198:
329:
295:
494:. The Rijkswacht vehicles had the more traditional aluminium bodywork and front wing shape associated with Land Rover vehicles. A bitter dispute broke out between Land Rover and the Minerva company and this led to a court case, won by Minerva for breach of contract. This was the death knell of the partnership and licence arrangement. After the deal with Land Rover fell apart there were plans to re-enter the car market but these did not get beyond the prototype stage. The company struggled for survival and made the
122:
391:
447:
1007:
303:
474:
287:
489:
up to 1954. The 80" model was known as the TT (Tout
Terrain). A smaller number of licence built Land Rover 86" were built from late 1953 to 1956. These vehicles had locally built steel bodywork. Some civilian sales of both the 80" and the 86" models were achieved. A number of Land Rover vehicles were
164:
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 cars to its lineup. The brand achieved fame due to the quality and quietness of its Knight Engines and was favored by royalty
231:
turning a large gear wheel attached to the side of the rear wheel opposite to the chain. By 1901 the kit engine was a 211cc unit developing 1.5 hp, comfortably cruising at 30 km/h (19 mph) at 1,500 rpm, capable of a top speed of 50 km/h (31 mph), and getting fuel consumption
627:
Société Anonyme
Minerva, 40 Rue Karel Ooms, Anvers. Minerva was a great name in the early days of the motorcycle. They supplied not only 2, 2¾, 3½ hp and other engines up to 8 hp to motorcycle producers in many countries, but built their own range of motorcycles with similar power units.
382:
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
267:, 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.
172:
After World War II, Minerva 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, but ceased operations in 1956.
366:
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,
406:
5.3-litre six-cylinder models. The manufacturer's star rose not only in Europe, but in the United States as well where
American film stars, politicians and industrialists appreciated the cars. The Minerva had the same quality as the
459:
With the financial crisis in the 1930s, the company was restructured as Société Nouvelle
Minerva but in 1934 merged with the other major Belgian manufacturer Impéria Automobiles. Impéria continued to make Minervas for a year and the
411:, but was slightly less expensive. 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
464:
until 1938 and from 1937 badged some of their cars and trucks for export to
England and France as Minerva-Impérias. Just before the outbreak of the war, a group of businessmen from Verviers bought out Minerva.
606:
Minerva not only produced complete motorcycles, but was also a major supplier of engine assemblies to other pioneer firms throughout Europe...When production ceased in 1909, around 25,000 engines had been
346:
fame) was a
Minerva dealer in England selling the 2.9-litre 14 hp (10 kW). The most important market for the manufacturer remained England, where at ÂŁ105 the small 636 cc single-cylinder
227:
They produced lightweight clip-on engines that mounted below the bicycle front down tube, specifically for Minerva bicycles, but also available in kit form suitable for almost any bicycle. The engine
573:
In 1902 the first motorcycle emerged from Triumph's Coventry works. Known since as 'No 1', it was essentially a strengthened bicycle with a 2.25 bhp Minerva engine hung from the front down tube.
274:, among others. 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
995:
1342:
431:, 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
263:
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
628:
Their products were of superb and advanced design and in 1903 mechanically o.h.i.vs already were in use. Motorcycle production later gave way to the manufacture of cars.
314:
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
737:
Ameye, Thomas; Gils, Bieke; Delheye, Pascal (2011). "Daredevils and Early Birds: Belgian Pioneers in Automobile Racing and Aerial Sports During the Belle Epoque".
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294:
804:
538:
38:
891:
872:
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788:
1138:
1282:
946:
165:
and influential people like Henry Ford. Despite success, financial struggles during the 1930s led to its merger with
1011:
585:
495:
310:
In 1902 De Jong added cars to his production as well with a 6 hp four-cylinder model. In 1903 he founded
271:
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491:
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486:
81:
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In 2013, a concept car was presented with the name Minerva J.M. Brabazon. This was a drawing only.
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359:
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228:
121:
1362:
1027:
770:
568:
838:
Minerva Vandaag: Een fotografische zoektocht naar overlevende auto's uit een vervlogen tijdperk
887:
868:
861:
Les Minerva d'aujourd'hui: Itinéraire photographique de la marque automobile belge d'autrefois
845:
824:
800:
762:
754:
595:
217:
202:
589:
1204:
1170:
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1056:
1049:
746:
450:
A green 1924 Minerva MLT tractor and a 1934 Minerva SP fire engine at Autoworld in Brussels
1159:
1152:
408:
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264:
241:
206:
1321:
542:
398:
In 1920, they returned to Belgium to restart the production of luxury cars with the
355:
339:
774:
216:
in 1897, before in 1900 expanding into light cars and "motocyclettes", particularly
922:
Minerva: Het is groen en het komt uit België (It's green and it comes from Belgium)
363:
302:
17:
473:
942:
913:
750:
622:
The world's motorcycles, 1894-1963: a record of 70 years of motorcycle production
620:
379:
253:
142:
138:
107:
1246:
1225:
1190:
1119:
1105:
482:
368:
275:
221:
158:
48:
758:
1287:
1260:
1183:
1126:
828:
663:"Anna Boch exploring and painting the coasts of France with her Minerva car"
372:
351:
was the cheapest car on the market, followed by the Netherlands and France.
