The DAF 600 was the company's first production passenger car and was in production from 1959 through 1963. It was a small family car that was first introduced at the Amsterdam Motor Show in February 1958. It had an innovative DAF Variometic, a continuously variable transmission (CVT) system. The Variomatic system was the work of Dr. Hub van Doorne (van Doorne's Automobielfabriek - DAF) and was infinitely variable in its ratios, and there were no noticeable gear changes. Depending on the speed, the pulleys in the transmission expanded and contracted.

The DAF 55, also a small family car, was produced from December 1967 to September 1972, when it was replaced by the DAF 66. It featured the unique Variomatic belt-drive continuously variable transmission and was available as a 2-door saloon, 3-door estate, and a 2-door coupe. The saloon appeared near the end of 1967, with the coupe version introduced three months later, in March of 1968. In September of 1968, the estate version became available.

by Dan Vaughan