c.1918 Minerva Aster Special

Lot details
Registration No: SV 9512
Chassis No: 29265
Mot Expiry: April 2009

A former Ministry of Defence engineer, the vendor constructed this handsome Edwardian-style racing special over a twelve-year period. Found on a Lincolnshire farm, the origins of its spindly chassis remained a mystery until the timeworn structure was exhibited at the Vintage Sports Car Club's April Silverstone meeting with a suitable plea for assistance. While, the presence of a very faint Type NN stamping on the front axle helped confirm the Minerva identification (albeit the famous Belgian marque did not release that particular model until 1919), careful examination of the back axle revealed a proprietary differential assembly which dated from 1912 and was of American manufacture.

With its all-round leaf-sprung suspension (semi-elliptic front / cantilever rear), small-diameter rear drum brakes and Edwardian design roots, the Minerva chassis proved well suited to an imposing Aster four-cylinder engine that the vendor had earlier sourced from a boatyard near Chichester! Displacing 5.75 litres, the pair-cast unit was originally used to power a military kite balloon winch and indeed still has a photograph of a brass pre-1917 War Office ID plaque upon acquisition. Further proof of its age came from a period Motor magazine article which showed that Aster adopted a different finned sump design after 1919. Cradled in a chassis reinforcing subframe and allied to four-speed manual transmission, the long-stroke sidevalve powerplant exhales via a Brooklands-style external exhaust (complete with fishtail silencer).

Loosely inspired by the Minerva team cars which finished the 1914 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy race in second, third and fifth places, we are informed that the two-seater's skimpy body helps contribute to a modest 1638kg kerb weight. Nicely detailed with fork-mounted Rotax 'Electrolight' headlamps, Polaire sidelamps and diver's bell type rear lamps, the special also boasts deep-buttoned upholstery and a tinted aeroscreen. Approved by the Vintage Sports Car Club's eligibility committee and given the arbitrary date of 1918 on the basis that it had been constructed very much in the spirit of an Edwardian racer, the car was road registered by the DVLA as 'SV 9512' some two years later (2003).

Finished in maroon with black leather seats and a well-stocked aluminium dashoard, the Minerva-Aster is described by the vendor as being in "good overall" condition. Making its competitive debut around Holland's Assen circuit, the special has since enjoyed outings at Wiscombe, Loton Park, Prescott, Donington, Montlhery and Goodwood. Said to be "a regular top five finisher in races" and to "punch above its weight", 'SV 9512' qualified fifth on the grid for a recent See Red meeting "only being beaten by the aero engine or 10 litre plus cars". Reportedly eligible for the Silverstone Classic in July this year, the Anglo-Belgian hybrid possesses a valid MOT certificate and is thus capable of road use.

Alerted via a third party to the fact that the special might be underpinned by a post-1918 chassis (the Minerva factory was shut between 1914 and 1919), Roger Ballard of the Vintage Sports Car Club's Eligibility Sub-Committee responded as follows: "You may well be correct in your assertion that the chassis is post-1918. This is a car recently built-up using a selection of parts from different sources, many of which are Edwardian and it was possibly felt at the time of application that its performance and general make-up was appropriate for our Edwardian racing. When a car changes hands, the eligibility document lapses and the new owner needs to re-apply. We do not however, as a general rule, change the status of a car at that time as we feel it would be unreasonable to do so. So to sum up, we will be happy for the car to compete with us under its new ownership but are unable to definitely confirm its date of manufacture".

Thought to be the only Minerva-based car of its type currently racing, 'SV 9512' is apparently "on the button and great fun to drive". Seemingly well designed and executed, this special promises to turn heads wherever it goes.