Tuesday, April 3, 2012

1968 DAF 44 and 55

Launched last year as the single 44 saloon, DAF’s new range substantially increases in size for 1968 with the introduction of an estate and, more significantly, of the 55, basically a 44 powered by a Renault engine, available as a saloon, then as an elegant coupe. Its valiant air-cooled twin having reached the limits of its development, DAF indeed turned to Renault instead of designing a new powerplant. As a result the French “Major” engine is now produced under licence in the Netherlands. Though the 55 is therefore the first of the company’s cars to be fitted with a liquid-cooled four, it remains a DAF without the shadow of a doubt, enjoying all the ease and efficiency of the in-house Variomatic transmission.


DAF 44
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● Introduction: September 1966. Construction: unibody. Engine: air-cooled flat two, 0.85-litre, 40 hp, mounted at the front. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a continuous variable-speed gearbox. Suspension: independent on all four wheels. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Length: 385 cm. Top speed: 125 kph. Range: two-door “Standaard” saloon, two-door “Luxe” saloon, two-door “Combi Luxe” estate.


DAF 55
Fitting a larger, more powerful Renault engine under the bonnet of a DAF 44 to create the new 55 has required a few modifications to the basic car. These include a longer front end sporting a fake chromed grille, a new front suspension using torsion bars, and front disk brakes.
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● Introduction: September 1966 for the original 44, December 1967 as the 55. Construction: unibody. Engine: water-cooled inline four, 1.1-litre, 50 hp, mounted at the front. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a continuous variable-speed gearbox. Suspension: independent on all four wheels. Brakes: hydraulic, to disks on front wheels, drums on rear wheels. Length: 388 cm. Top speed: 135 kph (saloon and estate) to 140 kph (coupe). Range: two-door “Luxe” saloon, two-door coupe (from March 1968).


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