Bertone production used some Fiat parts but was based on the P2 and 3. Then the contract went to Drautz in Germany. Perhaps Bertone could not meet demand, they were to expensive, I do not know. I believe about a 1000 of each were made. Then Drautz was bought into NSU ownership. The car gained uprated P4 parts and could be had with optional disc brakes, optional rear drums and wider bigger wheels, matching the Spyder. The Bertone was so different as to be a different car that looked the same as the later Sport Prinz. Quite bizarre. Job to remember but I think the door was longer, screen lower, Wings different shape. Fiat seats, Ferrari door handles. And so on.
Several Sport Prinz were modified to take wankel engines. In effect these had 4 cylinder rear suspension fitted instead of the swinging wishbone. A stronger and more predictable arrangement. The rust is a product of both poor steel on some runs and light weight gauge metal to keep the weight down, as with the rest of the range. It is one reason for the quite sprightly performance but the engine, within its limits, is a strong unit and can be reved to 7,500 revs with little fear of harm. The 600cc making a VW 1200cc look rather stupid (though the beetle is an older design). The better balanced 4 pots were raced and could handle 12,500 revs in the days a Mini fell apart much above half that. No NSU is perfect but they were ahead of the opposition in so many ways. Indeed a VW Golf Gti is more an NSU then ever it was a VW or Audi. Rewarding cars to own.
