1964 NSU 1000 - Sold, bought back, *NOW* going to build it

So I bought this NSU many years ago. Pulled it in the garage and started working on it very slowly, with an eye towards building a vintage race car. Well, I had an opportunity to buy a Porsche 911 (before the prices went through the roof) and didn't have the room to keep everything, so the NSU had to go. I really liked the car, but I've wanted a 911 since working at Bruch Motorwerke in college in Iowa City and driving them.

Anyway, I saw it advertised for sale, from the guy I sold it to. We run in the same circles, so I sent him a note that I wanted it buy it back and finish it, and he made me a deal, so I bought it. I also got a 1200 engine and transmission, another transmission, about 6 extra wheels, some 12" some 13" and some tires, a floorpan from a 1200, en extra door, a disc brake front end and finned aluminum rear brakes, etc etc. Lots of parts.

Towing it home:

[URL=http://s61.photobucket.com/user/greggearhead/media/NSU/1124161153_zpslyft64jy.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s61.photobucket.com/user/greggearhead/media/NSU/1124161248a_zpsrmdtxaur.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s61.photobucket.com/user/greggearhead/media/NSU/DSC_0220_zps0q2m05uq.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s61.photobucket.com/user/greggearhead/media/NSU/DSC_0214_zpsci21jcgg.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s61.photobucket.com/user/greggearhead/media/NSU/DSC_0212_zps3m7felro.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s61.photobucket.com/user/greggearhead/media/NSU/DSC_0217_zps4g56fnb9.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s61.photobucket.com/user/greggearhead/media/NSU/DSC_0218_zpsxkzgli4o.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s61.photobucket.com/user/greggearhead/media/NSU/DSC_0219_zpssfrfrggl.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s61.photobucket.com/user/greggearhead/media/NSU/DSC_0221_zpsvgdhwnme.jpg.html][/URL]

What I am kinda aiming for - a street legal track car, that I can do DE's or autocross or vintage race.

Here's some of them set up like that for idea fodder:

[URL=http://s61.photobucket.com/user/greggearhead/media/NSU/dfbdfbd_zps8k16woyr.png.html][/URL] [URL=http://s61.photobucket.com/user/greggearhead/media/NSU/Korbach20045_zpsnwaq4ppj.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s61.photobucket.com/user/greggearhead/media/NSU/ronal%206x13_zps3jltqtvy.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s61.photobucket.com/user/greggearhead/media/NSU/8a78ba99cb3eb6a8ef453f580b607066_zpsyyx9omsb.jpg.html][/URL]

Cool project.

The one thing I would suggest it to lean slightly toward street so that you can enjoy it more.

I'm thankful that my GTV is more like that than a more pure track car. The race car I also have really brought that home.

My friend has a square headlight 1200 that is in great shape, but I've never seen run. They're cool little cars.

That's not the one with the rotary, is it?

DON'T CARE! Is that a 4x4 van? :D

Now, that engine aint quite right...what the berkeley is it?

In reply to NOHOME:

That's an NSU 4-cylinder.

I think we need to have a talk about your van.....

alfadriver wrote: Cool project. The one thing I would suggest it to lean slightly toward street so that you can enjoy it more. I'm thankful that my GTV is more like that than a more pure track car. The race car I also have really brought that home.

Good advice - I've had VW autocross cars and erred on both sides. However, I don't have a problem with a Sunday driver type car being a little noisy and harsh!

codrus wrote: That's not the one with the rotary, is it?

Nope - that's the Spider and the Ro80 - the first production Wankel Rotary, I believe. Impressive, but had some teething problems initially.

This one was the first 4 cyl engine they made - 996cc, and made them up to almost 1200cc. Bored and stroked for racing up to around 1400cc or maybe more in Europe, I think.

Hot diggity! One of my favorite cars. I highly endorse your plans and will enjoy following along

So it is a "real" engine eh?

akamcfly wrote: DON'T CARE! Is that a 4x4 van? :D

Lol. Yes, yes it is. You don't think someone car-nerdy enough to own an NSU would have a totally normal work truck, do you?

There's even a story behind the van. I rationalized using a van as my tow vehicle a while back. I used a VW Vanagon on Porsche wheels as my daily, work and camping vehicle unless I needed to tow a car or it was deep snow, but thought I could combine two vehicles into one with a full size 4x4 van.

I started looking, and realized that 4x4 vans are rare, expensive, and hard to find in good condition. This one I found in Seattle, and bought off Craigslist based on the sellers description, a phone call and a bunch more photos. Pretty trusting to send a cashiers check for deposit and buy a plane ticket to pay the remainder in cash, but I did. Turned out great.

It was one of 20 vans built for the Oregon state lottery to haul around their lotto ball drawing machines. Salem-Kroger did the 4x4 conversions, and once they were done, Oregon realized the lotto machines didn't fit in the vans. Government, right? Anyway, they sold them off much later and this one went to a dirt bike guy that added a front Warn winch, spacing out the bumper, spaced out the rear bumper a little (makes hooking a ramp on much easier) added a 2 person removable bench behind the captions chairs, and some interior paneling (that the owner after him removed - grr). I flew into Seattle, did the deal and drove home.

I love this van. I've had Dodge crew cab power wagons, and club cabs, and other more normal pickups, but this thing is great. I can't wait to do swap meets in it ( I buy/sell VW/Porsche new/used parts and euro car accessories like fog lights and seats and wheels). Also building a foldup bed in the rear for camping.

NOHOME wrote: So it is a "real" engine eh?

Heh, yes, real. 4 stroke, 4 cyl, ohc. That's pretty normal. Air-cooled, German, rear engined - that's pretty normal, too.

NSU was a great engineering firm - many unique and good ideas in their designs.

You can see the engine and transmission on the front of the trailer in front of the NSU - there is a cooling flange that has been removed, but you can see the flywheel - the clutch can be replaced without pulling the engine or transmission. Genius. Simple. Love that thinking.

Approved

Seen these race here in Europe, both hillclimb (Berg Cup) and circuit (German Youngtimer) and they are awesome machines.

As a NSU owner I'm sure you already know, but the hot version of the Prinz was the TT.. the name of which Audi perloined for thier TT, they even copied the TT logo directly from the NSU..

I'll be watching this thread with interest..

If you were wondering what they sound like at full song -

https://www.youtube.com/embed/kQ6KsSjYRbQ

My good friend Brad has a 73 I believe in a nice shade of blue. I approve of this thread. Wish I could buy his car, as I love it, yet have never driven it. His was a one owner car that the original owner had bought new as a two year old left over, and has been in MA it's whole life apparently.

Mazdax605 Wrote:

His was a one owner car that the original owner had bought new.

This makes me laugh.

Some day I will be an original owner...Nah never gunna happen.

Yeah I didn't write that correctly. Was trying to say a one owner car that be bought new 2 years after the model year. Excuse my poor writing, please. Long day. It had been sitting a while when my friend bought it as well as the original owner had passed away and his widow didn't know what to do with it. Regardless I love that car and approve of your build thread.

Hope you thanked the guy for storing it until you could get to it.

Jerry From LA wrote: Hope you thanked the guy for storing it until you could get to it.

Lol. Yes, I did. I paid him more than I sold it to him for, and didn't even haggle, which is completely against my nature. He and I are pretty good friends, and buy back and forth once in a while. It's a small world when you are into old German stuff, usually.

Ooooh! Is that what these things are called? LOL

These are rad, I approve!