NSU Prinz 30

NSU Prinz 30

The NSU Prinz (Prince) is an automobile which was produced in West Germany by the NSU Motorenwerke AG from 1958 to 1973.

NSU Prinz I/30

The first post-war NSU car, the Prinz I, was launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 1957 accompanied by the advertising slogan “Fahre Prinz und Du bist König” (“Drive a Prince and you’re a king”). After a pilot run of 150 preproduction cars, volume production began in March 1958.

The Prinz I was available as a 2-door saloon featuring an upright roof line and seating for four people. The doors opened wide enough to permit reasonable access even to the rear seats, although leg room was severely restricted if attempting to accommodate four full sized adults. In addition to a luggage compartment accessed via a hatch at the front of the car and shared with the spare wheel and fuel filler, there was a narrow but deep full width space behind the rear seat sufficient to accommodate a holiday suitcase.

The noisy two-cylinder 600 cc 20 PS (15 kW; 20 HP) engine was located at the back where it drove the rear wheels, initially via a “crash” gearbox. Later versions gained a four-speed all-synchromesh gearbox. Contemporaries were impressed by the brevity of the maintenance schedule, with the engine, gear box and final drive operating as a single chamber and all lubricated by means of oil, added through a filler in the rocker box cover. There were just two grease nipples requiring attention, positioned on the steering kingpins. The engine was also commended in contemporary reports for its fuel economy and longevity. Although noisy, the engine offered impressive flexibility, recalling NSU’s strengths as a motorcycle manufacturer.

The Prinz II (a ‘luxury’ version) was released in 1959 with better trim and an all-synchromesh gearbox. A 30E export version was equipped with a 30 HP engine.

NSU received government approval to build the Prinz in Brazil in the late 1950s, but nothing came of the project.

In 1959, the Sport Prinz coupe was added to the range.