In 1966 Al Auger took this rotary-engined NSU Spider racing, the first time anyone had campaigned a production Wankel car in an officially sanctioned event.
Lead trim: Spider KKM 502 single-rotor Wankel (50 PS, initial) · up to 53 hp
NSU Spider1963–1967
- 0spots by members
- Unclaimednobody has spotted one yet
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Nobody in Burbles has spotted a NSU Spider yet. See one on the street, point the app at it, and the first card is yours — with your @handle permanently credited on this page.
FactIn 1966 Al Auger took this rotary-engined NSU Spider racing, the first time anyone had campaigned a production Wankel car in an officially sanctioned event.
The NSU Spider, produced by NSU from 1963 to 1967 (2,375 built) with a body designed by Bertone, was the first Western production car powered by a Wankel rotary engine. It was a two-door cabriolet based on the Sport Prinz coupé introduced in 1959, distinguishable from the hard top by a grille at the front, with the radiator and 35-litre fuel tank ahead of the driver (leaving a small front luggage locker) and a second luggage area above the engine. The engine bay had been designed for the Prinz's two-cylinder unit, but the KKM 502 single-rotor Wankel (chamber volume 498 cc, displacing 996 cc, water-cooled, with a single spark plug) was much more compact, and standard front disc brakes differentiated the car. Rated power was initially 50 PS (37 kW) at 5,500 rpm and in later models 54 PS (40 kW) at 6,000 rpm. Wheelbase 2,020 mm (79.5 in), length 3,580 mm (140.9 in), width 1,520 mm (59.8 in), height 1,260 mm (49.6 in), curb weight 700 kg (1,500 lb), with a 4-speed all-synchromesh manual.
Collectors Spotted in the NSU Spider Lineage
No member has published a public street spot of the NSU Spider yet — the First · Worldwide stamp is wide open.
Trims & Figures
2 published trims in the catalogue. A blank is a figure not recorded, not zero.
| Trim | Years | Engine | Power | Torque | 0–60 | Drive | Gearbox | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spider KKM 502 single-rotor Wankel (50 PS, initial) | 1963–1967 | 1.0 L Wankel rotary | 49 hp | — | — | RWD | — | — |
| Spider KKM 502 single-rotor Wankel (54 PS, later) | 1963–1967 | 1.0 L Wankel rotary | 53 hp | — | — | RWD | — | — |
Owning one
We don’t estimate running costs for a car like this. What it costs depends on its condition, its specialist and how it is driven, and an average would mislead.
Owners’ builds
Nobody has claimed one yet.
Photographs
Rivals
Same body, same money, other badges — tap any card to flip.
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