failed to materialize.
The development of the rotary engine was very cost-intensive for the small company. Problems with the apex seals of the engine rotor significantly damaged the brand's reputation amongst consumers. In 1969, the company was taken over byVolkswagenwerk AG, which merged NSU withAuto Union, the owners of the Audi brand which Volkswagen had acquired five years earlier. The new company was called Audi NSU Auto Union AG and represented the effective end of the NSU marque with all future production to bear the Audi badge (although retaining the four interlocking circles of Auto Union). The management of the new combine was initially based at the Neckarsulm plant, however when the small rear-engined NSU models (Prinz 4, 1000, 1200) were phased out in 1973, the Ro 80 was the last car still in production carrying the NSU badge. Audi never made use of the brand name NSU again after April 1977, when the last Ro 80 was sold.[10] In 1985, the company name was shortened toAudi AG and management moved back to Audi's headquarters inIngolstadt.
Even as production of the Ro 80 continued in the Neckarsulm plant, production of larger Audi models like100 and200 was started. ThePorsche 924 and laterPorsche 944 were also assembled at Neckarsulm. Those models were joint venture projects ofPorsche andVW, but Porsche did not have the internal capacity to build the 924 and 944. Currently, Neckarsulm is the production plant for Audi's topline vehicles likeA6,A8, andR8. It is also the home of the "Aluminium- und Leichtbauzentrum" where Audi's aluminium-made space frame bodies are designed and engineered.
NSU is primarily remembered today as the first licensee and one of only four automobile companies to produce cars for sale with rotary-piston "Wankel engines". NSU invented the principle of the modern Wankel engine with an inner rotor. TheNSU Ro 80 was the second mass-produced two-rotor Wankel-powered vehicle after theMazda Cosmo. In 1967, NSU andCitroën set up a common company,Comotor, to build engines for Citroën and other car makers.Norton made motorcycles using Wankel engines. AvtoVaz (Lada) manufactured single and twin rotored Wankel powered cars in the early 1980s. OnlyMazda has continued developing the Wankel engine and made several more cars with theWankel engine.NSU developed their last car in a recognisably conventional layout, (front engine front wheel drive, water cooled) - this was the NSU K70, Volkswagen adopted this as their first water cooled front-engined car the VW K70. The first VW Golf cars used the NSU K70 engine which was almost identical. Subsequent VW models shared no lineage with NSU models, being descended from Auto-Union designs.
In the early 1970s, NSU manufactured a vertical-crankshaftsmall engine for use as alawn mower power unit.[13]
A museum in Neckarsulm, theDeutsches Zweirad- und NSU-Museum, has many of NSU's products on display.
Mike Hailwood raced in 1958 onDucati, NSU,MV Agusta,Norton,Triumph,Paton and in 1958 was 4th in the world championship 250cc (NSU) 5.John Surtees[14] entered in the 1955 season. That year, he gained his first podiums on a Norton in 350cc in Germany andUlster. He also won the round in 250cc while riding the best lap in the race for his only appearance at the handlebars of a NSU. John Surtees remains the only champion of the world in both motorcycle racing andFormula 1.
pilots:
The first NSU cars were the single cylinder 3-wheeled Sulmobil, first produced in 1905. At the same time NSU produced the NSU-Pipe 34 PS and NSU-Pipe 50 PS under licence from the Belgian firm ofPipe. Two further Pipe models were to follow, and a range of NSU-specific 3- and 4-wheeled models.
NSU-Cars (licensed from Pipe) 1905–1910 Source:[15]: 320–321
| Type | Motor (all FourStroke) | Engine size in cm3 | max. Power inPS | At engine speed (rpm) | Years | Picture |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSU-Pipe 34 PS [de] | 4-Cylinder | 3768 | 34 | – | 1905–1906 | – |
| NSU-Pipe 50 PS | 4-Cylinder | 8290 | 50 | – | 1905–1906 | – |
| NSU-Pipe 15/24 PS | 4-Cylinder | 3768 | 24 | 1650 | 1906–1910 | – |
| NSU-Pipe 25/40 PS | 6-Cylinder | 6494 | 40 | 1100 | 1908–1909 | – |
NSU-Cars 1905–1918 Source:[15]: 322–338
| Type | Motor (all FourStroke) | Engine size in cm3 | max. Power in PS | At engine speed (rpm) | Years | Picture |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSU Sulmobil Typ II/IV | 1-Cylinder | 451 | 3,5 | – | 1905–1909 | – |
| NSU Sulmobil Typ III | 2-Cylinder | 795 | 5,5 | – | 1909 | – |
| NSU 6/8 PS | 1-Cylinder | 451 | 8 | – | 1906 | – |
| NSU 6/10 PS | 4-Cylinder | 1420 | 12 | 1650 | 1906–1907 | –[16] |
| NSU 6/12 PS | 4-Cylinder | 1540 | 13 | 1500 | 1907–1909 | – |
| NSU 6/14 PS | 4-Cylinder | 1560 | 14 | 1650 | 1910–1911 | – |
| NSU 6/18 PS | 4-Cylinder | 1560 | 18 | 1800 | 1911–1914 | – |
| NSU 10/20 PS | 4-Cylinder | 2608 | 20 | 1400 | 1907–1910 | –[17] |
