Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[bertie]

Hello once again! It`s been a while since I last posted due to an unending influx of work and consequent tiredness .I feel sure you wouldn`t want to read about a never ending stream of wheeled laptop problems,but in the course of my work as a mechanic, as I`ve said before, something a little special comes along....



A real life original NSU RO 80. Unmolested, still with the rotary engine and in magnificent condition. After seeing it and paying respect to its time warp state, I set about what I was asked to do, replace the ageing front brake calipers and brake pads and bleed the system through. The front discs are inboard so all was accessible from under the bonnet and apart from a few expected hitches all went well Once Brian and I had bled the braking system and hands were clean(ish in my part! ) a test drive was necessary of course!



The NSU is 35 years young in november, but in all honesty you wouldnt know as she went so well on the run, never missing a beat. Brian rather nicely and trustingly allowed me to take the reins after a while, I rather nervously sat behind the large and slim wheel. To the uninitiated, the RO was way ahead of its time, two floor pedals - accelerator and brake - the "clutch" consists of pushing down on the gearlever, selecting the appropriate gear, foot off the accelerator, releasing your slight downward pressure on the gear knob and foot back on the accelerator..it took me a while but under Brian`s calm encouragement, I managed This sounds a little strange, but how can you describe an old car feeling like a new car? Brian informed me that the mileometer was correct, and the old lady had only covered 10,000 miles from new! Well, job done etc, and back to the mundane Cheers for your hospitality Brian, and it was a pleasure to meet you and your good lady. Sorry for the lack of pictures, but the mobile`s lens was a little fouled with brake fluid for some reason( ) and I was unable to take more as they undoubtedly would not have done this venerable old lady justice. Thanks for reading, take care..

[RotaryBri]

I'm glad that you enjoyed your drive in my Ro80 Alan. Watch out though as they are infectious!

I watch other drivers and see how many notice that this is an old car - not many as it fits into todays traffic quite well.

I did have a cashier at the local Sainsbury's filling station come running out to have a look at it. He knew what it was.
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Keep Torqueing,

RotaryBri

1976 NSU Ro80

[baconsdozen]

Lovely,a true bit of motoring heritage.I went in one a few years back and they were miles ahead of their time.
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Thirty years selling imperial hand tools for old machinery(Now happily retired).

[PAUL BEAUMONT]

There's a light blue RO80 parked a couple of miles from me. Its in nothing like the condition of this one. It suddenly turned up but it does not seem to have had anything happen to it since. Keep intending to stop and have a look, but its off the beaten track and I am always going somewhere in a hurry when I pass. Would like to see if it still has its original rotary engine or if its been poluted with a V4 Ford or some such!

paul

[22900013A]

Fascinating machine. I have never seen the back end of one, I guess the designers were on holiday that day?

Gear change mechanism sounds very unusual, will have to take a closer look if I ever get to see one of these in the metal.
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1-Ton Landrovers
Electricity Board Landrovers

[Penman]

Hi