Last updated on November 1, 2024
Today’s car is a 1938 Bantam Roadster owned by Richard Tupper that I photographed at Caffeine Cruisers Cars and Coffee located at Westgate Shopping Mall in Torrance, CA. The car is finished in a two tone paint combination of Burnt Orange and 1955 Chevy India Ivory with a warm brown leather interior. It is powered 1991 Nissan, 2.0 L with automatic transmission. Slowing this baby down are disc brakes in all 4-corners. The front independent suspension is a Heidts with coil overs. The rear suspension is a live rear axle with quarter-elliptical leaf springs.
The Bantams were produced from 1938 – 1940 with a total of 6,513 produced in 11 different body styles before production ceased that was caused by World War II. There were 1,842 units built in 1938 of which only 512 were roadsters. The MSRP was $449.00. The published top speed of 50 MPH. They were considered minimalistic yet useful cars.
The American Bantam Car Company was created in 1936 by Roy Evans, a former salesman for the American Austin Car Company, which filed for bankruptcy in 1934. Evans bought the American Austin Car Company’s assets for $5,000, when they were valued at $10 million. Evans founded the American Austin Car Company in 1929 in Butler, Pennsylvania, with the goal of creating a market for small-car enthusiasts in the United States. The company was later renamed to the American Bantam and produced vehicles licensed from the British Austin Motor Company. Evans made several changes to the American Austin design, that including a new front grille, fenders, and rear fenders that were designed by Alexis de Sakhnoffsky. The engine was redesigned with a new aluminum induction system and cylinder head.
The American Bantam Car Company was the first manufacturer to deliver a prototype jeep to the Army in September 1940. They went on to manufacture 2,675 Bantam vehicles but, could not meet the Army’s production demands of 75 vehicles per day. They lost the contract in 1941 to Willys and Ford. The Army gave Willys and Ford the Bantam’s blueprints and they produced 600,000 Jeeps for World War II, Willys – 363,000 and Ford 280,000.
When Rodger Rabbit left this Bantam at Richard’s shop it gave him full rein and a blank canvas to do what he wanted. As the car looks stock, but you know it is not! Why, because the Tupper family built it. You can’t help, but smile when you see this cartoonish looking car. While this car is not the exception when it comes to smiles, Bantams have been reported to have more smiles per mile than any other production car. This is a great car to take to orphan and local car shows, Cars and Coffee events and just to drive and enjoy the smiles. Thank you for riding along, Frank
As an interesting side note: The 1938 American Bantam’s roadster is said to have inspired Donald Duck’s car, which first appeared in the 1939 cartoon Don Donald (1937). Click the link below!