Cycle maker Sylvain de Jong of Antwerp built
an experimental car before the turn of the century: a Panhard-like
prototype appeared in 1902, full-scale production starting two years
later, with a range of two, three and four-cylinder cars of 1.6,
2.4 and 3.2 litres. Up to 1910, Minerva concentrated on big four-cylinders, including models of 3.8 and 5.9 litres: then they became the first marque in mainland Europe to adopt the Knight sleeve-valve engine, announcing a 38 hp dual-ignition 6.3 1itre four (King Albert was an early patron) followed shortly by models of 2.3 and 4.25 litres. By the outbreak of World War One, the 38 hp had grown to 7.4 litres. There was also a 2.3 litre Fourteen. The first post-war model was the 1919 NN
20hp four, joined in 1921 by a 5.3 litre 30 hp six, which acquired
four wheel brakes in 1923. The TT of 1923 had a sleeve-valve engine
of under 2 litres and central gear-change. ©VEA
|