The American Motor Car Company was a short-lived company in the

automotive industry The automotive industry comprises a wide range of companies and organizations involved in the design, development, manufacturing, marketing, and selling of motor vehicles. It is one of the world's largest industries by revenue (from 16 % such ...

founded in 1906, lasting until 1913. It was based in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. The American Motor Car Company pioneered the "underslung" design.

History

Harry C. Stutz, who later formed a company bearing his name, designed the first car for the new enterprise. However, Stutz quickly left and Fred L. Tone took over as chief engineer in 1906. Tone re-designed the chassis (frame) below the axles and the semi-elliptic

leaf spring A leaf spring is a simple form of spring commonly used for the suspension in wheeled vehicles. Originally called a ''laminated'' or ''carriage spring'', and sometimes referred to as a semi-elliptical spring, elliptical spring, or cart spring, i ...

suspension Suspension or suspended may refer to: Science and engineering * Suspension (topology), in mathematics * Suspension (dynamical systems), in mathematics * Suspension of a ring, in mathematics * Suspension (chemistry), small solid particles suspende ...

system mounted above. This upside-down or reverse arrangement became known as the ''underslung'' design. It gave the vehicles a lower stance and was an industry first. Because of the lower chassis position, wheels gave the vehicle space between the frame and the ground. The company claimed that the vehicles were safe from rollovers and could be tilted up to 55 degrees. It was powered by a engine rated at 40 horsepower (by the measurements at that time), but the car was underpowered. By 1908, the engine was enlarged to producing . The company entered a large engined roadster in the Savannah Challenge Cup Race held in Savannah, Georgia, but it finished last. Facing financial problems during 1911, the name was changed to American Motor Company. In 1912 all of its models featured the distinctive underslung chassis and the cars were officially named American Underslung. However, the new company was still over-extended and inefficient. The relatively small production of its numerous models was divided among three factories. The company went into bankruptcy in November 1913. Over an eight-year period, the American Motor Company had produced over 45,000 vehicles. Like many other automakers during this era, ineffective assembly processes, questionable management practices, as well as a focus on high quality plagued it and expensive models when the market was moving to lower priced utilitarian cars. American-auto 1906 indiana

References

External links

* * * {{imcdb vehicle, make=American, model=Underslung, American Underslung Motor vehicle manufacturers based in Indiana Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of the United States Defunct companies based in Indianapolis Manufacturing companies based in Indianapolis Brass Era vehicles 1900s cars 1910s cars Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1906 Vehicle manufacturing companies disestablished in 1913 1906 establishments in Indiana 1913 disestablishments in Indiana Defunct manufacturing companies based in Indiana