It’s odd to think about, but some car companies have managed to find so much success that they erase themselves from history. American Bantam is one of these companies. They started out as one of America’s earliest builders of small, economy cars, but their development of a car known as the Bantam Reconnaissance Car, which later evolved into the famous WWII Jeep, eventually eclipsed most of their other work. And that’s a shame, because some Bantams were truly fascinating, like this one I got to drive for our first Torch Drives episode, the Bantam Boulevard Delivery. It may be the only vehicle of its kind ever made, and it’s very charming and very strange.
The reason I say the Bantam Boulevard Delivery is the only vehicle of its kind ever made will become clear as I describe it: it’s a compact, luxurious, elegant, convertible delivery van. I’m fairly certain that peculiar combination of traits has never all been used to describe one vehicle.
Delivery vans, even small delivery vans, are by no means uncommon; Japan is crammed full of useful little Kei-class delivery vehicles, for example. But, none of those are convertibles. And, they sure as hell aren’t luxury-spec vehicles, and the reasons for that are a convertible, luxury, tiny delivery van is simply not something humanity has really expressed any need for, ever.
And yet here the American Bantam Boulevard delivery sits, defying all logic and reason.
It’s a charming thing, as all American Bantams were. They were derived from the British Austin Seven, which you can think of as Europe’s Ford Model T, just on a smaller scale. The Seven was wildly successful, and copies or license-built versions of it started some really big-name carmakers: BMW, Datsun, and, as we mentioned, Jeep.
In America, American Austin was established to build licensed Sevens, but the company went bankrupt. The pieces of the firm were resurrected as American Bantam, who changed the mechanicals and design just enough to avoid license fees.
Ukranian-American designer Count Alexis de Sakhnoffsky was responsible for the Bantam’s dramatic deco looks, which proved remarkably flexible, when you consider the number of body styles the little company made:
(American Bantam, Autopaper)
Down there in the lower right you can see this one, the Boulevard Delivery, in all its charming bafflement.
It’s baffling because it’s a delivery van with no good way to get anything in or out of it–arguably the entire reason delivery vans exist. There’s no rear or side door for cargo loading or unloading, even though we know Bantam was familiar with the concept of a “door,” as their other deliver vehicle design, the van-like Panel Truck, had a nice big one at the rear:
(Hyman, Barret-Jackson)
I fundamentally do not understand this lovely little enigma. What the hell was it for? If everything had to be loaded in, awkwardly, by flipping down the driver’s seat and the only way of locking up the cargo was via an absurd hand-cranked sliding panel, what exactly would one be delivering in this thing?
A handful of cupcakes? A couple throw pillows? A ceremonial tiara, perched on a satin cushion? I have no idea, but whatever it was, it needed carriage lights on the sides to do it.
It’s strangely fun to drive, as you’ll see in the video, and David and I manage to get it up to a screaming 30 mph, which took some doing.
I’d also like to point out that this new Torch Drives series will feature many, many more fascinating and ridiculous cars, and I’m delighted to say that the theme music was specially composed, just for this, by the composer of the Pokémon Anime series music.Â
I know. I can’t believe it, either.
And now I want one.
Don’t think I’d want to take it over Vail Pass, but I want one.
This thing is cool! I’m surprised it only reached 30 mph though. Even as terrible as its drag must be, I figured surely it would have enough power to go faster than that.
I built a 3-wheeled electric microcar/bicycle hybrid that looks like a 1930s Gran Prix car, that with the electric motor turned off, can be pedaled to 35+ mph on flat ground, with nothing but my legs propelling it. Turn the electric motor on, and it does donuts in parking lots, can reach highway speeds, and my feet can still add thrust. 150-200 miles range on 1.5 kWh of battery is typical, and the entire vehicle only weighs 90 lbs, but there’s no range anxiety since it can still be pedaled. ZERO crashworthiness though. Wherever legality is a concern, I can restrict the motor’s output to 750W and 28 mph so it passes as a “Class 3 e-bike”. I use it in the street and have put over 60,000 miles on it since building it in the kitchen of an apartment I used to rent. Here’s some pics:
https://i.imgur.com/1KvhZN8.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/j75uGn7.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/1aaEtdp.jpg
I’m working on a more aerodynamic version of it with enclosed wheels and a roll cage, which may be capable of reaching 100+ mph and accelerating faster than most cars when it is done, while still being pedal able as a “bicycle” with the motor shut off. The goal is to get it aerodynamically slippery enough that I can reach 45+ mph strictly on pedal power when sprinting hard.
Torch, I’d gladly race your ChangLi.
The early history of automotive coach building retained the practice of using wood framing and panels in the same manner as the horse drawn vehicles that preceded them. Whenever I see an old machine like this, I like to look for the framing and, where possible, embrace its tactile and aromatic sensory aspects. I know this isn’t practical at museums open to the public. But if I ever get to drive them, I make the most of it. You are very lucky to have had the chance.
