Real Road Test: NSU Ro80 - Radical Rotary Revolutionary!

[@johnk4792]

*I could be wrong, i think the NSU Ro80 is a work of Art*

[@EmilePoelman]

I totally agree!

[@johnburns4017]

John k You are not wrong.

[@robertguttman1487]

Absolutely right. Just compare this with other comparable cars being sold during 1967. The RO-80 literally looked over a decade ahead of it's time. And that's not to mention that it was powered by the first entirely new type of internal-combustion engine since the diesel.

[@johnburns4017]

@@robertguttman1487 20 years ahead!

[@doktorbimmer]

@John Burns *Unfortunately the downfall of the Ro80 was its unreliable Wankel engine.*

[@BanjoLuke1]

I was driven in one of these as a child. I haven't sat in one since. It was like sitting in the set of a futuristic TV show. Even the colours were funky. To a UK child used to Vauxhall Victor FDs, Ford Corsairs, Austin A40s, P5 Rovers and Land Crabs, it was utterly, unimaginably bizarre and wonderful.

[@martinda7446]

The body styling STILL looks modern...I was saying that in 1980 /1990....Did not disappoint .Great stuff.

[@smhorse]

It was at least 25 years ahead of its time. To a considerable degree, the engines didn't last because many drivers didn't really know how to make best use of a semi-auto, which was to treat it purely like a two-pedal manual. Instead they would start off in 2nd (sometimes even 3rd), so the rotors would slog away which did the tip seals no good.

[@jamesgallagher1992]

Aye still looks cool even now

[@richardnevillewalker672]

It is a great looking car even now, for sure.

[@2012hinn]

I remember in the 90s I was thumbing through my dads 1968 car catalogue and was taken aback by pictures of the RO80 as I thought someone took a modern car and chucked it into a 60s car book

[@martinda7446]

@@2012hinn Ha ha marvelous. I love that.

[@MrTumshie]

I don't care how 'troublesome' they can be- that is on of the best looking cars I've ever seen! And now I want one.

[@KimSenior]

I had one in 1976 brilliant car!

[@rafthejaf8789]

When I was young my dad had two RO80's, one after the other. I can still remember the day he brought it home and I thought what is that! However I grew to love them. I became old enough to drive the second one and I loved getting behind the wheel. They drove like the wind and the brakes were amazing. You felt like you had driven into the future, kind of like the DS although not as much. It still looks modern today and back in those days you felt in another league from most cars. Looking at this video brings back memories and what's incredible is how well it fits in on today's roads.

[@MajorKlanga]

It wasn't just the K70 that VW wanted, NSU were developing a new small car to replace the Prinz, a car with transverse front engine driving through unequal length drive shafts. That car was to become the Audi 50 and then the Polo.

[@gerardbosvonhohenfels1866]

Not quit right. The Audi 50 was build alongside the Polo. You could almost not see any difference besides the logo's, however the Polo was much more successful then the 50, because in that time the Audi was much more expensive then the Polo, so the customers (who knew the good reputation of VW) bought the Polo. That was at once the death sentence for the 50 while the Polo got the green light to go further.

[@zman1998b]

@@gerardbosvonhohenfels1866 but the prototype for those car as far as i know was developed by NSU.

[@danielrussell446]

@@zman1998b yes it was

[@ralphdyson7926]

I am no big fan of older cars, but the RO 80 is one of the few exceptions. A masterpiece.

[@themysterycook7320]

An old fiat 124 is superior to an old NSU in just about every conceivable way..same goes for old Alfas, old lancias, Olde worked BMW's Mercs & even horrid old Citroen..

[@Stevieweevietv]

That's a beauty. The colour too! I'm so envious of you driving all these classics. I wish I had the money...I'd buy a whole fleet!

[@lukeprice2240]

In this comment, sponsored by Lancaster Insurance, I admit that I’d really love to own an Ro80. Fascinating machine and a great insight!

[@martinda7446]

In this reply sponsored by Lancaster Insurance I'd like to say that comment made me insure my lawn mower again just to be on the safe side.-

[@RWBHere]

@@martinda7446 'Ah, but who sponsors Lancaster Insurance?', he asks, throwing a Lancaster Insurance sponsored spanner into the sponsored by Lancaster Insurance works.

[@JamesBond-pb2qy]

Got one in Pasadena California for sale $25.000 Dark blue

[@Ragnar8504]

VW had a semi-auto like that too, a friend of mine drives an early-70s semi-auto Beetle originally bought by his parents. Sachsenring went a little less fancy, the Trabant Hycomat (designed for invalids with only one foot and never sold to the general public) just had a hydraulically operated clutch actuated by a switch in the gear lever but no torque converter. Almost 15 years ago I walked around Vienna one morning and suddenly heard an engine I'd never heard before somewhere behind me. Turned my head as fast as I could and saw a golden(!) NSU Ro 80 disappear round the corner. I think that's the only one I've ever seen.

[@roadie3124]

There was also a semi-auto like that in a Porsche 911 Sportomatic.

