Métallurgique 12 CV 12 CV
Car : Métallurgique 12 CV 12 CV
Year : 1910
Engine :4 cylinders in line
Bore and stroke :80?130 mm
Cylinder capacity : 2614 cc
Gears : 4 speed
Brake horse power : 32
Maximum speed : 52 mph
Wheelbase :10 ft 1? ins (3.09 m)
Suspension : front: semi-elliptic leaf- springs ; rear : cantilever springs
In the history of the Belgian car industry, so rich in makes once well known but which have all now disappeared, Métallurgique 12 CV occupies a place in the front rank, in particular because of its intense activity in the sporting field. Founded in 1898 , in Marchienne-au-Pont under the name of SA L’Auto Métallurgique 12 CV, it began by producing cars with twin-cylinder engines.

The company’s destiny took a decisive from Daimler, Ernst Lehmann, was engaged. Lehmann completely changed the products, experimenting with large capacity cars inspired by Mercedes. Metal chassis, honeycomb radiators and 4-cylinder engines with T-shaped cylinder heads (monobloc from 1908 and from 1911 with a 4-speed gearbox) were immediately adopted.
The car illustrated here was the smallest built in the pre-war years and was made until 1914. The pointed radiator became a characteristic of the Métallurgique 12 CV range which used, almost exclusively, Van den Plas bodies. The valve arrangement, a single overhead inlet valve and two side exhaust valves, was distinctive of the sports engines. The Adex brake system with diagonal linkage was noteworthy. Métallurgique 12 CV merged with Minerva in 1927 and production ceased.