NSU

Introduced at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 1957, the NSU Prinz was the company’s first post-war car and quickly became one of Germany’s most popular microcars. Production began in March 1958 and the compact two-door saloon featured seating for four, rear-wheel drive and a rear-mounted air-cooled two-cylinder engine of 583 cc. Drawing on NSU’s extensive motorcycle experience, the engine was noted for its economy, durability and lively performance. The range evolved through the more luxurious Prinz II of 1959 and the more powerful Prinz III introduced in 1960. In 1958 NSU also launched the elegant Sport Prinz, a stylish two-seat coupé designed by Franco Scaglione at Bertone. Although powered by the same basic twin-cylinder engine, its lightweight body and sporting character made it one of the most distinctive small sports cars of its era. More than 20,000 Sport Prinz models were built between 1958 and 1968, and its platform later formed the basis for the innovative rotary-engined NSU Spider.

1958

1959

Introduced at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 1961, the NSU Prinz 4 replaced the original Prinz with a completely new body inspired by the contemporary Chevrolet Corvair. While retaining the rear-mounted, air-cooled two-cylinder engine, the new model was more spacious, refined and modern in appearance. Well engineered and economical, the Prinz 4 proved highly successful and remained in production for over a decade. Its combination of compact dimensions, solid construction and respectable performance made it one of the most popular small German cars of the 1960s.

1962

1965