The Dutch Imp...DAF 55 Coupe goes for a drive

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[danieljames]

One of those gorgeous small Coupes from the Sixties, along with Simca and Alfa Romeo. Small Cars don't have that prettiness and glamour anymore.

[nickbrown]

Its so sad that car companies such as Daf have gone. Life would be so much more interesting if companies like Daf still existed, and not everyone just bought boring German cars.

[corrbhan]

Nice to see you driving a car from my country! When DAF started building cars (they built trailers and military vehicles before that), they made a huge point about how easy the Variomatic was to drive. This quickly gave them the name of being cars for old ladies, a reputation from which they never really recovered, despite ventures into racing. The belt drive was commonly known as suspender drive.

[usuallyfixingtinkering]

The 66 coupe is indeed one of the most beautiful coupes going, Van Doorme wanted to create a small automatic car and ended up creating a fleet of them over the years because of how good the variomatic was. The transmission is mounted on the back axle and has no ratios or another way of putting it... infinite ratios. It always keeps the car in the correct ratio at the right time and was so succesful at doing this - DAF became a name to be feared when it came to the dutch rallycross in the 60s and 70s as nobody could compete! Fun fact that on the Variomatic is that it makes the car go backwards just as fast as forwards! I have just completed a history video based on the history of the CVT and it has quite an understated history but potentially a very important future - VW are currently testing a CVT transmission in their E-Golf because of it's potential to create extra torque and therefore reduce the size of the electric motor and therefore use smaller batteries. Cracking video as usual :)

[johnscarsandstuff]

I love the Daf 55 Marathon, the logic of the Van Doorne transmission is inescapable even if it doesn't quite work in reality. The transmission is in the rear, comprises two pairs of pulleys that (thanks to a mixture of engine inlet manifold vacuum and centrifugal bob-weights) would adjust to speed and load. I believe there's also a centrifugal clutch, which is why you need a few revs to get going and it doesn't creep like a conventional automatic. The transmission also serves in lieu of a differential, so you effectively have a limited slip rear end and DAFs worked very well on ice and snow.

[Boxspooks]

My grandmother bought one of these when she passed her automatic only test at 56. She didn't do more than a few hundred miles in it, then gave it to my cousin as her first car. I remember it as a decent car. I always thought it looked rather like my aunt's Fiat 850 Coupé.

[frglee]

Travelled cross country from Worcestershire to London in a Daf 44 Saloon back in the Summer of 1974 with three other students. The car's performance was OK though I do recall the driver telling us he was using quieter roads, keeping it at around 40 all the way to save money on petrol and hoped we didn't mind! As it turned out, it made for a nice trip.

[andrewstones]

For me this is one of the most beautiful and interesting cars you have reviewed so far. When I was 16 I used to get a lift in one of these from a friend who was a bit older, we managed to confirm that they do indeed do the same speed in reverse as in forward! Anyway it’s a beauty and I went straight to stonecoldclassics but it’s already sold.. I seriously would have been in the market for this, it’s so rare a nice Daf coupe comes along.

[maxidyne]

Dutch pride! My aunt had a DAF Daffodil, but the Coupe is such a looker. Beautiful car and tastefully modified.

[ouhoh]

Im a 23 year old, super into oldtimers, and managed to buy a DAF 55 Coupe today, it's gonna need some loving but im so happy and excited to finally be driving an incredible oldtimer car and participate in events. :D

[Erwinhooi]

Awesome car!👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻My grandmother always drove these DAF’s (a 33, a 44 and a 55!) and I remember the trips in it with her. Sweet memories…! This coupe is the most pretty one.

[volt]

At 16 Had a daf33 given to me which had been crashed. Only front wing needed. My dad helped me repair it. I was ordered not to drive it before 17. I did my dad found out and sold it! Drove lovely

[opoxious]

The "Artwork" of the clocks especially the speedometer is fantastic!

[CherylCold]

Neighbour had a 55 in yellow back around 1980, then updated to a 343., yellow again. Never knew these coupes existed, really is quite an exotic looking little car.

[davidwalker]

Enjoyed that Matt, brought memories of my Dad's Daf 44. From memory the knob on the dash is to keep it in low gear

[glyntimmins]

I had a 66 Marathon in the 70s. Super little car. In its day would beat anything away from the lights in the first 50 meters! I used to love challenging people to find the fuel cap. Nobody could - it was hidden beneath the fold down number plate!

[francis]

The button on the right is the 'low ratio hold' selector, which simulates engine braking when going down hill - not used very much in Holland.

[amboman]

My first car was a 66 marathon coupe, bright yellow with a large black stripe. Full sunshine roof and it was amazing.

[jeffking]

I actually saw an older DAF in a parking lot in St.Louis Missouri USA, when I was a teenager. I knew what it was, but to see one actually in person was a treat.
I don’t believe they were officially imported to the U.S..
Perhaps, through Canada(?).
🚗🙂

[fhwolthuis]

What a nice example! Really nicely modified too. I love it! ❤️😀