DAF Model cars - Collection in Stock

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Illustration Voitures Rétros Vintage France
The DAF prototype that was supposed to fly

Receive by email the little-known story of this Dutch brand that revolutionized the automobile with its unique automatic transmission

Did You Know? Anecdotes and Curiosities about our Miniatures

What does the acronym DAF stand for and what is the origin of this Dutch brand?

DAF stands for 'van Doorne's Aanhangwagen Fabriek' (van Doorne Trailer Factory). Founded in 1928 by brothers Hub and Wim van Doorne in Eindhoven, the company began manufacturing trailers before moving into the production of trucks and then passenger cars.

What revolutionary innovation did DAF introduce to the automotive industry with its passenger cars?

DAF developed the continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) called 'Variomatic'. This technology allowed DAF cars to travel as fast in reverse as in forward gear, earning them several world records for reverse speed.

Why were DAF cars particularly popular in European driving schools?

Thanks to their automatic Variomatic transmission, DAF cars had no clutch or manual gearbox. This made learning to drive easier and less stressful for beginners, hence their widespread adoption by driving schools.

What happened to DAF's passenger car division and which manufacturer took over?

In 1975, DAF sold its passenger car division to Volvo. The last DAF cars were produced in 1976, and Volvo continued to develop DAF's CVT technology in its own models such as the Volvo 340 and 360.

In what areas does DAF continue to be a global leader today?

Although DAF has discontinued passenger car production, the brand remains a major manufacturer of trucks and commercial vehicles. DAF Trucks, now a subsidiary of PACCAR, is one of Europe's leading heavy-duty truck manufacturers and continues to innovate in road transport.