Have you been looking for a good Bantam Coupe project? Something that has spent a good portion of its existence in California? Then here is the car for you:
Click here to see the ad: 1939 american bantam project Sold for: 3000.00
A couple of weeks ago, a photo appeared on eBay of a new Austin Coupe and a Chris Craft. I had asked if anyone knew the origins of the photo. This new listing of a similar photo delves a little further into the back story.
Click here to see the listing: original vintage photograph Bantam Austin car and Chris Craft boat
For all of you BRC-60 enthusiasts:
Click here to see the ebay Listing: Bantam Parade BRC 60’s Sold for: 102.50
Here is a terrific opportunity to be a guardian of history. The seller has protected this well antiqued collection of dealer documents. Included in the lot are well used service manuals showing the evolution of Bantam parts pricing, letters to the particular dealer, sheets instructing salesman on the particular models, as well as information on how to prep the cars and break them in.
I would love this lot, but this needs to go to someone who will cherish it and make it available to the club. The fact sheet explaining the glideaway clutch, scientific sound deadening, and firestone motor mounts is but one of the many treasures in the lot. Touting “big-car” appearance and finish, shows what type of sales pitch the average bantam buyer was serenaded with before taking the plunge.
If you are the luck bidder, and you have a Xerox machine (or generic photocopier, or scanner), this would be a wonderful thing to share with your fellow Bantam owners. If by some chance this does not end up being shared, below are a few photos which I hope you will take the time to save for future reference.
Click here to see the ebay listing: Treasure trove of Bantam Papers Sold for: 47.35
As a Bantam enthusiast, it may seem difficult to avoid the BRC these days; and that is not a bad thing. In a time when fewer and fewer people know what a Bantam civilian car even is; the BRC is a great way to reintroduce the world to the little car company that did. Even if the Jeep doesn’t do it for you as an enthusiast, think about its importance in two ways. First, the Jeep is pretty important to our history. Secondly, any press is good press for our little cars, the more folks we can bring to our hobby, the better!
Showing people around the world, that one of the vehicles most responsible for the freedoms they enjoy today is directly traceable to a small city in western Pennsylvania can be eye opening. There are a bunch of people hoping to get the story out about the economy car company that may have saved our world. Besides those two big BRC events planned this year, there has been at least one book published recently focusing on the development of the Reconnaissance Car. If you want to help spread the word about the BRC and American Bantam, helping support a project to make a mini-series for television may be an excellent means to do so.
Now, if you’re not too familiar with crowd funding, these campaigns are usually fantastic because you have a chance to get something in return for your donation, other than the satisfaction that you are helping someone’s dreams come true. Unlike other campaigns where you can buy a hoodie, a key chain, a copy of the product, or even differ with a celebrity; the folks at this campaign have really set the bar high. For a $100,000 donation, you can get a BRC pilot car replica! Now, they are seeking to raise $1.2 million, so if twelve people get together to buy pilot cars, this campaign will be successful in no time! Now, lets get together and help get our little cars the fame they deserve. (Also, I personally hope that this mini-series will feature ample shots of people driving civilian Bantam cars. I can’t see it making too much sent to have Roy Evans driving around a Chevy)
Check out the campaign here: Buy a BRC
Two cents a mile sounds great to me! Back when the 1938 Bantam was introduced, the company produced a souvenir encased penny to commemorate the special car. The coin was an advertising gimmick highlighting the thriftiness of the small car with big car styling. I’ve seen these on ebay before, and they usually sell for much more than a penny. While I think they’re neat, they’re still out of my budget for a penny.
Click here to see the penny: Bantam Penny Sold for: 26.00
Down in Butler, there are a few more hidden Bantam treasure emerging on ebay. Recently listed are possibly NOS gas caps, a reproduction Hayes body pin, and a potentially NOS ring gear for an American Austin.
American Bantam and Austin Gas Cap
Click here to see the ebay listing: Austin and Bantam Gas Cap Sold for: 18.00
1930-1931 American Austin Hayes Body Corp Tag
Click here to see the ebay listing: Hayes Body Corp Emblem Sold for: 28.00
1930-1934 American Austin Ring Gear
Click here to see the ebay listing: American Austin differential ring gear Sold for: 65.00
Looking for 1940 Bantam fuel lines which had been on eBay for ever, but has since disappeared, I accidentally found the correct air cleaner for a 50’s Brennan Imp. Before I realized what it was I lost it, but in searching for that filter, I some how happened upon what was presumably once a Bantam Dealer sign. This sign is very different from the circular red and white signs which we all know and lust after. Actually, if you are looking for an excellent reproduction dealer sign, they are available through a club member in California. If you want the real deal, his signs are the best you will find. If you’re looking for an interesting curiosity, check out this hand painted vintage piece ending tomorrow.
Click here to see the sign: Bantam Dealer Sign Sold for: 47.00
Click here to see the Brennan Imp: Brennan Imp 3 Main Engine
Okay, maybe venerable is a strong word to use, but the Brennan Imp is something special. The engine itself has been covered in some club news letters, but unfortunately I only have a copy of one issue discussing this. From what I have gathered, the Brennan was one of several companies that utilized the Bantam engine for commercial use. The other primary industrial application for these engines being water pumps.
The relationship between Bantam and Brennan seems to begin with the second two main variation of the Bantam engine and lasted through to the end of Bantam civilian production. Where it gets interesting is in 1940, after getting out of civilian car production and without a need to continue producing the Hillmaster, Bantam appears to have relinquished control of its engine to Brennan Standard Motors, of Syracuse to continue its life as a “Brennan Imp.” The Imp began its 3-main life as shown above, nothing more than a car engine converted to marine use. Unlike most marine engines, it retained the transmission at the flywheel.
It’s unclear how long this iteration of the Imp continued, but somewhere in the late 40’s Brennan reengineered the Imp and complimented it with the “Imp Jr.” The Imp Jr. was based on a Crosley, so one would naturally assume that it would have taken over and the Bantam based Imp would have been forgotten. As it turns out, the reengineering process retained the vital specs of the Bantam Hillmaster, but updated the crankcase to a new configuration more suitable for marine use. The engine retained a bellhousing and a timing cover area similar to the original bantam, but the areas were utilized differently. The transmission was mated to the front of the block, and an odd flywheel was fitted to the rear. With the updated crankcase, Brennan took the opportunity to fit the engine with insert bearings and presumably standard bearing caps. (I haven’t opened mine to see). With these updates, the Imp outlived the Imp Jr and became a go to engine for small home builders of inboard boats.
The Imp was actively advertised through 1966, with every ad touting improvements and higher horsepower. During the 1950’s, the Imp saw it’s horsepower rating go from a paltry 25 hp to 35 hp. In the 60’s, the Imp supposedly made 40-45 hp. By that time, the engine was fitted with an alternator and may have been produced until the demise of Brennan Standard Motors in 1972.
Here is an interesting Article from Car Buff magazine published in 1972. It has an interesting history of the Austins and Bantams along with an owner profile from way back. The owner spoke of restoring a Bantam Continental. Does anyone know any more about the owner or the car?
See ebay ad: Car Buff 3-4/72, American Austin article
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