Minerva Land Rovers
Following the Second World War, Minerva could not design and produce a brand new car by itself and so, following their experience of building under licence, the Standard
Motor Company were approached and their Vanguard model was soon being assembled in Belgium.
Aware of the Belgian army's search for a new lightweight 4×4 vehicle, Minerva approached the Rover company in the Spring of 1951.
In June 1951 the Rover company learned that a total of 2500 vehicles would be required and that Rover were competing with Willys for the contract.
In October 1951 the deal was agreed, documentation being finalised on the 7th May 1952.
Under this deal it was agreed that Rover would supply full technical assistance to Minerva who would be granted permission to manufacture Land-Rovers under licence.
Rover would supply Completely Knocked Down kits (with CKD chassis numbers) consisting of the chassis, engine, axle, transmission and other parts to the Minerva company in Antwerp who would
then build its own steel body to suit the Belgian army.
The Minerva sales literature stated that 63% of the parts used in the vehicles were of Belgian origin.
The chassis were later built in Belgium as they are different in a number of ways to the Land-Rover chassis, being box welded and lacking the PTO hole provision in the rear cross member.
The Minerva assembly line employed about 500 qualified workers who could produce 50 vehicles a day.
These vehicles produced were left hand drive, 80" wheelbase models, with the 2-litre engine.
The most obvious differences between the Minerva and our own Series Ones being that the front wings that are squared off and sloping.
The bodywork, including the doors, was all steel and a narrower front grille was used with the Minerva badge.
Two styles of badges were used, the earlier version stating 'Licence Rover' and the later having the oval Land-Rover badge at the bottom of the Minerva name.
Slatted oval panels on either side of the grille cover the apertures and the front bumper was fitted with a single "pigtail" towing eye on the drivers side.
The side lights were located at the bottom of the wings and the headlights were larger than usual.
Smaller brake lights were fitted to the rear panels.
Other differences include the exhaust being emitted from beneath the drivers door and the door handles.
The 80" army Minerva door handles were like those of its British counterpart with the canvas flap - although the door locks are slightly different.
However, the civilian Minervas had external door handles.
The military vehicles look quite different from the rear; a three quarter height fixed tailgate being fitted.
The police and military versions had the spare wheel mounted on the right and a jerry can holder mounted on the left hand side (the Minerva petrol tanks are a little smaller than the
Land-Rover equivalent).
No centre seat was provided, a toolbox being fitted in its place which was about the same size as a seat base cushion.
(The space under the seat which Series Ones often use as a toolbox housed one of two 6v batteries, the second being under the bonnet).
It is thought that the Belgian army stockpiled the vehicles and thus effectively brand new vehicles were, until recently, still entering service.
They simply had the mileage of occasional trips around the warehouse which prevented them from seizing up!
An armoured / assault vehicle version was also produced, with heavy plating, armoured glass screens and machine gun mounts at both the front and back.
The spare wheel for these was mounted on the front, in front of the grille.
Field ambulance versions were produced, being basically the same as the standard vehicle but with the tilt extended at the rear to cover the overhanging stretchers.
It is thought that this tilt could in fact be the same as used by the ambulance version of the Jeep.
In October 1953 a civilian version of the Minerva Land-Rover was announced.
This new vehicle was different in a number of ways from the previously produced military versions.
The new vehicle was fitted with three seats, a drop down tailgate and provision in the rear cross member for a rear PTO to be fitted.
A choice of colours was also offered.
The brochure for the civilian model describes a central PTO from the main gear box to drive belts and describes the vehicle being useful for any portable apparatus -
including generators, welders and water pumps.
Indeed, the scenes used for the Minerva literature are virtually identical to those that Land-Rover were using - with the obvious exception of slightly different vehicles.
Like our own Series Ones, Minerva versions included station wagons, hard tops, truck cabs, and tilt versions; the tilt uniquely being fitted with side windows.
These vehicles were apparently well received by construction companies and farmers but are now very rare.
In 1954, the new 86" version was introduced, (as in the UK replacing the 80").
This vehicle was produced for the next two years, until 1956 when all contracts between Minerva and Land-Rover were terminated.
During this time, only 1,100 86" vehicles were produced, and these are now extremely rare.
It is likely that these 86" vehicles were Primarily only available as civilian models.
The 86" had 3 seats and rear PTO hole.
The rear agricultural plate was also fitted.
These vehicles had tailgates and the external door handles as fitted to the 80" civilian vehicles.
The original Belgian army order was for 2,500 vehicles although a further 3,421 were subsequently ordered.
As a result, despatches for 1952 and 1953 totalled 7,859 Completely Knocked Down vehicles.
However, only 200 CKD 86" vehicles were despatched during 1954 and this may well have contributed to the dispute between the two companies and agreement that all contracts would be
terminated after a further 900 vehicles had been despatched.
Thus, from May 1952 until the contract between the two companies was terminated at the end of June 1956, a total of 8,959 CKD vehicles were despatched from the Rover Company
to SA Societe Nouvelle Minerva of Belgium.
In 1956 Minerva announced the C-20 and M-20 (Civilian and Military) Tout Terrain vehicles but very few of these are believed to have been produced and the company soon
experienced financial difficulties.
The Minerva company finally went into liquidation in 1958.
The Minerva Rail Rover
This Minerva was used by "STIB" (Société des Transports Inter Bruxellois - Brussels Inner City Transport) in order to service their tramway network.
 
 
Pictures © and information by Neele Wajnsztok.
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