[@steveunderwood3683]

In the late 70s a colleague had an RO80 he acquired from a company that used a small fleet of them to operate a long distance pre-booked taxi service across the UK. Having spent most of its life at a fairly steady high speed, the engine had stayed in great condition, even though the car had done a high mileage.

[@pinkyn0se]

Don't forget cast alloy wheels! And indicators integrated into the headlight - Something that didn't really become mainstream until the nineties!

[@paulrenowden8617]

Superb video. My Grandad had one, said it was the most special car he'd ever had. Broke his heart when he had to get rid.

[@MillerCorner]

23:00 precisely why I love old cars! Almost every car was genuinely different and interesting, as opposed to small hybrid SUVs left, right and centre...

[@DoctorBrodski]

That's right. It's not the miles per gallon that matter, it's the smiles per gallon!

[@TassieLorenzo]

I'm not sure that is 100% true TBH. The 1975 Toyota Corolla, 1975 Datsun 120Y, 1975 Morris Marina, 1975 Vauxhall Viva and 1975 Ford Escort arguably all look rather similar. While there was the potential to create a design classic (for better or worse) with every new model (e.g., AMC Pacer, Lleyland Princess, Citroen GS), not everyone actually did! Plenty of manufacturers seemed to follow the trends and play it safe, just as they do today.

[@davidhayes4814]

NSU Ro80 .... a nominal 1 litre...... the power of a 2 litre...... the fuel consumption of a 3 litre..... the running costs of a 5 litre.... the oil consumption of a God knows what.... this car cost much more than a XJ6.

[@drd6416]

Stick in a renesis mill with sequential turbos.... But ensure that you uprated the suspension too 😁

[@phil955i]

Depends who's calculating the cubic capacity. The Norton Rotary motorcycle was registered as 588cc yet the FIM classed it as 1100cc for racing purposes.

[@smhorse]

@@drd6416 : putting too much power through will shorten the life of the semi-auto, the bearings of which were supposedly only designed to handle up to about 150hp. Some owners (especially in Germany) have uprated to 175hp or more, but that's not good for the gearbox.

[@drd6416]

Well I'd expect a different gearbox to go with the engine. We might as well say "don't forget the brakes too" just for the pedants out there 🤣🙄

[@CaptHollister]

@@phil955i The manufacturers of Wankels tend to calculate the capacity by counting only one chamber per rotor housing, many engineers believe you should count all three chambers per housing, which would make the R080 a 3 litre car and the Norton F1 and Suzuki Re5 1.8L and 1.5L, respectively. The FIM inexplicably settled on including 2 chambers only.

[@marketmalc]

We owned one of these back in the 70s. Fabulous. Took a bit of getting used to SEMI automatic. My Dad nearly broke my nose the 1st time he drove it thinking he was going for the clutch pedal but hit the brake! The exhaust could glow red hot, Literally. The instructions said not to park it on grass when ticking over, it could set it on fire! Very high speed and really quite. Frightened myself a couple of times. It wasn't very old when we had the 1973 model I think.

[@martinpook5707]

I loved the RO80 styling, brilliant.

[@gosportjamie]

Every time I see an RO80 I see a direct link with the aerodynamic Audi 100 of 1982, so many styling cues that were very clearly taken directly from this car. It's a shame this car was so far ahead of its time that material technology wasn't really up to what the engineers could dream up. This car really should have been a complete game changer, and in some ways it was...

[@seanoneillsongs]

gosportjamie totally agree. That Audi was more subtly ahead of its time and I wonder it there is any car built today that doesn’t have some small. Influence from it - windows that aren’t set half an inch or so into the frames are a thing of the past.

[@gosportjamie]

@@seanoneillsongs Yup, in a lot of ways this car and the 100 are probably the most influential cars ever...

[@Roger_Ramjet]

​@@gosportjamie throw a Citroen or two I'm the mix and yes indeed

[@djphilmanns]

It makes for a nice change to read so many positive comments about the Ro80. The internet is full of haters with no actual experience of the car, but who like to stick the knife in at every opportunity. The reality is that these cars are not unreliable and were in fact recently voted in Germany as one of the most dependable classics to own. There is now 52 years of owner and specialist experience behind the Ro80 and with this knowledge many are covering hundreds of thousands of miles without any need for rebuild. There are also ceramic apex seals available which produce zero wear on the housing surface. I’ve been running Ro80’s for the last 30+ years, and never do I set off on a journey with any doubt in the car. My 69 car has taken us to Italy five times as well as countless other European destinations. The only issue I had was old tyres blowing out on the Autobahn, a mistake I’ve never made since!

[@histriamagna1014]

Congratulations for owning such a lovely car.

[@roadie3124]

Early Saabs (96? 99?) had seat belts like that. I did 8 weeks work experience at Rolls Royce in Crewe in the middle of my engineering degree in 1968 or 69. The development engineers had an RO80 and were evaluating it. The gold plated electrical contacts got a tick of approval. In general, they were impressed.

[@philpaxton2078]

You've finally driven my favourite car ever. Excellent. Must have looked like a space ship compared to the ancient looking cars around at the time.

