1970 NSU Super Prinz 4L taken for a drive

The NSU Prinz is the air cooled, rear engined German peoples car you've possibly never heard of, despite the range running for 4 generations and 20 years. **EDIT: Its NOT a flat twin as I thought in the video!**

Big thank you to Percival Motors in Maidstone for the loan of the car

[cgo]

Seeing this brought back cherished memories of 1970, when my dad drove us from West Yorkshire to Naples (and back) to visit family, in his brand new red NSU Prinz-L Super !
Not the most roomy interior for that kind of journey - family or four plus toddler - but nobody died, and whenever we needed to stretch our legs we just pulled over. That little engine got us across France, over the Alps via the Mont Blanc Tunnel and through 250 miles of Italian autostrade and never missed a lots of laughs, and the occassional fright - an adventure we'll never forget.

[TheHorsebox]

Our first family car. We had a '62, bought in 1970. You've just brought back so many memories. Can't wait to show this to my dad. Thanks. BTW great channel.

[tomhart-shea]

The engine is a vertical twin, mounted transversely. Not a flat twin. Flat twins have horizontally opposed cylinders.

[winni]

The biggest NSU was the RO 80, a wonderful car, far ahead of its time.

[trailingarm]

Great video, thanks for posting. You are quite young so I excuse you from any historical faux pas. These cars were quite common in the UK in the '60s and '70s. Quirky but decent reputation. Most rear-engined cars of the period were a bit too light on the steering. Some people put bags of sand under the bonnet of their Hillman Imps, etc, to keep the steering firm. (Others put bags of sand in the boot to keep their rear-wheel-drives going through the snow). NSU was bankrupted by its Ro80 rotary-engined saloon car. It was a brilliant vehicle, 20 years ahead of its time in terms of comfort, handling, looks, etc. Unfortunately its rotor tips had not been perfected and the engines failed invoking myriad warranty claims. My father converted two Ro80s to Ford V4s, one for him, one for his dad. I drove his for a few years and the ride and semi-automatic transmission was like something you would expect today. Amazing. Anyhow, I appreciate your enthusiasm and diligence to dredge up these old motoring curiosities.

[bennyhannover]

33 seconds to 63 miles or 17.5 seconds to 50 miles from stand still, all with 30 hp from 599 cc H2 twin. The 1200 (1192cc) Beetle with 34hp needed 39 seconds to 63 miles or 19 seconds to 50 miles. The Trabant 601 last series with 26hp need 48 seconds to 63 miles (two door sedan manually shifted) and 22 seconds to 50 miles.

[edmondocerza]

These bring lots of memories growing up in Italy in the 70s. And you mistaken they were very successful out of Germany maybe not the UK, they were reliable, utilitarian and simple to run. Nice video

[xyz]

Pretty common in the UK in the 1960's. Most were scrapped when they broke down because getting them fixed and finding spare parts was difficult.

[alecbrown]

Great! A historically important car! It gave birth to the polo, influenced the golf, hillman minx and even the later fiesta, bmw 2001 series, and even developement units for the fiat saloons of the 70's.
So msny cars hsve this cars dna in their history and roots. From body, inovation, syspension and tardis like interior.
This little thing gave us every modern supermini and small saloon designed and built in the uk and europe. Well done for showing us this rare and important car

[brianclayden]

That brought back many happy memories I had a bright red Nsu Prinz when stationed in the RAF in Germany in 1964. Drove it from Cologne, through the Alps to Venice and Rome and only needed to refill the tank just across the German border on our return journey. I miss that kind of mpg! Thanks for the video.

[robertwillis]

Had one as my first car in 1979. There should be a cover over the engine as rain water gets onto the sparkplugs. It was missing in mine. My Grandfather used a metal door pocket off a Hillman Imp as a cover, fixed onto the top of the rear bonnet cover above the louvres. Heater was chronic, as it was a heat exchanger from the exhaust. Best way was to start her up, and hold a high idle for 5min. Also the fan was single speed and it was slow. Took ages for the windscreen to clear in frosty mornings. There where some things that where really ahead of the times, like alloy finned (for cooling) front drum brakes with steel inserts. Nowadays all car have discs, but some Renault's have finned drums on the rear brakes. Yes she was basic, but which would you prefer car to get home in the wet Scottish winter, or a wait for 2 buses and a long walk home. Yup basic wins

[MeBallerman]

Of course I've heard of the Prinz. When I was a kid in the 70ies there were lots of Prinzes driving around here in Denmark. Mostly they were green. The Prinz had a larger brother with oval headlights, and three rear lights. It was actually pretty cool.

[gord]

Love this little car. Car manufacturers in the 60s and 70s realised that it might be a good idea to be able to see where you are going – just look at all that glass!

[timelwell]

My dad had an NSU Prinz - although I think I'm right in saying it had a 1, 000 cc engine. It had an automatic clutch but a gear-lever which took a little getting used to. It was an absolute hoot to drive - my dad let me drive it back from the West Country one summer's evening and it was a joyous experience.

[Radionut]

Oh my gosh that brings back great memories. I had a 71 NSU Prince. I was in Germany at the time and it was given to me by an old World War II German veteran that couldn’t drive anymore. Love that car.Every time you put gas in it you filled the oil reservoir cause it was a two cycle. Drove it all over Germany had a great time

[alanhindmarch]

My Father had a NSU 1000, 1litre, 4 cylinder, Alloy Air Cooled. I Learnt to drive in it 1971 and have fond memories of it. It was larger than the Prinz in the Video, but similar shape.

[andymoore]

My mum had one in Lancashire in the early/mid 70s and loved it to bits. No idea where she got it from. Sadly my older brother drove it into a ditch and wrote it off, mum was relived that him and his mates were OK but was also furious!

[richardparkin]

Dad used to deal in cars a bit in early seventies. He had one and I used to drive it as I has just passed my test in 1972. It was a great little car. Compared to the British equivalent it was very reliable and incredibly economical. Thanks for great memories of my old man and his cars. Happy days.

[georgeknowles]

Just came across this video. My bright red NSU Prinz 4 (ANU609B- yes, I still remember the number!), was my first new car. I had just finished my engineering apprenticeship, my wife was a teacher and we had no kids (yet) so we splashed out. £550 I think.
We drove all over the UK in that car. It would do 50mpg no matter how hard you drove it, but in fairness that was usually with the accelerator to the floor. I once got it up to 80mph downhill but you needed a pilots licence for that because the already light steering was almost non-existent by then.
We just loved that car but only kept it a couple of years before getting a Singer Chamois.
It was fun the drive, but everything was fun then. Both of us working, no kids, a new car, newly married, couldn't keep our hands off each other. What memories we made.
Ps. You said it was for sale. What was the asking price? I'll guess about 4 to 5000 (£).

[MayheM_]

My Dad had an NSU Prinz before I was born. He ALWAYS talked about it, and how it would buzz down the highway keeping up with traffic all day. He also had a Corvair and VW Transporter, so he seemed to like air-cooled rear-engine cars.