It was sometime in 1990 that I first heard about The Bantam. As a youngster, I had many pleasant moments with one. I remember it as having a broken crankshaft and never being put back into working condition by “The Mechanic” . . . my Father.
The Bantam had been stored in an old corrugated tin structure for over 20 years and word was out that the owner may want to empty out the building and, therefore, release The Bantam. A deal was struck and three days later, after moving one man’s lifetime aggregation of junk to get it . . . I saw The Bantam. Not a car I thought but a station wagon? With sliding windows on both sides? A split door on the back with the top half folding up and the bottom half folding down? Nothing like I envisioned or ever heard of but . . . anyway, it was truly a Bantam.
Upon raising the hood, I found it was powered by a four cylinder Willys engine. Obviously an “Elvis era” transformation and, equally evident . . . not appropriate for a vehicle of this quality. Which brought me to the next questions . . . wonder if parts are attainable (needing an engine with all accessories and a transmission) . . . wonder if anyone knows? After a while (going in circles of supposition and speculation with the “experts”) a friend saya . . . .”How about Hemmings Motor News?” Well, whoopla!! There it is . . . the American Austin / Bantam Club!
Thereafter things have changed. I have spoken, telephonically, to some of the nicest people in the world and each of them has been very helpful! Through some very fine Pennsylvanians, I now know that I have a 1939 Bantam Utility Station Wagon. I know that parts are available, although may be out of my economic realm and I wonder if the “Necromancer” (IE myself), will ever assemble the necessities to bring “The Bantam” to life??!!
Attached to the article was an editor’s note which read:
Editor’s note: Hey, John . . . . If your station wagon is of the “woodie” type, it would be good to contact John Tuthill in Golden, CO. He has a ’40 woodie wagon, and is our official tracker of where the wagons are. You may have one we had no idea existed. Tuthill: 20413 W. 56th AVE, RT. 11, Golden, CO, 80403. 3003-279-8039.
Subsequent to that article, an engine was discovered
in the hands of Mr. Ray Ostlander, then of California. The engine was installed
in “Lil
Guy” and he eventually made his public debut at the American Austin
Bantam Club meeting in Cookville, TN in 1995. At his first outing, Mr.
Carl Miller, a former employee of the Bantam Company, confirmed that “Lil
Guy” was one of those vehicles built in the Bantam Manufacturing Plant and it was authentic in all respects, except for the headlights and the taillights
(excepting of course the three main engine). Subsequent to “Lil Guy’s” unveiling
in Cookville, it has been in dry storage in a dark corner of another steel
building. This is not the proper location for “Lil Guy” (IE a
probable one of a kind make and model vehicle). Instead “Lil Guy” deserves
the attention and service that others of his kind, such as “The Butcher’s
Car,” eventually acquired.