Introducing the Sportsman Project! Part 1

When I first began the TrustInRust.com, I was acting on a long held dream of building the best sort of car site possible.  As I can’t stress enough, this is a continual work in progress.  My dream site requires way more money and web-design savvy than I presently have.

My original plan called for video installments and write-ups regarding the restoration and building of particular vehicles.  My initial thought was to buy a complete junker of a Mustang and build every inch of it on camera with a writeup adequate to help people like me rebuild their own car.  In the intervening years, other sites have actually done this; and although I’m a little jealous I wasn’t the first person to execute the idea, my jealousy is outweighed my elation of the fact that this sort of information is finally truly available to the masses.  We live in a time when youtube will teach you how to open a bottle of wine with a shoe, and I believe the same should be available for classic cars.  We still need an online repository to make sure our hunks of ferrous joy can be enjoyed by generations to come.

Today, I’d like to introduce you to the first of the projects which will provide content made for this website, the 1940 Bantam Sportsman.  This is a car that never existed, but it should have.

sketch

1940 Bantam Sportsman Rendering

Far from the economical leanings of the original Bantam and much closer in line with the nonchalant luxury of the Bantam Station Wagon, this car will be the incarnation of something which hadn’t existed before built from the cast off remnants of a 1940 Bantam and other long forgotten bits.  Don’t worry, no nice or restorable cars will be harmed in the pursuit of this dream.  Stay tuned for part 2, the history of the Bantam Convertible Coupe.

A few Bantam Odds and Ends

As always, it’s been hectic; but a few items popped up on eBay and I’d like to share them with you.  Also, I’ve been testing out the Klipsch bluetooth speaker I mentioned in an earlier post.  Day one of testing is over, and I’m very impressed.  It may be just the thing you need on your back seat during your next tour.  Anyway, on to the listings:

Bantam:

1938-1939 American Bantam Hood Ornament

The seller has an ornament which is markedly similar to the Bantam piece as well as the 1937 Nash Lafayette piece.  You may want to contact the seller for dimensions to confirm this is in fact for a Bantam.  From my understanding, the Nash piece was larger.

DIMENSIONS:  “height whole ca. 2.36 inches length whole ca. 7.87 inches

Bantam Hood Ornament

Click here to see the listing: 1938-1939 American Bantam Hood Ornament Sold for: 190.50

American Bantam Car Co Supercargo Butler Pa Tape Measure

Tape MeasureClick here to see the listing: American Bantam Car Co Supercargo Butler Pa Tape Measure Sold for: 53.01

Pedal pads American Bantam

Hopefully someone can purchase these to make new ones.  I know I’d be interested in a new set.  Pedal PadsClick here to see the listing: Pedal pads American Bantam Sold for: 9.99

35 36 37 38 39 40 41 American Bantam Generator Brush Set NORS

generator brushes

Click here to see the listing: 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 American Bantam Generator Brush Set NORS No Sale

American Austin- 1983 FRANKLIN MINT PEWTER HOOD ORNAMENT

 franklin mint

Click here to see the listing: American Austin- 1983 FRANKLIN MINT PEWTER HOOD ORNAMENT Sold for: 24.53

1932 AMERICAN AUSTIN BANTAM SALES BROCHURE- ORIGINAL AND VINTAGE

tied brochure 1

Click here to see the listing: 1932 AMERICAN AUSTIN BANTAM SALES BROCHURE- ORIGINAL AND VINTAGE No Sale

Happy Birthday Betsy!

Betsy (the T-5) is finally fifty! When I first bought her in April of 2003, she was only 38 and I 16, it’s amazing how the time flies. I found her when I bought a Want Ad Press magazine on a reluctant trip to tour a college. At the end of that day, I realized I needed to buy some SAT prep books, and that I needed to call the owner of a running Mustang project car. In the past 12 years, some pretty spectacular things have happened.

