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.

Production

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.