American Bantam was the name given cars produced in Butler, Pennsylvania following the failure of the American Austin Car Company. Revived by Roy S. Evans , the new company produced cars from 1937 until it stopped producing passenger cars in 1941. The exterior sheetmetal had been redesigned by Alexis de Sakhnoffski , and the engine was modified so that it was no longer produced under licence from Austin of England. Although very similar in size and mechanically, few parts are interchangeable between Austins and Bantams. Approximately 6,000 Bantams of all types were produced, compared with about 20,000 of the earlier Austins. Despite a wide range of Bantam body styles, ranging from light trucks to a wooden station wagon Americans remained unconvinced of the need for a compact or even second car until the acceptance of the Volkswagen in the early 1960's. It was American Bantam that pioneered the design for the first jeep; these it built for the US Army after discontinuing the manufacture of passenger vehicles.
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