One of the more endearing aspects of the automobile market in the thirties was the incredible number of choices available to consumers.  There were still several independent manufacturers scraping by.  They did so by exploiting niches in the market that the behemoths of the industry ignored.  This 1938 American Bantam Model 60 roadster for sale on eBay in Fort Lauderdale, Florida is a great example.  Tracing its roots back to the British Austin, then the American Austin, the American Bantam was dwarfed by its competition but offered buyers great fuel mileage, unmatched maneuverability, and styling by Count Alexis de Sakhnoffsky.  This small but stunning example is being offered at a sale price of $24,995.  Does this rare roadster appeal to your inner child, or is it a tiny art deco masterpiece worth investing in?  Thanks to Driven by Faith Restorations for the recommendation!

It all started with the Austin 7, which was an economy car built in England.  They tax cars based on horsepower, and an economy car is smaller in every dimension to save weight.  Sir Herbert Austin’s design, known as the Austin 7, was small even by European standards.  The original version of the car was 3/4 the size of a Model T Ford and weighed half as much.  Yet it was a runaway hit in England and it wasn’t long before Sir Herbert Austin was on a ship headed to the United States with a plan to license the design to an American manufacturer.  The plan came to fruition in Butler, Pennsylvania with the establishment of the American Austin Car Company.  An updated body was designed by Count Alexis de Sakhnoffsky and production started just before the Great Depression upended financial markets.  Initial sales were brisk until the bottom fell out of the automobile market and the company limped on in fits and starts until it ultimately filed for bankruptcy and was liquidated in 1935.

The story didn’t end there.  A group of investors purchased the assets of the American Austin Car Company, added $500 in cold, hard cash to the venture, and set out to produce these small cars again under the name American Bantam Car Company.  Sakhnoffsky was again called upon to work his magic with the design.  Given the limited budget, he was able to redesign the grille, front fenders, and rear fenders to update the styling.  Work was also done to bump the engine’s output from 10 to 20 horsepower.  From the phoenix-like rebirth of the company to the onset of World War II, around 6,000 American Bantams came off the assembly line.  Towards the end, the company became distracted with a project that eventually became the first Jeep.

Decades after the last American Bantam was sold, these handsome cars are considered one of the premier designs of the prewar period.  The ad on eBay tells us precious little about this surviving Lilliputian roadster.  Exotic Car Trader’s website has more pictures and a better description.  Reading between the lines, this older restoration has been consigned to the company and is one of many in their showroom.  The yellow and black two-tone paint job still looks remarkably good and brings out the Bantam’s attractive streamlined design.  Inside, the red leather interior has just enough room for two chummy people.  The car comes with a foldable set of top irons and a tan canvas top that snaps into place over that framework.  Given that there are no side windows, we have to assume that the car will come with a set of side curtains as well.  All of the parts and pieces seem to be there including a distinctive set of fender skirts.  The ad states that it has just 3,100 miles on the odometer.  These were likely put on it after the restoration rather than the true overall mileage.

If you think that a small car should have a small price, then you would be wrong in the case of this American Bantam.  Bantams punch far outside their weight range when it comes to valuation.  The styling combined with the car’s uniqueness tends to bring big numbers when good examples come up for sale.  The $24,995 price is certainly in the ballpark of the value of the car.  Hopefully, this one will find a good home with someone who will drive and enjoy it.  They are a neat vehicle to see in person and they still draw a crowd at shows.

What would you do with this American Bantam if it were yours?  Drive it?  Show it?  Park it in your living room?  Please share your thoughts in the comments.