Vehicle Description
In the first decade of the twentieth century, Detroit, Michigan was
awash with pioneering automobile manufacturers. Hundreds of
different companies tried their hand at the building automobiles,
with wildly varying levels of success. Some did not make it past
the first few cars, others did not make it past the first year and
fewer still made it past World War I. The Regal Automobile Company
opened its doors in 1908 and had shown early promise by building
quality, mid-sized, conventional cars. In an effort to promote
their reliability, a 1909 Regal 30 HP crossed the US continent
multiple times, racking up 22,000 miles and attracting plenty of
attention in the process. In 1911, Regal made a dramatic change
with the introduction of the Model N. The Model N featured a
stylish "underslung" chassis, giving a low and rakish look, coupled
with a two-seat raceabout-style body. With its stylish looks and
reliable 4-cylinder engine, the Regal Model N was seen as a "baby
Mercer" - a car that cost at least twice that of the Regal. In
response to the success of the highly regarded Model N, Regal
increased their Underslung offerings the following year to include
several models.� Regal was not the only manufacturer to offer an
underslung design, but the most significant other than the American
Underslung built in Indianapolis, Indiana.� During the years of
production, Regal also built automobiles with conventional frames.�
All Regals produced between 1910-1914 were powered by four-cylinder
engines producing 20 to 40 hp.� The Regal Automobile Company could
not withstand rapidly inflating material costs related to World War
I, and in 1918 was placed in receivership. �Underslung' described
the chassis design, where the axles were suspended above the
frame.� This placement resulted in a lower ride height that
presumed to reduce the dangers of skidding or �turning turtle', as
early motorists feared.� "Underslung construction means �safety'",
declared advertising for the Regal Underslung Touring Car. "Here
(are) all the advantages of the costly Underslung construction
within a reasonable purchase car."� Therein was the unique appeal
of the Regal Underslung.� The Regal Underslung was offered in
choices of three body styles, including a smaller Roadster and a
fully enclosed Colonial Coupe in addition to the Touring Car.� In
1914 the five-passenger Touring Car was referred to as the Model T
with 25 hp, or the Model C with 35 hp.� Production of Regal
automobiles for 1914 reached 8,136, the highest in the eleven-year
history of the marque save for 1915, before ending in 1918 as a
result of material shortages owing to WWI.� Very few Regal
Underslungs are known to survive today.� Some of those have been
referred to as �the only surviving' examples, but that is simply
not the case. This 1914 Regal Underslung Twenty-Five Touring Car is
a wonderful older restoration, very attractively finished in light
grey with black fenders.� Red coach lines provide distinctive
accents to both the body and the fenders.� Restrained brass
finished accents on the car include the radiator shell, headlight
rims and hub caps, as well as the step plates on the running
boards. The Artillery-style wheels feature gorgeous natural
finished wood centers with black demountable rims and period
correct tires. The black leatherette top attaches at the front to
the folding windshield frame in a way that allows for the upper
portion of the windshield to be folded even when the top is in
place.� The interior is also black with a button tufted pattern and
a high mounted left-hand steering wheel finished with a brass
center and wood rim.� Wood trim surrounds the upper edges of the
body, with a single spare mounted at the rear.� The four-cylinder
engine is nicely detailed, showing both use and care as to be
expected from an older restoration that has been driven and
enjoyed. With its manageable scale and the lower profile resulting
from the underslung chassis, this car will make a distinctive
impression wherever it appears with plenty of stories to tell about
the manufacturer and the underslung construction.� This is a very
rare opportunity to acquire an unusual, fascinating underslung
Brass Era automobile that is gorgeous from top to bottom and that
will be welcome at car shows, or enjoyed simply for driving around
town.