[@johnalexander5055]

Good few years back my son and I were in a scrappy ,there was an Ro80 next to a Morris 1000. I pointed them out my son and told him they were the same age. To say he was gobsmacked would be a massive understatement.

[@ralphups7782]

The styling of the the car, reminds me very much of our wonderful British Jenson interceptor.👍

[@wollaminfaetter]

Why?

[@eclectarama]

@ralph ups Completely with you.

[@muttt.whopull3252]

I can see what you're getting at.

[@giuliopedrali116]

Jensen Interceptor, NSU Ro80 and Alfasud are the most spectacular cars of every time.

[@jfv65]

@@wollaminfaetter maybe because the Jensen Interceptor FF was the first production car with the Ferguson 4wheel drive system? (Many years earlier then the Audi Ur Quattro and the AMC Eagle) Or maybe because it was the first production car ever to have (Teves) ABS brakes? The Jensen Interceptor FF was a very special very up market car.

[@regulator67bj]

Had to honour of spending my apprenticeship at an NSU main dealership in the early 1970s servicing/troubleshooting was an education, Thanks for the review moments

You must have encountered the numerous faults me and so many others had in the brand new Prinz 3 and Prinz 4 in the early and mid sixties. constantly sticky and jamming throttle pedals plus a gearbox that became tighter and tighter as the engine warmed up, necessitating using brute strength to change gear. I and countless others complained but, the dealers clammed up.

[@pierrerheaume8864]

Your video took me right back to the late 70' Mr HubNut when I was driving a Mazda rx4 estate all over British Columbia ,down to the engine roar!What a fantastic little car that was when fuel was 25 cents a litre. Oh those seventies...

[@Andy-pu2iv]

Always loved the styling of the Ro80. A beautiful car.

[@solent7430]

I’ve long been fascinated by the Ro80. Astonishing engineering for its day! Great review Ian 👍🏻

[@EngineeringVignettes]

It sounds like, *the future* Honestly it really looks like a car designed 20 years ahead of its time. I really like the body styling. Not sure I would trust that clutch engagement system though... its looks a bit _shifty_ (sorry, couldn't help myself) Cheers,

[@johnnorth9355]

In my mind the most beautiful and modern saloon car of the era that I lusted after in the way that only the young and impecunious can. Devastated when they disappeared it took me some years more to understand that when we are promised a bright new future we are being lied to. RIP the Wankel engine.

[@burlatsdemontaigne6147]

Makes the Audi look dowdy. (which, quite by accident, rhymes!)

[@paulbennell3313]

Strange to think when the RO80 went on sale you could still buy a brand new Austin Cambridge...

[@mr-wx3lv]

Rover did have its P6 introduced in 1963 which was revolutionary for its time.

[@paulbennell3313]

I'll say it was! Well ahead of the curve and still a car I lust after.

[@andrewthompsonuk1]

@@mr-wx3lv especially if that gas turbine worked.

[@tinypurplefishesrunlaughin8052]

VW Rabbit has NSU motor , stamped proudly on motor

[@tinypurplefishesrunlaughin8052]

Paul Bennell I owned the first year RX4 , it had an 850 Holley double pumper stock , 10 to14 MPG, but ran dead even with an SS 396 Malibu/Chevelle in the quarter, surprised everyone on Saturday night.

[@ianlawrie919]

Fabulous video! great to see Mr. HubNut enthuse so about a car and an era. Reminded me of the days of Renault 6, Fiat 124, Simca rear engine and Opel 1900 Rekord.

[@TechnikMeister2]

In Australia they replace the motor with a Mazda and an adapter plate to the torque converter. They are a great car.

[@Bfoxfield1]

it`s dark, miserable and it`s raining. I`m sitting here with a nice cup of tea and a delicious flapjack so what could be better than watching a review of a fantastic Ro80?

[@HowardLeVert]

The Ro.80: one of, if not probably *the* most beautiful motor cars of all time. Thinking about the original engine and those Ford V4 replacements: now imagine this car... electric. Wouldn't that be something really rather wonderful?

[@edwardkennedy9919]

No it would be useless like all EV car's.

[@ianfryer8386]

An NSU Ro80 in exactly the same shade of blue featured as the regular transport of Nyree Dawn Porter in the second season of 1970s crime series The Protectors. That is a great series for lovers of unusual 70s cars.

[@adampoll4977]

You really do need a "Triangle of Doom" t-shirt made up :)

[@LiamskiLFC]

Hallelujah!

[@ants9230]

could be open to all sorts of misinterpretation :-)

[@adampoll4977]

@@ants9230 That's what makes it brilliant ;)

[@timbimjim514]

My ex-wife had a triangle of doom.

[@martinda7446]

@@timbimjim514 Comments like that will always get recognition.

[@ShaunMurray63]

My eyes nearly popped out of my head when I saw one of these as a kid and was engrossed when my uncle Frank explained to me the workings of the wankel rotary engine , fantastic video Ian.

[@waynetetley584]

Great road test. Love its design features ie integrated headlamps and roll top windscreen making it look modern 50 yes 50 years later!

[@Shane-zx4ps]

Wayne Tetley I cant believe how much it looks like the bmws from the same period when you look at them from the side?

