Origin NSU originated as the "Mechanische Werkstätte zur Herstellung von Strickmaschinen", a
knitting machine manufacturer established in 1873 by
Christian Schmidt, a technically astute entrepreneur, in the town of
Riedlingen on the
Danube. The business relocated in 1880 to Neckarsulm. There followed a period of rapid growth and in 1886, the company began to produce
bicycles, the first of them a 'high wheeler' or '
penny-farthing' branded as the "Germania". By 1892, bicycle manufacturing had completely replaced knitting machine production. At about this time, the name NSU appeared as a brand name. The first NSU motorcycle appeared in 1901, followed by the first NSU car in 1905. In
World War I the company made motorcycles and trucks for the
German Army. In 1932, under pressure from their bank (
Dresdner Bank), NSU recognised the failure of their attempt to break into volume automobile production, and their recently built car factory in Heilbronn was sold to
Fiat, who used the plant to assemble Fiat models for the German market. From 1957, NSU-Fiat cars assumed the brand name
Neckar. In
World War II, NSU made the
Kettenkrad, the NSU HK101, a
half-tracked motorcycle with the engine of the
Opel Olympia. They also made the 251 OSL motorcycle in the war.
After WW II In December 1946,
Das Auto reported the company had resumed the manufacture of bicycles and motor-bicycles at
Neckarsulm. For Germany, this was a time of new beginnings, and in July 1946, a new board was appointed, headed by General Director Walter Egon Niegtsch, who earlier in his career had spent 17 years with
Opel. In 1964, NSU offered the world's first
Wankel engined car: the
Wankelspider. In development of the project, NSU built the
Sport Prinz, with a 2-rotor. In the same year Prinz 1000 and derivatives like the TT and TT/S followed. The Typ 110 (later called 1200SC) was launched in 1965 as a family car with a more spacious body design. The last NSU cars with a conventional four-stroke engine had the air-cooled
OHC four-cylinder engine in common. The car was marketed in the U.K. as "NSU TYP 110", and
Karobes, a major supplier of car accessories, provided a head rest specially for this car: "A new one which can be fitted without a screw, and may be adjusted forwards and backwards." Also in 1964, NSU partnered with
Citroën to develop the
Wankel engine via the
Comotor subsidiary, which resulted in the abortive 1973
Citroën GS Birotor production car. In 1967, the four-door
NSU Ro 80, with a version of the same 2-rotor, Despite its public acclaim, sales of the Ro 80 were disappointing. The transmission drew complaints and the engine suffered numerous failures even at low mileage.
NSU Museum A museum in Neckarsulm, the
Deutsches Zweirad- und NSU-Museum, has many of NSU's products on display.
Notable riders Mike Hailwood raced in 1958 on
Ducati, NSU,
MV Agusta,
Norton,
Triumph,
Paton and in 1958 was 4th in the world championship 250cc (NSU) 5.
John Surtees entered in the 1955 season. That year, he gained his first podiums on a Norton in 350cc in Germany and
Ulster. He also won the round in 250cc while riding the best lap in the race for his only appearance at the handlebars of a NSU. John Surtees remains the only champion of the world in both motorcycle racing and
Formula 1. pilots: •
Hermann Paul Müller (born in
Bielefeld, 21 November 1909 – died in
Ingolstadt, 30 December 1975) was a German sidecar, motorcycle, and race car driver. •
Hans Baltisberger (born 16 September 1924 – 26 August 1956 ) was a German professional Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. •
Florian Camathias (23 March 1924 – 10 October 1965) was a Swiss professional Grand Prix motorcycle and sidecar racer •
Louis Meznarie (14 January 1930) is a former French engine preparation expert and a team owner entrant to
24 Hours of Le Mans. •
Rupert Hollaus (4 September 1931 in
Traisen – 11 September 1954) was an Austrian Grand Prix motorcycle road racer who competed for the NSU factory racing team. •
Rudi Thalhammer (born 1 February 1935) was a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer from Austria. •
Georg Braun (born 2 September 1918 in
Hechingen,
Province of Hohenzollern) was a German Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. •
Helmut Hallmeier (1933 – 26 June 1976) was a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer from the Germany. •
Geoff Duke (
St Helens,
Lancashire, 29 March 1923 – Man, 1 May 2015) was a motorcycle racer from England. •
Bill Lomas (1928–2007) was an English former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. •
Reg Armstrong (1 September 1928 – November 1979) was an Irish professional Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. •
Umberto Masetti (4 May 1926 – 28 May 2006) was an Italian two-time World Champion Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. •
Sammy Miller, MBE (born 11 November 1933 in
Belfast, Northern Ireland) is a championship winning motorcycle racer, in both road racing and trials. He was awarded an MBE in the 2009 New Year Honours •
Tommy Robb, (born 14 October 1934) is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer from Northern Ireland. •
Bob Brown, (9 May 1930 in
Sydney – 23 July 1960 at Solituderennen) was an Australian professional Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. •
Arthur Wheeler, (5 August 1916 – 16 June 2001) was an English professional Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. •
Horst Kassner was a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer from Germany. ==NSU cars==