1960 NSU Prinz III Coupe

The NSU Company began its life as a bicycle and motorcycle business. In 1905, they were granted permission under license to build the Swiss Pipe car. Cars of their own design soon followed. Production continued until 1930, when the factory at Heilbronn, Germany, was sold to Fiat. Motorcycle production continued at NUS's original plant in Neckarsulm.

NUS re-entered automobile production in 1957. Their model was the Prinz, which was German for 'Prince.' The Prinz had a rear-engine layout, and the overhead cam twin-cylinder air-cooled powerplant displaced 598cc. The car had seating for four and featured wide-opening doors. The Prinz featured an Ultramax camshaft drive, proven in motorcycle use. It featured twin connecting rods that were actuated by an eccentric on the crankshaft. In essence, it used reciprocal motion to create circular motion in similar fashion that pistons in the cylinders are harnessed for forward motion.

NSU would produce around 95,000 examples of the Prinz I, II, and III through 1962.

This vehicle is a NSU Prinz III that is finished in blue and has a white top. The 583cc OHC twin-cylinder engine produces 30 horsepower. It has a four-speed manual transmission and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes. The interior is two-tone gray with blue body color surrounds. There is seating for four, thanks to wrap-around rear side windows.

There were less than 2,500 examples of the NSU Prinz sold in the United States in 1960.

In 2010, this car was offered for sale at the 'Sports & Classics of Monterey' presented by RM Auctions. It was estimated to sell for $15,000 - $20,000 and offered without reserve. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $22,000 inclusive of buyer's premium.

By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2010