American Austin (Bantam)

US, 1930 – 1941

(1) American Austin Co Inc, Butler, Pa. 1930 – 1934

(2) American Bantam Car Co, Butler, Pa. 1935 – 1941

This was a license-produced Austin Seven with mirror-image engine. Chevrolet-like styling, and fixed disc wheels with detachable rims, selling in sedan form at $445. Unfortunately Americans have never been keen on sub-compacts, and rumoured orders for 180.000 American Austin cars boiled down to a trickle of sales. The make’s first year was its best, and even then only 8.558 American Austin cars were sold. There were receiverships in 1932 and 1934, and no car at all were produced in 1935 or 1936. In 1937 the American Austin was renamed the Bantam, with styling by Alexis de Sakhnoffski, a new horizontal-barred grille, pressure lubrication, mechanical pump feed, and synchromesh. The 1940 Bantam models had enlarged 800cc engines with 3-bearing crankshafts, and the range now included a four-seater convertible as well as roadsters, tourings, station wagons and light commercials, but few found buyers. In the same year the Bantam company produced the first successful Jeep prototype with 4-cylinder Continental engine for the US Army. Though the big contracts went to Willys and Ford, Bantam not only rescued themselves but abandoned car manufacture for good.

Source: Georgano, encyclopedia of motorcar; MCS

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