What is Minerva (automobile)?
In [[1883]] a young Belgian called [[Sylvain de Jong]] settled in [[Antwerp]], [[Belgium]]. He started a bicycle factory there. By the end of that century he started producing motorbikes, and after a while automobiles as well. In [[1903]] he grounded the NV Minerva Motors' in [[Berchem]] (Antwerp). A certain [[Charles S Rolls]] was Minerva dealer in [[England]]. The small 1 cylinder ''Minervette'' was there with its 105 Pound, the cheapest automobile. <br /> In the years after the fame of the automobile was rising enormous. Most important market for the constructor remained however England that took the biggest part of the production, followed by the [[Netherlands]] and [[France]]. From [[1908]] Minerva got a worldwide Knight licence. The Knight motor was a motor without valves, developed by [[Charles Y Knight]] in the [[United States]]. These motors were extremely silent. The company did well in several automobile racing competitions in [[Europe]]. After worldwar I, during which Sylvain de Jong and his engineers headed to [[Amsterdam]], where they kept on developing parts, they returned to start up the production of luxury automobiles. The constructors star rose in the United States as well, American filmstars, politicians and industrials liked them cars as well (even [[Henry Ford]] had before the WW already one!). The car had the same qualities as the [[Rolls Royce]], but was a little cheaper. With the economical crisis in the 30's, the company went bankrupt in [[1936]]. The remains were taken over by another Belgian constructor named [[Imperia]]. Imperia putted the name Minerva on their automobiles for export to England and France and for the trucks (which Minerva had made before too). <br /> After worldwar II the company produced [[Land Rover]]s under licence for the Belgian army. Production of these 4Wheel Drives stopped in [[1953]]. The company struggled for survival and made some Land Rover-like cars till [[1956]]. But than the constructor diappeared completely. == Other websites == *[http://www.mine