The DAF Kini was a one-off concept beach car designed in 1966 by the renowned Italian designer Giovanni Michelotti. It was commissioned by Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands as a gift for his daughter, Princess Christina, and was based on the mechanical underpinnings of the DAF 44, which had just been introduced that same year.
The car was a small, open-bodied runabout meant for leisure use on private estates or at beach resorts. It had a very minimalist and playful design, somewhat reminiscent of the Mini Moke or Fiat Jolly, which were also popular among wealthy Europeans as light recreational vehicles during the 1960s. The body had no roof or side windows and featured simple, straight lines with cut-down sides for easy access.
Inside, the DAF Kini was equally simple, with a spartan dashboard and weather-resistant materials. It was designed more for casual, sunny-day use than for comfort or all-weather driving. The seating layout allowed for four passengers, and the car’s lightweight nature made it ideal for gentle off-road or estate driving.
Mechanically, the Kini used the 850cc flat-twin engine from the DAF 44 and was fitted with DAF’s signature Variomatic continuously variable transmission. This made it extremely easy to drive, with smooth, gearless acceleration, which suited its leisurely, laid-back role.
Only one example of the DAF Kini was ever built, making it a true rarity. It never went into production and was intended solely as a personal and promotional project. The car still exists today and is preserved as part of the DAF Museum collection in Eindhoven, where it stands as a testament to the creativity and adaptability of DAF’s engineering and Michelotti’s elegant, functional design language.
Though it never became a commercial product, the DAF Kini remains a charming and unique piece of Dutch automotive history, highlighting both royal connection and experimental design from the 1960s leisure car trend.