1914 Regal Model 25 Underslung Touring

The Regal automobile was built from 1907 to 1914 on Piquette Avenue in Detroit, just a short distance from the first Ford Motor Company factory.

The 'underslung' chassis (which means the frame hung below the axles) was only available in 1913-14. The 25 horsepower, four-cylinder engine was of the company's own manufacture. The Underslung terminology refers to the mounting of the springs and frame to the axle. On conventional cars, the springs are mounted on top of the axles. By mounting the springs under the axles the entire frame and body are much lower giving them a sporty appearance. The most well-known and largest number of Underslung cars was the American Underslung produced from 1905 to 1914. Very few other manufacturers produced a tiny number of Underslung models such as Regal, Norwalk, and Voisin. The most significant of these others was the Regal. Regal produced a variety of conventional models from 1908 to 1918. They introduced the Underslung model in 1911 producing it only until 1914. The 1914 Model T Underslung had a 25 horsepower 4-cylinder engine and a 108-inch wheelbase.

In 1914 Regal produced very few Underslung models. It is believed this 1914 Touring is the only one left in existence. The original owner preserved the car at his mansion on Boston Blvd. in Detroit. In 1967, after the Detroit riots, the son moved it to the family farm in Oxford and then later to a new barn in Hadley. There it sat, forgotten until it was purchased in 1995 by the present owners from the son of the original owner. Even though original and unrestored, even to its original leather cone clutch, it rides and drives wonderfully.

This Regal was found a few years ago in a barn in Lapeer, Michigan, where it had been stored for more than 50 years. It has been cleaned and serviced mechanically but otherwise remains unrestored.