Minerva (automobile)

Minerva was a Belgian business that made in bicycles, motorcycles, and later automobiles, between 1897 and 1958.

Founded by Dutchman Sylvain de Jong, the company initially produced safety bicycles before branching out into light cars and motorized bicycles in 1900. By 1902, Minerva added luxury cars to its lineup. The brand achieved fame due to the quality and quietness of its Knight Engines and was favored by royalty and influential people like Henry Ford. Despite success, financial struggles during the 1930s led to its merger with Impéria Automobiles, another Belgian manufacturer.

After World War II, Minerva was revived and produced a version of the Land Rover under license for the Belgian Army until 1954. A fallout with Land Rover and subsequent court case led to the end of this partnership. The company made attempts to re-enter the car market, and finally became defunct in 1958.

History

In 1883, a young Dutchman, Sylvain de Jong (1868–1928) settled in Antwerp, Belgium.

Bicycles and motorcycles

thumb|left|upright|A man on a Minerva [[motorized bicycle in Australia near the turn of the 20th century, by Alice Manfield]]

Minerva started out manufacturing standard safety bicycles in 1897, before in 1900 expanding into light cars and "motocyclettes", particularly motorized bicycles which were a forerunner of motorcycles.

As engine power increased, frame ruptures became increasingly common, and by 1903 Minerva had developed an in-frame design for their bicycles, with the engine mounted above the bottom bracket, while still also offering the clip-on kit. From 1904 Minerva began focusing more on car production, and while development and production of the Minerva motorized bicycles and motorcycles continued through to about 1909, they increasingly became a less significant part of the company.

Motorcycle production would continue until 1909 or 1914, and during this period Minerva became one of the world's premier names in motorcycles and motorcycle engines. (For instance Chater-Lea produced Minerva-engines in the UK.)

Automobiles

thumb|left|Minervette chassis 1906

thumb|left|1928 Minerva AK-32 CV

thumb|Part Sociale of the Minerva Motors S.A., issued 19. February 1929

In 1902 De Jong added cars to his production as well with a 6 hp four-cylinder model. In 1903 he founded Société Anonyme Minerva Motors in Berchem (Antwerp). Volume car production began in 1904 with a range of two-, three- and four-cylinder models with chain drive and metal clad wooden chassis and the Minervette cyclecar. The 8-litre Kaiserpreis won the Belgian Circuit des Ardennes race in 1907.

left|thumb|1928 Minerva Type AF Transformable Town Car by [[Hibbard & Darrin]]

Charles S Rolls (of future Rolls-Royce fame) was a Minerva dealer in England selling the 2.9-litre . The most important market for the manufacturer remained England, where at £105 the small 636 cc single-cylinder Minervette was the cheapest car on the market, followed by the Netherlands and France.

In 1908, Minerva obtained a worldwide Knight Engine license. The Knight motor, developed by Charles Yale Knight in the United States, used double sleeve valves and ran almost silently. All future Minervas would use these engines. Sporting successes continued with the new engines including the Austrian Alpine Trials and Swedish Winter Trials. Customers for the Minerva would include kings of Belgium, Sweden and Norway, Henry Ford and the Impressionist Artist Anna Boch.

During World War I Sylvain de Jong and his engineers were based in Amsterdam where they maintained development of their automobiles. Minerva cars were used for hit and run attacks against the Germans initially with rifle fire and light machine guns from simply protected open topped vehicles. These vehicles became increasingly sophisticated until trench warfare robbed them of the mobility needed for their hit and run tactics.

thumb|left| Minerva light machine gun car (1914).

thumb|left|1937 Impéria Minerva AP 22 CV limousine

In 1920, they returned to Belgium to restart the production of luxury cars with the 20CV 3.6-litre four-cylinder and 30CV 5.3-litre six-cylinder models. The manufacturer prospered only in Europe, but also in the United States, where film stars, politicians and industrialists appreciated its cars. Minerva had the same quality as the Rolls-Royce, but was slightly less costly.

Due to the success, in 1922 a second factory apart from the primary one in Berchem was built in Mortsel for coachbuilding.

In 1923, smaller models were introduced; the 2-litre four-cylinder 15CV and 3.4-litre six-cylinder 20CV with standard four-wheel brakes. In 1927, the 30CV was replaced with the 6-litre AK and also a new 2-litre six, the 12-14, was introduced. Large cars continued to be a specialty of Minerva's, and in 1930 the then almost-compulsory-for-the-time straight eight was introduced in two sizes; the 6.6-litre AL and the 4-litre AP.

References

Notes

External links

Minerva Cars
'Minerva Motor Car Company': fan page
Dutch Land Rover Register: Minerva: Het is groen en het komt uit België (It's green and it comes from Belgium) – a history of Minerva and its licence-built Land Rovers
Royal Veteran Car Club Belgium: Les Constructeurs Belges par Daniel Absil – a history of Belgian car manufacturers, including Minerva