Description
In 1964 NSU marketed the first cabriolet with a rotary engine, also known as the Wankel engine. Compared to the conventional gasoline engine, the Wankel engine did indeed offer benefits, but reliability was a problem and the production of this lovely cabriolet was soon discontinued. The last example of a total of 2, 375 Wankel Spiders was produced in 1967. It is estimated that some 150 of these cars are still on the road. The NSU Wankel Spider that we have on offer has an unusual life story. The car was used for just ten years. All owners of the car in that period are known. The car was delivered to an inhabitant of Wiehl, Germany, in August 1967 in the colour Gletscherweiss. In February 1977, the car was bought by a German from Dormagen. He was the last German to own this car. He stopped the car and the Wankel Spider did not take part in traffic any more. Early 2000, the restoration of the Spider began. With love for detail and with help from members of the NSU Spider Club, a full restoration was carried out. Of course, the engine was overhauled, and with the modern materials nowadays available being used, this engine is probably less vulnerable than the original engines mounted in these cars. Not long after the completion of the restoration, which had taken years, the owner died, whereupon the family decided to sell the car. In 2015, the car passed into the hands of a Dutch enthusiast, who drove the car sparingly. Taking into account the very long period, from 1977 until 2015, in which the car did not take part in traffic, as well as the fact that the original maintenance booklets have been preserved, it may be assumed that the 51, 350 kilometres displayed on the odometer are correct.
