New Autocult releases

Several to tempt the wallets going into the final months of the year...

1974 DAF 46 Brandweer

DAF – `Van Doorne’s Automobiel Fabriek N.V.`, as the Dutch company is known in full – primarily served the market with heavy trucks and also entered the passenger car scene from 1959 to 1975. It entered the lower passenger car class with the Type 33, which became the successor 44 from 1966 and the Type 46 from November 1974.

In the mid-1970s, the decision to purchase a small, flexible fire engine for the local fire department was probably also made by the fire department in the municipality of Voorst. The decision was made to build it from a DAF 46. The entire rear roof area was removed and the trunk lid was also cut open. A huge, round tank containing extinguishing water was inserted into the resulting gap. Due to the removal of the roof, both the driver and the passenger had to enjoy a convertible feeling – the two blue lights found just enough space on the frame of the windshield. It is not known how satisfied the “Brandweer” in Voorst was with its small fire engine or how long it was used, but in retrospect in can be said that with a full water tank, the handling certainly took some getting used to – this was because the center of gravity was very far back and also very high. In addition the water sloshing around in the barrel probably had a negative effect when cornering and lack of stability of the car due to the capping of the roof; the possible exceeding of the total weight is not even worth thinking about at this point.

1935 Mercedes-Benz LO 3100 Uerdingen and “Deutsche Reichsbahn”

There is no doubt that bus construction in Germany received a major boost in the mid-1930s with the inauguration of the first highway sections. The German government wanted to connect the major cities with long-distance bus routes. Promising themselves lucrative sales, the well-known manufacturers reacted quickly and offered buses with a streamlined look.

The most modern substructure for coachbuilders available form 1935 with the chassis of the Mercedes-Benz Lo 3100. Waggon-Fabrik AG Uerdingen also chose this chassis for its streamlined bus, the body of which was designed by the well-known stylist Paul Jaray. It is not known whether the Swiss by choice was the driving force behind the project or whether the body factory commissioned the designer. Paul Jaray’s striking lines, all based on the shape of a drop, can also be clearly seen on the bus, which was put on its wheels in 1935. The bus was powered by a 95 hp petrol engine; the second model, which was built in 1936, was fitted with a diesel engine with 120 horsepower.

The bus body, made entirely of sheet metal with seating for 24 passengers, was most likely produced in two units.

Model of the Year with flash drive