This odd looking little car may not look like much from the outside, but it was actually very advanced for its time. Not only is it powered by a flat-twin engine, but it’s one of the first production automobiles to feature a CVT transmission. Well, it actually has two of them! There’s a transmission attached to each of the rear wheels essentially creating a differential and ensuring that you can keep going even if one fails. This one is located in St. James, New York and is listed here on craigslist for $5,500.
Not only is this car in great condition, but it also starred in an episode of Wayne Carini’s Chasing Classic Cars! I’m not sure if that adds any value, but the clip does give us more insight on the car’s condition and history. More footage of the engine and those transmission would have been nice, but I’m sure the seller can send more photos to anyone seriously interested. Might want to get a padlock to stick on that hood release though…
The exterior doesn’t hint at technology underneath and neither does the interior. Things are super simple in here with a single gauge and a couple of knobs out front. The flat-twin engine is compact making the inside a bit more roomy. This is a small car so we aren’t talking about luxury proportions here, but when compared to other microcars, it’s not bad. The unique drivetrain also made it possible to have independent rear suspension – another big deal in a car like this!
If the styling doesn’t give it away, the license plate frame will make sure that everyone knows you’re driving something special. “Made in Holland. 2-cyl Belt Drive C.V.T.” It’s not likely you’ll see another one while cruising around and I’m sure plenty of people will ask you what it is during every fill up. You won’t win any races or any car shows in this little guy, but there are few cars out there that are more unique. When summer arrives you’ll be able to slide that ragtop back and enjoy this odd little ride!
You will win races in reverse as they go just as fast in reverse as forward.
A national TV channel organized a yearly event:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoh8i0jfpTo
Lots have been wrecked!
Pictures of the DAF in reverse races:
https://www.google.nl/search?q=daf+achteruitrijden&client=firefox-b-ab&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjd16rxrcDTAhXpAcAKHcgFCwwQsAQIQg&biw=1252&bih=604
Olaf;
What great excitement; many thanks for the great link. I never knew all my great Dutch friends were “wrong way Japs”….thanks.
Voisins with the Cotal gearboxes also had 4 speeds in forward mode, AND 4 speeds in reverse. A gear shift on the dash would tell you which direction you would go…there were quite a few in The Netherlands
Peter Porsche
Awesome! Got to be one of the best oddballs, and not a basket case.
The hood latch was replaced last year with an original Daf latch and works from the inside like it’s supposed to . I Put 1500 into repairing her last year at the Daf of America club by John . The president . He did beautiful work to her and knows the car from its original owner as well .
I’d sure like to know more about the original collection. That video snip really caught my attention.
Cool little car and it’s not a Fiat. Again, in the 60’s, our cars had bigger A/C compressors than this, perhaps the reason for the low miles. Horribly inept for US roads, but puttin’ down to the lake, or get an ice cream with the kids, be great.
These are really cool. In Europe/Netherlands, you did not have many musclecars. This little DAF could outrun almost any car on the first 50 meters from a stoplight, due to the CVT. Volvo made them a while (called 66), but not for long. In our flat, small country it was very sufficient..
Drove one of these in Holland back in the 70’s. Great little car and mechanically sound. Transmission very special. Belt left and right side for left and right wheel. Worked on vacuum. Engine would draw vacuum under-load causing one of the pulleys to expand and the other to contract. When no or little vacuum being drawn things would equalize. At the time quite nippy at the light.
Really a nice example.
BUT THIS CAR IS NOT MADE IN HOLLAND.
It is made in the Netherlands, in Eindhoven. And that city is situated in Noord Braband, a province in the Netherlands. It is a pity that still a lot of people think that Holland is the same as Netherlands.
But it is exactly as the whole US calling New York or Washington.
We have 12 provinces in the Netherlands, 2 of them carry the name Holland.
They are Noord Holland and Zuid Holland.
Have a nice day, Dik from the Netherlands
Nice looking car. I’ve heard of the DAF, but I’ve never seen one in person.
My old friend charlie came home on leave from the air force with one of these. One night a truck passed going the other way and lost a tire that hit the left front and mangled the suspension. charlie went back to duty and I bought the daf for 1.64 -one dollar and 2 packs of marlboro. I used to drive it around the block as it could only make right turns. My parents finally said get rid of it and away it went.
If you go backwards the car would have turned to the left.
Only if he’s facing backwards.. lol
Had a Replacement maths teacher (Maths NOT Math as I’m in the UK!😉) that drove one of these in the Mid-Late 80s (Started secondary school in 1984 & left in 1989) was painted in an almost Army Drab Green but it was just an Old car then!
My mom had a DAF 55 in Germany back in the ’80’s. Much easier to putter around in than the ’78 Electra 225 they had for going on trips in. Neat car, low gear was a green button on the dash…they bought it for $500, did maintenance and tires. That’s it