After a visit to Gekra Motors in Dieren, you usually go right-left-right to return to the sizzling center of Dieren – famous for GekraMotors, Undine Ice Cream Parlor and Gazelle. If you turn right, onto the Ambachtsweg, you will pass a couple of used car dealers and the car cleaning company De Leeuw. And there is a DAFJE 33 in work clothes around the corner. It looks built in through tall grass what'verkeerd afgelopen' from. Inquiring with the friendly car cleaner learned otherwise. The Dafje has not been forgotten, nor is it for sale. It's from scooter specialist Welbie. And the company car is about to be rescued. On the same alternative route through my own hometown, I saw three more classics that apparently required a lot of overdue maintenance.
The DAF 33
Except for a few external changes, the 1st type DAF 33 was the same model as the Daffodil, whose name disappeared due to the new double-digit model range (33/44/55/66). The dashboard remained the same, but the combinations of two paint colors were abolished on the 33. Because of 'too expensive'.
Look for the differences
The 1st type DAF 33 (1967 to 1969) can be recognized by the extra chrome strip in the grille and the upright emblem '33' together with the letters 'daf' on the hood. The second type (1969 to 1974) has a plastic strip as a grille with two stripes and a silver print 'DAF 33', which you can also see on the back. With the appearance of the new 'B-body' DAF 44, the electrical installation of the 33 was changed from 6 volts to 12 volts, but no further major changes took place. The DAF 33 is the last model based on the A-body.
More than 4000 were made
Of the DAF 33 Combi like our photo model, 1967 copies were made between 1974 and 4111. With almost 750 cc and 32 hp, such a utility Daf was good for a top of over 100 km/h. Externally, the Combi differs from the Sedan due to the different body structure after the front seats. This superstructure has room for a spacious rear seat and an impressive storage space. This storage space is accessible through a large door. With the rear seats folded down, a luggage space of almost 1 m3 is created. The equipment remained the same as the standard/comfort in the sedan.
There won't be many survivors
We have not checked it with the RDW, but estimate that there are very few survivors. That also had to do with André van Duin. At the end of the seventies, you bought such a car for seventy-five guilders to 'a meier'. And André van Duin was then on television with that reversing, the DAFJES were the first to leave, but also the first to roll over. A lot of people have died there. And to the rust. 'What else?' The DAF brand is of course unique in terms of technology, but the sheet metal is just like any car from that time. So it rusts, especially from the inside.
The PTT as a customer
The Combi's, Kombi's or Orderedafjes also did a good job at the PTT. These were special cars, because they were standard equipped with an indispensable flag holder for the holidays, two exterior mirrors and various items for special situations and emergencies: a first-aid kit, tow rope and fire extinguisher. From 1974 the PTT needed larger cars and the DAF Order disappeared from the daily street scene.
In 1978 I had such a Dafje as a service car at the Shell station which I ran in Assen at the time. It was an indestructible little orderer and you could make 'wheelys' with it. By accident…….I had bought tiles to decorate the hallway in my house and used the Daf to transport them. It was quite a lot of tiles (rather large corridor) and so a lot of weight in the back. A large part of the body was behind the body, which resulted in a somewhat peculiar weight distribution when heavily loaded. On the way home I found the Dafje a bit vague to steer and at the first traffic light I had to stop for red, at green a surprise was waiting for me: to get away smoothly I gave a little gas, and……… made an (unintentional) wheely! For a moment I thought I would take off, but luckily the brave Dafje landed neatly on his wheels after releasing the gas. I eventually sold the indestructible van to a couple of guys in the neighborhood, who managed to drive this gem to the Gallemese that same afternoon. Not completely indestructible though…. Think back to this funny Dafje with some nostalgia.
Also the indestructible is finite. You bastards!
(a large part of the cargo bed was behind the rear wheels)
The Gasbedrijf in Veendam had three of these identical Dafjes 33. They went with the then Daf dealer J. Hak from Wildervank to Eindhoven to pick up 4 of these Dafjes, I don't remember where the 4th went, but I do know that they all also received a beautiful ashtray, in which the 4 types of models that Daf produced were depicted and this ashtray is still in my possession.
I also bought one of the identical model and sprayed it in the same color gray with VEKOGAS on the closed sides, they are together in a display case with me.
Nice!
our baker also had one, bright yellow.
the baker retired, traded him in for something new and the brave dafje passed by again on TV.....
It still makes me sad when I think about it.