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The American Bantam was manufactured by the American Bantam Company in Butler, PA. Only 322 Station Wagons were produced, this is one of 21 known survivors.
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).
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.
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.
1939 American Bantam Station Wagon Woodie |
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| Year | 1939 |
| Make | American Bantam |
| Model | Station Wagon Woodie |
| Engine Location | Front |
| Drive Type | Rear Wheel |
| Price | $581.95 |
| Weight | 1200 lbs | 544.3 kg |
| Combined MPG | 0.00 |
| Engine | |
| Engine Configuration | I |
| Flat Head | |
| Cylinders | 4 |
| Aspiration/Induction | Normal |
| Displacement | 50.10 CU IN. | 821.1 cc. | 0.8 L. |
| Horsepower | 20.00 HP (14.7 KW) @ 3800.00 RPM |
| HP to Weight Ratio | 60.0 LB / HP (Vehicles with similar ratio) |
| HP / Liter | 25.0 BHP / Liter |
| Vehicles with similar horsepower and weight | |
| Standard Transmission | |
| Gears | 3 |
| Transmission | Manual |
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Automobile information, history, and statistics from concept to production. | © 1998-2008 Conceptcarz.com
Automobile information, history, and statistics from concept to production. | © 1998-2008 Conceptcarz.com