1930 American Austin Bantam

Model: Bantam

Body Style: Roadster

Engine: Inline four cylinder with L-head arrangement. 15 hp, 45.6 Cubic Inch Displacement

Transmission: Three speed manual

Chassis: Steel construction

Wheelbase: 75”

Wheels: Steel Discs

Tires: 4.0 by 18”

Body Construction: Steel

Exterior Color: Brown

Interior Color: Brown

Mistakenly called the Austin Bantam by many automotive authorities, the small vehicles built in Butler, Pennsylvania during the 1930s were actually called the American Austin. Introduced in late 1929, just before the start of the Great Depression, the new and economical little four cylinder automobile seemed like a great idea as America began to enter the Great Depression. The first American Austin Bantam’s built in early 1930 were actually assembled on British Austin 7 chassis and measured sixteen inches narrower and twenty eight inches shorter than any other vehicle built in America. The automobile was designed in the hopes of creating a market for small-car enthusiasts in the United States. The Bantams had 747 cc four-cylinder engines and looked something like small Chevrolets with Stutz and Marmon-style horizontal hood louvres. The bodies were designed by noted designer Alexis de Sakhnoffsky (the man responsible for the 1933 Packard) and were built by the Hayes Body Company of Detroit. They were named the Bantam after the small fast rooster and carried a sculpted version of a Bantam rooster in flight as their mascot.

The American Austin Bantam coupe was billed as a sedan, and sold for $445, slightly less than a Ford V8 roadster -which was probably its biggest problem. It guaranteed forty miles on a gallon of gas and a top speed of forty miles per hour. The cute vehicle found itself used by many noted Hollywood celebrities including Al Jolson, Buster Keaton and the characters from Our Gang. Unfortunately, being used by comics made the car somewhat of a joke and less than 10,000 vehicles were produced.

The automobile was designed in the hopes of creating a market for small-car enthusiasts in the United States. The cars had 747 cc four-cylinder engines and looked something like small Chevrolets with Stutz and Marmon-style horizontal hood louvres. The coupe was billed as a sedan, and sold for $445, slightly less than a Ford V8 roadster. The Great Depression made the cheaper secondhand cars more appealing, so sales dropped off.