History Old Hot Rod Bantam Pickup Found - From Charlotte, NC

That answers a question I've had for years. My Dad had a '39 Bantam phaeton and I had, among other sports cars, some Spridgets with 948's, 1098's and 1275's and wondered why the Spridget chassis components and engine wouldn't work well in a Bantam. Now, you have proof. Even if you only have a 948, it will double the Bantam HP and the suspension and brakes will be several notches better, also. In '63, the Spridgets got disc brakes on the front, a bolt-on improvement for what you've got, and the 1098cc engine, increasing HP to 55, also bolt-in, if you use the waffle-case trans which houses the larger clutch. I imagine the Spridget stuff is all getting harder to find these days and the fact that you have a good running engine is enviable. Neat project!

 

We're on the same page with the taillights for sure.

I think this budget set of '50 Buick's off eBay fit the bill.



I like your thoughts on the headlights. Tough to find small headlights, but such an important piece of the puzzle....

Thanks! The exhaust is one of my favorite touches on this little pickup, definitely won't be changing.

Thanks for the advice! Glad to hear that about the radiator... I managed to find an original Sprite rad at a swap for $25 that looks like it'd fit, but I'd much rather use the original honeycomb.

Awesome looking setup there. Do you run a thermostat in yours?

Good eye- yes it's in front of Randy's garage, a few years back. Coupe looks a little different now...

Glad to hear that one mystery has been solved! I can imagine the builder having the two of these sitting there next to each other and just thinking "Hmmmm..." Not a combo most would think of, but the culmination is pretty neat. I'd been looking for something old, that was a 4 banger and got decent MPG to cruise around in. I was thinking more along the lines of an old S-10 or Luv truck, but this thing really did the trick for me.

Thanks for the tip on performance. Wish I'd just invested in discs to begin with, but I can always change over. Just finished rebuilding the front brakes tonight. I was searching YouTube for Sprite videos, and found a 948 that was hopped up, and it got me dreaming... Had a 1098 head, aluminum flywheel, and a few other pieces. Something to ponder... Well, after it's back on the road at least!

 

@themoose and @Rot 'n Kustom came up with some photoshops of the little Bantam...






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COOL,,,,,,,,,,,,,usta' live in Charlotte,,I remember Allison's. A lot off neat stuff went through that yard.
There at least 5 rear gears that are bolt in's for that axle. I think the Bugeye had a 4.55.

 

I don't run a thermostat, but we don't get a lot of temperature variations between the seasons here in the South East UK. But in a New Hampshire winter, I think you might find the motor never warms up without a stat if you do decide to take the Bantam out for a run in really cold weather.

BTW, good to see that the original Lucas generator with the Smiths mechanical tacho drive is still on the car, they are a rare piece these days.

 

Those underslung lights and nerf bumper look RAD but don't they have to be centered like 22" off the ground or something?

 

If I recall correctly Massachusetts law states that the headlight centers have to be 24 inches from the ground. Back in the 60's I used to work at a Corvette body shop and the 68 Corvettes were EXACTLY 24 inches when open. A lot of guys liked putting the headlights in the grille opening in the 63-67 Corvettes and were always getting busted for having the lights too low.
BTW Shaun I have some Sprite/Midget service manuals and other books if you are interested.

 

Massachusetts actually seems to have fewer regulations than New Hampshire. My neighbor's son discovered this when he moved up there for work and had his lifted truck not pass inspection.

https://www.sema.org/files/attachments/state-laws-altered-height-vehicles.pdf

24" seems to be the most common required center point for headlights, followed by 22" in states with requirements (NH is 24).

No alteration to the OEM bumper that would make bottom of the bumper less than 16” or more than 20” from the ground. Headlights must be at a height of at least 24” but no more than 54”. Taillights must be at a height of at least 20” but no more than 72”. Total vehicle height not to exceed 13’ 6”

 

I've also been wondering what to do for a front bumper, the stock one looks out of place to me (see Rich Fox's photo) on a hot rod. Your truck has had the grill cut off at the bottom, and I'm guessing the fenders have been raised. For lights I'm using plain old aftermarket 5.5" lights in the stock fender holes.

