Mysterious Minerva from Saxony

I agree with Steve Diggins that the impressive bonnet probably conceals just a conventional 4-cylinder small-capacity engine. The bonnet appears to cover the whole section in front of the windscreen, probably with the intention to pretend the existence of a larger engine bay.

As for the suggestion that the vehicle could have been built by Brennabor (Germany's largest car producer shortly after WW1, by the way), I have my doubts.

At first glance, there is some stylistic resemblance to Brennabors of the early 1920s, e.g. the S-Type. Yet the car in the photo lacks any detail typical for the Brennabors of that time.

I still believe it's a special-bodied car from one of the many smaller German marques of which often not even a single photo exists in the relevant literature.

Maybe a Brennabor? I don´t know why, but that was my first thought!?

I'd like to throw Brennabor into the pot - they seemed to go for this sort of high sided design

This could be a custom bodied car with an over sized body to make it look more substantial than it really is. Look at how low the people are sitting. Also note the very light springs.It wouldn't surprise me if there is a small flat head four cylinder engine under that tall bonnet.The rad shell could be from something else and modified to suit.

Gentlemen,

Many thanks for your useful responses. I had already my doubts concerning this "Minerva" despite the distinctive badge on the radiator. So I can at least ditch this idea.

But what else could it be? I would definitely rule out Mathis, since the radiator doesn't look Mathis-like, at all.

I think Bill Sides is right with his suspicion that it could be a car from a German manufacturer.

But even after browsing through my collection of photos and advertisements featuring cars from lesser known German marques like Beckmann, Dixi, Falcon, Ley etc., I couldn't find a match.

So let's hope that this awkward-looking body with its high waistline rings a bell with someone, sooner or later.

Best regards
Michael

P.S. I am also going to post my photos of Metallurgique cars in the near future, so stay tuned, Gillet!

There are boat houses on the picture so there must be a lake.

Dear Michael,

I dont think this car is a Minerva. The Minerva emblem was not placed on the radiator,but on the radiator shell. And the shape is not Minerva eighter. The badge could be Minerva, but that is it.
After ww I they had no wooden wheels anymore. I'm interested in the Metalurgique pictures.

Although the setting gives a village like impression, I would suggest that due to the construction and landscape that this is an urban boundary area.

The occupants appear to be wearing some sort of uniform, perhaps identifying that would help in identifying the car

It is no Minerva.

That is no Minerva, the radiator and bonnet are wrong and wheel track too narrow and badge is in the wrong spot. It looks German to me, Mathis maybe!