- The recipient of an older comprehensive restoration
- A resident of The McMullen Collection for 14 years
- Acquired by the Passport Collection in 2007
- A whimsical little roadster finished in delightful colors
LOT 371
Selling on Saturday
From The Passport Collection
1939 American Bantam Roadster
OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE
Few manufacturers before or since have believed in their product as much as Roy Evans did. The creator of the American Austin refused to give up after the tiny company went bankrupt in 1934 and, by 1937, a revised and modernized version, the American Bantam, was rolling out of the factory in Butler, Pennsylvania. The car's basic 50-cubic-inch, four-cylinder engine was pepped up with the able assistance of famed racing engineer Harry Miller, while Count Alexis de Sakhnoffsky skillfully upgraded the Bantam with an up to date, streamlined design, earning the pricey sum of $300 for his services.
The Bantam, like the Austin before it, was a car ahead of its time. It was small, it was incredibly economical, and it was, for lack of a better word, adorable. Those qualities, which work so well for sales of today's small cars, didn't impress buyers of the late 1930s. Fewer than 7,000 were produced before production ended for good in 1941. Sadly, it was shortly before many Bantam buyers came to appreciate the fuel-sipping little runabouts in the days of rationing ahead. The company's lasting influence was developing a small prototype military vehicle that would come to be known as the Jeep. Today, Bantams have developed quite a following among enthusiasts, as they are supported by an active club and always bring the most "smiles per mile" to any collector car event.
A charming little example, this rare Roadster was formerly owned and restored by a past president of the American Bantam Club in the early '90s, before it was acquired by The McMullen Collection in 1994. Located in Michigan, this Bantam remained in the collection surrounded by significant pre-war classics, mighty muscle cars, and various other vehicles until 2007 when the Passport Collection welcomed it into their own noted collection. It has since remained there and been annually maintained and always stored in a climate-controlled facility.
Though it retains an older restoration, this example still presents quite well and is attractively appointed in a two-tone red and burgundy with a tan interior and matching tan top piped in burgundy. Other features include dual side-mounted cowl lights, dual wind wings, fender skirts, and a mounted spare nestled into the rear. Under the hood lies a stout 50-cubic-inch inline four-cylinder engine that produces 22 horsepower and is backed by a three-speed manual transmission.
Pinned with just two owners in the last 30 years, this whimsical little 1939 Bantam roadster would make a memorable addition to one's collection, weekend cars and coffee, or as a participant at parades and celebrations.
Contact Us
- Phone: +1.260.925.6789
- Toll Free: 800.990.6789
- Email: info@worldwideauctioneers.com
