1905

The first cars were 4.5hp 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.

1906

In 1906 there came the 4 cylinder, 10 litre 60/80 with inlet over exhaust valves and a claimed output of 100bhp at 1400 rpm. The cars got a distinctive V front radiator in 1906. The later 38/90 HP also offered top speeds exceeding 100 kph and were fairly competitive in racing on the European continent and in Great Britain.

1908

For 1908 the car range included the 60/80 and the 40hp which was a smaller version of the 60/80, the 2 cylinder cars being finally dropped.

1909

In 1909 Métallurgique's best known model appeared: the luxurious 26/60 HP model, a 4-cylinder displacing 5 litres. Most of these cars were sold in Great Britain and fitted with Vanden Plas (also of Belgian heritage) bodywork, often in sporting style and always fitted with the distinctive V-ed radiator shell, Métallurgique's trademark since 1907. Though initially shipped to England these cars ended up all over the British Empire and were even found as far away as New Zealand.

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.

1911

All cars got 4 speed gearboxes. Bodywork was made by Vanden Plas.

1912

A special sport version of the 26/60 engine became available, fitted with larger valves and alloy pistons and good for 75 hp.

Post World War I

After the first World War Métallurgique was able to pick up production rapidly thanks to cunningly hiding their jigs and spares during the War. The 26/60 was again on offer, now with four wheel brakes, along with a 15/20 HP and a 20/40 HP model. By now however selling the big cars became more and more difficult as a result of the economic problems resulting from the War. In one last bid for survival Métallurgique replaced their smallest model, the 15/20 HP, in the early 1920s by the innovative 12 HP. It was powered by a 1882 cc 4-cylinder designed by Paul Bastien, who later went on designing 8-cylinder engines for Stutz in the USA. Remarkable about this engine was its over head valve system operated by pushrods, these days very common but back in the days of side- and sleeve valves a leap forward. It was a rapid car, capable of about 121 kph, that handled well but sold not enough to keep Métallurgique's car production out of harms way.

1927

The inevitable end of the cars named Métallurgique came in 1927 when the car manufacturing facilities were sold to Imperia-Excelsior, who moved the tooling over to their own factory and sold the remaining buildings to Minerva.

1929

By 1929 the Métallurgique name had disappeared from cars completely. It was an undignified end to a manufacturer that went its own way, was often ahead of its time and firmly believed in the qualities of the 4-cylinder concept. Métallurgique was absorbed into the history books claiming a well-built 4-cylinder could be just as smooth as a 6-cylinder and was more efficient, which was proven correct (in Europe at least) about 50 years later...