DAF started out as a building trailers as a family business, however after World War 2 the company commenced production of trucks and later cars, each considered very innovative even by today's standards. For example, at a time when auto transmissions were both complex
and expensive, DAF was a pioneer in bringing a simplified
auto to the cheaper end cars. Rather than using gears,
the DAF used twin "Vee-Belts" running over 2 sets of
pulleys, changing sizes according to road conditions
and being controlled by a centrifugal clutch.
The 1958
DAF 33 used this ingenous transmission (the forerunner
to the now more common CVT), linked to a 590cc
air-cooled engine. As DAF's grew in size, they would switch
to using Renault running gear, and in 1968 several
would be entered into the
London-Sydney marathon, and
while they did not come in the placings they did finish
the race, which was quite an achievement! The final
iteration was released in 1972 as the 66, but the company
was soon to be swallowed up by Volvo who would restyle
the 66 and launch it as the Volvo 343.
