Names such as Siegfried Spiess, Günther Irmscher, or Wilhelm "Willi" Bergmeister will remind enthusiasts of the historic NSU brand. During the 1960s and 1970s, the Neckarsulm-based company produced compact but powerful vehicles, suitable for everyday driving and equally capable of sporting adventures. The NSU Prinz 1000 heralded this series, which was succeeded by the NSU TT and NSU TTS.
The 1963 IAA was the place where NSU unveiled its latest innovations, introducing the sleek NSU/Wankel Spider alongside the NSU Prinz 1000. This tiny dynamo won over the media and consumers alike, boasting a superior power-to-weight ratio that brought unparalleled versatility to its class. With modern four-cylinder engines, these models marked NSU's ambitious foray into the compact car segment. This launch spurred growth, leading to a major expansion of the Neckarsulm plant to accommodate a 10,000 square metre production area and six new assembly lines. The first Prinz made its debut in early April 1964 and by the end of the month orders reached 1,150 units, heralding a production run from 1964 to 1972 that totaled some 195,000 Prinz 1000 L and S and NSU 1000 C models, along with 11,500 NSU Prinz 1000 TTs.
Siegfried Spiess found the recipe for success with the NSU Prinz 1000. Originally available with a 40 or 43 hp engine, later improvements, such as an improved camshaft, Weber carburettor, racing exhaust and lower suspension, allowed the 650 kg vehicle to reach speeds of up to 150 km/h. These modifications prompted Spiess to win the 1965 German GT Mountain Champion title in all classes. He dominated eleven races with eight first places and three second places. His victories also included a class win at the Tour d'Europe and a triumph at the Rally Corsica. Spiess's passion for racing was evident, choosing the workshop over a business career, and he continued to rack up titles in hillclimbing and track racing on the self-tuned NSU TT, retiring from driving in 1971 but still contributing his racing experience to NSU's sporting activities.
The NSU TT became synonymous with triumph, especially in German hill-climbing. Introduced in 1967 alongside the more robust NSU Prinz TTS, the NSU TT had a standard output of 65 PS. These vehicles were proclaimed champions of motorsport due to their excellent power-to-weight ratio. NSU's dedication to performance saw the standard TTS, with a 1,000cc, 70 bhp engine, roll off the production line 2,400 times between 1967 and 1971. In total an impressive 50,000 NSU TTs were produced. Now, a special NSU TT Jägermeister is in the historic AUDI AG collection, featuring upgrades ideal for private racing enthusiasts and capable of speeds of up to 190 km/h with a powerful 130 PS engine at 7,800 rpm.
Wilhelm "Willi" Bergmeister's name foreshadowed his achievements ("Bergmeister" translates as "mountain champion"). Starting in 1968, the Langenfeld-born dealership owner became a staple of German motorsport, famously winning the German hill-climb cup in 1974. His racing saga included a stint in track racing and major victories in the European Touring Car Championship, where he secured second place in 1979 and won the European Champion title in 1980 in an Audi 80 GLE.
The legacy of the NSU TT as Germany's most famous hillclimb car was maintained until the mid-1970s. As a race car, it won 29 national championships throughout Europe and North America. These triumphs on the track translated into effective marketing, with the NSU TT being heralded as a "thoroughbred sports car, inch by inch" and the NSU TTS being valued as a "frequent rally participant" and "notorious class winner".