[@histriamagna1014]

At last 15 years ahead of it's time.

[@robertguttman1487]

I am old enough to remember when this car first came out (1967), and the sensation that it stirred in the automotive world. As a result, despite the fact that it was never sold in the U.S., I did know about it. At the time I thought it looked both beautiful and futuristic. In fact, I still think it resembles some of the cars that Audi made a dozen or so years later. Considering the fact that Volkswagen bought out NSU, and that Audi was also a VW subsidiary, perhaps that was not a coincidence. Of course, the big story with the RO-80 was it's revolutionary Wankel engine, which NSU introduced. While the company's preceding "Sport Prinz" two-seat roadster had a single-rotor Wankel, the RO-80 had a larger and more powerful two-rotor version. It was said to be extremely powerful for it's size, and as smooth as a turbine. Speculation was rife about how long it would be before the rest of the auto industry caught up with NSU and began building Wankel-engined cars. Mazda was known to be working on one, and supposedly GM was interested as well. Unfortunately, the elephant in the room soon made it's appearance. This car was released before the problem of wear on the apex seals of the rotors had been completely sorted out. It was alleged that they would wear out after as little as 10,000 miles, requiring a complete engine rebuild. That spelled doom not only for the RO-80, but NSU asa well. The early Mazda rotary-engined cars, which began to appear in the U.S. during the early 1970s, exhibited the same lack of reliability. However, unlike NSU, Mazda was able to persist long enough to finally develop the Wankel to the point where their RX-7 sports coupe became a reasonably reliable car, but that did not happen until the early 1980s.

[@chrispenn715]

Thanks for a great test - always liked these since I was a kid. I remember reading all the running reports in Motor and Autocar, with all their trials and tribulations. You've made me want one more than ever!!!!!!!!

[@rhiantaylor3446]

My alfasud had seat belts like that - loved them. I recall a contemporary review commented on the price by saving it was pitched against the likes of the XJ6.... and also said that the oil consumption was very high to the point that the car did not require an oil change as such - just keep topping it up !

[@smhorse]

The comment about the oil change not being required also helped to shorten the engine life at the time. Turned out that regular oil and filter changes would actually help it last longer.

[@giuliopedrali116]

Alfasud and Ro80 the top of the top of the top of the top

[@jys160]

I remember when these came out they were so futuristic and desirable but out of my reach. Nice to see the road test and as you say quite ahead of its time.

[@repairupdaterepeat5815]

Your ability to say "wankle" without laughing deserves a KZbin play button on it's own

[@lenpowell6647]

He resorted rapidly to "Vankle" for that reason methinks!?

[@SB-vb8ch]

Love the looks of these, very much ahead of their time with a properly coherent design which took the best part of 20 years for everyone else to catch up with.

[@garrytalbot3456]

I remember one of these from my childhood, my dad had just purchased a 1971 Mk 4 Zodiac 3 litre (in about '73) and someone down the road bought a late 60s RO80 in bright orange. The Nsu looked like a space ship. However I do recall that for a long time it sat on axle stands in a front garden and once returned to the road it always sounded different. I suspect this was when the Wankel went and a v4 replaced it.

[@grant1352]

had a friend in New Zealand, his wife bought a Ro 80 without telling him first for $5000 NZD in 1975...he was a bit annoyed at the time

[@marcusdamberger]

Integrated composite headlamps! This wouldn't have been allowed in U.S. tell 1984.. Looks so nice! Such a nice modern flair. Love the sloping front styling. The Audi 80 next to it in the video looks like from a previous decade yet only a year apart.

[@otto.a.2465]

Nice video Ian, these NSUs have always fascinated me thanks! I remember having a Citroën CX 2400 with a semi automatic gearbox back in the 80s, very similar.

[@Steve-bo6ht]

That seat belt buckle design is the work of the gods, totally blown away with that incredible ingenuity

[@andrewbarnes1295]

Had a Golf MkI with seatbelts like that which I thought worked really well but not seen them again until now.

[@Eis_Bear]

I love this car, it's high on my wishlist of cars I want to own at some point. Maybe even at No. 1. I think it's hard to judge a car like this, when you're in it you don't feel like you're in a 60's car.. more like an 80's car. When this came to market most of the UK was still driving around in Morris Minors.

[@grayfool]

The car I prayed my dad would buy. Yeah, right. . . He jumped at the chance to be mediocre and got a Hilman Hunter 1500 DL. Oh joy! I am truly jealous of you Ian. Thanks so much for a trip down memory lane.

[@rustywreck6631]

Gray Fool used to have a hillman hunter 1500 & 1750 loved the 1500 smooth car

[@andrewthompsonuk1]

Fantastic car. I drove a Citroën CX with a similar gearbox once. There are many design cues that others followed a decade later.

[@Jablonski277]

C matic?

[@andrewthompsonuk1]

@@Jablonski277 yes C Matic I had forgotten the name. I do not think it disingauged with the gear knob but can't remember.

[@emjayay]

@@andrewthompsonuk1 VW Beetles had a similar option, but maybe only two gears. Same touching the gear knob clutch release. I'm guessing the same German company made both.

