Ro 80

[TagoraSX]

Yes indeed gentlemen, I CAN HAZ WANKELZ. well, not quite yet.

 

I bought this on Saturday at an auction in deepest darkest Norfolk via telephone bidding. It failed to sell at the last classic auction back in August with an estimate of £2500 which was far too salty for me. So, when it was entered again with a much lower estimate I decided to register for a phone bid on the off chance it would be cheap, and It meant I wouldn't have to go to Norfolk.

 

After my Audi 200 escapades I swore I would never buy another car blind again.........but all that went out the window and after a 20 second phone call on Saturday I was the proud owner of an Ro 80!

 

It's a 1973 model with 40,000 miles on the clock and looks* in good condition but it does need some work. The interior seems to be in excellent

condition and the bodywork, apart from a few rust bubbles here and there and some micro blistering looks pretty good too.

 

* may be a complete heap of shite

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First thing on the "to do" list.

 

 

This should probably be somewhere else...

 

 

Sadly, it has had a Ford V4 engine conversion in the past. I am looking into some replacement engine options including a Mazda conversion.

 

 

[worldofceri]

Congratulations:

 

You have just won at Autoshite.

 

 

P.S. Best thread title ever.

[skattrd]

Top work sir, I do like these weird old things.

If the v4 is functional I'd be tempted to get the car running & road legal before looking at re-wankelling it.

[Shep Shepherd]

Love it! The Ro 80 is one of my all-time favourite cars

[shedvan]

That is well cool they look ace!

Are they an auto or some kind of semi-auto, it looks like only two pedals? [/stupid question]

[Cavcraft]

Top bombing!

It seems to be running on the original directional tyres too, you might want to launch them at some point and check out the spare Vredesteins sitting in the back.

[wuvvum]

Top purchase sir!

 

These are a 3-speed semi-auto, a bit like a Citroën C-matic but probably more reliable, 'cos they're not French.

[trigger]

Fantastic! There's a guy around here who take his one to the local shows with a trailer on the back which houses a R080 working display engine, in fact here it is.

 

1974 NSU Ro80 by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

1974 NSU Ro80 Engine by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

[Shep Shepherd]

The 'clutch' is activated by a micro-switch in the gearknob. As result, owners of Ro 80s quickly lose the habit of resting their hand on it whilst driving

[AeroNautiCal]

Excellent choice!

 

I've always thought these were gorgeous, pity about the re-engine though.

[HillmanImp]

Considering these cars were around in the late 60's, the styling of it is so far ahead of its time it must have looked alien compared to the other cars on the road back then.

 

Great purchase.

[meggersdog]

I was there on Saturday.It did look nice in the metal although I didn't hear it running as I was in the cafe eating a very nice bowl of chips when it went through.

Didn't buy anything myself (bid on a couple of 924's and a Merc coupe) and was forced to drive the Silver Spirit back to Peterborough that my mate bought for less than the lower estimate.

[ypsilandra]

Love, love, love Ro80s! You might want to check the boot, looks like they came with a spare 70s dolly bird

 

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

zomg. Phenomenal.

 

Shame about the engine, but at least you get to drop a nice fancy bit of Mazda in there.

[DVee8]

The RO80 is in this months Practical classic mag

[Junkman]

For parts and an engine:

 

Fa. Buchholz

Untere Weiherstraße 46

89165 Dietenheim

 

Tel.: (0 73 47) 34 43

Fax.: (0 73 47) 95 77 24

E-Mail: [email protected]

[ProgRocker]

Phwoar!

 

NSU Ro80 is a design classic in my eyes. I just like the look of 'em irrespective of the engine under the bonnet.

[RedSparrow]

Nice!

 

Hey guys, what's the silver thing on the left here?

[messerschmitt owner]

Pug 205?

 

Edit. Left, right?

 

Dunno

[Shep Shepherd]

Looks like a 1960s Ford Taunus to me.

[KruJoe]

Unbelievably, these came out in 1967! So ahead of their time, and utterly gorgeous.

 

Your new acquisition looks to be a nice one. Just a thought on the engine - would a small V6 fit in there? Or even a VAG V5 would keep it in the family (ish), and the matching trans-axle from an A4 might even fit in the hole.

 

This photo is currently my desktop image. It's a spot of mine from Thailand, and I'm never bored of looking at it.

 

[michiel]

is all I can 'say'.

[fotorabia]

me also like much...certainly as others stated..design before its age with a powerplant ta boot..

[Mr_Bo11ox]

If I had one of these, i'd fit a V5 from a Seat Leon + A4 autobox , brilliant man.

 

Great buy, these are such a stunner its frankly ridiculous.

[michael1703]

Saw this on the bay yesterday, didnt sell at £300, might be worth asking if he has a lump

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NSU-RO80-SHEL ... 7675.l2557

[Junkman]

Nice!

 

Hey guys, what's the silver thing on the left here?

 

Ford Taunus 12M P6. The V4 engine would be right at home in it.

[Spiny Norman]

Wonderful looking cars these. I remember CAR magazine did a piece on them in 92/93 comparing it to the then-new Audi 100. In some respects the RO80 won.

Top shiting, v. jealous.

[dollywobbler]

Incredible machines. They feel so far ahead of their time. Brave buy! May you be rewarded with accolades and not too much rust.

[RobT]

Ooof, love these. Great purchase and good luck with it!

[coalnotdole]

Looks like an interesting purchase. Personally i'd not be offended by the V4 conversion as in a way thats part of the history of the marque and its the difference between the car usable an not just a museum piece.

 

I seems a lot of V4 conversions were carried out by Hurley Motor Engineering Limited, who Ironically these days are now a Rotary engine specialist! It might be worth getting in contact with them as they could have a record of the car passing through their hands. They may even have the kit to convert back to the original engine. But I bet its not cheap!