by "Jonee" (Jonee)
Published 06/15/2017 at 20:10
by "Jonee" (Jonee)
Published 06/15/2017 at 20:10
Tags: daf
STARS: 8
There it is. It actually wasn’t quite as sorry looking in real life as it appears here. A Daf collector in New Jersey was liquidating his collection, so I had to bring this back to California. I never did much with it, though, except get it running. The (world’s first) primitive CVT was neat. I hope it got a new life with whomever has it now. I traded it for a Subaru 360 in similar shape back in my car swapping days.
This car actually brought me (and, by extension Torch) to Jelopnic. Jonny Lieberman, who used to write for the front page, found out I had it and did a post about me. Which then caught Torch’s eye.
"CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale)
06/15/2017 at 20:19, STARS: 1
That thing is cool
"Die-Trying" (die-trying)
06/15/2017 at 20:23, STARS: 0
so thats YOU with all the micro-cars?.......
"Jonee" (Jonee)
06/15/2017 at 20:35, STARS: 0
I guess? Is there another microcar person?
This is me, but my collection has changed since then. I still have the Fuldamobil, though.
http://jalopnik.com/267517/a-quartet-of-microcars
"Your boy, BJR" (jerseyshoreben)
06/15/2017 at 21:41, STARS: 1
I miss Johnny’s pre Jalopnik, Ruthless Reviews days. He’s the reason I’m so into ‘80'S ACTION movies.
"Die-Trying" (die-trying)
06/15/2017 at 21:43, STARS: 0
no, it is you........ that looks like a fun collection...... have you gotten the fulda moving yet?
"Jonee" (Jonee)
06/15/2017 at 22:03, STARS: 1
Not yet. I’m working on it, though. Slowly. The engine is out and apart. I don’t have a lot of space to work, as you can see.
"Jonee" (Jonee)
06/15/2017 at 22:06, STARS: 0
Yeah, Johnny’s a riot. I don’t read much of his MT stuff, though. He had a baby not too long ago. Well, his wife did.
"Die-Trying" (die-trying)
06/15/2017 at 22:14, STARS: 0
how exciting is it driving one of those in traffic?.........
"Jonee" (Jonee)
06/15/2017 at 22:18, STARS: 1
Well, I’ve never driven a Fuldamobil in traffic. But, hopefully I’ll find out. Microcars in general can be pretty hair raising, depending on the car. I’ve taken Subaru 360's on L.A. freeways and survived. You just have to know what the car can do and pay attention. And keep the pedal to the metal.
"RallyWrench" (rndlitebmw)
06/16/2017 at 00:00, STARS: 2
What do you mean, “back in my car swapping days”? Car swapping days are never past us.
"Jonee" (Jonee)
06/16/2017 at 00:40, STARS: 0
This is true. Back when I did it more frequently, I should have said.
"Jobjoris" (Jobjoris)
06/16/2017 at 04:24, STARS: 1
GLORIOUS!!!! What a great color. And that bonnet is flawless!
"Jobjoris" (Jobjoris)
06/16/2017 at 04:25, STARS: 0
Of course they are. At one point you’ll just be adding stuff to your collection!
"Jonee" (Jonee)
06/16/2017 at 15:56, STARS: 1
It did look mighty fine in red. That’s one of, if not the, greatest bonnets in the history of the automobile. So, a little rust and someone forcing it shut at some point do nothing to spoil the awesomeness. This was an official U.S. spec car. Not many of them left. I have to finish translating my book so we can do a Daf post. I also have this old pamphlet that must be from when they first started exporting cars.
"Jobjoris" (Jobjoris)
06/17/2017 at 06:14, STARS: 1
Ah! The DAF post! Still want me to shoot footage for that?
"Jonee" (Jonee)
06/19/2017 at 00:18, STARS: 1
Most definitely. And I might need your help with some research. How many DAFs do you know personally?
"Jobjoris" (Jobjoris)
06/19/2017 at 07:32, STARS: 1
Only two, but these are 66s (one of ‘m an YA66 actually). I saw one of the earlier ones though yesterday.
"Jonee" (Jonee)
06/19/2017 at 23:51, STARS: 1
Oh, right. The YA66. That’ll be cool. I’m sure you can also find a 600 somewhere. That one is awesome. It really did the Paris-Peking run? That must’ve been fun. Nice looking Rallye Kadett there, too.
"Jobjoris" (Jobjoris)
06/20/2017 at 06:22, STARS: 1
13k kms!!!! Yes it did. I can always call this guy. Amsteram-Moscow. Paris-Peking. And... It did the entire Route 66 once!
"Jonee" (Jonee)
06/20/2017 at 22:43, STARS: 1
Wow. Incredible. My respect to that guy. I’d love to do something like that. I wonder what’s been replaced by now on that car. You should definitely talk to him. I’m sure he knows more about how those cars work than anyone. And, I bet he’s got some stories.
"Jobjoris" (Jobjoris)
06/21/2017 at 05:33, STARS: 1
I’ll try to locate the dude in the weekend. Any specific info you need? The USA export period?
"Jonee" (Jonee)
06/22/2017 at 12:17, STARS: 1
Yeah, that’s one thing I’m curious about. And anything about the car’s origins. What made them invent the CVT?
"Jobjoris" (Jobjoris)
06/23/2017 at 02:39, STARS: 1
Well, there were others with a CTV before. Many, many more. Not in the scale (and form in the patented Variomatic) of Hub’s but still.
"Jonee" (Jonee)
06/27/2017 at 14:37, STARS: 1
Yeah, the Variomatic was unique. And having a small car with an automatic transmission was a big deal.
"Jobjoris" (Jobjoris)
06/27/2017 at 17:17, STARS: 1
Are you talking about my Pao?
"Jonee" (Jonee)
06/28/2017 at 00:03, STARS: 1
Is it a big deal to you that it’s an automatic? I saw one with a stick on Craigslist in like Massachusetts, or somewhere the other day. Beige colored.
"Jobjoris" (Jobjoris)
06/28/2017 at 09:25, STARS: 1
There’s only one color. I might convert it to a Manuèl. Well, actually, the Be-1 preferably.
"Jonee" (Jonee)
06/29/2017 at 01:03, STARS: 1
Yeah, the Be-1 is the one to have with a stick. I’d imagine the conversion is easy since it’s a Micra. Europe is probably littered with Micra transmissions.
"Jobjoris" (Jobjoris)
06/29/2017 at 03:15, STARS: 1
Thing I’m more worried about is the interior. Mechanically that should be no issue. Or... There’s a slightly different engine used, that could be a thing.
"Jonee" (Jonee)
06/30/2017 at 00:04, STARS: 1
How is the engine different? It could still use the same tranny. Interior parts I’m sure are really hard to get. But, for plastic stuff, maybe you could do the 3D printing thing.
"Jobjoris" (Jobjoris)
06/30/2017 at 04:57, STARS: 1
It could. And with these high output engines I doubt there to be any issue. Sometimes the tune is somewhat different, more setup for torque. The Pao and Be-1 have no torque whatsoever so again: I doubt to be any different.
No idea about the interior, I’ll look into that!
"Jonee" (Jonee)
07/03/2017 at 02:54, STARS: 1
Yeah, they wouldn’t bother with a different transmission. That’s why those things need a manuél.