Mazda may own the volume rotary engine production story, but NSU put them into production first. So, in a sense, Audi has rotary heritage. We’ve not heard of any plans to bring one back, however. All that said, this is a second-year NSU spider, which has a rear-engine, rear wheel drive layout and makes the most of this compact engine with storage above it (see images below). There aren’t a lot of these and they don’t come up for sale often.
This is a solid, but non-running, example. The seller says it needs a generator, exhaust manifold and windscreen, but the the engine turns freely. Hagerty says good (presumably running) ones are worth $18K, so we hope the seller it willing to make a deal below the $15K ask. If not, this, may be for sale for quite some time.
The upside here is that excellent examples fetch $30K or more; so someone with access to the parts this needs (not common!) and enough knowledge to get the rotary humming quickly may find this a a pretty good deal not too far below $15K.
Whatever happens, we hope this finds an owner who will get it back on the road. We imagine a unique experience in this car – vintage, open-top motoring with the unique sound and smoothness of a Wankel.
Click for eBay ad
Lyons, IL, USA
$15,000 with ZERO bids and 1.5 days to go
It may be a bit hard to tell, but this is a very small roadster. Smaller than a Karmann Ghia. We find the styling to be very attractive.
Though the rear deck is a bit long, this design doesn’t scream rear engine. The tiny engine helps and the cooling must be managed from below.
This is a handsome face!
Interior is fairly pedestrian, but looks like it would get the job done. Lack of side support in seats is typical for the period. We like the color combination.
The control and instrument layout is also simple and straightforward.
A top is present, but likely needs attention.
Front “trunk” has some cargo space and a fuel tank.
There’s a not of storage aft, too, with the engine hiding under this cover.
And…here it is! As always, the rotary takes up much less space versus a piston engine; but gets similar (or poorer?) fuel economy.
Ad text (the capitalization belongs to the seller):
UP FOR AUCTION IS MY RARE 1965 NSU WANKEL SPIDER , THIS IS A VERY RARE AND IMPORTANT CAR , THEY ONLY MADE 2400 BETWEEN THE YEAR 1964 AND 1967 , VERY FEW SURVIVED TODAY , THIS IS A VERY GOOD SOLID FIND ALWAYS GARAGED , FLOORS ARE VERY SOLID , IT HAS 13,665 ORIGINAL MILES ON IT , AND BELIVE ITS TRU MILES FROM THE CONDITION OF THE CAR AND THE INTERIOR , THE ENGINE TURNS FREELY , MISSING JUST THE GENERATOR ,EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND WINDSHIELD .
SHE ROLLS STEERS JUST FINE AND THE HAND BRAKE WORKS FOR SHIPPING.
ON THE TITLE THE YEAR SAYS 1956 BUT THAT INCORRECT , AS THEY NEVER MADE THEM THAT YEAR , BUT THE VIN NUMBER ON THE TITLE DOSE MATCH THE VIN NUMBER ON THE CAR .
THIS CAR WILL BE SOLD FOR THE HIGHEST BIDDER ( NO RESERVE AUCTION ) .
SOLD AS IS WITH NO WARRANTY . THANKS AND GOOD LUCK ON YOUR BIDDING .