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1939 American Bantam Station Wagon Woodie news, pictures, and information
 |  | View more photos Coachwork: Mifflenburg Body Company |
It is the world's smallest 'woodie', only 10 feet in length and weighs 1,200 lbs. The body wood consists entirely of Pennsylvania maple and was hand crafted by the Mifflenburg Body Company, in Mufflenburg, PA. The FOB pricing from the plant was 4581.95 in 1939. The car is powered by a Bantam 20 horsepower four-cylinder flathead engine and a three-speed transmission. The car employs mechanical brakes, thermo-syphon cooling and gravity gas flow (no fuel pump).
The American Austin Car Company was incorporated in Delaware in 1929 and headquartered in Butler, Pennsylvania just outside of Pittsburgh, PA. The company built small automobiles based on the Austin Seven of the Austin Motor Company of Birmingham, England. These automobiles were fuel-efficient, cost effective, and mechanically uncomplicated.
The Ford Motor Company had created an empire by offering vehicles that were inexpensive and practical. The American Austin Car Company was poised to take that business model a step further with their miniature cars. Most were given 45.6 cubic-inch four-cylinder engines that produced about 15 horsepower. The transverse leaf springs in the front and semi-elliptic rear leaf springs provided a suitably comfortably ride. The four-wheel mechanical brakes were adequate, as was the three-speed manual gearbox. With an estimated 40 mpg, low sticker price, and the onset of the Great Depression, the future of the company appeared to be blissful. Unfortunately, this was not the case and the company slipped into receivership in 1932, after just 10,000 examples had been produced. By 1934 they were out of business completely. In 1937 the company was revived and named American Bantam. The company stayed in business until 1941 before production ceased completely.
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The Ford Motor Company had created an empire by offering vehicles that were inexpensive and practical. The American Austin Car Company was poised to take that business model a step further with their miniature cars. Most were given 45.6 cubic-inch four-cylinder engines that produced about 15 horsepower. The transverse leaf springs in the front and semi-elliptic rear leaf springs provided a suitably comfortably ride. The four-wheel mechanical brakes were adequate, as was the three-speed manual gearbox. With an estimated 40 mpg, low sticker price, and the onset of the Great Depression, the future of the company appeared to be blissful. Unfortunately, this was not the case and the company slipped into receivership in 1932, after just 10,000 examples had been produced. By 1934 they were out of business completely. In 1937 the company was revived and named American Bantam. The company stayed in business until 1941 before production ceased completely.
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Automobile information, history, and specifications from concept to production. | © 1998-2009 Conceptcarz.com
subscribe - RSSAutomobile information, history, and specifications from concept to production. | © 1998-2009 Conceptcarz.com