Highlights
- Extremely original car
- Just two owners from new
- Just 45,128 miles, verified by MOTs
- Fewer than 20 on the road in the UK
The Appeal
Hailing from Germany, NSU were founded in 1873.
By the early part of the 20th Century they were manufacturing cars. The 1000C was a development of the post-war Prinz 4, built from 1964 to 1972, it offered more room and some key technological advancements.
By the early part of the 20th Century they were manufacturing cars. The 1000C was a development of the post-war Prinz 4, built from 1964 to 1972, it offered more room and some key technological advancements.
This particular example is a characterful and highly original vehicle, having been in the current owner’s possession since 1995 (they’re just the second owner) and coming with a genuine low mileage of just 45,128 miles.
The History and Paperwork
- 1971 car (verified by the NSU Owners Club)
- First registered in February 1972
- Just two owners from new
- Current owner since 1995
- Matching numbers vehicle
- Full list of all works undertaken since 1995
- Previous MOTs going back to 1994
- Some receipts and invoices
- Less than 7,000 miles covered in the last 20 years
- Kept garaged by the current owner
- Only selling due to lack of use now
The Interior
- Original two-tone brown and cream upholstery
- Genuine 4-seater
- Period stereo and speakers
One of the most surprising aspects of the 1000C’s interior is how roomy and airy it is.
From the outside, you’d imagine such a small car would be cramped inside, but there’s genuinely room for four average adults. Of course, it’s quite minimalist, but perfect for basic transport.
From the outside, you’d imagine such a small car would be cramped inside, but there’s genuinely room for four average adults. Of course, it’s quite minimalist, but perfect for basic transport.
The seats are two-tone items, finished in brown vinyl with cream fabric inserts. The rear bench and the passenger seat are in good condition, showing the kind of wear you’d expect in a 50-year-old car, but no significant damage or tears.
As may be expected, the driver’s seat has some damage simply from use – while the vinyl is in good condition, the fabric inserts have torn in a few places, including along the seams. It appears to be fixable, but would require an upholsterer to confirm this.
As may be expected, the driver’s seat has some damage simply from use – while the vinyl is in good condition, the fabric inserts have torn in a few places, including along the seams. It appears to be fixable, but would require an upholsterer to confirm this.
Otherwise, the interior is in very good, original and usable condition. The headlining, a diamond-patterned cream vinyl item, is in a very good state, with no signs of damage or sagging.
Likewise the carpets, a complementary tan colour with tan binding on the edges, are in fine condition. Wearing a pleasing embossed grid pattern, the door cards are finished in brown vinyl to match the vinyl on the seats, and are in good condition with no rips or damage.
Likewise the carpets, a complementary tan colour with tan binding on the edges, are in fine condition. Wearing a pleasing embossed grid pattern, the door cards are finished in brown vinyl to match the vinyl on the seats, and are in good condition with no rips or damage.
The dashboard itself is free from cracks and UV damage, probably thanks to the car being kept in a garage. All of the controls and instruments wear a healthy and attractive level of patina - so scratches and blemishes should be expected, but everything is very usable and readable.
The owner tells us that all of the car’s cabin features function perfectly well, with the exception of the retro Sharp radio/cassette deck, which is not connected.
The car is also fitted with retro Pioneer speakers, mounted to the underside of the dash.
The owner tells us that all of the car’s cabin features function perfectly well, with the exception of the retro Sharp radio/cassette deck, which is not connected.
The car is also fitted with retro Pioneer speakers, mounted to the underside of the dash.
The Exterior
- Period orange paintwork
- Original 12” steel wheels with chrome hubs
- Unrestored, original condition
From the wonderful shade of orange that it’s finished in, to the vents for the engine on the rear flanks and the lovely brightwork, externally the 1000C is a surprisingly pretty and visually delicate car.
