Metropol Model C

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Metropolitan
Metropol Model C "Gentleman's Roadster"
Metropol Model C "Gentleman's Roadster"
C, D, E
Production period: 1913-1914
Class : Sports car
Body versions : Roadster , touring car
Engines: Otto engine :
7.3 liters (67 kW)
Length:
Width:
Height:
Wheelbase : 2921 mm
Empty weight : 1135 kg
Previous model Only Model A (1912)

The Metropol Model C and its variants D and E from 1913–1914 were sporty, American passenger cars. The manufacturer was Metropol Motors Corporation in Port Jefferson , Suffolk County , New York .

prehistory

The Metropolitan Motors Corporation was either the successor of illiquid become Only Motor Car Company or, more likely, a new company by the same businessmen who already for Only Motor Car Company were responsible. This was set up in 1909 to produce a very sporty passenger car with an unusual single-cylinder engine, the Only Model A . In 1912 a successor of the same name with a very large four-cylinder engine was presented. Open two- and four-seaters were available. After a short production time and probably against the background of an imminent bankruptcy , the management decided to manufacture this automobile in a new company and with a new brand name. The Only Motor Car Company actually had to close in the spring of 1913.

Metropolitan

The new Metropolitan was initially only as a roadster model C offered. This was the minimally revised Only from 1912. The changes concerned a 3 inch (7.6 cm) longer chassis, a refreshed body and slightly larger wheels. The price rose from $ 1,000 to $ 1,475, which was still a very affordable offer given the performance. Even so, the Metropol did not sell well.

For 1914, two new versions were added to the roadster: Model D was a touring with 5 seats and Model E was a racing car in the tradition of the Mercer or Stutz Bearcat . The prices were 1650 dollars respectively. 2250 dollars. There are two prices for the 1914 Model C : $ 1,475 as last year

In April 1914, Metropol Motors Corporation also had to file for bankruptcy.

technology

The literature shows that the four-cylinder models from Only and Metropol were very similar. The sources are somewhat better for Metropol . Where the sources do not provide any other specifications, the technical data were used accordingly for both series. The designer of all Only and Metropol vehicles was François Maurice Richard , who then also realized the RiChard and the La Marne .

Metropol named an output of 90 bhp (67 kW) and a consumption of 25 MPG (approx. 9.4 liters / 100 km). A maximum speed of 75 MPH (120 km / h) was guaranteed . At the time, these were impressive values ​​that, in conjunction with extremely attractive prices, were suitable to attract sufficient customers. Why this didn't happen is unclear. At the time, performance around 90 bhp was only found in some ultra-luxury vehicles with prices between $ 4,000 and $ 6,000.

engine

The engine was designed as a very large, water-cooled four - cylinder engine . side valves are mentioned by one source, others specify this for the Metropol Model C as a T-head control . At that time, this was a variant of the side control with inlet and outlet valves on opposite sides of the engine block, which was common for high-performance engines. The engine was lubricated by an oil pump and centrifugal lubrication .

The bore was 4 ¼ inches (approx. 108 mm) and the stroke 7 ⅞ inches (200 mm). This resulted in a displacement of 446.9  ci (7323 cm³). The crankshaft had three bearings.

The carburetor was made by himself, probably according to Richard's patent. Other makes seem to have been available upon request. The ignition system is known to have two systems. Usually it was a battery and a magneto because the early batteries were notoriously unreliable. The systems were operated independently of each other, in contrast to the double ignition with two spark plugs per cylinder.

The long-stroke engine resulted in a very low tax class. This is due to the fact that only the cylinder bore was used for their calculation, but not the stroke. So these data are calculated, not measured. Most sources cite a rating of 30 hp, a single 28.9 hp.

Power transmission

The power was transmitted via a conventional three-speed manual transmission , a cone clutch and probably drive chains ; this is indicated by at least a box on the running board in front of the rear fender. There is no concrete information, but that was also the power transmission that was common at the time for vehicles with such high performance. The more modern cardan shaft with power transmission to a differential on the rear axle was already known, but was initially only suitable for light vehicles.

Chassis and suspension

As far as can be seen, the Metropol had a conventional ladder frame . The wheelbase is given as 115 inches (2921 mm). It was not unusual back then that the vehicle was designed as a right-hand drive. It had rigid axles in front and behind. The photos clearly show that the front axle was suspended from semi - elliptic leaf springs. The rear axle was also supported by such semi-elliptical springs; it is described as full floating . Accordingly, it is designed in such a way that its half-waves are relieved of transverse forces. The outer shaft end is in the wheel hub .

