DAF » 2000 DO / 2300 DO

In 1957, DAF launched the 2000 DO series. This was designed to meet the growing requirement in international cross-border trucking, and was initially powered by 11,1-litre, 165bhp Leyland-built 0.680 engines, but subsequently by the DP 680 220bhp engine. The 2000 DO had a 10-ton rear axle designed for operation at a gross vehicle weight of 35 tons, which was allowed in Germany and many other European countries, except Holland.

Its cab was essentially a modified version of that introduced on the 1300, 1600, T1800 and 1900 series., with a large grille on the front to aid engine cooling. However, due to a number of changes in European trucking legislation, the 2000 DO was not the great success it should have been.

A sleeper cab version of the 2000 DO was introduced in 1961, alongside a 6x2 AS model for heavy haulage. The model range was expanded again in 1963 with the introduction of the 2300 DO series. Both ranges shared the same cab style and Leyland 0.680 engines, but they have different axles, giving different weight categories, with the 2300 DO rated up to 35 tons. In 1964, an updated series came to replace 2000 DO / 2300 DO.