Smaller than you’d imagine at less than 3.8m long and 1.5m wide, it would make for a perfect town or city runaround as parking and manoeuvring such a small vehicle should be a doddle.
Smaller than you’d imagine at less than 3.8m long and 1.5m wide, it would make for a perfect town or city runaround as parking and manoeuvring such a small vehicle should be a doddle.
The 2-door saloon shape is perfectly proportioned and here it presents well, in good overall condition for its age and very original. In the current owner’s stewardship (since 1995) the car has not been welded or painted.
They believe that the car has been resprayed at some point prior to their ownership, but there is no documentation to back this up.
They believe that the car has been resprayed at some point prior to their ownership, but there is no documentation to back this up.
All of the body panels are straight, original and undamaged. There was no evidence we could see of accident repair. With the paint possibly being original, or at the very least 30+ years old, it is beginning to show its age in places.
There are some small areas of cracking and bubbling, although the bodywork appears to be mostly very solid. Areas the new owner may wish to address are the wheel arches, especially the rears, and there is some bubbling on the sills that should probably be investigated.
There are some small areas of cracking and bubbling, although the bodywork appears to be mostly very solid. Areas the new owner may wish to address are the wheel arches, especially the rears, and there is some bubbling on the sills that should probably be investigated.
The external trim, badges, lights and glass elements are all complete and in good condition too.
The brightwork is original and unrestored, so is showing some corrosion and pitting in places. But generally it’s all in perfectly acceptable condition and ripe for some refinishing.
The brightwork is original and unrestored, so is showing some corrosion and pitting in places. But generally it’s all in perfectly acceptable condition and ripe for some refinishing.
Underneath, the vehicle looks nice and solid. The floors and chassis have obviously been treated with some form of underseal which appear to have preserved them very well.
There is some surface corrosion showing on some drivetrain elements and the beginnings of bubbling on the sills and floor edges, but generally there was nothing underneath the car that would give us pause.
There is some surface corrosion showing on some drivetrain elements and the beginnings of bubbling on the sills and floor edges, but generally there was nothing underneath the car that would give us pause.
The Mechanics
- Tuneful air-cooled 996cc engine
- 4-speed manual transmission
One of the main reasons for the NSU 1000 C’s continued popularity and desirability is its drivetrain.
With a rear-mounted, air-cooled 1-litre engine driving the rear wheels through an all-synchro 4-speed manual, it’s an intriguing and enjoyable machine. The little SOHC unit features a Solex carburetor and also produces a fantastic, burbling engine note.
With a rear-mounted, air-cooled 1-litre engine driving the rear wheels through an all-synchro 4-speed manual, it’s an intriguing and enjoyable machine. The little SOHC unit features a Solex carburetor and also produces a fantastic, burbling engine note.
With just 660 Kg of curb weight to push along and an advanced (for the time) trailing arm rear axle, it has a reputation as a great driver’s car.
In fact, they were very popular amongst racers due to their great handling and the ability to easily tune up the engine.
In fact, they were very popular amongst racers due to their great handling and the ability to easily tune up the engine.
Since 1995, the current owner has taken care of all the maintenance, servicing and any needed repairs themselves.
Summary
Surely the thing we all love about classic cars is their character, their rarity, and their ability to connect us again to the simple joys of motoring?
Not much accomplishes those goals as well as an NSU 1000C.
Not much accomplishes those goals as well as an NSU 1000C.
With its simple yet beguiling drivetrain, pretty design and fine-handling chassis, this car would make the perfect daily classic or restoration project. It’s an incredibly rare machine, with fewer than 20 on the roads in the UK, according to ‘How Many Left’.
As such, whether you were to run it as it is and maintain its patina or completely restore it, you can be sure that this cheeky little orange motor would be welcomed with open arms at meets and shows across the country…
As such, whether you were to run it as it is and maintain its patina or completely restore it, you can be sure that this cheeky little orange motor would be welcomed with open arms at meets and shows across the country…
Notice to bidders
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