American Bantam of Butler, Pennsylvania most often enters discussion as the company that designed what became the original World War II Army Jeep, however Bantam began with a vision to build small English-style cars in America to serve an untapped market for simple, fuel-efficient but stylish transportation. The 1939 American Bantam Series 63 Roadster, like this weathered example, may be the most interesting of those Austin-based vehicles. This specimen awaits its second life in Suffern, New York and is listed here on eBay with no takers on the opening bid of $5,400.
While this example has seen better days, don’t count it out quite yet. American Bantams have a rabid following among those who appreciate a market segment often overlooked. In the past as in the present, not all buyers believe bigger is better. Sadly, American Bantam’s dream never caught hold and they produced fewer than 7000, mostly before the second World War. Bantam ceased producing vehicles entirely in 1956. (Some details from Wikipedia.)
There’s not much of an interior here, but the sale includes floor pans, other patch panels, and some parts to assist the restoration. Still, the buyer will have his or her hands full. The 23 horsepower 50 cid four cylinder is AWOL, and I’m pretty sure this is one car that should not have a Chevy 350 engine dropped into it, though I’m sure that would be possible with an adequate disregard for history and some ingenuity.
Looking more like an old bumper car than a functioning vehicle, this little Bantam will need nearly everything before it looks like this restored Model 62. I’m certain my late Grandmother would say the finished example was “Cute as a button!” If that one sold in 2013 under $30,000, talking this one off the ledge will be more of a Labor of Love than an alternative to your 401k. What do you think of this pint-sized project car?
Fun novelty car……..Where are the Shriners?
Shriner reporting. I would Street Rod this with either a inline 4 or a V6. It looks like it would be a fun project and affordable.
Hmmmmm…no bids, but the price has risen to $6500.
Lots of missing bits, what appears to be a fair amount of rot. The seller seems to be into Bantams, which makes me wonder if he’s taken the good pieces to add to his inventory.
If a very good — but, at least to me, not quite “perfect” — Bantam sells for around $25K, and this one goes for $6500, I’d say the next owner is going to be underwater quickly. I don’t see a full resto in the cards for this one.
Too much work I don’t have the skills to take on. A shame; Bantams are neat little cars.
Hi RayT,
I am the seller of this gem, the previous owner was into Bantams in the late 40’s and 50’s. He took a bunch of pieces from this to keep his favorite car going. I am into Bantams and run the website http://www.trustinrust.com / http://www.everythingbantam.com. I have sourced a lot of parts for this car which were missing or destroyed when I got it. I’m actually hoping to look for a few additional parts for it this weekend.
I would love to see this car restored to its original glory. With full restorations selling at proper auctions for between $35k and $90k, it is very unclear what the true value for a restored Bantam is. However, as with most restorations, they are a labor of love; sometimes you make money and other times you make a lot of great memories.
Sadly, I don’t have the time to devote to this project. I’m holding out for someone who wants to give this car the future it deserves.
Also, thank you Barnfinds for noticing my car. I just saw this post linked on facebook and was shocked to find my own car. I enjoyed reading your write up.
You are pretty sure that this should not have a Chevy 350 dropped in it……
I agree! Most of these that I have had contact with were powered by
supercharged, big block Chevs and fuel burning 392 Chrysler hemis!!
Of course the bodies were Fiberglass on tube chassis, but that’s just
small details.
So in other words, they weren’t one of these?
They were fiberglass replicas. The original steel bodys were extremely hard to find.
Well, sure. But fiberglass repo body on a tube chassis=not one of these.
I love it, but the opening bid is now $6500. Wow!
The one that sticks firmly in my mind was when I was in high school (about 1950), one of my friends had a little Bantam (one of the very, very, very few with a car) and 2 or 3 or 4 of us would lift it up by the front bumper and hang it on a fire hydrant. Then stand around and watch him beg, when he came out from class, for someone to help him get it off and back on the ground. Someone would finally help him, and we would all laugh and walk off to our bicycles, secretly wishing we had the few hundred bucks to buy a car, too..
Wouldn’t have been a bad car to have at all!
Wouldn’t be out of the cards to mount the body on a more modern chassis but it would need to be bought at a lot lower price to get my attention.
Modern chassis? Anything would be an improvement over Sir Herbert Austin’s original: spindly channel rails arranged in the form of an A, with the engine tucked behind the apex and its transverse leaf spring, and then a quarter-elliptic trailing from each leg at the back. Bantam did improve the engine, with the second generation (this body) getting the center main bearing that the Austins never had. I think these Bantams also had Studebaker gearboxes, which probably held up under the strain okay …
This needs a Mini style suspension, perhaps like the modern competition set ups, with coils in place of the rubber donuts. If A 200 HP Hayabusa fits under a Mini hood, it should fit here. Actually a 103 cu. in. Harley gets about 76 HP to the rear wheel, plenty to get this up to highway speeds.
<> and no “reverse”
My thinking was Chevy S-10 or Ford Ranger.
Something on the frames of these cars: https://trustinrust.com/2017/08/24/sportsman-3-choosing-the-right-foundation/
As cute as this is…….they are really tiny…..Fiat 500 tiny. Any newer chassis would have to be hand built. Not a difficult task these days, but it would take real dedication and a few bucks.
I assume Japanese kei cars are all unibody these days, but I bet something in that class could donate a lot to modernize a Bantam.
I like it a lot. I just think a modern econo 4cyl. Is the way to go. Maybe install a smart drive train. The trunk looks big enough. Talk about fun, the only guy at the hotrod show with a mid engine and 45 mpg.
I believe an Austin powered Bantam just went over 100 on the salt flats. All that with an oddball banger!
Proof positive, people on either coast live in a different world than me. $6,500 for a glorified pedal car on steroids,,,coo-coo,,,coo-coo,,, man, I was born in the wrong place, fo sho.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ELODJQHulug/UCgYO_NWthI/AAAAAAAABSM/PhwqJRFquE8/s400/adhd.jpg
Dreams are priceless :D
As someone whose hometown is Butler, I love seeing theee little cars. My uncle had a couple. You can barely fit two people and the. Shifting was near impossible- watch your knees
As far as this car, I feel they are asking way too much for what the car needs down and in considering what is missing. With so few a cars still around for parts ( most being already restored), it is near impossible to find parts.
Asking Too much money. It is more of a partial parts car.
Mike, It’s great to see someone from butler on here.
The earlier style shifter can be a bit uncomfortable. However, if shifting is awkward, the new owner may wish to switch to a 1940 style shifter handle which had a more graceful bend that cleared the passenger legs quite a bit better.
I would beg to differ with you in regard to the condition of the car and am not really seeing why it is just a partial parts car. Many of the few bits this car needs are easily made, and can be sourced with some patience. While headlights are difficult to find, they can be had. Is it a super easy project? No. Is it something that would be rewarding restoration project? Absolutely.