1963 NSU Wankel Spider

Before the Ro80 came the Wankel Spyder, a toe-in-the-water exercise and the first production rotary-engined car. Around 1900 were built to see how the car would perform in the abusive hands of the public. A lightweight sportscar was the obvious choice of bodystyle because of the engine's lack of low-down pulling power, and NSU modified its Prince Coupe to take water cooling and semi-trailing arm rear suspension. This was a masterpiece of packaging, if nothing else, with the tiny engine installed virtually underneath the car allowing luggage compartments front and rear. Many examples became long-term test cars for motoring magazines, and others were bought by motor manufacturers so they could see how the Wankel engine ticked. This single rotor engine produced an impressive 50 bhp, and the pretty 100 mph Spyder won its class in the German Rally Championship in 1966. Sadly, almost all the Wankel Spyders built succumbed to the inadequacies of their cooling systems. Just nine were imported into the UK, and for many years you could see a Wankel Spyder in the Science museum in London.