Rocket-Prinz
‘In South America – a region with a passionate racing culture – a race car was built using parts from the civilian version of the NSU Prinz, a machine that consistently outpaces all its competitors. By incorporating the Prinz engine, the complete NSU front axle, and components from the NSU rear suspension, the builders created a vehicle that weighs just 260 kg (including 35 litres of fuel) and reaches a top speed of 180 km/h.’
‘The Prinz engine produces up to 45 hp; the chassis consists of a tubular frame system, in which the longitudinal members also serve as oil lines, connecting the engine to a cooling coil located in the nose of the car. The designer of this “Red Arrow of Argentina” is the engineer Kurt Delfosse, based in Buenos Aires.’
Eukie wrote on The Nostalgia Forum that, ‘A German book on NSU features some interesting pages on the Delfosse Formula 4 cars: Gerhard Geiling: NSU – Fahrzeuge, Prototypen und Eigenbauten. Eschborn 1997, pp 60-64.’
‘In 1960 Delfosse built seven, maybe as much as 13 formula cars in Argentina, tested and promoted by greats like Fangio, Gonzalez and Mieres, that raced in a local series, with the intention to bridge the gap and find a niche between Formula Junior and Go Karts. The cars were based on NSU Prinz technology.’
‘In 1963 he tried to expand into the US market with a similar car. Visiting the USA he had realized that his cars more or less fitted into American Formula 4. The text mentions a surviving car first owned by one Carter “Buddy” Penley from San Diego who raced it intensively in California during the 1960s. Afterwards it was used in a racing school.’
The Mail Tribune in Orgegon published Delfosse’s obituary in July 1998,
‘Curt August Delfosse, 86, of Ashland, died Tuesday (July 21, 1998) at Ashland Community Hospital. A private service will be held. Mr. Delfosse was born May 30, 1912, in Cologne, Germany. On Feb 12, 1955, in Argentina, he married Ana I. Hartenau, who survives. They moved to the Rogue Valley 21 years ago from San Diego, Calif.’
‘He earned a degree in engineering from the university in Stuttgart, Germany. He was a race car driver for European car makers, including Porsche. He built and raced Grand Prix-type cars; he designed the international Formula 4 race car. In Ashland, he owned a B.P. gas station.’
‘His father’s automobile factories built Rohr and Helios cars and also built Germany’s first airplanes.’
‘During World War II, Mr. Delfosse served in the German air force. He was a member of the International Federation of Automobiles and the Sports Car Club of America. He also enjoyed designing boats. Survivors, in addition to his wife, include a sister, Edita Vanderlyn, Arkansas.’
Credits…
NSU Ag, The Nostalgia Forum
Finito…