| NSU 10/22 PS | 4-Cylinder | 2608 | 22 | 1400 | 1910–1911 | – |
| NSU 10/30 PS | 4-Cylinder | 2608 | 30 | 1600 | 1911–1916 | –[18] |
| NSU 5/10 PS | 2-Cylinder | 1105 | 10 | 1400 | 1910 | – |
| NSU 5/11 PS | 2-Cylinder | 1105 | 11 | 1400 | 1911–1913 | – |
| NSU 5/10 PS | 4-Cylinder | 1132 | 10 | 1600 | 1910–1911 | – |
| NSU 5/11 PS | 4-Cylinder | 1132 | 11 | 1600 | 1911–1913 | – |
| NSU 8/15 PS | 4-Cylinder | 1750 | 16 | 1500 | 1907–1910 | – |
| NSU 9/18 PS | 4-Cylinder | 2208 | 18 | 1400 | 1910–1911 | – |
| NSU 9/22 PS | 4-Cylinder | 2208 | 22 | 1400 | 1911–1912 | – |
| NSU 9/27 PS | 4-Cylinder | 2208 | 27 | 1400 | 1911–1912 | – |
| NSU 8/24 PS | 4-Cylinder | 2110 | 24 | 1800 | 1911–1918 | –[19] |
| NSU 13/40 PS | 4-Cylinder | 3397–3768 | 40 | 1800 | 1911–1912 | – |
| NSU 13/35 PS | 4-Cylinder | 3397 | 35–40 | 1700 | 1912–1914 | – |
| NSU 5/12 PS | 4-Cylinder | 1132 | 12 | 1600 | 1913–1914 | – |
| NSU 5/15 PS | 4-Cylinder | 1232 | 15 | 1800 | 1914–1918 | -[20] |
| NSU 1¼-Tonner | 4-Cylinder | 3397 | 35 | 1800 | 1914–1918 | – |
| NSU 2½-Tonner | 4-Cylinder | 3380 | 42 | 1700 | 1914–1926 | –[21] |
Source:[15]: 332–344
| Type | Motor (all FourStroke) | Engine size in cm3 | max. Power in PS | At engine speed (rpm) | Years | Picture |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSU 8/24 PS | 4-Cylinder | 2110 | 30 | 2100 | 1921–1925 | – |
| NSU 14/40 PS | 4-Cylinder | 3606 | 54 | 2000 | 1921–1925 | – |
| NSU 5/15 PS | 4-Cylinder | 1231 | 21 | 2100 | 1921–1925 | – |
| NSU 8/32 PS Lieferwagen (Delivery truck) | 4-Cylinder | 2088 | 32 | 2200 | 1925–1927 | – |
| NSU 5/25 PS | 4-Cylinder | 1307 | 25 | 2900 | 1925–1928 | – |
| NSU 8/40 PS | 4-Cylinder | 2088 | 40 | 2800 | 1925–1927 | – |
| NSU 5/15 PS (Kompressor-Rennwagen) (Supercharger race car) | 4-Cylinder | 1232 | 40–50 | 4000 | 1923–1925 | – |
| NSU 6/60 PS (Kompressor-Rennwagen) (Supercharger race car) | 6-Cylinder | 1482 | 60 | 3800 | 1925–1926 | – |
| NSU 6/30 PS | 6-Cylinder | 1567 | 30 | 3000 | 1928 | – |
| NSU 7/34 PS | 6-Cylinder | 1781 | 34 | 3200 | 1928–1931 | – |
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NSU produced the following postwar cars:
TheNSU Prinz was also built in Yugoslavia (by PRETIS), Argentina (by Autoar) and Egypt, under licence.
In Uruguay, thePrinz 4 was built by Nordex S.A., and a new model, the P6, combined the engine and mechanics of the NSU model with a separate body completely redesigned by Carlos Sotomayor. From 1970, the P10 was built as the successor model to the NSU P6. This had the larger engine of the NSU Prince 1000 and a 21 cm extended wheelbase.
![NSU Prima [de] dashboard](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fwikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aNSU_Prima_dashboard.jpg)
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The first "Neckarsulmer Motorrad" motorcycle was produced in 1901, using a Swiss1+3⁄4 hp (1.8 PS; 1.3 kW)Zedel single-cylinder AIV (automatic inlet valve) motor with battery/coil ignition, clamped at the underside of a heavy-duty bicycle frame (of NSU manufacture), with the crankcase slightly below and in front of the pedal crank. Specialized racing motorcycles were campaigned from 1905 in events in Europe, the UK, and USA. In 1907, British manager Martin Geiger rode an NSU in the inaugural Isle of Man TT, placing fifth.[22] NSU had several successes in theIsle of ManTT races in the 1950s. In 1908, an NSU v-twin took part in the Ormonde-Daytona beach speed record races for cars and motorcycles, ridden by Eugene Gaestral, who returned with an improved machine the following year.
During the 1930s, and in the mid-1950s, NSU was the largest motorcycle producer of the world, in its peak year (1955) producing 350,000 machines.[23] NSU holds four world records for speed: 1951, 1953, 1954 and 1955. In 1956, NSU brought a team of six motorcycles of different engine capacities to Bonneville, Utah, to set World Land Speed Records. They had success in all categories, and most notably raised the absolute motorcycle speed record to 211 mph, withWilhelm Herz piloting theDelphin III, a fully streamlined motorcycle with a 500cc supercharged DOHC twin-cylinder Rennsport engine.[24] This machine still exists, in theAudi Museum inStuttgart, Germany.
TheNSU Quickly was the most popularmoped of its time.[citation needed] It was produced between 1953 and 1966 in over 1,000,000 examples and still can be found today all over the world as more than 60% were exported.
Bicycle production began in 1900 and continued into the early 1960s.[25]
NSU was the principal maker of theKettenkrad halftracked motorcycle (1940–1949)The Sd.Kfz. 2 was designed and built by NSU Motorenwerke AG in Neckarsulm, Germany. Designed and patented in June 1939, it was used for the first time during the invasion of theSoviet UnionOperation Barbarossa in 1941.
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