The American Motor Car Company was a short-lived company in the automotive industry founded in 1906, lasting until 1913. It was based in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. The American Motor Car Company pioneered the "underslung" design.
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 springsuspension 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, 40 in (1,000 mm) 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 6.4 L (390.6 cu in) engine rated at 40 horsepower (by the measurements at that time), but the car was underpowered. By 1908, the engine was enlarged to 7.8 L (476.0 cu in) producing 50 bhp (37 kW). 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 Motor Car Company of Indianapolis, Indiana – "The American" – 1906
Referencesedit
Vance, Bill (17 August 2007). "Motoring Memories: American Underslung, 1907–1913". Autos Canada. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
External linksedit
Media related to American Underslung vehicles at Wikimedia Commons
"1910 American Traveler Underslung". conceptcarz.com. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
"1913 American Underslung Scout 22-A". conceptcarz.com. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
american, motor, company, 1954, company, american, motors, corporation, short, lived, company, automotive, industry, founded, 1906, lasting, until, 1913, based, indianapolis, indiana, united, states, pioneered, underslung, design, industryautomobilefounded1906. For the 1954 company see American Motors Corporation The American Motor Car Company was a short lived company in the automotive industry founded in 1906 lasting until 1913 It was based in Indianapolis Indiana United States The American Motor Car Company pioneered the underslung design American Motor Car CompanyIndustryAutomobileFounded1906Defunct1913FatebankruptHeadquartersIndianapolis Indiana United StatesKey peopleHarry C StutzFred L ToneProductsautomobilesHistory edit nbsp 1909 American Traveler nbsp 1913 American Underslung 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 suspension 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 40 in 1 000 mm 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 6 4 L 390 6 cu in engine rated at 40 horsepower by the measurements at that time but the car was underpowered By 1908 the engine was enlarged to 7 8 L 476 0 cu in producing 50 bhp 37 kW 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 nbsp American Motor Car Company of Indianapolis Indiana The American 1906References editVance Bill 17 August 2007 Motoring Memories American Underslung 1907 1913 Autos Canada Retrieved 6 April 2013 External links edit nbsp Media related to American Underslung vehicles at Wikimedia Commons 1910 American Traveler Underslung conceptcarz com Retrieved 6 April 2013 1913 American Underslung Scout 22 A conceptcarz com Retrieved 6 April 2013 American Underslung at the Internet Movie Cars Database Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title American Motor Car Company amp oldid 1099521490, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