[@spring74light]

Ah, nostalgia! The Ro 80 is the only car I have ever had. 3 examples, '68, '69 and '73. Mainly rescued from scrapyards. I expended the prime years of my life on these machines. (I say "on" rather than "in".) I was quite intrigued by them. I developed my own system to rebuild the engines, although the engine spares were always astonishingly expensive! Contributors to Ro discussions often refer to the problems of apex seals. In my experience, at least as serious were difficulties associated with the starting seals - thin curved strips of IKA alloy spring-loaded into slots in the flat rotor faces to provide start-up compression. If these became worn, or coked-in, then the motor became exceedingly difficult to coax into life. (Believe me, there is nothing QUITE like a Ro that won't start!) Happy Days!

[@CNDUK-q8r]

If my memory serves me correctly the NSU Ro80 has early alloy wheels as well. A truly modern car in so many respects.

[@bruceclark1537]

yes they were magnesium alloy ! the whole car was well ahead of their time

[@MegaBreadvan]

Can just imagine hearing "Autobahn" by Kraftwerk in the background. What an amazing car, despite the little glitches.

[@wanderinggentile]

The unidentified knob on the dash looks like the manual choke symbol from my old Opel. It might explain the Mazda 323F-like rev situation. The Ro80 had a drag coefficient of 0.29, which would be competitive today. The choice of gearbox is curious, as rotary enthusiasts will describe any rotary as having "x horsepower and four torques." The box shares its concept with the subsequent Volkswagen Automatic Stick Shift, which lacked a park position, and the lowest gear was a granny gear for enhanced engine braking. By the early eighties, Ford V-4 and V-6 engines were replaced with the significantly more reliable Mazda rotaries, which were by then proving durable over 100,000 miles. Cheers!

[@smhorse]

Cd. was 0.355 for the production cars; compared well with the Citroen DS which was similar. 0.29 may have been achieved with some of the development clay models.

[@philw4625]

Such a good looking car. Would almost consider buying one if they were on sale today. Must have been utterly radical in its day!

[@RexWaldron]

I remember being absolutely wowed by the Ro80 when it won Car Magazine's "car of the year" award in 1968 (I still have my edition of the magazine). It looked like the future had arrived and I wanted one when I grew up. Sadly that has never happened. Fantastic review as always and interesting to see how that gearbox works in practice.

[@smhorse]

I had one. Never regretted it, but did regret having to sell it. Still do.

[@lew7676]

I was lucky enough to work and drive an NSU Ro80 about 16 years ago. An absolutely magnificent piece of engineering and is my all time favorite automobile. It was such a shame it met a sad demise, but was a crazy concept that you could actually buy in the 1960’s. It never ever looks out of date. Well done Hubnut for a super video. It brings back some great memories!

[@rollingtroll]

This one has been at the top of my 'must drive once' list for at least a decade. I am jealous but also really happy this video is online. You can even see the waywardness of the suspension in the video, haha. I think I'd absolutely adore it. As for semi-automatic; It makes some sense to me. Automatics never do what I want, manuals are a bit more work (even though I don't mind). I guess these things are perfect for people who have a mind of their own, but not the mechanical sympathy to handle three pedals :D.

[@paulrandomview]

What an interesting video, thanks. The engine noise is lovely. Styling was way ahead of its time, and still looks attractive today.

[@Bevoin1970]

Thats the first time Ive ever seen up close or been for a drive in a Wankel engined car. Love that dash and the style of the clocks, love the sound of the engine too. And the body shape is a definite winner with me too. I agree with you, its a wonderful looking car. I want!! :-)

[@malcolmherbert5127]

Interestingly the development of the Wankel engine was carried out by a company called Comotor I believe. This was a partnership between NSU and Citroen and the French company fitted a rotary engine in a GSA but I think their ultimate objective was to install a 3 rotor unit in the DS replacement the CX. That explains the very low bonnet line of the CX. Unfortunately the problems experienced by the Ro80 caused Citroen to abandon that plan and the CX ended up with the latest iteration of the standard DS pushrod engines. So, if you consider the Ro80 to be an advanced design just imagine the impact of a CX with all its technical wizardry allied to the turbine like performance of a fully sorted rotary motor

[@jaggass]

Styling wise you can see the influences it had on the Jaguar XJ, Morris Marina and a Mercedes W123.

[@derek-press]

the first thing that sprung to my mind was the DB5, not the front grill but the styling but yes definitely W123

[@notmanynamesleft]

The windows are significantly like jaguar design.

[@lerpack455]

A brilliant show. Well done. You are doing a grand series. I am 70 by the way. I have had many odd 'different' cars'over the years. After watching this, I wish I had experienced one of these. Many thanks.

