A number of days in the past, we wrote about Jay Leno’s drive in an NSU Spider, the primary manufacturing automotive to characteristic a Wankel rotary engine. Nonetheless, NSU’s crowning achievement with the rotary was the 1968-77 Ro 80, so it’s becoming that this 1972 NSU is our Decide of the Day. It’s listed on the market on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Elyria, Ohio. (Click on the hyperlink to view the itemizing)

Whenever you have a look at the Ro 80, are you able to think about it being a precursor to the Audi 5000 (identified elsewhere because the 100 and 200) that was launched for 1983? It will stand to cause as a result of NSU was purchased by Volkswagen in 1969 and merged with Auto Union to kind Audi NSU Auto Union AG. That firm produced the primary Audi since World Conflict II and would finally compete toe-to-toe with Mercedes-Benz and BMW.

Having garnered some expertise engineering a Wankel with the Spider, NSU improved its rotary design by producing a 995cc twin-rotor model driving the entrance wheels by way of a semi-automatic transmission with a vacuum-operated clutch. In some respects, it was like Germany’s model of a Citroen DS, one other automotive chock filled with fascinating technical specs. Different techy options of the Ro 80 included four-wheel impartial suspension, four-wheel disc brakes, and rack-and-pinion steering.

Excessive gasoline consumption had been an unlucky Wankel hallmark, so the Ro 80 was not widespread throughout the gasoline disaster after already enduring sturdiness points. Definitely, NSU’s service community had little expertise with the Wankel, which didn’t assist with its fame. Sarcastically, the Audi 5000 and its variants had been later in-built the identical meeting plant.

In whole, 37,398 NSU Ro 80s had been constructed over 10 mannequin years, which isn’t many per 12 months. This 1972 Ro 80 is a Euro-spec model (very, only a few had been bought in America) that reveals 94,000 kilometers (about 59,000 miles). “The automotive sat a few years undriven,” says the vendor. “Very straight physique, seems just like the automotive nonetheless has authentic paint. A really stable undercarriage, some rust backside of the entrance hood as you may see within the footage.” The inside is alleged to be in authentic situation and exhibiting its age (together with cracked dashboard), however all there. “The rotary engine doesn’t run on account of sitting, however turns by hand. [It was] final registered in 1985,” so this can be a venture for somebody with technical know-how and an appreciation for automotive historical past.

Fortunately, this 1972 NSU Ro 80 comes with loads of books and components to assist with the restoration. For $12,950, you’ll have a giant venture in your arms, however the automotive gods shall be projecting goodwill upon your soul for the remainder of your life.

To view this itemizing on ClassicCars.com, see Decide of the Day.