WHAT IS A BANTAM?

The Bantam is an Escort-based pick-up truck that was built in South Africa back in the late ’80s and early ’90s. First- generation Bantams began production in 1983, based on the Mk3 Escort, while second-generation machines took on the guise of the Mk4. So, what’s its closest relation? Jano says, “Everyone thinks it’s a van that’s been chopped down, but vans have a higher roofline. And if it was based on a combi it would have estate doors. “Every panel is Escort except the tailgate and rear quarters. The side quarter windows are from the van, and the rear windscreen is bespoke, but up to there it’s the same as any standard Escort. The floorpan is different too – it’s standard Escort up to halfway back, then it’s similar to that on an Escort van but beefier and stronger, with heavy-duty rear springs and rear axle.” The Bantam is still quite common in South Africa, but the Escort-based version was replaced by a Mazda 323-based pick-up with Ford Laser front end, and also called a Bantam.