Contemporary photos show wooden artillery wheels with twelve spokes each. The plan was for tires measuring 33 × 4 inches.

No information is available on the braking system. Usually either the foot brake acted on the brake drums on the rear axle and the handbrake acted on another drum on the gearbox or the cardan shaft. Modern designs had inner-shoe brake drums, which were operated with the foot brake pedal, and outer-shoe brakes, which were acted upon with the handbrake.

Bodies

Only the Model C Roadster has an illustration. The photo shows a Speedster body with a high bonnet, the only typical radiator grille in the form of a portal and rounded rear end. Doors were not provided. It can be assumed that a bracket for carrying spare wheel rims was attached to the rear. The Touring was designed as a five-seater.

Model overview

model construction time engine Cubic capacity
ci / cm³ 		Power
bhp / kW 		Wheelbase
mm / in 		body Price in
US dollars
Model C
30 HP 		1913 4 row; T-head
only 		446.9 / 7323 90/67 115/2921 Roadster 2 pl. 1475.-
Model C
30 HP 		1914 4 row; T-head
only 		446.9 / 7323 90/67 115/2921 Roadster 2 pl. 1475.-
1350.-
Model D
30 HP 		1914 4 row; T-head
only 		446.9 / 7323 90/67 115/2921 Touring 5 pl. 1650.-
Model E
30 HP 		1914 4 row; T-head
only 		446.9 / 7323 90/67 115/2921 Racer 2 pl. 2250.-

Remarks

  1. ↑ This advice goes back to the ALAM ( Association of Licensed Automobile Manufacturers ), which was the first to introduce standards in the USA. The power is calculated: cylinder bore ² × number of cylinders; the result is divided by 2.5. The formula initially applied to one, two, four and six-cylinder engines and was expanded to include eight and twelve-cylinder engines from around 1912 by the successor organization NACC ( National Automobile Chamber of Commerce ). The formula is also based on the British tax horsepower at the time. The rating was replaced by the SAE-PS in the 1920s .

literature

  • Beverly Rae Kimes (ed.), Henry Austin Clark Jr.: Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942. 3. Edition. Krause Publications, Iola WI 1996, ISBN 0-87341-428-4 .
  • Robert D. Dluhy: American Automobiles of the Brass Era: Essential Specifications of 4,000+ Gasoline Powered Passenger Cars, 1906-1915, with a Statistical and Historical Overview. Mcfarland & Co Inc. publishers, Jefferson NC, 2013; ISBN 0-78647-136-0 .
  • GN Georgano (Ed.): Complete Encyclopedia of Motorcars, 1885 to the Present. Dutton Press, New York, 2nd edition (hardcover), 1973; ISBN 0-525-08351-0 .
  • Association of Licensed Automobile Manufacturers : Handbook of Gasoline Automobiles / 1904-1905-1906. Introduced by Clarence P. Hornung, Dover Publications, New York, 1969.
  • National Automobile Chamber of Commerce : Handbook of Automobiles 1915–1916. Dover Publications, 1970.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ American Automobiles: The Metropol Automobile & The Metropol Motors Corp.
  2. ↑ a b c d e f g Kimes, Clark: Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942 , 1996, p. 1089 (Only)
  3. ↑ a b American Automobiles: The Only Automobile & The Only Motor Car Co.
  4. ↑ a b c d Kimes, Clark: Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942 , 1996, p. 1090 (Only)
  5. ↑ a b c d e f g Kimes, Clark: Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942 , 1996, p. 966 (Metropol)
  6. ↑ a b c Carfolio: Only Model A technical specifications.
  7. ↑ a b c Carfolio: Metropol Model C technical specifications.
  8. ^ Kimes, Clark: Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942 , 1996, p. 1288 (RiChard)
  9. ^ Kimes, Clark: Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942 , 1996, p. 835 (La Marne)
  10. ↑ a b c d e f g h i Classic Car Database: Standard Specifications 1914 Metropol C Series.
  11. ↑ a b Dluhy: American Automobiles of the Brass Era , 2013, p. 105 (Only)
  12. ↑ a b c Dluhy: American Automobiles of the Brass Era , 2013, p. 98 (Metropol)

Web links

Commons : Metropol Model C  - collection of images, videos and audio files