Chassis No. 80105

Engine No. 80116

Minerva, a Belgian automaker established in Antwerp in 1897 by Dutch entrepreneur Sylvain de Jong, emerged as one of the world's premier luxury pre-war automotive manufacturers alongside Rolls-Royce, Hispano-Suiza, Isotta Fraschini, and the finest American marques following WWI. From its humble beginnings as a bicycle manufacturer, Minerva's signature rounded radiator shell adorned with the goddess Minerva mascot-the "Goddess of Automobiles"-became a symbol of Belgian automotive opulence. With elite clientele including King Albert I of Belgium, the firm reached annual exports of approximately 1,000 chassis to England alone by the late 1920s, positioning itself as a compelling alternative to Rolls-Royce at a more attractive price point.

The company's technical tour de force was the Type AL of 1929, which showcased the most developed iteration of Minerva's sleeve-valve engine. Its 6.6-liter straight-eight, producing 120 horsepower through its nine main bearing crankshaft and dual ignition system, delivered the silken performance through its adoption of Charles Y. Knight's revolutionary mechanically actuated sleeve valve engine technology. The AL also featured one of the earliest anti-roll systems in the form of the "Adex Stabilisator," which contributed to its exceptional roadholding. The timing of the AL's introduction ahead of the 1929 Wall Street Crash sadly limited its production to just 50 chassis, of which fewer than a dozen are known to survive today.

The AL's 152-inch wheelbase was one of the longest on the market, enabling the fitting of supremely elegant coachwork like the Rollston Convertible Sedan presented here. Renowned for their robust construction and quality materials, Rollston was one of New York City's preeminent coachbuilders in the 1920s. While typically conservative in their designs, their work on chassis number 80105 demonstrated their capacity for innovative styling. The design's sophistication lies in the cohesive alignment of the windshield, pillars, and windows with the dramatic door angle, while a darker accent along the beltline emphasizes the body's dramatic swept-back profile. The result is a formal Convertible Sedan that masterfully balances flowing elegance with dynamic presence.

According to previous research, this magnificent Minerva AL was commissioned by Henry Walker Bagley and his wife Nancy Reynolds Bagley, daughter of tobacco tycoon R.J. Reynolds, in 1931. The car subsequently passed through several distinguished collections, including those of D. Cameron Peck, Fred Bultman, and Dr. James Dees, before joining noted Minerva enthusiast Gerald A. Rolph's stable in 1967. After an impressive three decades in the Texas-based Rolph Collection, the Minerva was acquired by Charles Morse in 1997. Under his stewardship, chassis 80105 underwent a comprehensive restoration by Steve Babinsky's Automotive Restorations in New Jersey, America's foremost Minerva specialist. Following its restoration, the Minerva embarked on a remarkable show career in 1999, securing First in Class at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, and garnering accolades at the Meadow Brook Hall Concours d'Elegance, Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance, and Louis Vuitton Classic in New York. The outstanding restoration was further recognized with an AACA First Junior at Hershey and Best of Show at the CCCA Grand Classic National Meet in Cleveland that same year.

The car passed through the hands of several more prestigious collectors before finding its way to the Academy of Art University Collection in 2015. In testament to the enduring quality of its restoration, the Minerva made a triumphant return to the Pebble Beach show field in 2018, where it was awarded Second in Class. Today, this AL presents in no less spectacular condition than when it was first restored. The Rollston coachwork stands among the finest collaborations between an American coachbuilder and European chassis manufacturer of the pre-war era. This combined with its superlative restoration and numerous accolades, chassis 80105 ranks among the most significant surviving examples of both the rare Minerva AL chassis and Rollston's innovative design work.