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DAF 55 Marathon - racing belts with a midwife image

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Created on December 6, 2024

Text:

Martin Sigrist

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

12

Bruno von Rotz

8

Archiv

26

Daniel Reinhard

12

Bruno von Rotz

8

Archiv

26

DAF 55 Marathon (1971) - A rally stripe reveals the more powerful Marathon version

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DAF 55 Marathon (1971) - Thanks to its power reserves, the 55 Marathon is certainly quick to move

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DAF 55 Marathon (1971) - In summer, the DAF 55 Marathon is regularly driven by its owner

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DAF 55 Marathon (1971) - A small one, built like the big ones. Two DAFs covered thousands of kilometers of gravel roads without damage in the 1968 London-to-Sidney Marathon, hence the additional name

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DAF 55 Marathon (1971) - Sometimes it was possible for even powerful cars to see the traction-happy DAF only briefly from behind

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DAF 55 Marathon (1971) - in 1972 the front in the typical Michelotti style disappeared with the DAF 66

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DAF 55 Marathon (1971) - The DAF 55 was by no means just a makeshift vehicle

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DAF 55 Marathon (1971) - Design by Giovanni Michelotti

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DAF 55 Marathon (1971) - The most powerful DAF of its time produced 55 hp

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DAF 55 Marathon (1971) - The clutch foot has nothing to do, the narrow footwell is filled by only two pedals

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DAF 55 Marathon (1971) - round instruments and horn button in a sporty look, plus fabric seats

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DAF 55 Marathon (1971) - Once a rear engine at Renault, the 1100cc engine in the DAF Marathon delivers a respectable 55 hp

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DAF 55 Marathon (1971) - The M reveals the Marathon in the type designation - and of course the towing capacity is a must for a Dutchman!

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DAF 55 Marathon (1971) - The shape of the 55 was first shown with the DAF 44 in 1966, the design was by Giovanni Michelotti

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DAF 55 Marathon (1971) - The DAF 55 turned the simple sheet metal of the air-cooled 44 into a proper radiator grille for the water cooler of the Renault engine

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DAF 55 Marathon (1971) - Slightly wider rims and tires for the Marathon

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DAF 55 Marathon (1971) - The cab ventilation behind a chrome grille

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DAF 55 Marathon (1971) - Finding parts for the DAF is a challenge today

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DAF 55 Marathon (1971) - The car with 100 gears thanks to the variator

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DAF 55 Marathon (1971) - Proud owner Daniel Spillman, the car is first-hand

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DAF 600 (1959) - space for five people

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DAF 600 (1960) - illustration in a sales brochure from 1960

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DAF 600 (1958) - from the land of windmills

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DAF 600 (1958) - the technical finesse explained

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DAF 600 (1959) - No clutch pedal, simple dashboard

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DAF 600 (1959) - A look inside the small car

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DAF 750 (1963) - Advertising - she loves to drive

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DAF Daffodil S (1966) - with new DAF body line and two-cylinder engine with 763 cm3 - Geneva Motor Show 1966

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DAF (1963) - Station wagon with continuously variable transmission

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Daf 44 (1967) - elegant, larger Italian-style Daf on show for the first time in Geneva - Geneva Motor Show 1967

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DAF 44 (1966) - the successor to the DAF 30/Daffodil designed by Giovanni Michelotti

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Daf 55 (1968) - now with water cooling

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Daf 55 (1968) - Transparency drawing

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Daf 55 (1968) - new front axle

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Daf 55 (1968) - Variomatic

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Daf 55 (1968) - the engine comes from Renault

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Daf 55 (1968) - Engine

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Daf 55 (1968) - Transparency drawing

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Daf 55 (1968) - Interior details

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DAF 55 Marathon (1969) - the kangaroo is supposed to tell of Australian routes - Geneva Motor Show 1969

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Five young Dutchmen drove through Africa in a DAF station wagon - DAF stand at the 1970 Geneva Motor Show

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DAF Marathon (1973) - the 1.1-liter engine delivers 55 hp - at the 1973 Geneva Motor Show

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Daf 55 station wagon (1970) - with traces of an extensive trip to Africa - Geneva Motor Show 1970

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DAF Formula 3 (1966) - Monoposto with Brabham chassis and Variomatic - Geneva Motor Show 1966

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DAF 66 Sedan SL (1973) - new front end, revised automatic transmission - at the 1973 Geneva Motor Show

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DAF 66 1300 Marathon Break - larger 1.3-liter engine provides more torque - at the 1974 Geneva Motor Show

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Summary

The DAF 55 was a real car with a real engine and really good driving performance. Designed by Giovanni Michelotti, the DAF was even beautifully shaped. The car was also available in three body variants: As a sedan, an estate and a coupé. It was powered by a 1100cc Renault engine. However, the fact that a DAF was beautiful, reasonably fast and even desirable did not seem to be a matter of course at the beginning of the unusual car manufacturer's history. A DAF 55 Marathon from 1971 proves that it was possible.

This article contains the following chapters

Revolution in the small car
A real car
Rally successes for the car with the image problem
Forwards and backwards
Acceleration with thesystem
Caught up by modernity

Estimated reading time: 9min

Preview (beginning of the article)

The DAF 55 was a real car with a real engine and really good driving performance. Designed by Giovanni Michelotti, the DAF was even beautifully shaped. The car was also available in three body variants: As a sedan, an estate and a coupé. The DAF 55 was powered by a 1100cc Renault engine, an alliance that would continue for decades, even long after the DAF brand had ceased to exist as a car manufacturer. But the fact that a DAF was beautiful, reasonably fast and, it is fair to say, even desirable, did not seem to be a matter of course at the beginning of the unusual car manufacturer's history.

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