257:
766:
865:
Minerva Today: A photographic exploration of the Belgian former car marque
37:
1266:
1211:
842:
Minerva Today: A photographic search for surviving cars from a bygone era
318:
213:
134:
240:). These kits were exported around the world to countries including the
1098:
1006:
286:
249:
186:
182:
154:
62:
58:
666:
1239:
1165:
1063:
245:
719:"New V12 Hybrid Supercar from Belgium Called Minerva J.M. Brabazon"
1197:
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472:
445:
389:
387:
robbed them of the mobility needed for their hit and run tactics.
327:
301:
293:
285:
196:
181:
In 1883, a young Dutchman, Sylvain de Jong (1868–1928) settled in
306:
Part Sociale of the Minerva Motors S.A., issued 19. February 1929
1091:
977:
908:
565:"Triumph Motorcycles België " Over Triumph " Timeline " 1900s"
477:
Minerva Land Rover. Note the sloping front faces to the wings
936:– a history of Belgian car manufacturers, including Minerva
270:
Minerva engines exported to the UK powered the very first
924:– a history of Minerva and its licence-built Land Rovers
594:, Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, p. 27,
481:
After World War II the company produced a version of the
918:
745:(2). Abingdon, Oxford: Taylor & Francis: 205–239.
157:
firm active from 1902 to 1938 and a manufacturer of
1275:
1041:
325:won the Belgian Circuit des Ardennes race in 1907.
205:in Australia near the turn of the 20th century, by
130:
113:
102:
87:
77:
54:
44:
567:. Triumph Motorcycles België. 2009. Archived from
212:Minerva started out manufacturing standard safety
797:The History of Motor Sport: A Case Study Analysis
232:in the range of 3 L/100 km (94 mpg
619:Tragatsch, Erwin (1964), "Minerva B 1901-1914",
332:1928 Minerva Type AF Transformable Town Car by
1343:Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of Belgium
539:"Minerva Motorcyclettes, 1900 - 1909: History"
419:with standard four-wheel brakes. In 1927, the
989:
739:International Journal of the History of Sport
260:, and other British territories of the time.
8:
1305:'Note: defunct companies above are shown in
882:Kupélian, Yvette; Kupélian, Jacques (1985).
30:
821:In a Car through the Balkans and the Orient
27:Belgian automobile manufacturer (1902–1956)
996:
982:
974:
532:
530:
528:
120:
36:
29:
934:Les Constructeurs Belges par Daniel Absil
867:] (in French). Kortrijk: Groeninghe.
886:(in Dutch). Overijse: Jacques Kupélian.
859:Boval, Philippe; Valcke, Albert (1999).
836:Boval, Philippe; Valcke, Albert (1998).
358:license. The Knight motor, developed by
687:
685:
683:
524:
492:state police (Gendarmerie / Rijkswacht)
394:1937 Impéria Minerva AP 22 CV limousine
780:
354:In 1908, Minerva obtained a worldwide
161:. The company became defunct in 1956.
943:Documents and clippings about Minerva
914:'Minerva Motor Car Company': fan page
823:] (in German). Bern: Emil FlĂĽck.
278:produced Minerva-engines in the UK.)
7:
1368:Motorcycle manufacturers of Belgium
963:List of motorcycles of 1900 to 1909
591:Motorcycle Evolution Design Passion
439:. The last Minerva was the 2-litre
844:] (in Dutch). Wervik: Valcke.
443:of 1934 but it did not sell well.
362:in the United States, used double
25:
383:increasingly sophisticated until
1005:
427:and also a new 2-litre six, the
169:, another Belgian manufacturer.
931:Royal Veteran Car Club Belgium:
817:Im Auto Durch Balkan Und Orient
799:. London, New York: Routledge.
490:also assembled for the Belgian
1333:Cars powered by Knight engines
1012:Automotive industry in Belgium
665:. Annaboch.com. Archived from
455:1930s crisis and restructuring
423:was replaced with the 6-litre
312:Société Anonyme Minerva Motors
31:Société Anonyme Minerva Motors
1:
625:, Temple Press, p. 111,
371:and the Impressionist Artist
1338:Car manufacturers of Belgium
751:10.1080/09523367.2011.537911
402:3.6-litre four-cylinder and
947:20th Century Press Archives
795:Hassan, David, ed. (2012).
698:www.classiccarcatalogue.com
415:and 3.4-litre six-cylinder
220:which were a forerunner of
1384:
1353:Companies based in Antwerp
919:Dutch Land Rover Register:
815:Baumgartner, Hans (1936).
