NSU Prima: iconic scooters with innovation and quality

NSU was founded in 1873 as a manufacturer of knitting machines, but expanded into motorbikes and cars. The name NSU comes from the place Neckarsulm in Germany, where the company was originally founded. The brand produced its first motorbike in 1901, and the first car model followed in 1905.
During World War II, NSU produced mainly military equipment, including the famous Kettenkraftrad. After the war, NSU resumed motorbike production and in 1947 the brand was licensed to make Lambretta scooters. Initially Italian scooters were modified, but from 1951 NSU produced them entirely in Germany.

In 1955, the licensing treaty between NSU and Innocenti, allowing NSU to start exporting its own scooters. And as we might expect from NSU, some clever technical improvements were made to the original Innocenti design. For instance, the spring arms of the front hub were given two springs, improving stability, and the standard tubular handlebars were replaced with a new profile in which the wiring could be neatly hidden. An electric starter was also provided as standard, while the use of chrome embellished the scooter's appearance. The Prima D, with these modifications, remained in production until 1960.

In 1957, a completely new model was presented: the Prima V (NSU Typ 28). This scooter was equipped with a 175cc engine that produced 9.5 hp, not extreme power, but reliable. The larger engine drove the larger wheels via a cardan and the four gears were foot-controlled. The suspension was now hydraulically damped and electric starting became possible.

Production ran until 1963, after which NSU focused more on motorbikes and cars. In 1969, NSU was acquired by Volkswagen.