[@timelwell7002]

My dad considered buying one of these, but thought it best to see if the car had any teething problems prior to making a decision. In the light of the problems which emerged with the Wankel engine, he decided against it, which showed a degree of sagacity on his part. He bought a Volvo 1800 sport instead, and I recall being a passenger as he drove down the A3 at 120 MPH in it... Later he owned an NSU Prinz, which I drove back with him from the West country - within the speed limit, on that occasion - the year 1972, if my memory serves. I remember enjoying the Prinz with it's slightly quirky look and semi-automatic transmission. Then in the late 1970s he bought a Mazda RX-3 (4-door saloon with a rotary Wankel engine), which I also drove, along with my brother, and that too was a very nice car, albeit rather thirsty on fuel - but it was quite rapid, I seem to remember. I'm sorry that dad didn't get an RO80... After the Citroen DS, I think it the best-looking car ever made. I've never been in an Ro80 but I suspect the body roll is somewhat less than the Citroen Ami 8 Break I used to own in the 1980's; that too was great fun to drive, although not quite so rapid... Thanks for this road test/appraisal, who knows maybe I'll get to drive an Ro80 myself some day!

[@club1fan552]

Jesus Ian. How rare is that!!! The outside in particular looks like a new car. Yes, there is FAR less choice with cars these days. In the past you could sometimes get a single model with 5 body types. The all but demise if rear wheel drive and manuals is depressing. Rotary Mazdas from the 60's and 70's now command mega bucks down in Australia. So glad to have seen a test of one of these. Amazing!!!

[@Mariazellerbahn]

4:19 The rear end has a Princess Wedge look to it albeit with a 3 box boot.

[@MichaelThomas-be7gq]

Awesome! That is one car I knew about but never really looked into, what a brilliant car! Thank you for doing it justice, it is definitely up there with the DS and P6 as groundbreaking.

[@andicog]

I always thought the Audi 80/90 from the late 80's has a similar shape. You now need to find a K70, I've never driven one but knew a few people who had them back in the day and despite the plain looks, they all raved about them, same as the 505gti Peugeot, underrated.

[@drd6416]

My friends dad still had one until recently - on Danish plates.....

[@tronkel1]

Herr Dr. Wankel was an astonishingly gifted engineer. The present-day automotive design engineers are still struggling to catch up with him!

[@CaptHollister]

Either that, or he designed an inherently dirty and inefficient engine that heats the incoming air/fuel mixture by necessity and burns engine oil by design, just like a two-stroke, because there is no other way to lube the apex seals. Kudos to Mazda engineers, who are obviously every bit as smart as Dr.Wankel, for managing to keep its fuel consumption and emissions under control for so long, but even they had to give up eventually.

[@doktorbimmer]

*Indeed he was, but he hated the KKM-57 engine... this engine was created without his knowledge, approval or assistance by Dr. Hanns Paschke and Walter Freode. Doktor Wankel's DKM-54 design was a true Millet-type Rotary engine... this elegant, much lighter and silky smooth engine layout was derived from and intended for racing motorcycles but NSU had no interest in mass producing Wankel's expensive and difficult to service rotary... it instead chose Paschke and Froede to develop the conventional (non-rotary) layout that would see production.*

[@kimkiriniki9433]

Fascinating car, rather like a German Citroen DS. I remember seeing three of these gathering dust at the back of a garage in Harare, one had been fitted with a Ford V6 engine.

[@richardrichard5409]

Ford V6 engine is very unusual, most had Ford V4 dropped in.

[@jonathaneastwood2927]

What a boring defeatist thing to do!

[@salipander6570]

1967! I'm 52, that's what happens when you're from 1967. And they made this just before I was born, this car is so immensely amazing!! No other words for it...

[@heehean]

Great video, Mr Seabrook..! I only ever read about this as a kid, and always wondered how the semi-auto gearbox worked. Now I know, thank you sir.. Next one on my list; why don’t you take a drive around in a semi-auto Citroen DS with the awesome finger-tip column change... *hint hint, nudge nudge*

[@PaulinesPastimes]

What a masterpiece. Such a futuristic design for 1967! I always loved the steering wheel for some reason and, if it wasn't for the left hand drive wiper coverage, the whole package would be almost perfect. Another treat for those who will never drive one. Thank you.

[@General.Longstreet]

An amazing car for it's time. To think we were still making Morris minors at the same time this was being made.

[@melb6528]

They were still making beetles at the same time in too!

[@colinjohnston8519]

So? Morris minor was a beetle competitor. We made jaguars to compete with these and they where more reliable, so was the minor tbf. You're comparing apples to pairs.

[@MajorLeagueBassboost]

The Company NSU is actually from a town no 20 miles away from where I live. Went to the museum a few times, very interesting story they have. They also were a big player in the bicycle and mototrbike market!

[@vincentdubois3291]

The brand name is the initials of Neckarsulmer Streichmaschinen Union. NeckarsUlm is a city of West Germany on the Neckar river. The company started its buisness producing sewing and weaving machines and later produced motorcycles and mopeds.

[@MajorLeagueBassboost]

@@vincentdubois3291 yes indeed. But don't pronounce it "Neckars-Ulm", since it has nothing to do with "Ulm". It's instead "Neckar-Sulm" since the Sulm river is running into the Neckar river in this town.

[@realnutteruk1]

Wow, 16 minutes and 44 seconds before the V4 got mentioned!

[@barriewilliams4526]

V4 best not mentioned at all lol.....

[@alanjm1234]

You'd think a v6 would fit. Guess you'd need stiffer front springs though...

