Founded in 1929 in Butler, Pennsylvania, the American Austin Car Company brought an intriguing British concept to the American market: a small, economical automobile based on Sir Herbert Austin’s Austin 7. Produced under license from the British Austin Motor Company, the American Austin was among the earliest microcars offered in the United States. Production began in 1930, with the company ultimately evolving into the American Bantam Car Company in 1936.

While mechanically related to the Austin 7, the American Austin differed significantly in appearance. Its Americanized exterior styling was developed by the Hayes Body Corporation of Michigan and its resident designer, Count Alexis de Sakhnoffsky. Offered in several body styles, including a distinctive two-seat roadster, these diminutive automobiles attracted considerable attention despite their unconventional proportions. Notable owners reportedly included Al Jolson, Ernest Hemingway, and Buster Keaton, while the styling even inspired Walt Disney’s depiction of a small roadster for Donald Duck. Powered by a 747-cubic-centimeter inline four-cylinder engine producing approximately 13 horsepower, the remarkably compact American Austin offered modest but practical performance, with a reported top speed of 50 mph and fuel economy said to approach 40 mpg.

This 1934 American Austin Roadster was completely restored under previous ownership and remains an appealing example of this unusual chapter in American automotive history. Finished in an attractive two-tone red-and-black color scheme, the roadster is complemented by matching disc wheels and bright chrome-plated bumpers, headlamps, and grille shell.

Wonderfully representative of the earliest American microcar movement, this American Austin Roadster offers an entertaining combination of diminutive proportions and distinctive styling. Its compact size and unusual character make it an especially appealing addition to a collection of significant or unconventional automobiles of all types.