NSU Prinz 4 - it's like a squashed Corvair! But is it fun?

It's like a tiny Corvair with a 583cc straight twin engine with some odd details and it's sooo brown! The NSU Prinz 4 was one of the better economy cars I reckon. But I must give both a knees and a feet alert as the pedals were tiny...

Huge thanks to owner Marcel for camera work and for letting me drive this lovely little car.

#automobile #driving #classiccar

[roberttalbot]

I bought my first Prinz 4 in 1995. In 1997 it was written off by some thugs in Mile End who tipped it onto its side (with us inside). In 1998 I bought my current Prinz 4 from its original owner in Surrey. I love the car so much that when I moved to Canada, I had the car shipped over. I now drive her (she is called Stella) in Vancouver BC where she causes much confusion. Because she is rhd, most people guess English or Japanese manufacture and not German!

[poutramos]

The first American to orbit the earth, John Glenn, drove a NSU Prinz. The other six Mercury astronauts drove Corvettes.

[Veagle-vztg]

Oh! Memory Lane!!
My first car was a 1964 blue NSU Prinz 4L. Fabulous thing, so advanced for the time - as you mention, all sycro box, discs up front and an absolute DELIGHT to drive. I was in a band at the time & we could get a full drum kit in it!
Once it got going, the handling was surprisingly good, if a bit susceptible to wandering about a bit in a cross-wind...
Also, it was pretty quite in the ....erm...."cruise"...with all the noise generators well behind you.
Loved that little car - SO much character, and it never let me down ever, despite having almost 90, 000 miles on the clock!

I also loved the Drivers handbook that came with it, reminding that checking the tyres regularly (with the tyre pressure gauge in the supplied tool kit) not only enhanced the safety, but also endowed the driver "The Air of The Expert".
Best watch on here for ages; made my evening, thank you.

[rafthejaf]

My dad had an NSU RO80 which was a horse of a different colour! It may have been disastrous financially but it was an amazing car which still looks modern and futuristic today.

[NeilBarratt]

I had Prinz 4 in 1980. Its clutch had gone and I was told I could have it for free if I picked it up before the tax and MOT expired.
It turned out that the clutch cable was way out of adjustment, and I drove the car home.
It needed very little for a new MOT and I really liked it. I don't recall it being as noisy and shaky as this one, but time fogs the memory.
They were quite popular in the UK being economical and unusually rust resistant for their time.
IIRC Prinz 4s sold in the UK prior to us joining the EEC were assembled in the Irish Republic.
Great to see this. A bit of nostalgia for me!

[nelson]

That's an impeccably preserved NSU PRINZ. Here in Uruguay they were commonly seen running back in the early 80's.

[PantsManUK]

That engine has a lovely burble about it. A cutey, without a doubt... Thank you Marcel for letting hubnut show it to the masses.

[StreakyP]

welcome to the new channel... Hobbitnut & the Frodo road-test

[SimonBedford-Roberts]

My dad had one of these cars, his was the 1000cc version. It was an up-spec version that looked a bit like the TT. Beautifully made cars. His was a 1969 model so 6V electrics of course. The last production year of the model was 1972/73 and by that stage the engine was 1200 with 12V electrics. You'll need to keep the king pins greased because they tend to seize and affect the steering. I remember the exhaust system being incredibly expensive and quite complex. My lasting memory of the car is the whisky bottles clinking around in the bonnet because that's where he kept his stash so my mum couldn't find it!!

[riccardosabatini]

Here the "schoolteacher" 😅: Prinz 3 = 583 cc. Prinz 4 = 598 cc. Max speed (from test in an old review, Quattroruote 12/1970 - Italy): 120, 647 km/h (only driver) and 115, 448 km) h (full load). Actually the first Prinz 4 version in 1962, same review, did 123, 323 km/h at medium load. Anyway, Prinz 4 was my dad's car, that dynastart and engine sound... how much nostalgia! 1975, I remember my father have a problem with a bushing in the gear lever... stop at the roadside, checking, show me the bushing, fixing and on the road again! Thx for the video!

[alanhunter]

There were a few about in the 70s and I remember them well. Mind you, haven't seen one on the road for 40 years. Thanks for the memories.

[CauliflowerMcPugg]

What a great little car and in fabulous 70s brown. Awesome 👌

[dafdaffer]

it looks so like my DAF 44, even the same colour, It also shares the washer bulb as they were only fitted to DAFs and NSU cars. lovely

[rintin]

I bought a Prinz 4 in 1972 for 25 guilders (nowadays many about 100 euro's) which was placed on blocks and without wheels. It had a broken fuel pump. For 10 guilders it was replaced for a functioning used one by one of my friends. A year later I bought a Prinz 3 (1958), a car with a dynostart.

[WWarped]

That is adorable, and I love the colour. My Grandfather had an (Larger model, as you said) NSU Prinz 1000 TT, and loved it. He later sold it, for a used 1976 RO80 and regreated it. Wasn't as smooth and refined in his view. Great video.

[bentullett]

What a great example of one of these cars. The exhaust note sounds great, especially on downshifts.

[icascone]

Thanks for the review!!!

My dad had bought one new as his first car!! (He was in his late 20's though or early 30's)... However he gave it to my aunt and drove it till the early 90's when the gear box/clutch gave out sadly! :( (This was also in Italy)

I do remember as child the big chrome dials and steering wheel though it was so cool! (bit like your Morris Oxford)

I now understand more as to why there were no parts available and I thought it was just because of no equivalent clutch but yeah that gear box looks complicated!

Well done to Marcel for keeping this one on the road!!!

[deanbrown]

A very nostalgic trip down memory lane for me. The first crash that I remember being involved in was when my mother turned our NSU Prinz onto it's side at a junction near our home.

[MaxsLoungeMusic]

What a cool machine! 2cv suspension would tip the balance for me, but that looks a lot of fun.

[joopjansen]

My primary school teacher had one like this and I loved it - and her (yep, little boy crush). I think its colour was mustard. I used to wait for her to leave, so I could hear the engine come to life. Fond memories of car (and of teacher, yes).