When the NSU Ro 80 first hit the roads back in 1967, it created quite a stir with its futuristic, streamlined bodywork and revolutionary 115-hp rotary engine. However it quickly gained a not-entirely-deserved reputation to be technically unreliable and the car was by no means a bestseller. Production finally stopped in 1977. Consequently, demand for the remaining vehicles is particularly high among fans of ‘querky’ classic cars. Spare parts are scarce; the “Ro 80 Club International”, based in Austria, works tirelessly to obtain components. Thanks to BILSTEIN’s Department for Special Customer Requests (KSW), the shock-absorber problem has now been overcome, and a jointly devised solution is now available exclusively from www.ro80club.org.
The Ro 80 spare-part problem first came to light 25 years ago, when the original manufacturer of the standard shock absorbers ceased production. Another provider picked up the baton, but the club was never entirely happy as the minimum order quantities were relatively high, ultimately causing the end of the business relationship. Another problem was the impossibility of altering the set-up. “This solution was too soft at the front and brutally firm at the rear, meaning that the rear axle soon started clattering,” recalls deputy chairman Andreas Meyer, who was nonetheless pleased to be able to keep as many Ro 80s as possible in a roadworthy condition.
As a result of the cooperation with BILSTEIN, the old problems have now been resolved, and product quality, logistics, set-up and opportunities for consultation are much better. For instance, BILSTEIN’s KSW department builds and delivers batch sizes of 20 to 50 units each, which the club can handle easily. In addition, unlike the originals and the replicas used in the interim, the new BILSTEIN products are gas-pressure shock absorbers that do not tend to foam up, even in intensive use or in the somewhat heavier cars that were converted to Ford V6 power. This prevents a loss of damping force.
Jan Fork from BILSTEIN says: “Our bespoke design actually exceeds our own standards for gas-pressure shock absorbers in normal replacement, and its structure conforms to that of the improved B6 OE replacement product.”
For his part, Andreas Meyer is delighted with the result: “In my view, the tuning, which is only a fraction firmer than with the original shock absorbers, is ideal.” We also particularly recommend our B6 shock absorbers for trailer operation. At first glance, this might not seem especially relevant to classic-car owners. Yet according to Meyer, many Ro 80 drivers take a caravan with them to meetings or tow a smaller NSU Prinz or Wankel Spider on a trailer. The new BILSTEIN solution impresses in every respect here, whereas the Ro 80 with the dampers of old used to sag easily at the front. All the extra strain on the front axle then impaired the car’s handling.
Together with the Ro 80 Club, BILSTEIN are now working on the next challenge. The Ro 80 was produced with three spring firmnesses. The new shock absorbers are similar to the softer version. A separate set-up is now under development for the firmer ones.
FOLIATEC®.com has offered Carbody Spray Film for some time now, providing enthusiasts and restorers with a means to re-colour their vehicle and then have the option to remove the film to restore the vehicle to its orginal finish if required. A clear version also proviodes protection for vehicles whilst retaining the original body colour. Now FOLIATEC®.com can provide even more protection with Carbody Spray Film 2C Sealer.
More often than not, SUVs are only driven on roads. For that reason manufacturers are focusing both on ride comfort and the off-road ability, even if this function is seldom used in everyday life. A prominent representative of the SUV segment is the Range Rover Evoque. The right accessories for this high-performance SUV can be purchased from Rameder, Europe’s market leader in towbars and transport solutions, at www.rameder.eu.
Even in today’s digital world there are times when a pen and paper is the best solution and that’s why B-G Racing has just produced these useful pit record sheets.
The B-G Racing Scale Pad Levelling Trays are a key component of the B-G Racing modular scale system.