Editing DAF Trucks (section)

===Car business===
[[File:DAF img 2284.jpg|thumb|[[DAF 600]]]]
[[File:Daf 33 Break.jpg|thumb|[[DAF 33]] Break]]
[[File:1975 DAF 44.jpg|thumb|left|1975 [[DAF 44]]]]
[[File:Daf 46 h sst.jpg|thumb|right|[[DAF 46]]]]
The first passenger car, the [[DAF 600]], was presented to the public in February 1958. It featured unitary steel construction, with a front mounted, air cooled two cylinder [[boxer engine]] driving the rear wheels through a centrifugal clutch and the [[Variomatic]] [[Continuously variable transmission|CVT]] transmission. The way this was constructed eliminated the need for a differential, with the drivebelts taking up the difference of speed in turns.

This acted as a [[limited-slip differential]]. The car had [[independent suspension]] all around, with [[MacPherson strut]]s and a transverse [[leaf spring]] at the front, and a coil sprung semi trailing arm design at the rear. The first 600s rolled off the production line in the following year. The next model was the [[DAF 750|750]], featuring a larger {{convert|749|cc|cuin|abbr=on}} twin.

Later, DAF produced a more luxurious type called the [[DAF Daffodil|Daffodil]], divided into three models assigned the numbers DAF 30, DAF 31 and DAF 32. The designation 32 was changed to [[DAF 33|33]] upon the 1966 release of the [[DAF 44|44]], a larger middle class vehicle designed by [[Giovanni Michelotti]].

The 44 featured a completely new design aesthetically as well as mechanically, but was of the same layout as the "A types" (the 600, 750, 30, 31, 32 and 33), with the main difference being its {{convert|850|cc|cuin|abbr=on}} two cylinder engine, and its full [[swing axle]] rear axle design as opposed to the A type semi trailing arms.

The 1968 [[DAF 55]] carried a bigger water cooled {{convert|1108|cc|cuin|abbr=on}} OHV four cylinder engine derived from the [[Renault 8]] Cleon engine. Its body design was altered from the 44 by a new front which accommodated the longer engine and radiator, bigger taillights, and a more plush interior. The front suspension was changed from a transverse leaf spring to MacPherson struts with torsion springs and an antiroll bar.

The [[DAF 66]] was introduced as a successor to the 55. It featured new, boxy styling of the front, and a new rear axle design. The two drive belts now powered a differential, and the axle was changed from a swing axle design to a leaf sprung de Dion axle. It was a major improvement over the (tricky) handling of the swing axles of the earlier 33, 44 and 55 models.

[[Volvo Cars|Volvo]] purchased a 33 percent stake in DAF in December 1972, with the intent of taking a larger interest.<ref name=dutchtale>{{citation | title = A Dutch Treat... a tale of DAF cars & trucks | last = de Bruin | first = Johannes (Hans) | date = 31 March 2012 | publisher = Lulu.com | isbn = 978-1105636561 | page = 76 }}{{self-published source|date=December 2021}}</ref>{{self-published inline|date=February 2020}} They increased their holdings to 75% on 1 January 1975, taking over the company and the Nedcar plant. Volvo dropped the 33 and 44 models, and later rebadged the [[DAF 66]] as the [[Volvo 66]], with bigger bumpers and a safety steering wheel.

The [[DAF 46]] was developed with Volvo's assistance, and was basically a 44 with the rear axle of a 66 and a single belt [[Variomatic]] (half the 66's transmission). A big weakness of this system is that a failed drive belt would cripple the car. The last DAF design, codenamed P900, initially intended to be the DAF 77, was developed during the transition to Volvo ownership and was ultimately launched as the [[Volvo 300 series]] in 1976, firstly as the Volvo 343 three door hatchback with the [[Variomatic]] transmission.

After initial slow sales, the range was expanded into the 340/360, with a five-door variant and the availability of manual transmission, and the 340/360 range became a sales success, eventually surpassing 1.3&nbsp;million units by the time production ceased in 1991. The subsequent [[Volvo 440/460]]/480 and the first generation [[Volvo S40|S40/V40]] models were also made at the Nedcar plant, until Volvo sold its interest to [[Mitsubishi Motors]] in 2001, marking the end of Volvo's involvement with the former DAF plant after almost thirty years. Today, the plant is now owned by [[VDL Nedcar]], and contract manufactures certain [[Mini (marque)|Mini]] models for [[BMW]].

==== Prototypes and special cars ====
For a small company, DAF made a huge number of prototypes. Also, famous coachbuilders like [[Giovanni Michelotti]] and [[Officina Stampaggio Industriale SpA|OSI]] made cars based on DAF mechanicals. For instance, the OSI City Car, which turned into a miniature. There was also Michelotti's "Shellette" beach car, which was later modified to use [[Fiat 850]] underpinnings. The [[Monarchy of the Netherlands|Dutch Royal Family]] used one of these at their [[Porto Ercole]] summer residence.<ref name=Bonhams>{{citation | title = Greenwich Concours d'Elegance Auction | publisher = Bonhams & Butterfields Auctioneers | type = Auction Catalogue | id = Sale Number 21153 | publication-place = New York | chapter = 361 | page = 160 | date = 2 June 2013 }}</ref>