An Award-Winning Minerva with Hibbard and Darrin Coachwork
The Minerva started as a bicycle. In 1897, Sylvain de Jong returned to Belgium from America with dreams of building a better bicycle called the Minerva. He crafted his first automobile two years later using the same name. Produced from 1902 until 1938, the Minerva became a favorite for many royal families of Europe.
Featuring a removable roof panel above the driver’s seat, this particular 1928 Minerva is the AF Transformable Town Car which features coachwork by Hibbard and Darrin.
This model was only produced for four years.
Since 2018, this Minerva’s elegance, extraordinarily-crafted interior, and timeless design have won awards at Concourses at Pebble Beach and Amelia Island and earned special invitations to Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este and Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court Palace.
The Quiet Knight
This Minerva features the big-budget, 5.3-liter, six-cylinder Knight Sleeve Valve engine designed by Charles Yale Knight of Indiana.
Charles Yale Knight’s Creation
Dissatisfied with the noisy valves in his own cars, Knight designed an engine that used iron sleeves to buffer the pistons and cylinder block, allowing the pistons to slide on the sleeves.
The result was a much more expensive engine that cut down on running noise but was harder to turn over and more expensive to repair. The car itself cost $15,000 during the Prohibition Era.
Exterior Details
1928 Minerva Town Car Specs:
- 5.3-liter, six-cylinder engine
- Knight Sleeve Valve, quiet engine technology
- 150 bhp
- Top speed: 70 mph
- 149.5 inch-wheelbase
- Years of Production: 1926-1930
- 1987 Pebble Beach Best of Show winner
- 2018 Pebble Beach 1st place in European Classic Early class
- 2019 Amelia Island most Elegant French Coachwork
Interior Details
