Thinking about volvo 66

LS,

I'm thinking about buying my first car and I found a volvo 66 ('80).
Can you tell me about your experiences? What are common defects on
this car after 24 years? What kind of things need some attention
during the testdrive?

Thank you for your help!

Kind regards,
Jeroen

 

Volvo 66 was a relabelled DAF 66 that was made after Volvo bought DAF in
1975 before production of the Volvo 340-series began. In 1972 the DAF 55
was replaced by the DAF 66. The 66 wasn't much more that a modernized
55. The bodywork was updated with a restyled front as most noticeable
difference. The trusty Renault four cylinder engine had been enlarged to
1289 cc and produced 57 hp @ 5200 rpm as opposed to the 63 hp @ 5600 rpm
of the original version. So as the engine got bigger, power went down.
Advantages of the new engine were better torque and less engine noise.
The performance remained about the same. The top speed and acceleration
were a bit slower because the car weighed more. The increased weight was
caused by the new and heavier rear wheel suspension-transmission
construction which now featured a modern De Dion-style independent
suspension system with leaf springs instead of the swing axles with coil
springs of the 55. The advantage of this new system was a safer ride
because the rear trackwidth now remained constant under vertical wheel
movement as opposed to the old system that caused some tricky
roadholding in extreme situations. Also the interior had been restyled,
now offering more safety features.

The DAF 66 was produced from 1972 to 1975, totaling 101,967 cars. At the
end of 1975 DAF had suddenly been taken over by Volvo. The Swedes were
looking to expand into the small car market to complete their range of
cars on offer. DAF on the other hand didn't have the finances to develop
a competitive successor to the 55/66 series on its own. So a deal was
made between Volvo and the Dutch government (a major shareholder of DAF)
that allowed Volvo to build the DAF designed cars in the DAF factory
under its own name. The factory was renamed Nedcar and the Dutch
government remained shareholder to make sure that Volvo didn't transfer
the production to their own factories, leaving the DAF workers
unemployed. The rights to the Variomatic transmission were kept out of
this deal and transferred to a new separate company called VDT (Van
Doorne's Transmissie b.v.) that went on developing the system up to this
day.

As DAF cars got more common on the roads they acquired a name of being
cars for elderly people and housewives. Main reasons for that were the
automatic transmission, which was (and still is) very unusual in Europe
and considered to be for people that can't drive properly, the lack of
engine power and the slow acceleration of the DAFs.

One of the selling points of the 66 is that parts are readily available,
so taking a look at a 66 parts list would help identify the most common
problems.



This way the Volvo 66 came into existence in 1975. It was still the same
car as the DAF 66, but now with the more appealing Volvo badge. The
Volvo 66 was produced from 1975 to 1980, totaling 70,916 cars.

After a period of testing the DAF 66 YA was introduced in the Dutch army
in 1974. It was designated a light truck 0.4 ton 4 x 2. Unfortunately it
wasn't a big success. It had the same mechanics as the normal 66, but
was heavier (860 kg instead of 820 kg) and had a more sturdy Variomatic
transmission. Even so this transmission proved to be the weak spot of
the car. The belts in the Variomatic transmission were the first to go
in the DAF 66 YA. The army chiefs didn't like the idea of a whole fleet
of 66 YAs stranded by belt-failures each week and called off the orders.
This way only 1201 DAF 66 YAs were built, all in 1974. Most of these
cars were sold to civilians by the Dutch army after a few years of
service. These civilians painted the originally mat dark green bodywork
in an appealing bright color, fitted some additional creature comforts
like better seats.

 

In addition to Stephen's information the Volvo 66 was made in two versions,
saloon and estate. The estate was slightly longer and slightly better
proportioned (IMHO). The two engines used were 1100 (47 hp at 5,000rpm in Volvo
66) and 1300 (57 hp at 5200 rpm in Volvo 66). The original power ratings as in
the DAF 66 were 53 hp at 5,000 rpm for the 1100 and 57 hp at 5200 rpm for the
1300.

The CVT , although unusual in being belt drive was a very good transmission,
improved in the Volvo versions by having a Park position (not on the DAF
versions). This gearbox was surprisingly good and coupled with a pneumatically
operated clutch endowed the car with amazing acceleration. It could achieve 90
mph forwards and 90 mph backwards, had a kickdown facility as well as a low
hold. They (Van Doorne) even developed a Formula 3 car using the CVT to such
good effect that it was not allowed to race as it was very much better than the
normal cars. The clutch doesn't bite until about 1100 rpm. The normal way of
driving these cars is to cram on about 3-4,000 rpm till you reach the speed you
want then back off the throttle until it just maintains the desired speed.

The Haynes manual is quite helpful covering DAF 55 and 66, Volvo 66 and 343 all
with CVT. Haynes number 293, 1968 to 1979 (obviously also '80).

My own 66 estate is a '77 model and in process of restoration. It has only
covered 47,000 miles genuine. I also have the factory DAF/Volvo workshop manual.

Cheers, Peter.

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