1939 American Bantam Model 60 Deluxe Roadster

Even after the tiny car market failed in 1934, the creator of the American Austin, Roy Evans, refused to give up. By 1937, a revised and modernized version appeared, dubbed the American Bantam. Power was from a 50 cubic-inch, four-cylinder engine. The engine was given some fine-tuning by famed racing engineer Harry Miller, while Count Alexis de Sakhnoffsky skillfully updated the Bantam line with an up-to-date, streamlined design. For his service, Saknoffsky was paid the sum of $300.

The Bantam, like the Austin, was small and economical. Unfortunately, these were not qualities that impressed buyers of the late 1930s. Fewer than 7,000 were produced before production ended for good in in 1941. In the company's final months of operation, they developed a small prototype military vehicle, with mass-production of which being handled by Ford. It would come to be known as the Jeep.

This Model 62 Deluxe Roadster was given a high-quality restoration and finished in blue and cream. Inside, there is brown leather upholstery and a wood-grained dashboard. The Deluxe trim includes chrome trim strips on the radiator shell, wheel trim rings, and a two-tone 'sweep panel' finish.

The L-head four-cylinder engine displays 50 cubic-inches and offers 23 horsepower. The car has a three-speed manual transmission and four-wheel mechanical brakes.

By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2013