NSU Quickly; a million dollar success

NSU1953

With over 1 million copies produced, NSU's The moped quickly became one of the company's greatest commercial successes. The flimsy but sturdy moped from Neckarsulm literally got Europeans on wheels in the post-war era.

Small and light means of transport that were affordable were the key to getting Europeans on wheels in the years after World War II. Growing population, centralization and urbanization led to increased transport needs. We know the story well from our own homeland, where Tempo motorcycles and mopeds played an important role in the pursuit of mobility in the post-war period. This was in many ways the golden age of the moped. It was simple in its construction, very fuel-efficient, affordable to acquire, and last but not least, license-free.

On the car front, the Fiat 500 and Mini Sport followed suit. With room for 4 people, it was an ideal means of transportation for a family of 4, but both were far above the price of a moped, so the market for 2-wheelers was huge, especially in the 1950s. Vespa also came to play a central role, and the charming "wasp" with its self-supporting chassis quickly became an icon. However, it would face tough competition from a small German on 2 wheels, NSU's million-dollar success Quickly.

By the beginning of the 1950s, German NSU was one of the world's largest manufacturers of motorcycles and eventually mopeds, and together with English BSA they supplied markets all over the world with motorized two-wheelers. In 1953, the first NSU Quickly arrived, and it was given the model designation N.

The Model N had 26-inch wheels, much like a pedal bike, and the little 49-cubic

In an age when many are quite spoiled with vehicles that accelerate faster than what might be considered safe for life and health, it is perhaps difficult to imagine how magical it is to move with engine power versus walking on your own two feet. I myself will never forget this magical moment that took place when I was 13 years old, sitting in a Tempo Corvette on a steep uphill slope at the foot of the Sunnmøre Alps; it was simply magical.

I assume that many people experienced the same sense of mobility and freedom on their NSU Quickly, because it helped motorize Europe after the war and became very popular with young people and commuters. NSU marketed the moped under the slogan “Nicht mer laufen, Quickly kaufen” which means something along the lines of “don’t run anymore, buy a Quickly”.

And, people did, because in the period 1953-1968 over 1 million Quickly mopeds were produced. Quickly, like NSU 's motorcycles, was widely known for its unsurpassed quality and reliability. These are not insignificant factors behind a million-dollar success!

NSU Quickly consisted of the following models:

-Quickly N: the basic model with a 49 cc, 1.4 hp, 1-cylinder, 2-stroke engine and a 2-speed gearbox.
-Quickly S: upgraded with larger screens, speedometer and chrome rims
-Quickly Cavallino: sporty model with telescopic fork and 3-speed gearbox
-Quickly T: modern look with high compression engine and 3-speed gearbox
-Quickly TT and TT/K: Sports model with Cavalliono frame and kick-start
-Quicky S2 and S2/23: 2-seater version with larger fuel tank and 23 inch wheels
-Quickly F: modernized design and with rear wheel suspension

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