Métallurgique

Métallurgique were cars made by SA L'Auto Métallurgique, Marchienne-au-Pont, Belgium between 1898 and 1928. Before making cars, the company had made railway locomotives and rolling stock.

The first cars were 4.5-hp, 2-cylinder models with chain drive, but in 1905 a new modern range was introduced, designed by Ernst Lehmann, who joined them from Daimler in 1903. These cars, with pressed-steel chassis, live rear axle and the option of electric lighting, were to establish the company as one of the finest makers of sporting cars in Europe. In 1906 there came the 4-cylinder, 10-litre 60/80 with inlet over exhaust valves and a claimed output of 100 bhp at 1400 rpm. The cars got a distinctive V front radiator in 1906. For 1908 the car range included the 60/80 and the 40-hp, which was a smaller version of the 60/80, the 2-cylinder cars being finally dropped. They were joined in 1909 by the smaller 5-litre 26-hp, and in 1911 all cars got 4-speed gearboxes. Bodywork was made by Vanden Plas.

Métallurgique cars were also made from 1909 under licence by Bergmann in Berlin, Germany who had previously made electric cars. These were sold as Bergmann-Métallurgique.

After World War I, car production restarted with the 26-hp, which gained Adex 4-wheel brakes, the 20/40 and the 15/20. The first post-war designs arrived in 1921 with the 3-litre and, more importantly, the 2-litre overhead-cam tourer designed by Paul Bastien.

The company was taken over by Imperia in 1927 and the factory was acquired by Minerva. The name was dropped. Paul Bastien joined Stutz in America where he was responsible for the Vertical Eight.

This historic marque has a great following and La Societe Anonyme des Automobiles Métallurgique has been set up to bring Métallurgique owners together.

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Wikipedia