Münch, thanks to NSU

The story is now fairly well known: Friedl Münch (1927-2014) was a genetic engineer, the builder of the first superbike in the world: the Münch Mammut / TTS, less socially talented and in business he went up the beet bridge time and again. At one point he was even no longer allowed to use his name as a trademark because he had lost the rights to it.

Münch got the engine blocks from NSU

When Friedl saw what a beautiful engine block was in the back of a friend's NSU, he was sold. He had to and would use this air-cooled OHC four-cylinder to make the strongest, fastest motorcycle of all time. The Ultimate Motorcycle. He jogged to Neckarsulm, to the NSU factory. There they saw no point in going back into motorcycle production. “Motorcycling is over. The future belongs to the cars ”. But there were still hearts in a few marketers' bodies at NSU: The company was willing to supply the engines. And the headlight rings.

I had a dream

Friedl's dream engine was air-cooled, so light and because of the overhead camshaft and the short stroke, it was an engine that was always hungry for more revolutions. But to turn it into a motorcycle block, a lot had to be done for that. A gearbox had to be constructed behind the four-cylinder. A new primary shipment had to be made. Including the coupling. The oil pan had to be redesigned and made. And then we are not even talking about the mixture supply and the exhaust system. Münch opted for double Webers for the carburation. Nice and effective! There were then also wheels or brakes, not even bicycle parts, that could handle 100 hp. Münch did all the casting work in-house, just like the bending and welding work for the frame.

The front and rear wheels became unique constructions. He made the double cradle frame from thick-walled seamlessly drawn precision tube. The entire stern, buddy floor plus rear fender, a rear fork including oil bath chain guard, the fork bridges, the footrest gusset plates, and so on were all in-house design and production.

All high tech

All those castings were made of high-quality electron, a magnesium alloy from aircraft construction. And all that high-tech material had to be carefully varnished, because electron, just like magnesium, is highly corrosion sensitive. With too enthusiastic contact with oxygen it simply crumbles.

Less than 500

In all, less than 500 copies have been made with the four-cylinder NSU engines. About 320 of that remain, of which about 100 are in the States and those machines are rock solid with collectors all over the world. So days pass before another few are on Marktplaats. If one comes up, it is usually already known within the circles of Münch enthusiasts. The proceeds from the sale are therefore completely net, because there are no longer any advertising costs. A Munch that is simply for sale on the 'free market', that is a real rarity.

A Münch TTS in Brummen

The motor that is currently for sale at Gallery Aaldering is actually unique. Because even if you have never thought about buying a Münch, you could just buy this one.

The question 'what does that thing cost' should not play a role in this impulse. Because if you're wondering, then you probably don't have the money for it. For the record: think of an amount around 150.000 euros.