1930 Minerva AL

The name Minerva was the name of a Roman goddess and was later used for the designation of a line of vehicles. In 1883 a Holland individual named Sylvain de Jong immigrated to Belgium, where he began manufacturing bicycles, also bearing the name of the Roman goddess. In 1899 he shifted his efforts to building automobiles.

By 1909 his vehicles were powered by a Charles Yale Knight sleeve-valve engine. The engine proved to be dependable, low cost, and durable.

In 1928 de Jong created a 'super-car' dubbed the Type AL which he introduced to the public a year later at the Paris Salon. It featured a four-speed transmission and a 6.6-liter eight-cylinder engine cast in one block rather than being made up of two separate blocks of four cylinders. With the help of a single Zenit carburetor, it was capable of producing 125 horsepower. Sitting atop a long 152-inch chassis, it would hardly qualify for super-car status by today's definition. With its long body, it could easily carry many passengers while providing a spacious and luxurious interior.

The exceptionally high price limited production to no more than fifty examples.

Like many early automobile manufacturers, the World Wars and Great Depression were difficult times to endure. The producers of luxury and exclusive vehicles were the most devastating breed when the Great Depression occurred. Their limited list of clientele became nearly non-existent and many were forced out of business. This was true for Minerva, closing its doors and ceased production near the end of 1934. The 1200-employee workforce was let-go and Minerva became part of history.

by Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2007