[@ChristianDiGiovanni]

I love the sound made by Wankel engine! When you accelerate, it seems to start flying!

[@jamesjacocks6221]

I always loved the NSU and regretted their merge with VW (Very Wicked). I wonder how the VW engineers would cheat if forced to get the NSU to comply with emission standards? It was a long time ago when Wankel was touted as the brightest thing in the future for internal combustion engines. They're hopelessly inefficient, sadly. The beautiful NSU has risen to the highest aesthetic level, having been awarded the "it's a bit odd looking" moniker. Brilliant!

[@kagnewmp12]

I was a US Army Military Policeman in Wurzburg Germany from 1978 to 1982 and the very first car I bought was an orange in color NSU RO80. This was a left side driving car with less than 12000 KM on the engine. The car was absolutely flawless and very fast and nice to drive. It took very little time to learn to drive because you had to shift it without a clutch. I only had the car for less than 3 months when I was hit by a speeding drunk driver in the big traffic circle downtown. The impact was hard enough that it drove the front bumper into the drivers side tire and blew it up. I was actually able to sell it to someone looking for a newer engine for his car. It was nice while it lasted.

[@bertramlefarge69]

The idea is to not rev the engine...proceeds to rev the engine lol.

[@lambroyannoulatos964]

It's the only way to drive an NSURo80, above 3500 to 6000 RPM's owned 3 of those. You could keep up with a Jag E type on the open road or a 911 Porche at top speeds of 190 to 210 kph. for 2 to 3 hrs continuously for a 400 to 500 kms range, whence one had to refill and top up engine oil if required.

[@sgtgrash]

Gorgeous machine... NSU Ro80: Back To The Future!

[@lookandlisten5740]

Gorgeous looking car...more 1980s than late 60s.

[@Supremacy1967]

As a kid, my Dad had an identical one that you were reviewing and also a v4..both fantastic and much missed.Great review Ian!

[@Prestonesfpv]

Its such a beautiful car, have loved it since i was a little boy many moons ago

[@MisterHampshire]

I had a semi-metallic maroon Dinky toy of the Ro80 around 1969-1970 time. With a battery, if you pressed down on the front the headlamps lit up, similarly, press down on the back and the rear lamps lit up. I loved that toy and was wowed by the styling even at such a young age.

[@rimmersbryggeri]

This is beautiful. Looks like a BMW 1500 mated with an OPEL Rekord.

[@pridbor]

U need glasses

[@giuliopedrali116]

Are you blind?

[@leeduncan3000]

Amazing every time I watch a video about a Ro80. Thank you Hubnut for the drive. I can think of many cars inspired by this trend setting car. Ford Taurus, Audi 5000s, and Buick Regal from the late eighties and early nineties look much like a NSU Ro80. Good job!

[@GreyTheFloydianSergal]

love these cars. I think my appeal to these opposed to the Mazda rotary cars is the styling, these cars looked like something twenty years ahead where-as Mazdas just looked like something current or even outdated, a criticism shared by several auto-journalists of the time if I recall

[@Shane-zx4ps]

Grey The Floydian Sergal Mazda RX7 voted one of the best looking sports ever by motoring journalists and the public, and are now worth a fortune

[@GreyTheFloydianSergal]

@@Shane-zx4ps I'm more thinking the RX3 & RX4 saloons, cars that were period to the Ro80

[@Shane-zx4ps]

Grey The Floydian Sergal ok that’s fair enough. I actually thought those older Mazda’s were cute and had something nostalgic about them

[@doktorbimmer]

*Mazda is not a company know for its styling... its market niche has always been cheap, affordable cars targeted at first time buyers, not enthusiasts.*

[@GreyTheFloydianSergal]

@@doktorbimmer I wouldn't describe a rotary engined car as something aimed for the first time buyer though, so that statement doesn't make much sense. I never said there was anything wrong with the old Mazda's styling, just compared to cars like the RO80 & the Citroen GS Birotor, they look a little too conventional for what they are. I doubt that the Citroen DS for example would be as iconic as it is now if it looked like a Mk1 Ford Consul. Something else that needs to be considered is that styling does get cars out of showrooms. More people bought Mk2 Cavaliers than Talbot Alpines & Solaras because the Cavalier was more up-to-date in style than the latter (little surprise as Alpines maintained the same sheet metal throughout its ten year lifespan). It's also why people shifted from Metros into Novas in later years as the Metro was losing its edge come the mid to late eighties. If people were really concerned about just getting from A to B then why buy a rotary engined car when a piston car could do just as well? So on those grounds, the early rotary mazdas didn't really work for those wanting simple A to B transport as first time buyers would of had satisfactory service from a Cortina or Marina & they don't really work for the type of people who'd want a rotary engined car for the advanced technology as the cars looked too conventional. I don't have anything against cars like the RX3 or RX4 but if I was in the period after a car with a wankel engine to be different, then there's a high probability that I'd go for the more eccentric looking NSU than the conservative Mazda

[@Bicyclehub]

The body design is timeless. Seems to borrow something from the Citroen DS, rear wheels very far back and rear doors square down to the sill. It's totally gorgeous whilst also being completely functional. Looks like it had a low drag factor too. The Wankel engine was a very new concept and design, and I believe offered to other manufacturers royalty free in return for pooled development information. Maybe VW were hoping for the seals problem to be solved before they gave up in 1977. Great video! You were on my local roads.

