The NSU Ro80 was one of the best cars ever made in its time, so it was a big deal when it came out. When German company NSU showed off the four-door car in 1967, it looked very futuristic and way ahead of its time. The front-engine sedan had an impressive and attractive design on the inside and outside, which made it look very classy. So, people who collect cars and want to add something old and classic should look for the Ro80.
The Ro80 had a 995 cc twin-rotor Wankel engine, a semi-automatic transmission, and a vacuum-operated clutch system.
Design and Features of the NSU Ro80
In 1966, Claus Luthe, who was in charge of design at NSU, was given the job of making a new car model. The design’s prototype was praised at several exhibitions and shows in Germany. Even though it was simple, the kind of new ideas it promised made my mouth water.
Aside from the way it looked, the front wheels of the Ro80 were equipped with McPherson struts and ATE Dunlop disc brakes on all four wheels. It was a first for a sedan, since such features were usually only found in high-end sports cars. In addition to the pinion steering and power-assisted ZF rack on the front, it has a semi-trailing arm suspension on the back. With these changes, the NSU Ro80 stood out and became one of the best cars ever made.
The Production of NSU Ro80
The Ro80 was made by NSU from October 1967 to April 1977, so it was made for almost a decade. In 1968, the company made 5,986 units of the car, and the next year, they made 7,811 units. But sales of the car went down from 1970 until the company stopped making them in 1977. Part of the drop was because Audi came out with the 100 series, which became a big hit. Aside from that, after Volkswagen bought NSU in 1969, the company decided that instead of NSU, the luxury brand would be Audi. Volkswagen stopped making NSU cars after the Ro80 was taken off the market in 1977.
Ro80’s Associated Problems
One of the reasons why the Ro80 stopped being made was because of the problems it had. Some parts of the engine wear out quickly, which makes buyers unhappy. This made it easy for the engine to break. NSU fixed the problem with the next batch, but the damage was already done.