DAF 55

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The DAF 55 was a small Dutch family car made by DAF from December 1967 to September 1972. It was replaced by the DAF 66. All DAF 55s used the Variomatic belt-driven continuously variable transmission, so there was no manual option.

Body styles and production
- 2-door saloon, 3-door estate, and 2-door coupé
- Total built: 164,231
- Engine: 1.1 L (1108 cc) B110 inline-4
- Layout: Front-engine, front-wheel drive
- Top speed: around 136 km/h (lower on some versions)

The 55 was a more powerful redesign of the 1966 DAF 44, with updated styling and better practicality.

Timeline and features
- Saloon launched late 1967; coupé introduced March 1968; estate followed in September 1968
- Coupé: sportier look with a lower, sloping roof, pillarless doors, reclining seats, carpeted interior, and fake wood on the dashboard. It was a 2+2 and accounted for about 1 in 8 sales
- 1969: minor facelift and a delivery version (estate without rear seat)

Marathon and performance packages
- After the 1968 London–Sydney Marathon, a dealer “Marathon” package offered options to upgrade wheels, suspension, and engine power
- 1971: factory version called the 55 Marathon with a 1108 cc BR110 engine (~63 bhp) and a top speed of about 145 km/h; features included wider wheels and a brake booster
- In 1971, the coupé gained normal doors with pillars due to leaks and noise with the earlier pillarless design

Motorsport and versatility
- DAF actively used the 55 in rallying to prove CVT reliability
- The car had rally success, including a win in the 1968 Alpine Rally
- Rob Slotemaker finished 17th in the 1968 London–Sydney Marathon
- The Variomatic transmission’s behavior also attracted private rally entrants
- Jan de Rooy built a four-wheel-drive version for rallycross in the early 1970s

Dimensions and weight (approx.)
- Wheelbase: 2,250 mm
- Length: 3,880 mm
- Width: 1,540 mm
- Height: 1,445 mm
- Curb weight: about 765 kg