Vehicle exhibits

In 1936, Roy S. Evans, a former Austin salesman, purchased the bankrupt assets of the American Austin Car Company for a modest sum - roughly $5,000 in cash - becoming the foundation for the American Bantam Car Company, officially incorporated on June 2, 1936, in Butler, Pennsylvania.

By early 1937, Evans brought back Alexis de Sakhnoffsky, the original Austin body designer, to refresh the existing tooling with minimal expense. Sakhnoffsky crafted a sleeker front grille, redesigned fenders, and a modern rear end - all reusing much of the Austin tooling.

Mechanically, the car retained its 747 cc inline‑four engine but underwent significant reengineering: a higher 7:1 compression ratio, addition of full-pressure lubrication, the switch to plain babbitt crankshaft bearings, and other improvements boosted output to around 20 hp at 4,000 rpm - a 50% increase over its Austin predecessor. The drivetrain featured a revamped three-speed manual gearbox and sturdier chassis components.

Production in 1937 included roadster and coupe variants, priced from $385 to $492, offering impressive economy - often reaching up to 60 mpg - and positions as the most affordable small car in America at that time. Over the ensuing years (1937–1941), approximately 6,000 Bantam Sevens of all body types were built.

This particular 1937 Bantam model - whether you’re looking at a roadster, coupe, pickup, or speedster - represents the initial post-relaunch design. It carries the stylish reshaped body by Sakhnoffsky, the more powerful yet compact engine, and the ethos of affordable, efficient motoring rooted in the Austin 7 lineage, but reinvented for Depression-era buyers.