 

Thanks a lot. I have thought that the bumper would look better pulled in closer to the grill.And my fenders have been widend which makes the bumper look narrow.

 

No charge. Yes, in and possibly up. I like the thought of something like a '34 Ford with a dip in the middle to match the grill. The widened fenders are nice, I need that too.

 

Haven't had much time for the HAMB (too busy on the Bugeyed Bantam, as I call it), but thought I'd share an update...

After 40 years of sitting, and two weeks of pretty steady work, the Bantam is officially back on its feet. Felt pretty good to fire it up, and take a put-put around the yard. Slave cylinder needs to be bled again or adjusted, and I have a bent wheel (anyone happen to have an extra?) but overall went pretty well.

So far I put in a new distributor, coil, wires, plugs, fuel pump (temp hookup), and completely new hydraulic system.









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Are your hood sides welded in place?

 

I think so, unless they come off with the fenders?

Might be the angle of the pic, but the rear-end looks off, looking at the rear fender...and assuming the rear-end is too far back, seems the rear of the fender could be contoured to match the front of it and balance it out.

Edit:

N/M...second pic in the first post, show's it's pretty close to centered.

 

It's pretty much all molded together. A lot of tin work, and then smoothed with bondo. The mud is starting to show its age, some pretty big cracks. I'm not sure how much the nose was lengthened to fit the Healey- guess I should go grab the ruler sometime.

 

A little progress....

 

Been following your build. Nice little truck! I was following a build by "Greg in Jax" (https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/1938-v8-60-bantam-roadster-build-thread.863152/) He used 7" Dietz headlights.

 

As per usual I've been neglecting this build thread, and toiling in the shop...

Today was the first real maiden voyage in over 40 years. A few miles up the road, took a tour around the back roads. Already turning heads!



Headlights are just mocked up for now, need finishing. Really wanted some small headlights and got lucky with this set off eBay.... 6" stainless buckets, supposed to be fog lights. But behind those glass lenses were regular 5 3/4" sealed beams, so converting to headlights will be a snap.

Need to find some sort of wedge type washers to help with the Bantam's cross eyed look...

Engine bay neatened up too...

 

Can you cut a piece of tubing to make a spacer?

 

Thanks man! I've been working my way through that build, love the ingenuity (especially the choice of mill)... I'm thinking I like the idea of the 4 banger (for now), but wouldn't mind finding an original Judson supercharger that were sold aftermarket for these back in the day

Seems like the best option to me, have to scrounge around the shop. I did find an abundance of beveled/angled spacers in a place I wouldn't have thought of... Apparently they're pretty common for cable railing on decks.

 

the picture of the rod between the cowl and the radiator clearly shows just how much it was lengthening? I think..aren't those two welds
Could this be the first vehicle using some form of VIAGRA ????

 

Way Cool little truck . Thanks for sharing your project .

 

Sure got long !!

 

Unfortunately old iPhone took the Tide Pod Challenge so I lost most of my pics of progress on the Bantam... Tranny grenaded and had to find a replaced. Learned an awful lot of Austin ribcase and smoothcase transmissions. Ended up combing the two to make a rebuilt ribcase fit the stock 948CC flywheel, clutch, and engine plate. Kind of an experiment, but it seems to be working out.

Really could have used a shoe horn for pulling/installing engine... Use your imagination haha.

 

The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Great pics!

 

I'm curious about this, too. Does it have fabricated frame rails? Bugeyes had quarter elliptic rear springs. Does your truck have those? It's cool as hell, either way.

 

Ouch man! Glad you got it fixed up!

 

GREAT JOB !!!! SOMEBODY KNOWS WHERE TO PUSH AND PULL !!!

LOOKS GREAT !!!!!

 

Since we're talking Bantams might as well through up a pic of my '38 Delivery. Owned it 32 years and when it turned into a storage shelf in the back of the garage I sold it to get some cash for my '32 roadster.

Lee