Tag Archives: Prinz

Prinz Heinrich – Austro Daimler 85hp

Nine years after Eduard Bierenz was appointed Daimler’s representative in Austria the Austrian Daimler Engine Society was founded to assemble cars with parts from Stuttgart on the site of Eduard Fischer’s engineering works located at Wiener-Neustadt, a course of action which made Daimler the world’s first automotive multinational.

Austro Daimler Prince Henry, Goodwood, Festival of Speed,

From 1902 to 1905 Gottlieb Daimlers son Paul was in charge of the technical department which was devising new models including an 8hp compact vehicle and 30 hp armoured vehicle, after Paul was recalled to Germany to take over the position left by Wilhelm Maybach. Ferdinand Porsche became the technical director at Daimler’s Austrian subsiduary.

Austro Daimler Prince Henry, Goodwood, Festival of Speed,

Under Porsche’s guidance the subsidiary was rebranded Austro Daimler in 1906 and by 1909 had become financially separated from it’s parents involvement.

Austro Daimler Prince Henry, Goodwood, Festival of Speed,

In 1910 the Porsche designed Austro Daimler 22/86 hp gained the attention of the press when Ferdinand drove one to win the prestigious Prinz Heinrich Trails ahead of team mate Eduard Fischer and the example driven by Count Heinrich Schoenfeld that was privately entered by Austrian Fritz Hamburger.

Austro Daimler Prince Henry, Goodwood, Festival of Speed,

The three Prinz Heinrich team cars were built on a chassis as used on Austro Daimlers 1909 Prinz Heinrich Trial attempt although built a little narrower than the standard 22/86 model, while the motor was an all new 5715cc / 4 cylinder design with shaft driven overhead cam for the inclined valves that sat in a hemi head.

Neumann and Neander were responsible for the slippery body which with the 86hp motor and fastest gearing could be powered up to 88 mph, the example seen here at Goodwood Festival of Speed is owned by Ferdinand Porsche’s ancestors the Piëch family.

Thanks for joining me on this “Prinz Heinrich” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at a chain driven car from France. Don’t forget to come back now !

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On Prince’s And Pharoh’s – NSU Prinz 30

NSU was founded as a knitting machine manufacturer in 1873, moving into bicycle manufacture in 1886 and motorcycle manufacture in 1901 by which time it had ceased making knitting machines. In 1905 NSU began manufacturing motor cars of their own design before production was given over to the manufacture of FIAT cars under license in 1929. The production of FIAT’s under the NSU-FIAT brand continued until 1967. Thereafter FIAT cars were manufactured at the same factory under license but marketed under the FIAT brand until 1973.

NSU Prinz, Malta Classic Car Collection

Capitalising on the goodwill and reputation of it’s motorcycle business, the first motorcycle to reach 200 mph was an NSU in 1955, the company moved back into manufacture of a car of it’s own design in 1957 with the NSU Prinz 30.

NSU Prinz, Malta Classic Car Collection

Although billed as a Wunder Buy! full four seater in reality the rear seats were only suitable for small children.

NSU Prinz, Malta Classic Car Collection

In order to keep the maintenance to a minimum the rear mounted 20 hp 583 cc / 35.6 cui air cooled two cylinder, motor cycle derived, engine, gearbox and transaxle were contained in a single casting meaning that the lubricating oil level could be maintained from a single filler, the only other lubrication required was for the king pins on either side of the front suspension.

Production of the Prinz 30 lasted until 1962 by which time models were also being built in Australia, the Prinz 30 floor pan and drive was also used to launch Egypt’s entry into motor vehicle manufacture for various NSU Ramses vehicles including the Utilica and Gamila the latter featuring a Vignale styled cabriolet body.

Thanks for joining me on this “On Prince’s And Pharoh’s” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow for Americana Thursday when I’ll be looking at an Italian Styled Chevrolet. Don’t forget to come back now !

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