Founded as the American Austin Car Company in 1929 with factory facilities in Butler, Pennsylvania; they produced their first cars in 1930 with coachwork courtesy of Alexis de Sakhnoffsky design and produced by the Hayes Body Company of Detroit. These distinctive small cars are frequently described as “adorable” and “cute.” The cars garnered plenty of attention with celebrity owners such as Al Jolson, Ernest Hemmingway and Buster Keaton. Our Gang loved the car, as did cartoonists and radio comedians. When Walt Disney penned a car for Donald Duck, it was inspired by the Bantam Roadster. The American public; however, was not ready for a small, economical car and soon the company was in receivership. After helping to keep American Austin afloat for two years through his master abilities as a salesman; Roy Evans rescued the company by forming the American Bantam Car Company.

This Cigarette Cream and Black example is from the early American Austin Car Company and runs with a four-cylinder flathead engine that is approximately 45-cid and produces 15-hp. This fun mode of transportation is built on a 75-inch wheelbase and has black seats and dash, radiator mascot, disc wheels, wood windshield frame, rear-mounted spare, windwings, front and rear bumpers and driving lights.