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AUSTIN BANTAM is an attractive sign, but there was never a car by that name. The real car was the American Austin, introduced in 1930. The cute little car was bought by Al Jolson, Buster Keaton, Erneast Hemming way and other celebrities, but sales generally were dismal. Super salesman Roy Evans kept the copany going until 1934, but no more cars were made in 1935 or 1936. In 1937, Evans revived the company under the name American Bantam, and it lasted until the last few cars were produced in 1941. American Bantam's claim to fame is development of the jeep in 1940. But the government didn't think the company was big enough to produce the required number of vehicles, so the contract went to willys and Ford, and American Bantam faded from the scence. |
