Well no. Méhari, made world famous by winemaker / PR man Ilja Gort in the Netherlands, was a utility / plaything based on a 2CV platform. The Trabant was a gaily smoky stroller from the GDR. And the DAF YA-66? That was a serious military vehicle. A DAF with Variomatic in combat outfit. But whether we would have kept the Russians out?
The DAFs were sometimes completely incorrectly referred to as 'DAF jeep'
That was not right. They didn't have enough ground clearance and no four-wheel drive. In fact, you could put the braces out by putting such a friendly conscript with his front wheels against a solid curb and accelerating. Does not matter. Due to their low weight and uncomplicated operation, they can still manage reasonably well off the paved road. In the meantime, the Dafs have been abandoned and the veterans among them are usually cherished as funny open-air cars or honored as veterans.
The 'Suspender Jeep'
The YA-66 was therefore developed on the basis of the DAF 55 / 66 and was also mockingly called "Suspender Jeep", due to DAF's famous belt drive (Variomatic). Compared to the DAF 55-YA prototypes, the electrical installation grew to 24 v. In addition, the underside of the car became more muscular due to the use of other torsion bars, springs and shock absorbers. The Dion rear axle, driven via a Variomatic transmission, received an extra reaction rod. The Renault engine was equipped with a reinforced engine carrier and a protective plate under the crankcase.
For transport and guidance
In the army, he was mainly used as a light ordonnans vehicle, in addition to the possibilities of the Nekaf and Mungas that were real 'Jeeps', while tight 20 pieces of YA-66 were used by the ready squadrons of the Royal Marechaussee for over the public road escorting pillars. Then the Dafjes, who were equipped with white bumpers and the inscription 'Koninklijke Marechaussee', were equipped with flashing lights. And in my memory, the official column rate at that time was 40 km / h. And that saved the DAFs without any problems.
The total production
About 1.200 - most sources say '1201' - must have been made. In 1987 a limited number were still assigned to the 1st Army Corps. In the 90s, the survivors were sold through the Domains. Part of it remained in army green. But quite a few YA-66 got a more cheerfully colored civilian costume.
The current value
Currently, the price of such a DAF is around 4.000-5.000 euros. We saw the yellow DAF at the company car dealership Verstappen in Lierop. There is a club for these DAFs: the DAFclub. The Trabant 66 Kübel proved that the approach of the DAF YA-601 was nothing new.
About the same idea: the Trabant Kübel
The Trabant 601 Limousine (sedan) was produced in series as two-door from 1964, the three-door Universal (combi) replaced the Trabant 1965 Kombi from September 600. The Kübel (1967 A + F) was produced from 601, which mainly served as a military version for the NVA, the GST and the forestry as Kübelwagen. The civilian variant called Tramp was barely visible in the GDR, because it was mainly produced for export, including to Greece. The Trabants usually had two-stroke engines. But there are now those who have a VW block under the hood. In the meantime, such a Trabant can easily raise € 8.000 - 10.000 euros.
The Daf YA 66
Year of construction 1974, Number of built 1.201
Engine: Renault 4 cylinder line
Cylinder capacity: 1.108 cc
Power: approx. 50 PK (sae)
Coupling: Automatic, single-place centrifugal
Drive: Variomatic; 2 belts
Front suspension: independent
Rear wheel suspension: The Dion axle with leaf springs
Brakes for: disc brakes
Rear brakes: hydraulic drum brakes
Bodywork: self-supporting
Cruising speed 90 km
I also have a 66 YA, rotating beacon on it and they think here in the Biesbosch that I am the forester. It is just narrow enough to drive between the road blocks that have been set up. Ideal trolley for around the door.
During my brother's service he accompanied tank transports to Germany with such a DAF jeep. Americans too. From the border they could no longer be kept up with the DAF. And they were met at the next parking space.