A handful of companies were founded as sewing machine makers – Singer, Opel, Peugeot, White Motors. NSU was a variation on the same theme; its predecessor, Mechanische Werkstätte zur Herstellung von Strickmaschinen, made knitting machines. In 1905 – after the usual bicycle/motorcycle evolution – it made its first automobile. Financial disarray and WWII knocked NSU for the proverbial loop, so while many of its competitors were cashing in on post-war automobile demand, NSU had to revert to motorcycle manufacturing. Not until 1957 did the company make its next car, and that car was the Prinz. NSU stuck to its knitting (ha ha), outfitting the car with a rear-mounted, air-cooled, four-stroke, two-cylinder, 583 cc engine, basically a doubled version of its Max motorcycle engine. The small, economical four-seater hit the right chord with customers, selling well enough to give NSU a welcome financial boost. Here on eBay is a 1960 NSU Prinz sedan with an asking price of $9500, a considerable discount off the $15k “firm” price listed in the ad. The car is located in Cedarville, New Jersey.
The featherweight little sedan could reach 60 mph handily despite the mere 26 hp output from its engine. That engine uses eccentric rods rather than a timing chain to control valve operation. The engine, gearbox, and differential are a single unit. A four-speed, all-synchro, constant-mesh gearbox and independent suspension at all four wheels round out the mechanicals. The seller notes that he bought the car from a forty-year owner and has spent ten months rebuilding and replacing parts, ranging from the brake components to the carburetor. After all that, the car still does not run.
The prior owner conducted a long cosmetic restoration, leaving the interior looking nearly new. The underside reflects the same attention, revealing also that this car has spent zero time on the road. The windshield is cracked – finding another might be tricky. On the other hand, the car comes with a host of extra parts including every other bit of glass you might need, a spare motor, and extra rims. The factory jack is on board, too.
For such a tiny economy car, the Prinz has an elegant greenhouse, with slender pillars offering a panoramic view. From afar, the cosmetics appear decent, though the seller notes that the car accumulated a few bumps during its years in storage. This is one of several cars the owner is selling because his family is moving and he must downsize. An in-person inspection and some advance work regarding where to find parts and how to resurrect the engine would be wise. This situation has the feel of winnowing the most frustrating inhabitants from the collection; his problem could become your problem.
My Dad worked for the Rio Grande RR from 1949 to 1980. In the 50s and 60s we lived in Colorado Springs and Dad worked the graveyard shift in Pueblo CO. It was a 80 mile round trip 5 nights a week and we just couldn’t afford gas at 25 cents a gallon to feed the flathead in the 1953 Mercury. So Dad started looking at ‘economy’ cars. We looked at Fiat, VW, Isetta, King Midget, Simca, and any other go cart with doors and a heater. He bought a 1959 NSU Prinz. We took that sucker everywhere with 4 boys and Mom and Dad. It never let us down. That was a great car!
You ‘n astronaut John Glenn, who chose the Prinz for exactly the same reason – long commute, gas friendly, needed a family car.
I’m surprised CO had all those foreign makes at that time. We used the 1st’n last on ur list + renault @ that time, same reasons, but in the Boston area (as car krazy as SoCal). West of the 14 or 15 Atlantic coast states, on over to the 3 Pacific coast states I didnt think there was much ‘penetration’ till well into the Japanese invasion (much later). Good to hear.
This baby scores, w/a select few, in the: “Is it comin or goin?” category…
Wow, there’s a name for ya’, no wonder it was shortened to NSU. NSU, no not the venrial disease that sidelined Eric Clapton in the 60s, and subsequent song of that name, was the abbreviation for the city in Germany where made, Neckersulm. “Reach 60 handily?” 60km, maybe. Obviously performance wasn’t their gig, but for gits and shingles, this car did 0-60 mph in,,,,ready? 59.5 seconds, that’s almost a minute, folks, and the, 1/4 mile,,,in 24.4 sec. at 52 mph,,,downwind. It did however deliver almost 40 mpg, and that was the most impartent port.
Like Woofer said, ( and I’d love to hear more about the Rio Grande RR, as it ran through my town until abandoned in the 90s) there wasn’t much to choose from small car wise in the late 50s. Luckily, his dad didn’t have to go over any hills, a pretty flat trip, and NSU wasn’t even heard of in the Midwest until later. As a kid, we had a neighbor that raced a newer Prinz. You can’t tell from the side if it’s coming or going. A bit of a stretch at $15 grand.
I always thought the song was about the Car. Thanks for clearing that up. Now all I need to know is about the swans that live in the park but I need a badge first!
A few years later in the 60’s NSU produced a slightly bigger car with a 4 stroke engine in the back which became one the favorites for car racing in Greece. The owner and editor in chief of the most popular car magazine in Greece in the early 70’s was racing such an NSU.
Believe it or not Howard my dad bought a 1959 red one just like this for $50 in 1965. All it needed was brushes for the starter/generator we bought in Chicago for a couple bucks. My dad being a mechanic was impressed with the valve operation. He drove it to work for a couple years and traded it in for a new NSU Sport Prinze in 1967. I drove that one to HS. It was so light, the guys would pick it up and move it in the parking lot. LOL. what fun. Miss it all, especially dad.
Which end is the front?
HA! I remember when we used to ask that question of people who drove ’49 and ’50 Studebakers.
When i was young my dad had one, it was a lite green, he loved that car.
My dad bought one new in’60 for long commute to work.he;d take us for drives around the neighborhood flying around the corners. I remember him shifting and that unique smell it had (plastic?) He traded it for a ’65 barracuda
The NSU was the FIRST car to have the Felix Wrankle Rotary Engine !!
This looks like the drawing kids would make when they would draw a car
It really does look like one of those old ’50’s cars, stitched together with two front ends, that you’d see in the local 4th of July parade.
Now at $8500.00 on EBay – seems close to a bargain for someone who wants to own an NSU – sad that after all the work and money spent it is still non-running for what appears to be a simple automobile and engine. Question for someone – is this engine air-cooled? It looks to be rear mounted from the pictures however I don’t see anything resembling a radiator or water cooling system.
I wrote about all that in the article….