Tour of Holland - DAF Variomatic content

[Ditchfinder General]

Hi all - long time lurker here and first(ish) time poster.

A friend of mine asked me a few months ago if I wanted to accompany him on a trip to Holland in his DAF 46 (He's a massive DAF nut and has had three already) to a rally in Sittard.

Naturally I agreed, what better than to spend three days indulging in two of lifes great pleasures - good beer and old cars!

 

I thought it'd be a catalogue of errors from start to finish, but luckily the car performed faultlessly - save for a persistent rattle from the exhaust which never got any worse - and the international breakdown cover was not required.

 

Anyway, thought I'd share some pics with you if you're interested.

 

The journey from Leciestershire to Harwich was completed in a timely fashion and we arrived safely without incident. Bizarrely when we got to the ferry we ended up queuing behind another DAF of sorts - a Volvo 66 with a mental Renault Gordini engine on it's way to the same rally. We caused a bit of a stir with the Dutch people waiting to board.

 

 

 

 

Anyway, after a comfortable* and lengthy** sleep on board the ship, we set off towards Eindhoven via Baarle-Nassau - a mental little town which has been carved into 20 or so pieces and is now just full of Dutch and Belgian enclaves.

 

 

Obviously a photo opportunity in front of the factory was in order;

 

 

A seventies style shot in front of the station;

 

 

And plenty of these were consumed;

 

 

The next day we set off for Sittard and the DAF Rally - loads of DAF porn here, including a couple of stunning coupes;

 

 

 

 

 

And a DAF ice cream van (want)

 

 

After a good day at the rally and some Dutch national cuisine (chips and mayonnaise) - we saw some windmills.

 

 

And then we came home. Trip back from Harwich to Melton was interesting in the pissing rain and gale force winds as the windscreen wipers are not up to much.

I found myself falling in love with the little DAF, it performed superbly and the Dutch absolutely love it, the amount of waves and thumbs up we got on the motorway and the stewards on the ship saluted us off.

Anyone got a DAF for sale?  

 

 

[MarvinsMom]

i must own one of those little dafts at somepoint before i die!

 

very jelous, as yours looks a peach...

[345DL]

That's an excellent thread, and a great journey.  I spotted the pictures on the DafHobby FB group, and thought the two cars were an intentional convoy!

 

I'm glad the DAF performed well.  Did your friend manage to get anything exciting from DafHobby?  I've been there several times to get parts for my many Volvo 300s, but I've never been brave enough to actually take one there.  

 

Did you find the Harwich - Hoek ferry very expensive?  When I've looked before, it is vastly cheaper to do Dover-Calais and drive to Sittard from Calais. 

 

Perhaps one day I will take my 1976-built Volvo 343 back to the Netherlands.  I bought it from DafHobby in 2013 and drove it home on the back of a transit.

[Vin]

That looks like a nice trip...Dafs are funky little things too...

 

The Volvo you were behind looks like the one that was part of Sam Glover's fleet...

[skattrd]

Quality thread, an elastic band DAF/Volvo is still on my list.

[Shep Shepherd]

I love both DAFs and the Netherlands

[Ditchfinder General]

That's an excellent thread, and a great journey.  I spotted the pictures on the DafHobby FB group, and thought the two cars were an intentional convoy!

 

I'm glad the DAF performed well.  Did your friend manage to get anything exciting from DafHobby?  I've been there several times to get parts for my many Volvo 300s, but I've never been brave enough to actually take one there.  

 

Did you find the Harwich - Hoek ferry very expensive?  When I've looked before, it is vastly cheaper to do Dover-Calais and drive to Sittard from Calais. 

 

Perhaps one day I will take my 1976-built Volvo 343 back to the Netherlands.  I bought it from DafHobby in 2013 and drove it home on the back of a transit.

There was loads of stuff for sale at DafHobby and he picked up some radiator hoses and loads of old paraphernalia like old owners manuals, stickers, books etc.

 

Not sure about the price of the ferry, I think we did the ferry to Hoek van Holland because we wanted to go to Delft on the way back so it kind of worked.

 

There was a 343 for sale in the Back yard at DafHobby and it was only about £375 with ticket. I was so tempted, but I think SWMBO would have had my bollocks off if I had turned up back with it.

 

The Volvo 66 is ex Sam Glover and it's in absolutely superb condition.

[DSdriver]

I agree with Shep. Welcome to Autoshite, Ditchfinder General is a great name by the way.

[Six-cylinder]

Driving through Holland in my blue Visa bank holiday weekend I did spot a Daf, could have it been!

[purplebargeken]

MHK was once my Daf

 

Darren still the owner?

 

Nice little car tbh. Miss the Dafs. 

[Uncle Jimmy]

GR8 Fred, made me consider this character. JRG Daf limo maybe?

[seth]

Daf museum is very good if you're driving through Eindhoven. Looks like you had a good trip though.

[rainagain]

Looks like you had a great time, that orange coupe is gorgeous! 

[Ditchfinder General]

MHK was once my Daf

 

Darren still the owner?

 

Nice little car tbh. Miss the Dafs.

 

I think my mate Joe bought it off Darren.....small world!!

 

I'm on the lookout for a coupe, there was one on eBay which surfaced in the eBay tat thread but I think it's a bit of a basket case.

 

We spent a couple of hours in the DAF museum at Eindhoven, it's amazing, especially for a bus geek like me.

[dollywobbler]

Great stuff. I'm also firmly in the 'most own' list for a DAF, or Volvo 340 CVT.

[purplebargeken]

Good luck with finding a Coupe, they are most sought after. I would love a nice simple 44 saloon or estate, although a Coupe would be acceptable

 

I know excellent folk in Essex if you ever need anything Daf orientated.  Danny at Daf Hobby is a nice chap. 

[MarvinsMom]

i too would love a wee daf, a 44 in either in saloon or estate flavour. they are just so very cool....