A little under a year ago, the official First Post of this website gave you a glimpse into why this site has come to be. In that post, I gave you a little history of myself, Betsy, and why I felt the need to create this website. This site is the manageably scaled back version of a dream website I have had for years. Someday, that website may come to be, but it all depends upon the state of our hobby when the opportunity surfaces.

Betsy 2004

Betsy Circa 2003

As Betsy was my first car, which I was able to buy with money scraped together from avoiding school lunch, this has been my first real successful go around on a website. In the beginning, Betsy wasn’t much to look at, and neither was this website. At that point in time, my skill level and experience were greatly overshadowed by my youthful exuberance and optimism. However, the ensuing years the former two have had opportunity to catch up to the latter two.

Betsy original driveway

Betsy reunited with her original driveway.

A little over a year from the launch, and I am quite happy with the material I have put together at this point. As you have seen, I have been compiling ebay listings, interesting information, and technical specs for Austins, Bantams, and T-5’s. Sometimes the updates have been carried out without much fanfare, but I hope they are still noticed. Earlier this year, I also began advertising for this website in Hemmings Motor News.

Beginning this week, I am going to be chronicling my current project here. I had been documenting the build on the H.A.M.B. however, I am not sure if that is the best place for it any more. I will be moving the relevant posts here for your enjoyment and will update this blog first. Useful technical information derived from the build will be hosted on this site in a special area so it may be easily found.

Besides providing you with a general cognizance of what is available for your car, I want you to know that you have the ability to work on your car too. Armed with the parts, the tools, the skill, and the motivation; I want to see our cars get on the road and stay there. The purpose of this site is to empower the enthusiast and keep our great cars going while making sure they are visibly attainable for the next generation of car folks. Thank you for your support and I’d like to invite you to join me as we begin our second year together.

A trickle of rain in a drought

The past few weeks have been fairly dry when it comes to Bantam parts on ebay. However, today there is a significant group of listing to suit your Bantam needs. I don’t know about you, but I’ve been trying to spend less time in front of my computer so I can get more done on my project. I’ve been documenting my project on the HAMB, but now that it is far enough along, I think I’ll share it here first. For Bantam enthusiasts: BRC 60 Dashboard press photo: This photo makes me wonder, if they used so many readily available bantam parts, how did the instrument cluster with the temperature gauge come to be. Would Bantam really have developed a new gauge just for this project? It would seem that there wasn’t free time that they could have easily devoted that attention elsewhere. Brc dashboard shot Click here to see the listing: BRC press photo Sold for:89.88

Bantam and BRC steering wheel (in rough shape) bantam steering wheel Click here to see the listing: Bantam BRC steering wheel Sold for:100.00

BRC-40 “long scalloped axle” brc 40 drive shaft Click here to see the listing: Ford GP prototype / bantam BRC / Willys MA / WWII jeep long scalloped axle BRC Front Axle gaskets Brc axle gaskets Click here to see the listing: BANTAM BRC AXLE STEERING GASKETS NOS Bantam felt seals for the axles: Sold for: 9.95

Front Seals axle seal Click here to see the listing: 1939 American Bantam Front Wheel Felt Grease Oil Seals Retainer p/n 1755 (Qty 2) Rear Seals axle seal Click here to see the listing: 1939 American Bantam Rear Wheel Outer Felt Grease Oil Seals p/n 1755 (Qty 2) Rear Axle bearing race: bantam rear axle race Click here to see the listing: NOS!!! 1934-1948 Ford Bantam Hudson Chrysler Bearing Rear Axle Pinion Race 15250 Distributor Bushing distributor bushing Click here to see the listing: 1938-40 Bantam Model E Distributor Bushings (2) Auto-Lite Distributor Cap Bantam Distributor Cap Click here to see the listing: 1938-40 American Bantam 4 Cylinder Distributor Cap For the American Austin Enthusiast: Front Axle assembly: (These seller does not have any other Austin or Bantam Parts) austin front axle Click here to see the listing: 1930 – 1935 American Austin front axle assembly Rear Bumper Brackets P1070574 Click here to see the listing: 1930 – 1935 American Austin Coupe / sedan / panel? Rear Bumper Brackets Rear Bumper Bracket connector P1070569 Click here to see the listing: 1930 – 1935 American Austin Coupe / Sedan rear frame crossmember

Testing out a new waters- Amazon

Please enjoy this test post!

