An absolute unicum, this special ordered 1979 motorhome based on a rolling DAF 1100 truck chassis. A DAF manager had it built at a shipyard.
The friendly couple currently owning this true landyacht had just finished an 8,000+ km trip through southern Europe.
Its exterior dimensions: overall length 8.00 m (26’3”), width 2.35 m (7’9”).
The power unit is a 105 hp inline-six DAF diesel engine with a displacement of 6.2 liter.
Definitely a hybrid. Between a truck and a yacht, that is.
A period correct kitchen.
May the owners enjoy their long future trips!
Looks like a run of the mill motorhome that someone stuck a weird plate on the front and moved the headlights when they wrecked it. At least to these US eyes.
I can’t imagine a 105 horse engine in one though sounds painfully slow and down right dangerous in some instances.
Slow acceleration isn’t an issue in most countries – not to the degree it is in the US anyway.
Plus, being a heavy truck diesel the torque figure is presumably completely out of proportion to the power output. (but 105 does seem puny)
Comparable to a typical medium truck in Europe in the 70s. Speed limits for trucks and coaches in Europe on freeways are between 80 kmh (48 mph) and 100kmh (61 mph), and are very strictly enforced. 105 hp is for a 26′ motorhome plenty for those speeds.
I’m guessing this style of motorhome is pretty uncommon in Europe compared to the US. Most of the campers I noticed the few times I’ve been in Europe were the smaller van-based ones.
Yes, a strangely military look put on the front of a Winnebago.
It’s a small to medium truck chassis, it is mainly made for city traffic. The engine is severly understressed and detuned to deliver torque at low speed city traffic start and stops, it’s not an intercontinental highway roller. Load capacity should be between 8-15 tons in different configurations, and that body shouldn’t weigh in on more than a couple of tons even though it has a frame made of wood. That truck is running around mostly empty its entire life, it would have no problem keeping up with either city or highway traffic even if it is a little in the slow side.
That’s a DAF 1100 alright. The motorhome weighs 5,600 kg. An easy-peasy job for a 6.2 liter -severely understressed, as you say- truck diesel engine.
We’re talking about a Recreational Vehicle, used by a retired couple for (very) long and relaxed trips. Now why on earth should it be fast?
True motorhomes isn’t that common in that size in Europe, what is far more common is the combination camper/horse trailer unit. Horses is a big thing in Europe, and they need to be hauled around all over. And the owners need a place to sleep and est during competition. It’s very common with a combination unit where the first half of the compartment consists of a small camper, and the rear compartment houses 3 to 5 to 7 horses. The units aren’t really that luxurious but comparable to a traditional camper trailer. At least it saves the cost of doing the trip with a double car + trailer combo.
The original comment was from an American point of view. “Dangerously slow” is a common comment on this site.
My assumption was that it relates to merging onto freeways.
When I drive in Scotland, on ramps generally give plenty of run up, and other drivers usually drop back or pull out to let you in. When I drive in Minnesota, it seems like other drivers actively try to prevent merging, on ramps are short and often curved so tightly they have to be negotiated with my borrowed Suburban leaned onto its door handles in order to gain significant speed.
Quite right. “Keep your lane” does not apply here. Folks on the freeway move over to the other lane to let a slower vehicle in. Archetypal examples of slow vehicles are the VW T1/2/3/4, any Mercedes-Benz 200D, this article’s motorhome, most cars driven by the elderly, a 50 ton rig, etc.etc.
Yes, the utterly overrated 0-60 sprint. Exactly who or what do you want to out-sprint on a public road? A pedestrian, cyclist, moped, farm tractor, garbage truck, all other car drivers? The police?
My old ’70 C10 (157 HP net) was slow merging on freeways with a heavy 5th wheel trailer (about 3900 lbs for the truck and around 7000 lbs for the loaded trailer). But people didn’t want to get hit by this huge mass and they would make room, one way or another.
The flat windshield on this good looking motorhome will be cheap and easy to source and replace if needed, a broken windshield on an old Class A motorhome is often unobtainable. I wonder what MPG this unit would get, low 20’s at best would be my guess, I’d own this over some big block gas V8 ’70’s monster class A and single digit MPG.
I completely agree with you about merging in US urban areas; here on the DC Beltway drivers are extremely aggressive and often disinclined to let someone in. On the quieter interstates, though, people seem much more courteous. I often see drivers moving over to let mergers join, fortunately.
Perfect! I’ll take one.
A DAF manager had it built at a shipyard.
I love it for that reason alone.
I hope they smashed a champagne bottle over the front bumper and then launched the RV down a ramp just for tradition’s sake.
+1
Looks cool to me. Obviously this is made for its unique market, which is Europe.
A manual gear box! Try finding an RV in North America with one of those!
Take a good look at the craftsmanship on the interior. Pay close attention to the details by the driver’s door, storage doors, and ceramic around the kitchen. This machine has been well maintained. Most 30+ year old motorhomes in the US look like a disaster!!
As time passes, I hope it gets passed to a family who can appreciate this fine example of workmanship!!=;-}
Happy Motoring!!!
Give you any ideas, Paul??
A ProMaster with a nautical theme could be interesting!
I’m not seeing much of a nautical theme, actually. But it is nicely finished inside.
An absolute uni-what?
Unicum: a unique example or specimen.