The ultimate italian coachbuilder site
The ultimate italian coachbuilder site
The DAF Kini Beach Car: a gift for the royal family designed by Michelotti
The DAF Kini Beach Car, a prototype crafted and conceptualized in 1966 by Giovanni Michelotti on the chassis of a DAF Daffodil, made its debut at various exhibitions, including the DAF Kini showcase. Originally intended for the Dutch royal family, it served at their summer retreat in Porto Ercole. When Prince Willem-Alexander, now the king of Holland, was born, the former Dutch automaker DAF presented the royal household with a personalized creation dubbed “Kini,” deriving from the Bavarian word for King. While its unconventional design may not appeal to everyone, particularly in its role as a beach car, its originality is undeniable. Currently residing in the DAF museum in Eindhoven, the DAF Kini Beach Car draws inspiration from Michelotti’s previous work, notably the FIAT Shellette.
The birth of the Spiaggina (Spiaggia = Beach) takes place in the immediate post-war period at the initiative of some Italian coachbuilders which transformed small mass production cars in order to make them suitable for the needs of wealthy customers during the holiday period in the seaside resorts.
