Camions DAF (années 70 et 80) : livres - histoire (2/2)

At the RAI-1970 exhibition, DAF unveiled a completely new series of commercial vehicles with a tilting cabin, followed by the Club van 4 series in 1975. However, due to DAF's launch of the heavy F 2800 series in 1974, succeeding the renowned 2600 series, the first generation tilting cabins and the Club van 4 have always been somewhat underrepresented in publicity. This is entirely unjustified, as there were thousands of satisfied users. These trucks served as workhorses in distribution, and hundreds were supplied as garbage trucks and fire engines.

The standout models were the 6x6 types and the 4-axle configurations. Remarkably, they remained in production for a very long time, with the last types rolling off the assembly line in 1992.

This book provides an overview of all versions of the First Generation and the Club van 4, featuring around 300 color photos and several dozen unique black-and-white images.

Although now owned by the American company, Paccar, and with links to Leyland, the roots of DAF trucks are firmly in Eindhoven, Holland. The company started truck manufacture relatively late, but in the early 1970s it took an industry lead with its flagship 2800.
The 'Supercontinental' version, with its wide tilt sleeper cab with two full-size bunks and its powerful 11.6-litre DAF engine was a natural for long-haul work. The successor 3300 and 3600 models took the company into the 1980s, running alongside Scania and Volvo as a long-distance driver's favourite. The 330 hp engine suited it for the heavy-duty special transport that became a feature of the period.

This book is rich in photographs from the 1970s and '80s.

Few Dutch military personnel, both professional and conscripted, have not encountered the now-iconic four-tonner. As the days of this vehicle type are numbered after nearly half a century, many still harbor warm sentiments for the old and reliable 'tonner.'

This book covers the complete history of the DAF YA 4440 and YA 4442: from the decision in the mid-1960s to replace the then over ten-year-old vehicles of the 'Dikke DAF family,' to their use in the armed forces and the inevitable decommissioning.

E

xtensive attention is also given to the testing and further development of the prototypes, a process not without its challenges but ultimately resulting in an exceptionally versatile vehicle that served in all branches of the military.

Even experts on this vehicle type will discover, after reading this book, that many often unknown facts and interesting details have come to light. All of this is illustrated through carefully compiled tables, various vehicle specifications, and over three hundred, mostly unpublished, photos and images.