DAF History The DAF (vanDoorne’s Automobile Fabriek) hasa long history. The company started producingtruck trailers in Einhoven, The Netherlands in theearly 1930's with the brothers Hub and WimvanDoorne. The company soon progressed to thenext stage and began producing the trucks to pullthose trailers around 1949.

In 1954 Hub and Wim began to work on and developthe now infamous “CVT” Automatic/Variomatictransmission and in 1958 introduced the “DAF 600" carwith a 600 cc air-cooled motor and the Variomatictransmission. The DAF 600 was produced from 1958 through1963.The car was exported all over Europe and to theUnited States. Very few examples of the original DAF 600remain today despite the fact that around 30,591cars were built.

It was 1960 that DAF first began to export their firstcars to the United States. Under the guidance of Mr.JanSouten the import company called Eastern Cars of

Holland based out of Brooklyn, N.Y.(a wholly owned subsidiary of DAF) with a 69dealer network set up to sell the Dutch DAF to the American public. In 1964 theresponsibility of importation passed on to Ferguson Motors (a multi marquecompany).

Jan Souten Flatbush Ave.(1961 Photo) Brooklyn, N.Y. (1960 Photo)

The 600 cc was followed by the more powerful Model 30in 1961 which had a 750 cc air-cooled motor. Body stylesremained identical up until the Model 32 in 1965 whenthe DAF underwent a major restyling. The 32 DAF sporteda new front grille, a squared off roof line, less flowingcurves and an upgraded interior. Mechanically itremained the same due to the reliability of the 750 ccmotor and Variomatic transmission. The year was 1967, the introduction of the new DAF type 33, the DAF type 44and the DAF type 55 models. This was also the year which spelled the end of DAFimportation to the United States. With more government safety regulationsvanDoorne’s Automobile Fabriek could not, or would not, upgrade their cars tomeet those new specifications. Mr.Jan Souten managed to quickly import six(6) ofthe new DAF 44's into the country before the cutoff date and in 1968 he retiredfrom his post as President. I had the pleasure of meeting with him on manyoccasions after his retirement in Southbury, Connecticut home where he still soldparts for the DAF cars.

DAF 33(850 cc) DAF 44(850 cc) DAF 55(1100 cc) Air-cooled Motor Air-cooled Motor Water-cooled Motor

In 1972 DAF stopped production of the Type 44 and 55 and introduced the DAFtype 66 equipt with 1100 cc & 1300 cc water cooled motors coupled with theAutomatic/Variomatic transmission. The more powerful and totally redesigned DAFwas a big hit with the public. Production and sales figures were astounding,approximately 138,840 units were built and sold between 1972 and 1975. The DAF 66 was designed with the idea of returningto the United States market and it encompassed all thesafety features required for importation.Unfortunately, the 1973 “Gas Wars” put an end tothat plan and they never reached our shores. Also this year DAF developed the new DAF 77prototype. The 77 was a radical design, so unlike anyother DAF built. Development of this model continuedfor three years and in 1975 it was ready for production. DAF 66 (1300 cc) Water-cooled Motor

1974 saw the introduction of yet another model to theDAF line-up. This was the Type 46 which featured a singlebelt Variomatic transmission and a Dion rear independentaxle. This model was the only model to feature the singlebelt, the Dion rear axle was also featured on the DAF 66.

DAF 46 (850 cc) Air-Cooled Motor

With the passing of the vanDoorne brothers (Hub and Wim), van Doorne’sAutomobile Fabriek was sold to car manufacturing giant Volvo of Sweden in 1975so the DAF 77 never made production as a DAF, rather as a re-badged Volvo (TheVolvo 300 series). Volvo continued production of the model 66 and 340/360 with

the Variomatic transmission until 1980. The last of the oldDAF style cars were now history. Although DAF continues toproduce trucks to this day under the PACCAR Company (aUSA based truck manufacturer who also produces thePeterbilt and Freightliner trucks), the cars are a thing of thepast.

Volvo 343 (Alias the DAF 77)

vanDoorne’s Automobiel Fabriek 1958-1973

vanDoorne’s Personen Auto Fabriek 1973-1975

Volvo Car B.V. 1975-1980

1958 DAF 600 Sedan Introduced

1959DAF Production Begins

1960DAF 600 Begins Export to USA

1961 Type 30 750 cc & Daffodil Introduced

1961DAF 600 Pickup Introduced

1961DAF 600 Pickup Stopped

1962DAF 750 Panel& Pickup Truck Introduced

1963Introduction ofType 31 Sedan & Trucks

1963 Type 30 Sedan & Trucks Stopped

1963 DAF 600 Stopped

1965Introduction ofType 32 Sedan & Trucks

1965 Type 31 Sedan & Trucks Stopped

1966Introduction of DAF 32 “S” Sedan

1966 DAF 32 “S” Stopped

Time line for DAF

1967Introduction ofType 44 SedanStation wagon

1967Introduction of Type 33 Sedan & Trucks

1967 Type 32Sedan & Truck Stopped

1967Introduction ofDAF 55 Sedan

1967All DAF ExportStopped to the USA

1968Introduction ofType 33 & 44 “Comfort”

1968Introduction ofKalmar Postal & Pony Trucks

1968Introduction ofDAF 44 PanelDelivery Truck & 2nd Gen.Kalmar Postal

1968 DAF Pony Trucks Stopped

1969Introduction of 2nd Gen. DAF 55

1971Type 33 Pickup Stopped

1971 Kalmar Postal Stopped

1971Introduction of DAF 55 “Marathon”

1972 DAF 55 Stopped

1972 DAF 44 Stopped

1972Introduction ofDAF 66 Sedan

1972 DAF 33 & 44 Converts to12 volt System

1973Introduction of DAF 66 “Marathon”

1974Introduction of DAF 46

1974Introduction of DAF 66YAMilitary Jeep

1974 DAF 33 Stopped

1974 DAF 66YA Stopped

1975Volvo buys DAF

1976Volvo Rebadges DAF 66 To Volvo 66

1976 DAF 46 Stopped

1980Volvo (DAF) 66 Stopped

1991The last of the DAFmodels 340/343/360 Stopped