Post by knut600 on Aug 25, 2010 11:48:06 GMT
Are there more DAF veterans than me? 50 years ago, in 1960, I started working with DAF at the Norwegian importer, in Oslo. Selling the first DAF models, daf 600, in Norway at that time was not easy, as car sales was strongly restricted after the war. So we had plenty of time to get to know what the cars were like. Most of the customers did not know much about cars in general, that's why they bought these very simple models.
I "fell in love" with DAF the first time I saw the Variomatic on the underside of a car standing outside the importers shop. 2 months later I got a job in the technical department, and since then I have followed DAF cars from the first importer via two other importers to Volvo Norway in 1973. I have owned all the DAF models, continuing with the dutch Volvo-models up to the 400-series.
Elderly people who had DAF as their first car were especially happy with it. A woman about 60 years wanted me as an assistant the first day she was driving her car. In a slight uphill road in Oslo she stopped for a couple who were about to cross the street in front of us. "You just walk folks, I have no clutch!"
Whereas an other one, a man came to the workshop and had a problem - the engine compartment was all over covered with oil. Taking out the dipstick, I saw oil coming out of the hole. Asking him where he had oil-change, he said that he did it himself. "And what do you do?" I asked him. "I fill 2 liters every 2000 km." (without draining the old oil!).
I had a 600 myself, blue with white top. Quite nice actually, and with front of the bonnet level with underside of the headlamps! There was never a mention of acceleration; 0 - 100 was out of the question. 22 SAE horsepower gave 95 km/h as maximum speed, but after all, the power was after all good enough to bring my family of 4 up to a mountain in Norway.
I still remember a few of the funny technical details of DAF 600: The simple vacuum system, 4-bladed propeller taking care of engine cooling when idling, belt tension screw below the rear fender (available for all technically interested amateur-owners).
For an enthusiast like me, it was a slight disappointment when DAF 55 came on the market, with a water cooled engine! After all, the 44 engine had a sufficient power, and gave enough heater to the interior which was also quite spacious. Another slight disappointment came with DAF 66 and Variomatic with differential,
but after all - it was necessary of course.
Well folks, I think this can be enough (for a start?). If there is anybody who would like to hear more about interesting or funny stories from DAF's earlier days, just give me a word.
I "fell in love" with DAF the first time I saw the Variomatic on the underside of a car standing outside the importers shop. 2 months later I got a job in the technical department, and since then I have followed DAF cars from the first importer via two other importers to Volvo Norway in 1973. I have owned all the DAF models, continuing with the dutch Volvo-models up to the 400-series.
Elderly people who had DAF as their first car were especially happy with it. A woman about 60 years wanted me as an assistant the first day she was driving her car. In a slight uphill road in Oslo she stopped for a couple who were about to cross the street in front of us. "You just walk folks, I have no clutch!"
Whereas an other one, a man came to the workshop and had a problem - the engine compartment was all over covered with oil. Taking out the dipstick, I saw oil coming out of the hole. Asking him where he had oil-change, he said that he did it himself. "And what do you do?" I asked him. "I fill 2 liters every 2000 km." (without draining the old oil!).
I had a 600 myself, blue with white top. Quite nice actually, and with front of the bonnet level with underside of the headlamps! There was never a mention of acceleration; 0 - 100 was out of the question. 22 SAE horsepower gave 95 km/h as maximum speed, but after all, the power was after all good enough to bring my family of 4 up to a mountain in Norway.
I still remember a few of the funny technical details of DAF 600: The simple vacuum system, 4-bladed propeller taking care of engine cooling when idling, belt tension screw below the rear fender (available for all technically interested amateur-owners).
For an enthusiast like me, it was a slight disappointment when DAF 55 came on the market, with a water cooled engine! After all, the 44 engine had a sufficient power, and gave enough heater to the interior which was also quite spacious. Another slight disappointment came with DAF 66 and Variomatic with differential,
but after all - it was necessary of course.
Well folks, I think this can be enough (for a start?). If there is anybody who would like to hear more about interesting or funny stories from DAF's earlier days, just give me a word.