787:: CS1 maint: postscript (
485:80" under licence for the
1301:
1018:
498:-engined Land Rover-like
35:
193:Bicycles and motorcycles
968:Excelsior Motor Company
290:Minervette chassis 1906
478:
451:
395:
336:
307:
299:
291:
209:
476:
469:Land Rover production
449:
393:
331:
305:
298:1928 Minerva AK-32 CV
297:
289:
200:
1205:L'Auto MĂ©tallurgique
1033:Transport in Belgium
506:Name revival in 2013
334:Hibbard & Darrin
1283:European Motor Show
1023:Automotive industry
793:(also published in
360:Charles Yale Knight
201:A man on a Minerva
167:Impéria Automobiles
32:
18:Minerva Motor Works
1028:Economy of Belgium
479:
452:
396:
337:
308:
300:
292:
218:motorized bicycles
210:
159:luxury automobiles
1315:
1314:
1113:Automobiles Astra
1099:Ateliers Vivinus
601:978-0-8018-8530-3
545:on 2 October 2011
537:Depuydt, Filiep.
435:and the 4-litre
203:motorized bicycle
148:
147:
16:(Redirected from
1375:
1348:Vintage vehicles
1293:Belgium Highways
1171:Green Propulsion
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644:. Dogdragons.com
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541:. Archived from
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40:
33:
21:
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1328:Luxury vehicles
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1042:National Brands
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730:Further reading
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571:on 2009-05-26.
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340:Charles S Rolls
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82:Sylvain de Jong
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66:
28:
23:
22:
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1358:Belgian brands
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1276:Related topics
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1160:FN Motorcycles
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903:External links
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721:. 9 July 2013.
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694:"Minerva 1930"
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385:trench warfare
321:. The 8-litre
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265:bottom bracket
242:United Kingdom
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207:Alice Manfield
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669:on 2012-05-30
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356:Knight Engine
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236:; 78 mpg
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118:Belgium
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909:Minerva Cars
883:
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783:cite journal
742:
738:
713:
701:. Retrieved
697:
671:. Retrieved
667:the original
657:
646:. Retrieved
642:"chater-lea"
640:S. Broberg.
635:
626:
621:
614:
605:
590:
586:Walker, Mick
580:
572:
569:the original
559:
547:. Retrieved
543:the original
509:
502:until 1956.
499:
487:Belgian army
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229:drove a belt
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150:
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114:Headquarters
938:(in French)
496:Continental
409:Rolls-Royce
380:World War I
344:Rolls-Royce
342:(of future
323:Kaiserpreis
282:Automobiles
254:Netherlands
222:motorcycles
143:automobiles
139:motorcycles
108:Rheinmetall
49:automobiles
1322:Categories
1191:Jonckheere
1139:Execelsior
1120:Belga Rise
1106:Auto-Mixte
926:(in Dutch)
893:2870760035
874:9080497614
851:9090121994
692:Apral, K.
673:2013-04-22
648:2013-05-15
514:References
483:Land Rover
369:Henry Ford
349:Minervette
316:Minervette
276:Chater-Lea
234:‑imp
1363:Cyclecars
1288:Euro NCAP
1261:Springuel
1184:Jeecy-Vea
1127:Delecroix
759:0952-3367
373:Anna Boch
258:Australia
238:‑US
1267:Van Hool
1212:Meeussen
957:See also
829:12657331
775:22430685
767:21491708
588:(2006),
549:19 April
319:cyclecar
214:bicycles
135:bicycles
131:Products
106:Sold to
45:Industry
1307:italics
1219:Minerva
1177:Impéria
1085:Antoine
949:of the
945:in the
884:Minerva
703:10 July
378:During
272:Triumph
250:Germany
187:Belgium
183:Antwerp
177:History
155:Belgian
151:Minerva
93: (
88:Defunct
78:Founder
67: (
63:Belgium
59:Antwerp
55:Founded
1254:Ranger
1240:Pieper
1233:Nagant
1166:Gillet
1071:Aldimi
1064:Alatac
890:
871:
848:
827:
803:
777:
773:
765:
757:
607:built.
598:
252:, the
246:France
153:was a
1198:Juwel
1146:Flaid
1133:Edran
863:[
840:[
819:[
771:S2CID
519:Notes
429:12-14
65:(1900
1247:Pipe
1092:Apal
970:(UK)
888:ISBN
869:ISBN
846:ISBN
825:OCLC
801:ISBN
789:link
763:PMID
755:ISSN
705:2013
596:ISBN
551:2011
421:30CV
417:20CV
413:15CV
404:30CV
400:20CV
103:Fate
95:1956
91:1956
69:1900
1226:MOL
1078:ALP
1057:ADS
1050:ADK
951:ZBW
747:doi
500:C20
1324::
785:}}
781:{{
769:.
761:.
753:.
743:28
741:.
696:.
682:^
604:,
527:^
462:AP
441:M4
437:AP
433:AL
425:AK
375:.
256:,
248:,
244:,
224:.
189:.
185:,
141:,
137:,
61:,
997:e
990:t
983:v
896:.
877:.
854:.
831:.
811:.
809:)
791:)
749::
707:.
676:.
651:.
553:.
97:)
73:)
71:)
20:)
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