Das weltweite Magazin und der Marktplatz für Oldtimer-Enthusiasten – von Enthusiasten.
Das weltweite Magazin und der Marktplatz für Oldtimer-Enthusiasten – von Enthusiasten.
This is like buying Playboy because it is a great read. Of course we leave this charming couple alone and are as polite not to take notice of the slightly upward moving dress. We concentrate on the background (click photo). What is her car? All we know is that the photo is French and probably late twenties. But the car? Is it French also? Is it a big Citroen or Panhard, a grand routier? Or did the photographer select a US piece of machinery for his art? We really can't help any further. Possibly the combination of the twin bumper + the twin circled wheel will ring a bell with [email protected]. (Horwitz Collection)
UPDATE III: Kit Foster is not so sure that we are looking at the rear end of a Minerva here. He is inclined to think of a Renault Monasix based on the cbumper style and wheel. Any support for his theory?
(UPDATE II) by Luk Martens of Belgium:"My best guess : it's a 1929-1930 Minerva 12 HP Type AN (2000
cc). This type is an improved version of the 12 HP introduced in 1926,
which had the purpose to attract customers with a lower budget to spend
on a Minerva. Still not cheap and build with the same high quality to
match the larger cars, this car was the most popular Minerva by far
(some 50 units per week in 1927)... In this respect, you can compare
it with the Pacard 120 some years later. It didn't help Minerva to
survive the depression years, at least as a luxury car maker, as we all
know. The first model with factory coachwork was ungainly styled and
underpowered; the later model (like the one I think is on the
photograph) was much more elegant.
The twin bumpers are pure American influence, as is the whole body (not
seen here). Of course I'm talking about the factory body, not
special-order coachwork. Similar bumpers appeared on many an American
and European car. The twin rimmed wheel was a bit more unusual, thoug
my no means rare. However, the combination of both I've only seen on
contemporary pics of chassis expositions of that particular
Minerva-car, thus far. Can anyone prove me I'm right or wrong?"
UPDATE I by Ed Minnie (US) who writes: "This photo was from a batch of french postcards, all with a questionmark logo in the lower right corner. This exact photo was published by the CCCA back about 7 years ago on the cover of the Bulletin."