I think DAF were the first around 1958 to offer what they termed Variomatic. When I was working in London in the early '70s, we sold the odd new DAF. They were beautifully made and really quite amazing. The 33 and 44 were powered by a 746 cc and 844 cc air-cooled horizontally opposed twin, made by them I think. The bigger 55 used an 1108 cc Renault engine. So easy to drive, you pushed the floor mounted gear shift forward and then started it with your foot on the brake. The twins vibrated slightly under your brake foot, but the 55 was smooth as. Just pull the lever back for reverse and it was as simple as that. In fact too simple for the driving schools. They were given the unfortunate name of Daffodil which relegated them to ladies of a certain age.....