Volvo 66

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Volvo 66" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (December 2018) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Volvo 66
An L model with single headlamps
Overview
Manufacturer	Volvo Cars
Production	1975–1980
Assembly	Netherlands: Born (DAF Born)
Designer	John de Vries
Body and chassis
Class	Small family car (C)
Body style	2-door sedan 3-door estate
Layout	FR layout
Related	DAF 66
Powertrain
Engine	1.1 L B110 OHV I4 1.3 L B130 OHV I4
Transmission	Variomatic
Chronology
Predecessor	DAF 44 DAF 46 DAF 66
Successor	Volvo 300 Series

The Volvo 66 is an automobile developed from the DAF 66, which was originally styled by Giovanni Michelotti. The compact car was introduced in August 1975, almost exactly a year after Volvo bought DAF,^[1] and before production of the Volvo 300 Series began.

The Volvo 66 was known for its continuously variable transmission, the Variomatic. The Volvo version of the car was slightly restyled and given larger bumpers compared with those of the original DAF model. Although this was in keeping with Volvo's emphasis on safety, it also increased its cost of production.

The Volvo 66 was available as a two-door saloon and three-door estate, whilst the two-door Coupé bodystyle available on the DAF 66 was dropped.

The other major features in which the Volvo 66 differs from the DAF 66 are also mostly safety-related. It has different seats featuring headrests, a safety steering wheel, steel side-impact bars in the doors, and a de-clutching servo which enabled the driver to change gear with the choke engaged (In the older DAF models this was not possible, because the increased idle caused the centrifugal clutch to engage). The Volvo 66 also has a 'park' mode in the CVT, which locks the driveline. From 1977 the estate version featured a window wiper on the bootlid.