First Coast Gears: American Bantam makes for a cartoonish ride

The all-American jeep has its roots in the old British Austin Motor Company by way of Pennsylvania.

If you're thinking, that can't be, stay with me. It will all make sense in the end, as we untangle this web of automotive history.

The American Austin Car Company was founded in 1929 and built cars licensed from the British Austin Motor Company at a factory in Butler, Pa.

The venture only lasted four years. From the ashes of the American Austin bankruptcy sprang American Bantam, which made a roadster, speedster, coupe, panel delivery truck and a few other models.

Bantam decided to bid on building a reconnaissance car for the U.S. Army. The spunky car company from the Keystone State delivered the Bantam Reconnaissance Vehicle (BRC). The U.S. Army tested it and decided it was a winner. Bantam produced 2,675 BRCs, which became nicknamed jeeps but couldn't meet the Army's production demands.

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The contract ended up going to Willys-Overland Motors, with the Army giving Bantam's blueprints to Willys-Overland. Willys-Overland eventually morphed into today's Jeep division of Chrysler.

While the BRC may be American Bantam's best-known contribution to automotive history, it's the Speedster that may be the funkiest. Just 323 were built in 1939 and Drew DeCandis of Switzerland in St. Johns County owns what is believed to be one of just 19 still in existence.

DeCandis said the Speedster is similar to the BRC, using the same cowl and windscreen. It's also tiny. When driving, DeCandis takes off his shoes to get slightly more space.

Despite a wide range of models, BRC wasn't able to get the pricing and volume right. American Bantam produced approximately 6,700 cars and trucks over two and a half years, according to DeCandis, suffering an average loss of $75 per vehicle.

If you think the American Bantam looks cartoonish, you're not alone. Multiple web sources, including cartype.com, claim the roadster, which looks similar to the speedster,  served as the inspiration for Donald Duck's car.

Once you see the American Bantam in motion, you might even think it's a cartoon that's come to life instead of the other way around. 

Bill Bortzfield: (904) 359-4226

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