1937 encased cent for BANTAM CAR "America's only economy car......Condition is very fine.........WALT DISNEY'S VERSION OF THIS CAR WAS IN DONALD DUCK MAGAZINE!!        

                    The American Austin Car Co., was formed in 1930 to manufacture under license, the English Austin Seven, though with U.S.-style bodywork. Its 4-cyl. engine displaced 45.6 cu. ins. and produced 13 hp. It sold for $445 out the door of the Butler, Pa., plant, and had a 75-in. wheelbase and a track of 40 ins. Advance orders for the sub-compact supposedly totaled 180.000 cars, but first-year production was only a dismally low 8500 units, the best year the company would have. Diving to less than 1300 cars built in '31, sales rose to 3850 for '32, the year American Austin went into receivership. The firm's assets were sold for a pitiful $5000 in 1935 to one of Austin's board members, Roy Evans, who re-capitalized the company and titled it American Bantam Car Co. The first Bantams weren't ready until early in 1938, and when they appeared, they were similar to the preceding Austin's in size, but enjoyed new bodies. The engine was the same as used before, but had been upgraded to 20 hp. Despite loud press acclaims, only 1500 '38's were built, and the picture remained the same for '39 at about 1220 cars. New coachwork appeared for '40, and a new engine; 4-cyl, 22 hp. from 50 cu .ins. But Bantam was by now the recipient of a military contract and its passenger car efforts dwindled to zero by early in 1941.