NSU OSL 501 1938 500cc OHV
The history of the NSU OSL begins with a great depression. After the 500 cc motorcycles from NSU were never able to score points in competitions and racing successes were needed for advertising, the then chief designer Otto Reitz suggested hiring a capable designer from England, which was used to success. They found what they were looking for and hired William Moore from Norton, who had fallen out with his boss. Moore moved to NSU in 1929. As soon as we arrived in Neckarsulm, the NSU SS 500 vertical shaft engine was built. With Moore's compatriot Tom Bullus, the NSU factory team achieved national and international victories from 1930 onwards.
The 500 SS engine was too expensive and too sensitive for the everyday driver. Moore therefore designed a new, sporty four-stroke model series. In 1932 the 501 OS (abbreviation for: top-controlled sports model) appeared. The appearance of the new model was as close as possible to the vertical shaft racing machines. The two bumpers were housed in a common protective tube to give the impression of a vertical shaft engine.
This machine had an output OSL 501: 22 HP, Bosch EAS 170 headlights with built-in speedometer, a tubular frame open at the bottom and a double exhaust system, new crankcase, reinforced clutch, encapsulated automatic foot switch, new tank with embossed side panels, light metal primary box, primary chain in oil bath, four-speed gearbox with foot gears, new wider handlebars, new rear wheel hub. New front fork, fully enclosed rear chain, box-shaped mudguard, light alloy cylinder head.
This beautiful NSU OSL 501 with an attractive chrome-plated fuel tank is a beautifully sophisticated high-quality restoration. The machine has had one owner for the last 30 years. After its extensive restoration, the NSU was driven on several classic car rallies and tours in Austria.
A notable feature of this NSU OSL is its sporty exhaust system with raised pipes, which gives this shapely sports tourer a very distinctive look. Various European manufacturers also offered the upswept exhaust system as an additional option in the '30s, which was a fairly popular choice among their customers.
The NSU OSL 501 was a real sports motorcycle in its time, the 500cc OHV twin-port engine has plenty of power. The machine has correct engine and frame numbers and its old Austrian registration document and veteran register.
