1972 DAF 55 Marathon from Belgium
Summary:
Very nice car to drive with automatic system
Faults:
This car, due to its concept (with variomatic) has very high fuel consumption (@ 11L/100).
It's difficult to give an appreciation cause my car was always a rally car from new in 72.
General Comments:
This little car is quite quick - it received a big valve head, a special cam, and one Weber 40DCOE - I don't know the real power cause I can't go on a rolling road; there is no differential at all.
The variomatic use two reinforced belts, and when driving in a hair spin, you can have a ratio on the tight wheel and another on the other one.
That's a little amazing when you begin using it - on snow f.e. in quick drive the car wants to go straight on.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 20th December, 2008
11th Jun 2025, 19:01
I've never driven this car, but I don't doubt its reliability. DAF has always made very high-quality vehicles with efficient engines. The Volvo 3 Series was built at the DAF factory in the Netherlands and was one of the best cars I've ever owned (a 340).
This Marathon looks quite nice. As for fuel consumption, I don't think it was a problem at that time, since all petrol cars, whether large or small engines, consumed too much fuel.