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The Belgian Minerva,
named after the Roman goddess of wisdom, was a vehicle designed
for the extremely wealthy; American high society, particularly the
stars of Hollywood, were drawn by the prestige of the model. With
a miniature mascot of Minerva on the hood and its beautifully curved
radiator shell, this impressive automobile endured a number of market
changes from 1900 to 1939. Spurred on by the Minerva's success,
coach builders from all countries put out a number of different
models of this car. Employing a Knight-system, sleeve-valve engine,
the Minerva won high praise for its superior quality and performance. |
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The Pierce-Arrow,
the Packard, and the Peerless made up the "Three P's"of the U.S.
ultra-luxury car market. Their quality and social status surpassed
even Rolls-Royce, establishing themselves as vehicles that represented
the utmost in terms of luxury and extravagance. Their reliability
was beyond reproach. In addition to its unique style provided by
the unification of headlights and fender, the Pierce-Arrow had power
brakes, a hydraulic tappet, and an advanced, lightweight aluminum
body. A short ride in the Arrow was quite sufficient to convey the
great comfort of the car and an appreciation of its extravagance. |
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During World War
I, the Hispano-Suiza concentrated its efforts on engine production
for the French Air Force, the offspring of the world's first production
sports car, the AlfonsoXIII. Developed from this model, a new and
sophisticated model emerged in 1919. It featured the first servo-assisted,
four-wheeled, mechanically operated drum brakes in addition to an
advanced, light-alloy engine. It had two overhead valves per cylinder,
operated from a single overhead camshaft. The 32CV-H6b adopted the
most advanced airplane technology of the time. It served as a preview
of the 1930s, when the French V12-cylinder Hispano Suiza, with its
chic body design, reigned as the period's most prestigious vehicle. |
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