747cc L-Head Inline 4-Cylinder Engine Single Updraft Carburetor 15bhp (rated) 3-Speed Transmission Front, Transverse, Rear, Quarter Elliptic Leaf Spring Suspension 4-Wheel Mechanical Drum Brakes *Offered from the Two Generations Collection *Styled by Alexis de Sakhnoffsky *Fun pre-war sporting car modeled on British Austin Seven THE AMERICAN BANTAM When the imported English Austin was restyled by Alex de Saknoffsky in 1935 to celebrate the launch of the new Bantam Corporation, it was cutting-edge American design.

More than 20,000 of the American Austins were built under license to Austin of England, but even though the boxy style had been restyled in 1929 by de Saknoffsky, to look like a small Chevrolet, by 1935 it was looking dated necessitating another new look.

Nobody made much money on the redesign – de Saknoffsky was paid only $300, for example, but racing legend Harry Miller converted the 747cc, splash-lubrication engine to full-pressure lubrication and converted it to Babbitt-...