Back to back: Wankel Spider or 850 Spider?

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When you’re in for a European classic while being over in the US, you may like to know that Lucky Collector Car Auctions is selling off a whole lot of them on the 26th in Tacoma, Washington. The obvious ones are MGs and Volvos, Mercedeses and Porsches, but more remarkable for their appearance in Trump-land are for example a Citroen GS, an ID 19 and a Traction Avant, a Sunbeam Minx, two Lancias Fulvia, two DKW Mungas and a 1000S, a Fiat 500 Abarth, stunning Campagnola and OM Fiat truck. There is even a pretty and rare Ghia 1500. Full sales list here.

We pick out two likeable little Spiders for our ‘back-to-back’ feature here. First of them is a NSU Wankel Spider of which there simply cannot be many in America. Just 2,375 were made and the last time we saw one one in the flesh is a hell of a lot years ago. And we are not thousands of miles and a major ocean removed from where they were built in Germany. The car for sale in Tacoma is a 1967 example with its original rotary engine and low miles. It originally went to Southern California but hasn’t seen too much of the sun in the last 30 years, when it was stored inside. The seller states: “It is in time-capsule condition underneath with absolutely no visible rust throughout. The car is in incredible, original condition throughout and appears completely original. It features only 76,951 miles from new.” It does need a complete restauration though. See the full description here.

Over to the second candidate of today’s little comparision: a Fiat 850 Spider. Like the NSU it’s a small two-seater sports car with the engine in the back. No rotary power this time, but Fiat’s well-known 843 four-cylinder that was used in so many varieties of their car wearing the 850 moniker. The body was done by Bertone. The auctioneer doesn’t tell us much about this particular example other then it was made in 1971. We see a Washington plate on the photographs and a car with what looks to be American spec bumpers. It appears to be a nice example and in a good colour combination of white over black/red – not unlike the NSU. A whole lot more were made though (124,600) but it remains a fantastic little car today. See it for sale here. Over to the question then: which of the two would you prefer?

(Words editor, pictures Lucky Collector Car Auctions)

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