American Bantam
Automobile company (1935–1956) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The American Bantam Car Company was an American automobile manufacturing company incorporated in the state of Pennsylvania. American Bantam is credited with inventing the original World War II 1⁄4‑ton jeep in 1940.[nb 1][2][3][4][5] The company's founders, Roy Evans and William A. Ward Jr., combined resources to purchase the assets of the bankrupt American Austin Car Company in August of 1935 during liquidation.[6]
Industry | Automobile, Military Industry |
---|---|
Founded | August 1935 |
Founder | Roy Evans |
Defunct | 1956 |
Fate | Acquired |
Headquarters | Butler, Pennsylvania |
Key people |
|
Products | Vehicles, Jeeps |
Number of employees | 916[1] |
In 1935 the new company produced vehicles based on the American Austin tooling, operating as Evans Operations Inc.[7] The new company was incorporated as American Bantam Car Company in June 1936.[8] The new company launched a public fundraising campaign and redesigned their entire vehicle line to launch a completely refreshed selection of American Bantam roadsters and delivery vans in 1937. The company continued to make vehicles into 1943, until all of its production – like all the U.S. automotive industry – served the World War II efforts, with vehicles and weapons manufacturing, including (amphibious) cargo trailers, aircraft controls and other parts, and engines and tail gearing for torpedoes.[9]