American

The American Motor Car Company was founded in 1906, and lasted until 1913. The American Motor Car Company pioneered the "underslung" design. The company produced cars with both normal chassis, as well as the Underslung simultaniously until 1912. Several models were marketed as separate brands Including the American Scout, American Traveler, and American Tourist.

Harry C. Stutz, 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 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 390.6 cu in engine rated at 40 horsepower, but the car was underpowered. By 1908, the engine was enlarged to 476.0 cu in producing 50 hp. 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.

The American Plant still stands on South Meridian St and in 2022 the Owner  purchased an American Underslung to display there.  We will keep you updated on this exciting development.