American Austin

The American Austin may have been conceived on British soil but was born a true Yank. Sir Herbert Austin introduced his tiny English Austin Seven in 1922. The American Austin Car Company was organized in 1929 to manufacture the American version of the Austin Seven in Butler, Pennsylvania. Expectations were high but sales were low. Sadly, American Austin filed for bankruptcy in June 1934 after building 20,000 vehicles. 

The American Austin was designed in America for the American market. No parts are interchangeable with its English predecessor; however, we welcome the English Austin’s in our club.

American Austin Specifications:
Production Years 1930-1934
Wheelbase: 75 inches
Payload: 500 pounds
Engine: 14 horsepower, 4 cylinder

Designer: Count Alexis deSakhnoffsky

Body Styles and Production Years:
5-Window Coupe, 1930-1934
3-Window Business Coupe, 1931
Cabriolet, 1932
Four Seater, long wheelbase, 1932
Panel Truck, 1931-1934
Pickup Truck, 1931-1934
Roadster, 1930-1934
Roadster Pickup, 1932-1933
Suburban, 1933
Van, 1932-1933

Bantam

Roy Evans reorganized American Austin and launched a new line of economy cars for 1938.  The American Bantam Car Company of Butler, Pennsylvania introduced a new streamlined exterior using the same basic body shell and added a more powerful engine. Sales were dismal. Bantam ended their civilian production in June 1940 after approximately 6,700 vehicles were manufactured. Of historical significance, the American Bantam Car Company was the first manufacturer to deliver a prototype jeep to the Army in September 1940. They went on to manufacture 2,675 Bantam Reconnaissance Cars (BRCs) until they lost the government contract in 1941. They survived by producing utility trailers, semi trailers, farm equipment and other ventures until the assets were sold to ARMCO in 1956. 

American Bantam Civilian Vehicle Specifications:
Production Years: 1938-1940
Wheelbase: 75 inches
Payload: 500 pounds
Engines: 1938 to 1940, 20 hp., 4 cyl.; 1940, 22 hp., 4 cyl.
Designers: Count Alexis deSakhnoffsky, Alex Tremulis, Roy Evans

Body Styles and Production Years:
5-Window Coupe, 1938-1940
5-Window Business Coupe, 1938
Boulevard Delivery, 1938-1939
Club Roadster, 1939
Convertible Coupe & Hollywood, 1940
Convertible Sedan & Riviera, 1940
Panel Truck, 1938-1940
Pickup Truck, 1938-1940
Roadster, 1938-1940
Speedster, 1938-1940
Station Wagon, 1938-1940
Sun-Air Roof Coupe, 1938
Utility Wagon (steel bodied), 1938
Utility Camping Trailer, 1938
Utility Military/Civilian trailer, 1942-1948

Bantam BRC-60 (round nosed) 1940-1941
Bantam BRC-40 (flat nosed) 1941
Wheelbase: 85 inches
Payload: 500 pounds
Engine: 40 hp., 4 cyl. by Continental