Quiz Archive

What is it? # 91 (UPDATE Minerva )

First of all we want to thank Minervist Peter van Inderdael, jurymember Paul Linster and especially Minerva connoisseur & writer Philippe Boval for their indispensable help with differentiating between the very, very close answers we received on this one.
Going into the facts: Type AF was from 1926-28 (30 HP) AK was from 28-31(32 HP)
Philippe added, that there is now way to ID Minervas based on hoodshape, counting louvres or that kind of thing. Yet, the wheelnuts betray that the car should be post 1925.
As the photo is from 1929 and according to grandson Peter it was several years old at that time (the little boy in the frontseat is his father...), we have to conclude it to be an AF...
As the coachwork lacks refinement and has no clear resemblance with era examples of Hibbard & Darrin or D'Ieteren or Vanden Plas, it most probably is a cheaper coachwork as done by Minerva itself or an by unknown local coachbuilder. based on the opinion of several Minerva people we conclude it is Made by Minerva. It was new delivered by the firm Servaes & Collin of Antwerpen.
In fewer words, applause for Erik Hougsrud from Norway !!! You came with the very short and very confident answer:
1. Minerva
2. AF, 30 CV
3. Minerva
4. 1926-28
see you all tomorrow for this years final # 92 ..... (photo collection Peter van Inderdael; click for detail) EARLIER TEXT: It's a 1929 snapshot. Mother and child during a Sunday's drive out in the little Belgium town Brasschaat. Well, anyone can see it's not a subcompact car. So we expects dozens of good answers, at least from our Belgium visitors. But good in a sense. We know the make. We know the type. But we don't know the exact year or the exact coachbuilder. So we lean backwards and you are going to explain all this to us. We will judge by 1.Make 2.Type 3.Coachbuilder 4.Year. Please send your answer before Monday 8 December 00.00 hrs to \n This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it '> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and add # 91 to the subject line.

Friday, 05 December 2003