Who knows the history of the rotary engine.? Well like most things in the world it was invented by the Germans & perfected by the Japanese. Thus, invented by Herr Wankel, tamed by Yamamoto San.

Found a nicely done YOUTUBE video on the NSU Ro80. Interesting point about the featured car is that it was actually owned by the father of the rotary engine, Dr Felix Wankel himself. It's all in German so I was struggling (thinks back to High school elective subjects ) Ich bin Ausländer und sprechen kein Deutsch

>>> NSU Ro80 video <<<

My limited understanding thinks this may be a 77-model perhaps one of the last of the line & given to Felix Wankel as a gift.

REgards

 

If it was a '77 it was probably as you said one of the last off the line.

As for history, there is

the Merc' C111 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_C111

the Citreon M35 http://www.cats-citroen.net/citroen_...story_m35.html

the Corvette XP-822 http://www.idavette.net/prototyp.htm

the AMC Pacer http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AMC_Pacer

Plus Norton and Suzuki made bikes with rotary engine. But my heart will always be with the R100. My 1st and favorite car.