1954 Series I 80-inch Minerva Blindé

Chassis number: 36635996

Registration number: 530 XWJ / 32176

Engine type: 2.0 Petrol

Gearbox type: 4 Speed Manual

Vehicle spec:

This vehicle was delivered from Solihull to Société Nouvelle Minerva SA, of Mortsel, Antwerp, Belgium, as a CKD (Completely Knocked Down) kit. Minerva assembled CKD kits in Belgium under licence from Rover from 1951 to 1956, mostly for the Belgian Army, with locally built all-steel bodies which had the distinctive angular sloping front wings. These were adopted because Minerva lacked the capability at its factory to replicate the standard Land Rover curved front wings.

It entered service with the Belgian Army carrying the registration number 32176. There were two batches of around 30 each of these Blindé (armoured) vehicles. Many saw service in the Congo Crisis between 1960 and 1965, which had begun almost immediately after the Congo became independent from Belgium.

Each batch had different weapons installations. This vehicle was equipped with Belgian .30 calibre FN machine guns and was used for airfield defence by the UDA (Unité de Défense des Aérodromes). It has armoured sides and WW2 SAS-style windscreens, radios, an American Bazooka, various small arms and a host of other equipment, which means the all-up weight is very high for an 80-inch Land Rover. The Minerva Blindé is a very rare vehicle, especially in the UK, and we were delighted to be able to add it to the Collection in May 2026. There is still much to do in terms of researching its history.