The American Bantam Car Company was a US automobile manufacturing company incorporated in Pennsylvania. The company was founded by Roy Evans and William A. Ward Jr. who purchased the assets of the bankrupt American Austin Car Company in 1935. The company produced vehicles based on American Austin tooling and operated under Evans Operations Inc. until it was incorporated as American Bantam Car Company in June 1936. The company launched a public fundraising campaign and redesigned their entire vehicle line to launch a refreshed selection of American Bantam roadsters and delivery vans in 1937. In 1940, American Bantam is credited with the invention of the original Jeep. The company continued to manufacture vehicles until 1943 when it focused on weapons production during World War II, including torpedo engines, aircraft controls and parts, torpedo tail gearing, amphibious trailers and cargo trailers.
History
The American Bantam Car Company was founded in 1936 in Pennsylvania by Roy Evans and his co-founders, who purchased the assets of the bankrupt American Austin Car Company. The company produced vehicles based on the American Austin tooling, and in 1937, they hired Count Alexis de Sakhnoffsky to design a new line of bodies using the existing tooling. The new design included a completely new front grille, front fenders, and rear fenders, and the Austin engine was also redesigned with a new aluminum induction system and cylinder head, producing 20 horsepower at 4,000 rpm. Despite a wide range of Bantam body styles, only about 6,000 Bantams of all types were produced. American Bantam ceased production of cars in August 1943 and focused on manufacturing World War II weapons and equipment.
