How's this for a spot?

[Peter C]

Saw this from 200 yards away, knew instantly what it was, got my camera out and hey presto, an NSU Ro80.

 

Unfortunately, the exhaust was blowing like mad and I couldn't tell whether the car still had its original smooth Wankel engine or a rattly old Ford V4.

 

 

Stunning car!

[seth]

Nice! On steels too. Normally see them on the Fuchs alloys.

[trigger]

Good work, There a rare spot at show let alone in the wild as such!

[Dave7]

Fantastic. Nice to see someone still using theirs.

[Spottedlaurel]

Good spot. DVLA website says 1998cc, does that tally with V4 capacity?

 

Owner looks like the retired engineer type who’d appreciate what these do and make sure it was looked after.

[mk1_4dr]

Looks almost modern, even today. It must have been out of this world when new....

 

Top Spottage

[Rocket88]

Good spot. DVLA website says 1998cc, does that tally with V4 capacity?

 

Owner looks like the retired engineer type who’d appreciate what these do and make sure it was looked after.

 

 

Yup, the Wankel engine cc is a lot less [i think!]

[flat4alfa]

lovely spot

 

lovely car

 

NSU Wankels were listed as 995cc x2 = 1990cc

 

The Cologne V4 was 1996cc. The old Taunus inline four was 1998cc but I doubt that's in it. Would be interesting if it's got a Duratorq but I doubt that too, what with the lovely chrome hub caps and Cap'n Birdseye beardy. More likely it was nominal value of choice for the third bl00dy Wankel it had fitted that year.

 

Not that the DVLA operatives of old had much of a care in what they were reading-off and manually entering via their DEC Terminal connected to the VAX cluster. While smoking a ciggy.

 

 

I've got a right ting about those NSUs.

[RoadworkUK]

One of my favouritest cars of ever. Blah blah ahead of its time etc. But seriously, take the plates off and fit twenty first century wheels to it, and i'll wager few people would know that it's had its thirty ninth birthday.

 

If I still had any arsed left from the tedious day I've had, I'd be playing around with Photoshop to see what an updated RO80 could look like today. But I haven't.

[Gompo]

At 200 years I'd have been thinking it could be a K70 aswell.

 

Good spot though, I dont think I've seen one before.

[warren t claim]

 

If I still had any arsed left from the tedious day I've had, I'd be playing around with Photoshop to see what an updated RO80 could look like today. But I haven't.

 

Simply insert picture of a 1992 Mitsubishi Sigma. Job done!

[flat4alfa]

shamelessly stolen from the Ride of Retro forum

 

[pogweasel]

 

If I still had any arsed left from the tedious day I've had, I'd be playing around with Photoshop to see what an updated RO80 could look like today. But I haven't.

 

Ref. Audi's, A4,6 & 8.

 

Ro80's are well class though.

They were on about page 4 of my Ladybird book of Cars (filtered by engine capacity) and I marvelled at their modern looks and fast performance and their lesser-spottedness as a child.

Shame about the economy mind.

[Formula Autos]

'king excellent spot!

 

Imagine one of these with an RX7/RX8 lump in it. What a Q-car, and all the right noises too.

[eddyramrod]

Does anyone else think the Ro80 driver looks like John Simpson of PC?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just me then, ok....

[boobydoo]

Mmmmm...delicious! And a vinyl roof to boot.

 

A sneaky HPi reveals it to be registered March 1971, 4 owners, last keeper change January 2010...so the old boy hasn't had it long!

[Shep Shepherd]

That's lovely! The Ro80 is one of my all-time favourite cars, even when it's fitted with a Ford V-4

[autofive]

1971???

 

thats an early one

 

good spot

[TagoraSX]

The earliest I've seen is a 1969 although they were launched in September 1967.

 

I'm having one looked at tomoz, hopefully it won't be a complete rotbox like the last two

[barrett]

Is there something in the air at the moment? There's been some pretty epic spots already and we're not even through with January! I predict a shite-filled 2011.

 

This is probably my favourite of the lot, especially the 'technically-minded former architect/reformed sex offender' driving it!

 

And here's a question for ya, how do you actually say 'RO80'?? is it R-O-80 or Row-80? Funnily enough, it's never come up in conversation down the pub before

[seth]

And here's a question for ya, how do you actually say 'RO80'?? is it R-O-80 or Row-80? Funnily enough, it's never come up in conversation down the pub before

 

I say R-O-80. Though I suppose it is actually an abbreviation of Rotary and so should be said Row?

 

I've been told off for saying Wankel in front of the daughter.

[barrett]

But that's pronounced 'Vankel' !