This i assume was at the Lane Motor Museum in Nashville, and you can totally smell stuff there if you want
The best part of the whole vid was at the very end with how hard DT was eyeing those garbage chairs on the sidewalk. “They’re perfectly good…” Ha!
I think they should have tried to fit them in the back. that would have been good entertainment
I’m sure he was just checking them out to see if they had (a) rust and (b) seven slots in the back
Wellcome! Great to have you back to amuse us!
By the way, have you popped up the hood and checked the size of the battery against the ICE?
“Who beeps at this? That’s like yelling at a panda bear.”
“What’s a lady going to love more than an American Bantam Man *wink*”
The Bantam banter was fantastic, y’all (along with the rest of the video). Keep ’em comin’!
I think the Nash/Hudson Metropolitan, or some models thereof, had no opening trunk, right? You got to the ‘boot’ front behind the seats? Boot would be a better name on that case, like losing your keys or a scorpion in shoes next to your bed.
Also the Gremlin in theory had a non-hatch version?
My point is that those little cars, no trunk (boot) access is CRAZY. A van with no rear door? Doesn’t compute.
Sedans with what I like to call passbacks – no rear opening so you have to pass your cargo back to the internal cargo space through the passenger doors and compartment – were once fairly common (the VW Beetle had a passback and a frunk). And that’s not even counting early sedans with no internal cargo space, either nothing at all or strictly a spare tire/tool storage comparment.
But this is the first and only passback *van* I’d ever heard of.
And the Henry J/Allstate. When I was a kid, a neighbor had one (I’m not sure which, but they were the same car with slightly different trim). You could mail-order the Allstate from Sears, of course.
Omg! yes please!
The Disney lawyer disclaimer was a nice touch.
Love the interaction between you two, also love the multi-camera setup! The Bantum is what I imagine Uber for dachshunds would be.
Great stuff! Keep it coming!
Seems like the kind of thing William Randolph Hearst would have used to take his cat to the pet cemetery.
Don’t be gauche, Jason – this is simply the delivery vehicle for the clipboard telling the butler that there IS a delivery. The actual delivery vehicle must not be seen in front of the main house.
I thought this thing was huge until I watched the video.
That is a pretty vehicle. When you are done with your delivery, you can then deliver the Bantam somewhere in the back of your RAM 3500.
I almost snorted the noodles I’m eating for lunch reading through. Build a delivery truck and then forget to focus on the delivery part. Awesome
Yippeeeeee! The tail light doubles as the license plate light.
Theft Prevention.
I can definitely see it arriving with the trophy for a tennis tournament.
I am here for the American Bantam content. I’ve been infatuated with them ever since getting to sit in one in the AACA museum in Hershey PA (a place I strongly suggest any motorhead visit!). Super charming little things – and, critically for a large man like me, surprisingly roomy enough that I could actually drive it (unlike, say, an S2000, or an NA Miata that still has its door armrest installed).
I want to see an Autopian American Microcar Shootout – American Bantam vs. Crosley Hot-Shot in the sports car category, and the Bantam Recon Car vs. the Crosley Farm-O-Road! Remember, a Crosley won the inaugural Sebring endurance race…
We’ve (randomly) got a cutaway Crosley CoBra engine display in the dyno lab where I work, it’s cool to see how it was put together out of sheet metal – bevel drive SOHC, the whole deal. I’ll get a few pictures of it to share the next time I walk by it.
That was great! Looking forward to more.
My guess is that these would be used in high end neighborhoods to deliver a society lady’s purchases from only best shops where even rear doors might look too “commercial”. The name of the store would be eloquently scripted on the side so that all the other ladies in the neighborhood knew you getting something from a special shop. Almost like a little Coupé de ville for your stuff
With the Royal Warrant painted on the side as large as possible, of course
I will always upvote a Keeping Up Appearances reference.
Parked out front so the lady at number 23 will see it. RICHARD!
Yeah. This was a way for the rich to keep the hoi poloi from knowing what was coming to their house while it was still outside the wrought iron fence. Perfect vehicle for milady’s repaired diamond brooch to be returned to it’s velvet case. Nobody on foot could open the back door and palm it if there was no back door.
This was awesome and having David rush in to throw Jason out of the way is how I picture these two in a meeting. I want to see more of these.
BTW – I love the Autopian shirt, is there a merch store up yet? 🙂
As to the content itself, this is a strange niche van. I can see it as the well to do folks send Jeeves out to get the household sundries but do not want to have him drive just a van. There is an image to keep up dear.
UPDATE – Saw the merch link and ordered. 🙂
I need an Autopian onesie for the little guy; will go check out the store.
And suddenly a great void was refilled with excellent reading, welcome back!
I have to say the video is now top notch production value. Between David quickly muttering “children shouldn’t know about death” and “It’s like yelling at a panda bear”, the banter and humor almost had a modern Car Talk vibe to it.
Soooooooo Jason!!! Missed this!