Daf 600

Body shapes:

Sedan
Pick-up
Daf 600 met Variomatic aandrijving  - De Nederlandse personenauto  


"Alleen sturen, gas geven en remmen, zonder koppelen, zonder schakelen"

In 1958, the Netherlands became acquainted with a sensational Volkswagen car. After 3 years of development, the Daf 600 is presented at the AutoRAI of 1958. It was a sensation: a spacious and affordable family car with a variomatic drive from Dutch soil. A year after the presentation at the AutoRAI, in 1959, production of the Daf 600 was started and the model would be sold until 1963.

The Daf 600 was characterized by good aerodynamic properties for that time, and a lot of space: the passenger(s) had to be able to sit in the car with a hat on. The interior with a dashboard with clock and speedometer was simple in design. Some external features are the high roof, the rear lights in one color with the fuel cap below on the right and a 'dummy cap' on the left for symmetry, the 12-inch wheels with diagonal tires and the direction indicators in the door style, the so-called 'ears' that indicate the first type 600 features.

In 1960, the second type 600 came on the market, with traditional indicators under the enlarged headlights and a different shape of taillights. The license plate light bulbs moved from the trunk lid to either side of the license plate. Internally, the type designation of the second type 600 was 'Daf 22', after the number of SAE horsepower delivered by the 2-cylinder boxer engine.

The model range was expanded in 1961 with the Pick-up, which could be supplied with a hood as an extra. In the same year, the 750 model appeared, from which the Daf 600 took over some external features in order to go through life as the 3rd type. A Daf 600 3rd type has a chromed edge around the grille, the license plate is slightly recessed on a curved back plate. The fuel cap is next to the license plate, the 'dummy cap' disappeared.
 
The Daf 600 is the basis of the A-type: a 4-person vehicle with an air-cooled 2-cylinder boxer engine developed by DAF in the front. This A-type was further developed until the end of production of the Daf 33 in 1974.

Daf 600 Sedan

Daf 600 Sedan (Coral rood) About 62
remaining in the Netherlands
source: RDW (2023)

Version:    Standard and Luxury
Years of construction:    1959 - 1963
Produced:    30.150 (1.403 Standard and 28.747 Luxury)

The first small European car with a stepless automatic transmission (the Variomatic) and the first car in the world that does not need to be lubricated: it therefore has no lubrication points. A top speed of 90 km/h is sufficient in 1959. The Daf 600 is the ancestor of all DAF passenger cars. The 600 Standard version was only available in Padusa (grey-green) paintwork with ivory-coloured bumpers and gray interior trim.

A Daf 600 Standard lacks hubcaps, ventilation windows in the doors and decorative strips around the front and rear window. The 600 Luxe version was available in 6 colors with the option of a combination with a white roof and tires with white sidewalls ('white walls'). There are hubcaps on a 600 Luxe, the bumpers are chromed and the interior trim is dark gray with gray, or black with white.

Measurements

Wheelbase
2.05m

Total lengtth
3.61m

Totale width
1.44m

Totale height
1.38m

Engine

Type  
2-cylinder 4-stroke boxer

Capacity
590 cm3

Max power 
22 bhp at 4000 rotations./min.

Compression ratio 
7.1:1

Performance

Maximum speed
90 km/hour

Fuel efficiency
6 - 7.5 liter / 100 km

Capacity fuel tank
28 liter

 

Daf 600 Pick-up

Daf 600 Pick-up (met Daf 750 motor) About 1
remaining in the Netherlands
source: RDW (2023)
Years of construction:    March - August 1961
Produced:    441

The Pick-up was released in 1961 and had a spacious cargo box lined with a wooden floor. It was easy to enter through the fold-down hatch between the rear lights. The license plate holder on the tailgate was also made foldable, so that the license plate remained visible when the tailgate was folded down. A tarpaulin was supplied at an additional cost that could be stored in the cabin.

Measurements

Wheelbase
2.05m

Total length
3.61m

Total width
1.44m

Total height
1.39m

Engine

Type  
2-cylinder 4-stroke boxer

Capacity
746 cm3

Max power
30 bhp at 4000 rotations/min.

Compression ratio 
7.1:1

Performance

Maximum speed
105 km/hour

Own weight roadworthy
670 kg

Payload (in cargo bed)
300 kg

Capacity fuel tank
28 liter

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