American Underslung Model 644

The low, sporty silhouette of this car is thanks to the so called underslung technique, in which the axles are mounted above the chassis.

This results in a lower center of gravity and therefore better road holding. Ground clearance is nevertheless sufficient because larger wheels have been fitted. This construction, plus the 60 hp Teetor-Hartley engine that is coupled to a four speed gearbox, enables this American Underslung to deliver impressive performance. Elsewhere in the museum there is a car that uses the same chassis construction, the Regal from 1912. The American Underslung marque, based in Indianapolis, is one of the most prestigious American manufacturers of sporty cars in the period before the First World War. The marque existed from 1908 to 1914. As far as is known, only three examples of this 644 model still survive.