History First X Frames

First off, I am new here. Second, I have always had a fascination for automobiles that used the X Frame configuration and done some research on the matter so decided after finding this thread on a search, to join the group and revise the topic.

I am not sure about the 1922 Auburn claim of having the first X Frame. I believe this was a misprint possibly taken from the "Popular Mechanics" magazine issue of October 1985 (page 59) which stated that. But having seen a frame for the 1922 Auburn Beauty Six, it does not have an X.

The 1929 Cord L-29 did in fact have an X member and is cited by the company as being a "first" patented (Patent # 1,841,510) and designed by Cornelius W. Van Ranst. The reasoning has been cited here but also because this was a front wheel drive car and had no driveshaft to interfere with the X member. That reasoning in itself refutes the 1922 claim. Remember, the Auburn Motor Company included Cord and Dusenberg.

The 1931 Auburn 8-98A also known as the Speedster Boattail was the first "rear wheel" drive car to have an X-Frame - again the Auburn banner.

Fast forward to 1957 and we have a change in design known as the Tubular Center X Frame (also called the cruciform) by General Motors initially designed exclusively for the 1957 Cadillac Brougham by a staff engineer named Fred H. Cowin, who by the way is still living! It was quickly adopted by the regular line of 1957 Cadillacs as well and went on to the 1958-1964 Chevrolets, 1957-1964 Cadillac, and other variant forms on GM cars last being used on the 1970 Buick Riviera.

The last United States production vehicle to use the X Frame is the 1982 Checker Marathon A-11. Some will argue that this is a commercial vehicle which it usually was but the general public could purchase them as well.

As recent as January 2010, a patent was issued to Honda Motor Cars for a frame that incorporates the old fashioned X member seen from the 1930s-1950s to use on a SUV and possibly other vehicles. (Patent # 7,641,236 B2)

Now I have a general question, why did US vehicles adopt the X frame starting in 1932 on regular production cars? I am suspecting the larger engines and steel bodies causing more torque but could be wrong? I know Chevrolet stayed away from it for years and only had X Frames for 2 relatively short periods except for convertible models.

Thanks!
Eric S. Huffstutler
Richmond, VA
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I'm guessing it was a relatively easy way to minimize diagonal frame rail shift in the horizontal plane. "diamonding", if you will.

Cool info though. I like to gawk at an old '35 Ford truck frame I have, the x-member has those cool belled lightening holes and all....

 

To me Ford had an unusual style frame in the 1930s - looked more like 2 curved bows bridged in the middle rather than 4 straight I-Beams welded with caps at their junction center point. I sometimes second guess that these early Ford frames are true X types but Ford themselves only mentions it in what seems like their training literature.

Eric