Klipsch KMC 1 Portable Speaker

Perhaps I can finally have a radio in my antique car, without having to destroy the period correctness of it while seeking quality audio.  For several years, I have driven around in my T-5 with only my phone (and transistor radio) blaring.  That’s right, although I’m young, I’m in that flux period where someone could have a transistor radio to bring into their car; not a cd play with headphones, or an mp3 player.

Klipsch kmc1

These two certainly look like they’re in love with Klipsch!

Click here to give this little speaker a run for its money on Amazon: Klipsch KMC 1 Black Portable Speaker with Bluetooth, Black

Bid before it’s gone: American Austin Franklin Mint Miniature

I’ve heard of these radiator cap reproductions in the past, but often times people try to sell of the entire collection of ornaments which can be pricey.  Here is your chance to get the single American Austin mascot reproduction without buying the whole set. While I have been taking time to work on my project in the basement, I almost missed out on sharing this with you.  These only come up about once every year, so you may want to take this chance to cast your bid.

Click here to see the ebay listing: 1983 FRANKLIN MINT PEWTER AUSTIN BANTAM ROOSTER HOOD ORNAMENT Sold for: 29.99

1930 American Austin Block and parts

A seller clearing out a large group of parts has come upon some Austin pieces.  He may have some other parts, but he hasn’t located anything specifically Austin or Bantam as of yet.  So, you may want to keep your eyes on his auctions.  Up for auction is a block and some miscellaneous parts which may be what you are looking for.

Austin crank case 1930

Click here to see the crankcase: 0 31 32 33 34 American Austin Bantam car engine crankcase oil pan block Sold for: 50.00

T-5 – Period Magazine Articles

The Mustang has found itself widely publicized around the world during its lifetime.  The T-5 was not an exception to this press.  Below are some German publications reviewing the T-5 when it made its journey abroad.  I actually never bought the top two magazines below and only have a copy of AMS.  They are great and inexpensive pieces to add to your T-5 ownership.  I found that when purchasing the magazines abroad, asking the seller if they would ship to the US before bidding almost always resulted in a yes.

magazineClick here to see the eBay listing: Motor Rundschau 17/64 Ford Mustang T 5

november 64Click here to see the eBay listing: November 1964 ADMV Illustrierter Motorsport 22/64 Vorstellung Ford T5

magazine auto motor und sport**CAUTION- this may only be the road test and not the full magazine, the full magazine has great cover art, please translate the ad before buying.**

A translation of this can be found on the First Mustang Club of Germany’s website here.

Click here to see the listing: AMS 17/1964 Wahnsinn! Ford Mustang T5 mit

T-5 Speedometer and T-5 Micro Site Roll-out

With spring in the air and Betsy back on the road, today marks a special day.  Today, I am announcing the roll out of the T-5 section of Trust in Rust.  I believe I announced several months ago that this would be coming and left some breadcrumbs as to the extent I would be pursuing it.  So, here it is:  http://atomic-temporary-66351259.wpcomstaging.com/marques/ford-t-5/

If you know of any T-5 vehicles or parts for sale, please feel free to let me know so we can begin to populate this section dedicated to our special Mustangs.  Coincidentally, an NOS 1965-66 Ford T-5 or European Export Mustang Speedometer is on eBay and would make the perfect addition to your 65 GT or 66 Restoration.  If my car wasn’t a standard 65, I would be tempted to pick it up.

 1965-66 Ford T-5 or European Export Mustang Speedometer

T5 speedo

Click here to see the ebay listing: nos 1965-1966 mustang t-5 200 kilos speedometer