Ro80: Sanity check required please

[Skizzer]

I have the serious horn for this, which Junkman posted on the eBay tat thread.  It's a runner but has no MOT and probably needs 'a bit' of welding to get one.  Hopefully the chassis rails aren't rotten.

 

 

I was being very good and not buying any more cars.  But...

• I've wanted one of these since I was five.  
• It's currently sub-£1k, with 24 hours to go.  They do come up reasonably regularly, but usually in the £4k+ range unless they are obvious wrecks.  
• This one looks generally tidy apart from one front wing, and has a good interior (trim parts being among the hardest to source).  It's a lovely colour.
• 'My' storage unit isn't mine yet, but will be shortly.  I can probably juggle things around to keep it somewhere for the necessary few weeks, once it's MOTd.
• Mrs Skizzer approves (bless her).
• I'm not awash with cash at the moment, although I can stretch to the purchase price and reasonable MOT costs and anyway I'm owed quite a lot by some slow-paying clients who should pony up within 3-4 weeks.

Would it be very foolish to have a sensible* snipe at this?

[I_am_Diesel]

No, buy it. You know it makes sense.

[dollywobbler]

If you really want one, it's probably worth a punt, especially as it's brown. Ro80 prices are only going to go one way. Really does depend on what 'a bit of welding' is though doesn't it? Definitely a car I'd want to actually check out before bravely hitting the bid button.

[skattrd]

I wouldn't, unless you could check for massive amounts of rust first.

 

That said, looking at the ad, it looks pretty good, but the last MOT was over 5 years ago, and fuck knows what wankel parts are like to get.

 

Good luck.

[Skizzer]

It's in Newton Abbot, and I'm in Wales.  Realistically, no time to go and look at it before bidding ends.  Bravery would be required.

[AlabamaShrimp]

Sod the rust and buy it

[wuvvum]

Do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it

[alf892]

You have to buy this car.......iyou have wanted one since you were 5 and you have domestic approval.

 

How many more chances will you get? Not many with the correct engine surely?

 

You know what to do........

[panhard65]

I would say I would go and look at it for you but I fancy one of these myself one day and might end up being tempted. So go for it I am sure it can't be that bad.

[Louise2cv]

I would suggest that anyone asking a question like that on this forum already knows what the answer is...

 

Wcpgw?

[alf892]

Father Alf used to be an NSU dealer in the 60s/early 70s. From what he used to say parts are probably easier to get now.........

 

 

Bought it yet?

[DSdriver]

Good colour - it doesn't show the rust.  Is there no-one on here who can go and prod it with a pointy thing and see if all that's left is a pile of brown dust? I would offer but as I don't even know where Newton Abbot is I can only asume its not local to me.

[barrett]

Buy now or forever regret it

 

 

 

Sorry, that should read:

Buy now and forever regret it

 

One of those, anyway. I've been eyeing it up myself. The interior looks fantastic which bodes well for general condition elsewhere... As noted, prices are set to take a big leap soon, properly engined ones even more so. Do it and then let me have a go, plz

[Skizzer]

I would say I would go and look at it for you but I fancy one of these myself one day and might end up being tempted. So go for it I am sure it can't be that bad.

Does HGF Motors fancy the welding gig if I win it? You're on my way home from Devon...

[forddeliveryboy]

Check over the NSU forums to see if anyone has been to view or whether there are potentially nightmarish hidden corrosion probs which affectr these shells and defeat all but the most nutty Ro80 fuse-iasts/cost £thousands to rectify properly.

 

I'd have it, unseen - if the price doesn't go daft.

[garethj]

As long as the price doesn't go mad you can buy it and if it turns out to be a dog sell it on again.

[anonymous user]

I cannot believe you even had to ask, of course you should buy it. (Says Mr. Risk Averse who usually runs away from any serious decisions; I'm quite taken with them myself but would never be brave enough to buy one)             .

[Skizzer]

the last MOT was over 5 years ago, and fuck knows what wankel parts are like to get.

5 years off the road is a bit of a worry, admittedly, but the engines are actually pretty well supported by specialists (RX8s being their bread and butter).

 

Good idea re the NSU forums.

 

Sound advice here, thanks, especially since I'm probably not really in the right place for a sanity check.

[cort16]

I was never that taken by these until I went to see them as a favour for a fellow forum member and immediately wanted one as it was a truly impressive bit of machinery.

It needs to have the original running gear but the setup is complex so brace yourself for parts hunting and having to spend some ££. Vacuum operated semi automatic gearbox. Wcpgw?

 

Awesome though so aye get it bought

[vulgalour]

I know nothing about these so I'm going to suggest you buy it on the strength of the fact that these look far too modern to really be a 1960s car.  They always look a good 20-30 years younger than they really are, no mean feat.

[RobT]

Bloody hell, that is lovely, such a mint interior too. So yes, do it! The grot can't be that bad shirley, based on the rest of it. If i had the money I'd buy it blind, but then I am quite impulsive when it comes to cars....The fact the seller can spell and has other interesting motors in his yard bodes well I reckon.

[OwdChina]

Ahh the dreaded Dr. Wankel engine. The power delivery is like an electric motor, smooth and pulls like a train. Get a good stock of detergent oil. Everybody should drive a rotary powered at least once in life.

 

BUY IT.

[messerschmitt owner]

you would be a wankel not to buy it!

 

Trust me! If it's something you've wanted that long, and you can afford it, buy it and worry about the probems later. THere will be a grand's worth of bits on it you could flog if it was too far gone. But it looks decent.

 

I've had six NSUs and I'd have another but even the Prinzs are in decent four figures now!

[panhard65]

Does HGF Motors fancy the welding gig if I win it? You're on my way home from Devon...

You would be more than welcome to pop in on the way home and bung it on the lift to see how bad it really is. I am only about 300 yards off the motorway. I am now pretty busy though with a Munga in next week and my Fregate's arriving on tuesday I don't have the time for more projects for a while.

[HMC]

It's got to be worth a punt at that sort of money. It looks to have a decent drop of paint on it and the interior is lovely. May I add some small print- to be ready for shitefest if possible/ realistic.

[Sudsprint]

Perfect colour and spec.

 

I would have it in a heartbeat if I had the space.

 

For God's sake man …buy it.

[Ghosty]

What they said.

[Dave_Q]

***HELPFUL POST ALERT***

 

There was one of these slowly dissolving in a garden not far from me, it's now gone.

 

Also, DO IT.

[HMC]

Also- how cool will this and the sd1 look together? Mr aesthete 1977 wants his cars back.

[Craig the Princess]

Do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it