The DAF 500, 700, 900, 1100 and 1300 were a series of light trucks built by the Eindhoven manufacturer. Their cab was developed with other European makers and was therefore known as the Club of Four cab. DAF ended production in the 1980s, when the Leyland takeover brought a newer light truck into the range.
DAF 500/700/900/1100/1300 at a glance
| Maker | DAF, Eindhoven |
|---|---|
| Models | 500, 700, 900, 1100 and 1300 |
| Class | light trucks |
| Cab | Club of Four cab, developed with other makers |
| Predecessor | the “Kikkerdaf” |
| Successor | DAF 600/800/1000, later DAF 45 |
| Production ended | in the 1980s, after the Leyland takeover |
The Dutch Wikipedia article on this series is very short; the page uses it together with the article on the DAF 45/55 that replaced it.
History of the DAF 500/700/900/1100/1300
A cab shared with other makers
The 500, 700, 900, 1100 and 1300 replaced, more or less, the light DAF trucks known in the Netherlands as the Kikkerdaf. Their cab was not a purely DAF design: it was created in cooperation with other European manufacturers, which is why it was nicknamed the Club of Four cab. Sharing the tooling kept the cost of a modern cab within reach for a relatively small maker.
The end of the series
In the 1980s DAF took over part of British Leyland. British Leyland had just put a modern light truck on the market, the Leyland Roadrunner, and DAF decided to stop building the older series in favour of it. The Roadrunner was then sold in continental Europe as the DAF 600, 800 and 1000, and on the British Isles under the Leyland DAF brand. Those trucks later became the DAF 45 and 55.
Design and features
- Club of Four cab: a cab developed jointly with other European makers.
- Five models: 500, 700, 900, 1100 and 1300, covering the light end of the range.
- Successor from Leyland: replaced by the Roadrunner-based DAF 600/800/1000.
DAF 500/700/900/1100/1300 versions
- DAF 500: the smallest model of the series.
- DAF 700: the next size up.
- DAF 900: the middle of the range.
- DAF 1100 and 1300: the heavier models of the series.
The series was replaced by the DAF 45/55, and it came before the DAF F218 medium trucks took over the middle of the range. More models are in the DAF collection.
Sources
- DAF 500/700/900/1100/1300, Dutch Wikipedia: models, cab, Leyland takeover
- DAF 45/55, Dutch Wikipedia: the Roadrunner as successor
