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Bonhams

101 New Bond Street London

W1S 1SR

1928 Minerva Type AK Landaulette For Sale by Auction

Bonhams are delighted to offer at our forthcoming Collectors' Motor Car Auction on Thursday 8th February at The Grand Palais, Paris, France 137 collectors motor cars. The full online catalogue can be viewed at - details above. For further images and information on this lot, please follow the link.

MINERVA TYPE AK LANDAULETTE 1928
COACHWORK BY HOOPER & CO
Châssis n° 58339

•Marque européenne de prestige
•Moteur Knight six cylindres sans soupapes de 6 litres
•Issue de la collection d'un prestigieux musée européen

Minerva - la « déesse des Automobiles » - était la marque la plus prestigieuse de l'industrie automobile belge autrefois florissante. Construite selon les principes de Panhard, les premières Minerva étaient animées par divers moteurs à soupapes latérales et rencontrèrent un énorme succès. L'adoption en 1908 du moteur sans soupapes à double fourreau de Charles Yale Knight – une technique réputée pour son silence – permit à Minerva de s'imposer sur le devant de la scène des constructeurs de voitures de luxe, aux côtés de marques du calibre de Rolls-Royce, Hispano-Suiza, Isotta-Fraschini et Cadillac. En fait, l'honorable C. S. Rolls fut l'un des premiers distributeurs de la marque outre-Manche. En 1910, toutes les Minerva recevaient le moteur Knight, les plus gros modèles, comme la MM, étant particulièrement appréciés des têtes couronnées européennes, parmi lesquelles les rois de Belgique, de Norvège et de Suède. Minerva se tailla également une enviable réputation dans toutes sortes de compétitions.

Rapidement remise sur pied après la Première Guerre, Minerva recommença à produire de grandes et luxueuses automobiles et dans les années 1920 rencontra un succès considérable aux Etats-Unis où elle s'attira les faveurs des vedettes de cinéma, des politiciens et des industriels. Malheureusement, la chance de Minerva déclina de façon irrémédiable au début des années 1930 et en octobre 1935 fusionna avec le seul autre constructeur belge survivant, Imperia. Les Minerva continuèrent d'être produite pendant encore un an ou deux et après la Deuxième Guerre la société construisit des Land Rover sous licence pour l'armée belge.

La magnifique voiture proposée ici, est un exemplaire de la Minerva Type AK, construite de 1927 à 1937, propulsée par un six cylindres de type Knight de 6 litres développant 150 ch. Des versions à châssis long et court étaient proposées, cette dernière pouvant atteindre 145 km/ h, tandis que des freins servo-assistés Dewandre s'assuraient que cette lourde automobile pouvait s'arrêter aussi efficacement qu'elle roulait.

Une occasion unique d'acquérir une automobile rare et élégante appartenant à l'aristocratie des marques patriciennes.

1928 Minerva Type AK Landaulette
Chassis no. 58339

•Premier European make
•6. 0-litre Knight-type six-cylinder sleeve-valve engine
•Offered from a prominent European museum collection

Minerva - the 'Goddess of Automobiles' - was the finest make produced by Belgium's once vibrant motor industry. Built along Panhard lines, the early Minervas were powered by a variety of engines of sidevalve configuration and proved hugely successful. The adoption in 1908 of Charles Yale Knight's double sleeve-valve engine - a design noted for its silence - enabled Minerva to establish itself in the forefront of luxury carmakers alongside marques of the calibre of Rolls-Royce, Hispano-Suiza, Isotta-Fraschini, and Cadillac. Indeed, The Honourable C S Rolls was one of the firm's first overseas dealers. By 1910 all Minervas featured the Knight engine, the larger models, such as the MM, being much favoured by European royalty: the Kings of Belgium, Norway, and Sweden among them. Minervas also enjoyed an outstanding reputation in competitions of all kinds.

Swiftly back on its feet after WWI, Minerva returned to making large, luxurious motor cars and in the 1920s enjoyed considerable success in the USA where it found favour with film stars, politicians, and industrialists alike. Sadly, Minerva's fortunes declined steadily during the early 1930s, and in October 1935 it merged with Belgian's only other surviving motor car manufacturer: Imperia. Minervas continued to be made for another year or two, and after WW2 the company produced Land Rovers under licence for the Belgian Army.

The magnificent motor car offered here is an example of the Minerva Type AK, manufactured from 1927 to 1937, which was powered by a Knight-type six-cylinder engine of 6. 0 litres producing 150bhp. Long- and short-chassis versions were made, the latter being capable of 145km/ h (90mph), while Dewandre vacuum servo brakes made sure that this heavy car stopped as well as it went.

A rare opportunity to acquire a unique and elegant motor car belonging to one of the select aristocracy of patrician marques.

€70, 000 - 100, 000
£62, 000 - 89, 000

This advert has now been removed through sale or otherwise.
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