Chassis No. 76010514

OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE

Hot compacts like the Honda Civic Type R are nothing new. A half-century ago, long before VW's little GTI brought fahrvergnügen to the masses, the German NSU Prinz 1000 TT was delivering driving enjoyment.

Built between 1963 and 1967, the Prinz 1000 was a popular middle-class family compact, powered by a motorcycle-like rear transverse air-cooled SOHC inline four generating 40 hp. Quite advanced, the crankshaft rode in five main bearings, and the aluminum crossflow cylinder head had hemispherical combustion chambers. So light and powerful, that engine was even used in a limited-production high-performance motorcycle, the Münch Mammüt. The Prinz suspension was also advanced, fully independent with front anti-roll bar and rack-and-pinion steering. Then in 1965 NSU added the TT version, packing a larger 1085 cc engine and 55 hp. With an 88.4 in wheelbase and weighing just 1,246 lbs, that was plenty of power to turn the Prinz 1000 into a tiny terror. NSU was the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer in the 1950s, and their bikes had been highly successful in the Isle of Man TT races. The Prinz 1000 TT channeled that success making it popular in European rallies, hillclimbs and club racing, and a few also raced in the States. Even the famous Swiss Scuderia Filipinetti team fielded a TT. "A lively agile car that inspires confidence," said Motor weekly in a 1967 road test, though "few will make the tail slide." NSU was bought by Volkswagen in 1969 and became part of the Audi group. Maybe the Prinz 1000 TT influenced the future GTI?

This 1967 Prinz 1000 TT has been well restored inside and out, finished in factory "targaorange" paint. This TT engine has been upgraded with TTS cam, twin Weber carburetors, intake manifold, and exhaust header. It is also riding on 13-inch Minilite-style alloy wheels. In the three years of TT production 14,292 were built, but the US importer, Valiant Motors Import Co. of Elizabeth, NJ had just a small dealer network and it is believed less than a thousand Prinz models came to America, with a fraction of those TTs. NSU's marketing for the Prinz was simple: "Fahre Prinz und Du bist König" – "Drive a Prince and you're a King." And when it's a pocket rocket Prinz 1000 TT, who wouldn't want to be king?