DAF 44 and 46

Manufacturer	DAF
Production	1966 to 1976
Class	Motor car
Layout	2 door saloon, estate
Engine	0.85 litre
Transmission	Variomatic
Wheel base	88.58 in, 2,250 mm
Overall length	151.57 in, 3,850 mm
Overall width	60.63 in, 1,540 mm
Dry weight	1,599 1b, 725 kg

The DAF 44 was a Dutch car which the DAF in Limburg produced in the model years from 1966 to 1974. 

History

The DAF 44 has the same general layout as the earlier Daffodil model. The bodywork was designed by Giovanni Michelet. The air-cooled two-cylinder boxer engine with 844 cc and 34 hp (25 kW), the drive with infinitely variable Variomatic and the suspension with shock absorber axle front and swing axle rear were designed essentially as the DAF 33.The 44 is roomier than the earlier Daffodil and the passenger in the front and rear seats is good. The front seats have adevice prevents them from tilting forward in an emergency.

The car's most characteristic feature is the Variomatic automatic transmission with infinite progressive range of ratios. It is transmitted by toothed belts which run on large-diameter pulleys. One of these pulleys, the one connected to the engine, can expand or contract, thus producing the variation in the diameter of the driving pulley is controlled automatically in accordance with the load. the position of the accelerator pedal and the speed of the car, thus obtaining the most suitable reduction in any and every kind of conditions the distribution of weight is  54% to  front axle, and 46% to the rear axle. Ensures smoothness and keeps the power transmitted to each of the rear drive wheels at the right level for the adhesion of that one wheels this transmission giving the two drive wheels complete independence from the other, achieving a final drive effect that is not inferior to what is obtained with a limited slip final drive.

The maximum power only 40 hp at 4.500 rpm from its air-cooled engine. The steering of the Daf is light and precise and its normally neutral
behaviour becomes slight oversteer only when it is pushed to the limit. This combined with the final drive effect of the drive wheels of the infinitely
variable transmission allows good performance to be achieved in all conditions the braking is adequate for normal usage.

PERFORMANCE

• Engine Capacity 51.50 cu in, 844 cu cm
• Fuel Consumption 37.6 m/imp gal, 31.4 m/US gal, 7.51 x 100 km
• Max Speed 76.4 mph, 123 km/h
• max power (SAE): 40 hp at 4,500 rpm
• max torque (SAE): 51 1b ft, 7.1 kg m at 2,400 rpm
• max engine rpm: 4,500
• specific power: 47.4 hp/l
• power-weight ratio: 39.9 lb/hp, 18.1 kg/hp
• carrying capacity: 882 1b, 400 kg

For the truck manufacturer DAF, which had previously built only the smaller, weaker Daffodil series (DAF 30 to 33) for the passenger car market, the DAF 44 was a cautious step upwards. In 1974, the model with slight technical changes, such as the De-Dion rear axle of the DAF 66, renamed DAF 46 and built under Volvo for two years. The DAF 44 was also the basis of the Kalmar DAF post vehicle.