The DAF 44 was a small family car introduced in September 1966. It was the first car built at DAF’s new plant at Born in Limburg, and the first DAF passenger car designed to sit above the little Daffodil. Michelotti styled the body, and the car stayed in production until November 1974.
DAF 44 at a glance
| Maker | DAF, Born (Limburg) |
|---|---|
| Production | 1966–1974 |
| Introduced | September 1966 |
| Designer | Giovanni Michelotti |
| Engine | air-cooled flat-twin, 844 cc |
| Bore and stroke | 85.5 mm × 73.5 mm |
| Power | 34 bhp |
| Transmission | Variomatic CVT, acting as a transaxle |
| Brakes | drums all round |
| Body styles | 2-door saloon, estate, panel van |
| Electrics | 12 volt from 1972 |
| Built | 167,902 |
History of the DAF 44
A step up from the Daffodil
Until 1966 DAF had offered only the small, slow Daffodil to private buyers. The 44 was a cautious move upmarket: larger, better equipped and more comfortable, but built with the same mechanical layout the company knew. It was the first model to leave the new factory at Born, and it set the naming pattern that turned the Daffodil into the DAF 33 to match the two-digit number.
The engine and the packaging
The two-cylinder engine was familiar from the DAF 33, and the bore stayed at 85.5 mm; the stroke grew to 73.5 mm, raising the capacity from 746 cc to 844 cc and the claimed output from 28 bhp to 34 bhp. The compression ratio stayed low enough for ordinary low-octane fuel. All-round drum brakes matched the car’s modest performance. For its time the 44 had an unusual comfort feature: face-level ventilation through adjustable outlets in the fascia. The spare wheel lived under the front bonnet, where the compact engine left room for it, which freed space for luggage at the back.
Variomatic and body versions
The Variomatic transmission was fitted under the rear seat and also served as the differential, so the whole unit worked as a transaxle. DAF offered the 44 as a two-door saloon, a two-door estate or hatchback, and a panel van. Its floorpan was also used for the tall Swedish specialist vehicle Kalmar KVD 440, known as the Tjorven. The electrical system changed from 6 to 12 volts in 1972, and production ended in November 1974 after 167,902 cars. The DAF 46 replaced it, although leftover 44s stayed available for some time.
Design and features
- Michelotti styling: a modern, larger body than the Daffodil’s.
- 844 cc flat-twin: a longer stroke gave 34 bhp instead of 28.
- Face-level ventilation: adjustable outlets in the fascia, unusual in a small car.
- Spare wheel under the bonnet: more room for luggage behind the rear seat.
- Variomatic transaxle: the belt transmission doubled as the differential.
DAF 44 versions
- Saloon: the standard two-door car.
- Estate/hatchback: a two-door load-carrying version.
- Panel van: a closed commercial body.
- Kalmar KVD 440: a Swedish specialist vehicle built on the 44’s underpinnings.
The 44 sat between the smaller DAF 33 and the more powerful DAF 55, and it was replaced by the DAF 46. More cars are in the DAF collection.
Sources
- DAF 44, English Wikipedia: engine, body, production, Variomatic
- DAF 44, Dutch Wikipedia: Born plant, 1972 electrics, replacement
