American Bantam Austin Bantam Bantam Bantam Bantam

Some technical considerations.


(1) Probably use an existing frame and drive train from say a Suzuki Samurai, Geo, etc which gives you a passing grade at the emmissions counter and would probably have the internals in place for 5 mph bumpers. Take delivery sans wheels etc.

(2) Power plant. See above. The car, no matter how cute, has to be capable of freeway speeds and safe at those speeds. On the other hand people are not going to buy the car for it's high performance. The original was a 750/800 inline push rod four of about 20hp which was plenty. I think the new VW TDI diesel would make a real hot rod out of it (this is not a joke! The TDI is amazing.) and geared properly, would deliver perhaps 55 mpg or more, and would be more or less maintainence free for the life of the car, but at nearly two litres, it might be overkill. Still...let's take a lunch VW...Also, can I retain the styling with a transverse engine? The leg-room would be a plus, but front wheel drive seems slightly out of character. There are some excellent motorcycle engines out there that would do, but in this car I would like horsepower to come from a nice torquey long stroke rather than a high winding zizzer. And what the heck the Suzuki or Kia or Geo would be at least a low pass.

(3) This should be a user friendly "lovable" automobile: like the air-cooled V-Dubs or Land Rovers. That's one reason why I like the TDI [see (2)] for a power plant. It's inconveniences should be predicatble ones, not surprises. Systems should be very low tech and easy to work on by the owner. Everything is basic. Lights, and a speedometer. If you want music,bring a boom box or Discman. I am even ambivalent about a top for this thing, and am more inclined to a special Bantam weather suit issued with the car that you put on (like a motorcyclist) in cold or inclement weather. If there is a top, it should be very simple.


A very effective treatment for the convertible top on the original American Austin. On our revival, side curtains would be far less expensive to produce and maintain than roll up windows (let alone electric windows so popular today!)


NO FIBERGLASS. Fiberglass is not lovable. (In the immortal words of Sir Francis Herrshoff, speaking of fiberglass in boats: "...the inside of a fiberglass boat looks like frozen snot".)This car will be metal, and probably thick, recycled steel metal at that. Fenders will be beat out one at a time on the streets of Bombay, or whomped out of a 70 year old drop press in Prague. When you bend one you can bend it back. Or order a whole new one for $100. Leather seats?...sure..but durable like a welders apron not an Italian handbag. If we build the frame ourselves, let's make it a good old ladder frame out of some I-Beams or something.

(4) Production could be in Bombay. India already makes lots of the car parts you use on your current cars, like wheels for instance. (Cf. Wall Street Journal Feb 1, 1996 p.A12) They also make a nice fiftyish Royal Enfield 350 (motorcycle) under license. If they can make one of these, they can make our car. Or perhaps eastern Europe like Poland or the Czech Republic. Maybe Mexico (again, especially if we are talking TDI here, we could set up next door to VW there.)

BACK to revival