[@doktorbimmer]

*_Royalty Free????_** General Motors paid $50 million for its license and Mazda paid a 40% royalty on every engine sold. Ford refused to pay until NSU lowered the fees in 1974.*

[@nigelh4617]

It's 1967... "What shall I order for August? Morris Oxford, or NSU Ro80? Hmm...."

[@ClaudeSac]

My parents ordered me in the beginning of '67. And I'm also a bit thirsty, reliable only when taken good care of, and last but not least; very stylish, stunning and unique.

[@pit_stop77]

I think cost would have played a significant part in the decision. The nsu was very expensive

[@ClaudeSac]

@@pit_stop77 Almost forgot to mention that; I'm wildly expensive too!

[@CaptHollister]

@@ClaudeSac Do you also pollute the atmosphere more than newer designs ?

[@ClaudeSac]

@@CaptHollister bwahahaha, I tried to keep that quiet but I guess I can't deny being unbelievably toxic, yup! :-)

[@paulpattison2592]

Great review of a car that has interested me since I was at school and read the Autocar roadtest in 1967/68. You, and in none of the many comments that I have managed to read has it been mentioned that this was an aerodynamic design : after all this time I can still remember that the roadtesters observed that at speeds over 80mph in rain it was not necessary to use the wipers.... I also recall that the launch advertising claimed that the car was so advanced that "it will be 17 years before other manufacturers catch up...."

[@Shane-zx4ps]

Nobody ever perfected the rotary engine, Mazda have been trying for years but can’t get it right either, and I don’t think it will be ever done cause electrification is on its way quicker than we think

[@lookandlisten5740]

Yes, but will they perfect the electric car ?

[@Shane-zx4ps]

Wether they do or don’t it’s inevitable that we will be driving them in the not so distant future, anyway the wankel rotary was a great engine in theory but not in design, or else it would been taking on by a lot of major car companies

[@doktorbimmer]

*Well, Mazda just announced its taking orders for the new **_Mazda3_** with the revolutionary new 2.0 liter Skyactiv-X 4-cylinder engine... Mazda has stated that it remains committed to selling internal combustion engines to 2050 and beyond.*

[@Shane-zx4ps]

Mazda can say what they like about making combustion engine way into the future, but will they be able to sell them in Europe and the USA where emission laws are become very stringent,!! Especially in my country where they hope to be free of all combustion engines by 2030

[@doktorbimmer]

@Bapster Man *I think Mazda can see very clearly through the political and religious rhetoric... No European country has banned them and the United States has not banned ICE vehicles either.*

[@Nikki_Holland]

Super interesting video and drive. Suzuki made a rotary engined motorbike in the 70s/80s called an RE5. They weren’t very popular. That Ro80 looks like a car from the 1980s, very modern looking. Thanks Ian

[@CaptHollister]

The RE5 almost bankrupted Suzuki. I remember them for having 2 carbs, 2 separate ignition systems, an oil sump and a two-stroke style oil injection system. Lots of complication without actually bringing any benefits to the table compared the Honda's and Kawasaki's fours.

[@MrKeyboardCommando]

That good old Ro80, the car which bankrupted NSU‼️ Those pesky rotor seals‼️💸💸💸

[@smhorse]

Rotor seals solved by 1972. Mazda technology then more or less perfected it to the extent that a fair number of surviving NSU engines used Mazda-derived tip seals. Hurley Engineering in Coventry still deals with them from time to time, and can perform conversions to the Mazda 12A or 13B.

[@MrKeyboardCommando]

@@smhorse Thank you for the information, it's appreciated.👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@ferrumignis]

@@smhorse Solved by 1972 and yet Mazda rotor tips still a problem on the RX8 30 years later!

[@smhorse]

SkyWizardless : depends how you treat it. Mazda had it more or less right in terms of tip seals by the time of the RX7. If neglected, of course it will suffer. I ran a Ro80 for four years, with a 13B engine, and never had engine problems.

[@ferrumignis]

@@smhorse The large number of RX8's that suffered from compression loss early in their lives and the number of engine rebuilders specialising in these engines that sprang up suggests Mazda really hadn't fully nailed it.

[@stephenstreek3913]

Ro80 back in the nineties my boss had one his regular driver was a 3.0l scimitar gte but as soon as the snow arrived the scimitar was mothballed and out came the Ro80 it was like train in the snow point and go. Wonderful piece of engineering.

[@blobby273]

19:14 motorcyclist mysteriously disappears , du du du du twilight zone .

[@aaa111912]

yes i wonderd about that. i live near there,should i be worried?

[@StuckinRiyadh]

Had a lift in one in 1970 on the A45, hitchhiking to Harwich. The faster it went the quieter it got. The driver said he was on the third engine already. Most finished up with conventional engines fitted, I think. A great video HN.