Autoweek has a nice story on the American Underslung, a car that's always fascinated me because of its name and because, in photos, it appears to be noticeably lower than other cars from the same era. This article explains the Underslung as an engineering concept that "placed the frame rails under the front and rear axles to move the mass of the engine and transmission closer to the ground and lower the center of gravity. The engine and body were mounted within the frame rails rather than on top." Unfortunately it took decades for other automobile engineers to appreciate the advantages of lowering a car's center of gravity.

The American Underslung didn't last long (1907 to 1914), probably because it was marketed as a luxury car, which placed it against some exotic machinery. During those years it offered four-cylinder engines of up to 571 cid., a six-cylinder engine, roadster and touring bodies, and prices that would be approximately $82,000 today. Not what you want when promoting an advanced chassis to an unsophisticated market.

In this article Autoweek features an 1914 American Under-slung Model 644, owned by George Dragone of Bridgeport, Connecticut, a four-passenger touring car built on a 134-inch wheelbase. This car was purchased, says Autoweek, "from the original owner by eminent collector Bill Harrah in the 1950s and restored in his shops in 1964-65. Following Harrah's death in 1978, his friend Ross Erickson acquired the car at auction. Dragone bought the car from Erickson's estate in 2005. The car is one of only three surviving Model 644 tourers with a six-cylinder engine." The article includes interesting driving impressions by author Leigh Dorrington.