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Classic Profile: 1909 American Gadabout

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An Edwardian party out for a drive in a 1909 American Gadabout | Photo courtesy of the author
An Edwardian party out for a drive in a 1909 American Gadabout | Photo courtesy of the author

The distinctive cars of the American Motor Car Company (1906–1914) of Indianapolis, Indiana, have gained a bit of notoriety as of late, achieving some of the highest prices paid for an Edwardian-era vehicle at auction.

These sales are all related to the company’s American Underslung models with their advanced low-profile suspensions. But when the company was established, they hired Indianapolis local Harry C. Stutz, who would design a very handsome large-displacement touring car in the prevailing style with a traditional suspension, such as the 1909 American Gadabout shown in this period photo.

Stutz would leave after just a year and started a company under his own name a few years later. Stutz’s replacement at American was Fred Tone, who is credited with designing the Underslung chassis.

The Underslung models were introduced in 1907/08 and were built as a Roadster, Traveler (four-passenger with no doors), and a Touring; each could be had with a 40 or 50 horsepower engine. For a number of years, American offered both the traditional chassis and Underslung chassis models – the Underslung proved so popular that the company eventually dropped the traditional chassis and added the word “Underslung” to its name.

This very interesting picture was found among a stack of original American Motor Car Company factory photos acquired recently. A gentleman named VA Longaker founded the company and this photo shows him in the back seat. The car shown here is a 1909 Gadabout – a derivative of that original Stutz design (not an Underslung). I don’t believe any of this model survive today.

The other interesting feature of this photo is the driver – none other than Fred Tone himself. When this shot was taken, the Underslung model was already in production, although it seems that Mr. Longaker wished to be driven in the Gadabout on this day. The four-cylinder, 50/60 horsepower American Gadabout Touring retailed for an exclusive $3,750 at the time.

Steve Evans
Steve Evanshttp://vintagemotoring.blogspot.com/
Steve Evans is a second-generation car guy whose passion for collector cars spans all eras. A Phoenix resident, Steve served as director of the Arizona Concours d'Elegance and is the editor of a vintage motoring blog. A collector of all things automotive, Steve's current object of interest is a Bentley MkVI James Young Coupe.

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