SOLD: 1940 Bantam Speedster on Hemmings Auctions 10/2022

SOLD:
Famously derived from the Austin Seven of Great Britain, the American Bantam was produced in Butler, Pennsylvania through 1940, when the plant was converted to begin work building the tiny car’s spiritual successor, the original Jeep. This 1940 American Bantam Convertible Coupe, offered for sale at no reserve, is one of those final production cars. The seller reports this Bantam was restored in the 1990's, and is reported to have been purchased from the collection of The Ragtop Museum in Florida and, according to the seller, “rarely driven” since then.
POWERTRAIN
The seller does not know whether the 46-cu.in., 22-horsepower engine in this Bantam is original to the car, or whether it has a rebuild history. The engine is reported to start from cold, with no smoke, when the accelerator is pumped. The seller says the three-speed manual transmission “shifts fine without any issues,” and he is unaware of any powertrain leaks. The engine bay presents as stock and largely clean.
EXTERIOR
The maroon, tan, and black paint is “satisfactory,” per the seller, who notes minor scrapes and scratches. The Bantam will be sold with a removable soft top. The seller states that there is “no known rust” on the car. The Bantam’s bodywork shows no obvious signs of damage, and the chrome appears to be in good condition. The windshield is reported to be in “fine” shape. All lights are described as functioning properly. The underside appears to be clean, with minimal surface corrosion.
INTERIOR
The red vinyl seating areas are reported to be in good condition, with no visible damage. The seller says the carpeting is in “good” condition. The dashboard shows no damage and is reported by the seller to have full trim and small controls. The seller says all instruments function properly, except for an inoperative fuel gauge. There is no heater or audio system. The seller reported that he changed the position of the gas and brake pedals to accommodate his six-foot frame and difficulty in operating the pedals. By heightening the brake pedal and shifting the gas pedal right, he claims it fixed the problem.
CHASSIS
The chassis and suspension were reportedly last serviced in May 2022 and are said to be in good shape. The seller reports “no issues” with the manual drum brakes, which are said to be incapable of locking the Bantam’s wheels. The age of the BFGoodrich Silvertown whitewall tires is unknown.
CHASSIS
The chassis and suspension were reportedly last serviced in May 2022 and are said to be in good shape. The seller reports “no issues” with the manual drum brakes, which are said to be incapable of locking the Bantam’s wheels. The age of the BFGoodrich Silvertown whitewall tires is unknown.
For additional information please phone Dave Henry at 805 705-4924.