Hot Rods ?s on buying a Bantam

this may not be the best place to ask, but I don't know where else to go. going to look at a 1930? bantam coupe (i think thats what they are called). wondering what others (if any) have done in replacing the tiny engine with a more modern tiny engine. also, where to get brakes, whl cyls etc. thanks for any help I might get..

 

Info here: Everything Bantam | American Austin & Bantam – Parts, Services, and Information

HAMB thread: Hot Rods - Austin Bantam Hot Rods | The H.A.M.B.

I Love the Austin Bantam's

 

That car is probably an American Austin which later became the Bantam. It is based upon the Austin 7 which was built in England. I have the English version - a 1934 Austin Ruby. They are a very small car and not a lot of parts fit. I am currently converting mine into an electric car with powertrain pieces sourced from China. Before deciding to go this route, I came up with a powertrain consisting of a 1000c.c. 3 cylinder Geo Metro/Suzuki Swift/Chevy Sprint/Pontiac Firefly engine coupled to a Suzuki Samurai transmission and a narrowed Ford 9" rear axle. It all fits but I hope the electric option will be easier. As far as front suspension, Super Bell will make a special narrowed dropped axle. On my car, I've gone Chinese as well with IFS pieces, but that is because I no longer have to deal with an engine in the front. Anyhow, I still have all the ICE pieces but Pa. is a far distance away. Send me a PM if you want more info.

 

Fitting a modern engine would be a challenge as mentioned in the Everything Bantam thread but certainly possible.
I have a Bantam frame that I used to register my 1933 Austin Ruby body that is now serving as yard art. It has mechanical brakes and a partial torque tube driveline.
The Ruby was a little bigger than the Bantam and had no frame so I built one and extended it 6" which is 12 inches longer than the Bantam frame and widened the body 4". It is still a tough cabin fit and is essentially a two seater. I stretched the frame in front of the firewall and installed a 215 Buick with a T5 transmission.

 

Maybe a Datsun A-15 and 5 speed out of a B210? Pretty small and not an overhead cam so it looks kind of like it belongs. And the Aussies make some cool speed goodies for these motors. But in stock it should make the little Bantam be a blast to drive. Don't think a 9 inch would be necessary. Maybe a S-10? Looking forward to see what you decide on.

 

I love the HAMB! An esoteric question answered quickly with great information.
I seen a few and the stock space is really, really limited. I didn't read the links provided, but tiny would seem to include perhaps a Crosley engine which is newer but also pretty 'big' and limited. Maybe a single rotor Mazda like Rob Dahm is building but without turbo.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WBGUqYPQpc
Motorcycle engines tend to be low on torque for a car weight, especially in smaller displacement and size along with driveline challenges. Maybe look into small industrial packages.
EXAMPLE although liquid cooling would be better/quieter.
https://predatorpowereast.com.au/product/30hp-petrol-engine-gb750-efi/

 

There is a good write up of Jim Lattin's Bantam in the September 2012 issue of Hot Rod Deluxe. I would like to scan it but I've replaced my printer/scanner with a new one and haven't a clue how to do it with this one.

 

I’ve always wanted an early Austin/Bantam. But I would keep it original. They were a cool looking micro car.

 

My Austin A8 is 24" longer than a Bantam, but is the same overall width. It was a chore just to find a pair of bucket seats that would fit the 42" inside from door to door! My seats touch the sides, and almost touch each other in the middle!
I put a SBC in mine, and that required removing both footwells that sat on either side of the flathead 4 cyl. it came with, and then slightly setting the firewall under the cowl. Of course a lot of frame work or should I say frame building to strengthen the thin boxed sheet metal frame on this model.




Everything was a challenge and everything had to be cut down, or specially made to fit this narrow, short body. But the good part is it takes very little HP to make a 2300 lb. car go very fast, and some more HP makes them extremely quick!

 

I have Hillmans. I’m looking into an early Nova 153 (or it’s marine cousin) or possibly an o/t 3T drivetrain. I would ***ume they would be similar in the fact that if they do have a slightly newer engine that will swap in, that newer engine will still be hard to get parts for since they’re both from England. I can swap in a Sunbeam engine in mine, but it’s still only slightly better for parts.

