In 1959, DAF introduced their V 1600 4×4 truck chassis. An early adopter was the NAM (Nederlandse Aardolie Maatschappij), the exploration and production company used a V 1600 chassis-cab as underpinnings for a drilling rig. Its task was to search for natural gas in the north of the Netherlands. Definitely a fieldworker.
The off-roader, now owned by the DAF Museum, is powered by a 102 hp, Hercules JXC gasoline engine. It must have been one of the last Hercules-powered DAFs, because in early 1959, the truck manufacturer unveiled their own, 4.75 liter BA 475 and BB 475 gasoline engines (135 and 155 hp, respectively).
And just like the rear drive axle, the front drive axle is an in-house component.
The drilling equipment was built by Conrad Stork from Haarlem, formerly known as Werf Conrad & Stork Hijsch NV. Werf for shipyard, Hijsch refers to the Stork company’s crane division.
From this angle, the DAF-Conrad-Stork creature looks like something that was sent to Earth from outer space.
Looking more homegrown for sure, this is how many Dutchies of a certain age will remember the Frog-DAF V 1600 trucks. They were the quintessential municipal vehicles during the sixties and seventies, always equipped with a dump bed and grab crane. And always diesel powered…
…as can be heard loud and clear.
Is this the American Hercules engine company, that was owned by Hupp (of Hupmobile) and later White? Or another European company?
Yep, that’s the American company. They also supplied engines for DAF’s military branch.
Hercules engines were made in Canton, Ohio. Had several friends and relatives that worked there. Closed down in the 1990s. Part of the plant is still standing. Some of it was made into apartments. Other parts are abandoned, retuning to the earth. Hercules was a big military engine supplier but their engines were found in lots of other (usually off-road) applications. The ownership changed many times through the years, including Hall-Scott and White as previously mentioned. I was not aware of the Hupmobile connection.
Right, with the YA-126 (4×4) and YA-328 (6×6) -both with an H-drivetrain- as the most prominent military examples.
Thanks, I know the Greek god’s name was associated with a lot of companies and I wasn’t sure that the Ohio engine maker had an international reach.
Great looking cab-over. Love their retro feel. These would look outstanding as Peter Wilding models.
Nice tour! Thanks so mcuh.
One interesting thing is that I don’t think you’d ever find a U.S. municipal truck with a grab-crane, even today. And 4×4 or 6×6 trucks exist, but aren’t common.
‘Peak off-road trucking’ (in NL) is an earthmoving company with a Tatra Phoenix 10×10 dump truck. Thanks to the central tube concept, Tatra can offer any on-/off-roader you want, from a 4×4 to a 10×10 and everything inbetween. The ‘usual suspects’ don’t go beyond a factory 8×8.