3 1973 NSU Trapeze

Unveiled in 1967, the NSU Ro80 not only had the innovative Wankel rotary engine up front, driving the front wheels through a semi-automatic threespeed gearbox, but also a striking and handsome aerodynamic body. The Wankel powerplant was groundbreaking, with 995cc developing 113bhp, but the Ro80 soon developed a reputation for excessive thirst, followed by debilitating reliability issues. Sales collapsed, and never recovered even after the problems had been addressed.

By 1969, when it was taken over by Volkswagen, NSU was in a mess. If it was to carry on as a brand in its own right, it needed a halo product that would showcase the virtues of the compact rotary engine. Spotting a business opportunity, Nuccio Bertone proposed a coupé version of the Ro80.

Marcello Gandini had always been obsessed with the packaging shortcomings of a mid-engined layout: seating for two wasn’t that much of an issue, but to accommodate four adults and place the engine amidships was quite a challenge. In the compact Ro80 unit, Gandini saw his chance: the powertrain was moved to the rear, with the two back seats mounted on either side of the engine, and the two front seats inset, shoulder-to-shoulder – forming a trapezium, hence the name.

Innovative packaging was complemented by a design that combined a Lancia Stratos-inspired windscreen with six concealed headlights – making it the star of the 1973 Paris Salon. Despite all the positive press, however, there was no saving NSU. Anorak fact Innovative safety features included a plastic bumper that ran around the perimeter of the entire car for lateral protection