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The American Underslung was an American automobile, the brainchild of Harry Stutz and designer Fred Tone, manufactured in Indianapolis from 1905 to 1914 by American Motor Car Company.

The American Motor Car Co. of Indianapolis, Indiana made an American Automobile from 1905 to 1914. The original American was designed by Harry Stutz. When Stutz left The American Motor Car Co. in 1906, Fred Tone took over as chief engineer and designed the American Underslung.

Early American Motor Car Co. automobiles were made with a conventional chassis. A conventional chassis was very high on the wheels, the side rails above the axles. With an underslung chassis the rails were below the axles. The underslung models became a good selling point and by 1911 all American Motor Car Co. automobiles had a underslung chassis.

The first American Underslung was a two passenger Roadster shown above. Known as a Type 44 this American Automobile was equipped with a four cylinder engine that developed 35 horsepower. Wheel base was 105 inches with 36 inch wheels and tires.

In 1911 The American Motor Car Co introduced the "Traveler" that was equipped with four cylinder 50 horsepower engines and 40 inch wheels and tires. This new 1911 American Underslung Touring Car was priced at $4250.00. By 1912 The American Motor Car Co. reorganized into The American Motors Co.

In 1912 and again in 1913 The American Motor Car Co introduced the "Scout" that sold for $1,475.00 and the $2450.00 "Tourist". The Scout was a two passenger Roadster equipped with a four cylinder engine made by Teetor-Hartley that was rated at 40 horsepower. Features included a three speed transmission, 105 inch wheel base, 36 inch wheels and tires, self starter, Warner speedometer, mohair top and the color was American wine with black fender.

Six cylinder automobiles were introduced for the final 1914 model year. Over the years the American Underslung went from "A Car For The Discrimating Few" to "American's Prettiest Car"and finally "America's Most Luxurious Car" with a hefty price and too few customers.

Design

The American Underslung's chassis design and huge 40-inch (1,016 mm) wheels gave it a distinctive appearance and it was noticeably lower than other cars from the same era. The chassis was hung below the axles rather than set atop them, with the engine and transmission mass moved closer to the ground lowering the center of gravity and giving sports car appearance and handling. The design mounted the engine and body within the frame rails rather than on the top as with other cars of the era. Developed in collaboration with Harry Stutz, the 1905 Underslung "was one of the most significant, if unsung, automobiles of this century's first decade."

The automobiles were marketed at the upper price range of the market. Prices for the American Underslung ranged from US$1,250 to $4,000. The cars came with Teetor-Harley 6.4 L (391 cu in) straight-4 engines producing 40 hp (30 kW), as measured by an old system, and starting in 1908 a 7.8 L (476 cu in) with 50 hp (37 kW) became available. Additionally, a 9.34 L (570 cu in) six-cylinder engine was capable of 60 hp (45 kW), one of the strongest cars of its time.

Versions

The American Underslung came in several versions:

• A two door sports version, called the "Scout Roadster".
• Around 1909, American introduced a four-passenger Underslung dubbed "The Traveler." An example of this car, chassis #1687, is on display at the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum in Philadelphia, PA, USA.
• The car was also available from 1905 to 1908 with a conventional chassis design; this model was called the "American Tourist". It came in another version, a two door sports version, called the Scout Roadster.

Updates:

• In 1910, the horsepower rating for the engine was increased to 60 hp (45 kW) by enlarging the cylinder bore and adding pressurized lubrication.
• In 1913, electric starters and lights became available on the Underslungs.

Closure

The American Underslung marketing slogan was "The Car For The Discriminating Few" and apparently there were few buyers. Although new models were introduced for 1914 and the company continued to boast the American Underslung was "America’s Most Luxurious Car", the end came when the firm was put into receivership in November 1913.

1907 American Underslung sells for $1.43 million, setting record for the marque

Omnipresent today, the idea of an automobile with a low stance (and hence, a lowered center of gravity) and oversize wheels is nothing new; in fact, the American Automobile Company of Indianapolis, Indiana, embraced this design philosophy in 1907, to give its Underslung models superior handling and a sporting attitude. On October 6, a 1907 American Underslung 50hp Roadster with a known history since new crossed the block at the Preserving the Automobile sale in Philadelphia, selling for $1.43 million (including buyer’s fees) and setting a reported auction record for the marque.

The 1907 American Underslung Roadster made do with minimal bodywork (and hence, minimal luggage room), but offered a relatively powerful 50-horsepower, 476.5-cu.in. four-cylinder engine mated to a four-speed transmission.

To lower the car’s ride height and improve its handing, the frame rails were placed below the axles, giving rise to the “Underslung” name. Such reduced ground clearance would have been problematic on the primitive roads of the day, so the automaker’s solution was to equip Underslung models with oversize wheels, which provided the required clearance and were better suited to navigating potholes and other obstacles.

The 1907 American Underslung Roadster was completed in time for the 1968 AACA Fall Meet in Hershey, Pennsylvania, where it was presented to F.C. Deemer, Junior. As promised, the car was then given to Seeley for his restorative work, who retained possession until the car was acquired by Dick Teague. In 1986, Teague sold it to W.K Haines, who in turn sold the car to its consigner in 2004. Counting the new buyer, the 107-year old roadster has seen just six owners over the course of its remarkable life.

Credit: Hemmings / Bonhams