 

I don't know that even a compact modern 4 cylinder will fit without cutting a bunch.
Here's a restored one for sale. I grabbed one pic.
https://www.smokymountaintraders.com/cars-for-sale/1123/1930-american-austin-bantam

 

This is the Bantam ch***is I got from blowby. He also had the Bantam pickup powered by a blown V8 60. That is do***ented in a thread on here somewhere.



His comment about the frame shown was that it would have to be upgraded to go more than 30mph.
Here is what is under the Ruby now.

 

The Suzuki 3 cylinder definitely fits but a notch is needed for the distributor. I wanted to keep the firewall where it was because the car being so small, I thought it would be great to show up at some car event with 4 people stepping out like a bunch of clowns.

 

i went to look at it. it's pretty solid except for rockers and door bottoms. half the gl*** is gone, the roof insert is half there. the engine looks complete, said it ran maybe 30 years ago, always in a dry garage, i like it, made an offer, and its got a good ***le. thats a plus here in Pa. waiting for a reply.

 

@Sandcrab That frame looks like it’s from a toy car.

 

Yep, 1oldtimer Austin America built to Austin of England design. The frame was 75" wheelbase and the rims are 16". The seven was the rated horsepower so there was not a lot of torque to contend with. The rails are actually pretty stiff as an inverted "U" shape with a flanged base.
A trivia note. The Bantam company designed and built the original Jeep in the early '40's but production was taken over by Willys and Ford.

 

Try looking at a early 70's Volvo engine and 4 speed trans. The B20B engine came with two side draft carbs.

 

American Austin’s are fun. I doubt I would ever use a 9” Ford rear end with a 3 cyl anything or even any engine 1500-2000 cc’s. Since my grille shell a 32 Ford, rear photos prove what it is.

 

V -Twin 100 plus cid
Na or blower / turbo
Motorcycle engine
Briggs Stratton inline 3 cyl or
Kubota both water cooled

 

How about a Willys 4 cylinder from a 50's Jeep? 60 HP.

 

A friend and I built one in high school. 1967/8. 348 Tri Power and 4 speed B&M Hydro. It would carry the wheels for about 10'.
I thought of building a Ford Model Y using a motorcycle engine (think the Honda 600 cars) - or a small industrial engine.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Model_Y

 

1098 Ducati Testastretta or Aprilia 1100 V4. Compact powerhouses.

 

Austin A-series out of an MG Midget or Austin Healey Sprite. Displacement from 948 to 1275 cc. Lots of parts are still available for them and if you are really crazy, race spec versions of 1275 cc versions can put out close to 200 hp. Morris Minors used them as well. Probably others. Just stay away from Mini versions, they are slightly different, having a crankshaft that has a long tail instead of a flywheel flange.

 

Looking forward to more photos. Good luck with the project.

Bob

 

Here are a pair of Bantam pick-ups for sale on Facebook
Marketplace - PAIR OF VERY RUSTY 1938 AMERICAN BANTAM PICKUP TRUCK BODIES | Facebook

 

I just bought my second Bantam. They're in their own world in many ways. As Dave G said, the BMC A series from "Spridgets" swap has been done, very little cutting needed. If you find a donor car, the whole powertrain can be fitted, and you get juice brakes. Austin-Bantam brakes are horrible for modern driving. Better off dragging your feet. The club members have all the parts that are out there. I couldn't find anything at Hershey a couple years ago. By the way, The first iteration of the company was American Austin, the second was American Bantam. But either were variously called "bantam".

 

now THOSE would be too cool!!

 

Sounds like normal stuff for any car that old. And what is wrong is easy to fix. Since it's all flat gl*** that isn't a big deal either. I was very lucky with my Austin as it has all the original gl*** still and is in nice shape.

 

Not traditional but different
Kubota 3cyl gasoline
$380


https://www.facebook.com/marketplac...30523803422\":3547},\"grouping_info\":null}"}

 

^^^^
That's reasonable New 12k plus