Ford Bantam (Groupie Thread)

thestaggy said:
It definitely doesn't feel like it will win any races performance wise, so I can see it struggling with a load, but I don't really plan on using it to do heavy lifting if I keep it. Weekly run to the rubbish dump/big shop at Makro kind of thing.

Price wise, the cheapest one I can find on Autotrader is a 2008 for R52,900. Looking at Autotrader, ones in good condition hold their value. There is a 2003 1.3 with 237k on the clock going for R80,000.
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hate to say it, but a Ford Ikon or same gen Fiesta would have probably done everything this bakkie does,
the Bantam is basically that, a very basic economy car with a bakkie rear end, that somehow people like a lot.

I get why Saffers like it, but if I remember anything from the Bantam we had, it was simple and basic interior wise,
but hideously complicated and unreliable mechanically, as I mentioned with the alternator bracket shearing off

so I guess you pick your poison and live with it.
 
Jet-Fighter7700 said:
hate to say it, but a Ford Ikon or same gen Fiesta would have probably done everything this bakkie does,
the Bantam is basically that, a very basic economy car with a bakkie rear end, that somehow people like a lot.

I get why Saffers like it, but if I remember anything from the Bantam we had, it was simple and basic interior wise,
but hideously complicated and unreliable mechanically, as I mentioned with the alternator bracket shearing off

so I guess you pick your poison and live with it.
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Pick up a new gas oven in a Ikon/Fiesta...;) Which is something I need to do soon. I'm also not putting garden refuse in the boot of my or any car. That is the practicality of a bakkie.

Saffers have always loved their half-tonners, which is why it blows my mind that nobody makes them anymore.
 
thestaggy said:
Pick up a new gas oven in a Ikon/Fiesta...;) Which is something I need to do soon. I'm also not putting garden refuse in the boot of my or any car. That is the practicality of a bakkie.

Saffers have always loved their half-tonners, which is why it blows my mind that nobody makes them anymore.
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trailers were invented for a reason, ;) especially if its a once off thing like a Fridge or stove ect ect...
as for garden refuge, always possible to put it in one of those large plastic containers and slide it in, especially if its a hatchback,

we managed to move washing machines in a Kia picanto, and much more, I blame the lack of ingenuity you saffers have for wanting a bakkie for the 3 times a year you need to move something heavy or bulky.

a hatchback is useful for 90% of everything anybody would ever need,
yes if your transporting 10 people to a job site, a hatchback cant do that, while a bakkie can,
 
Jet-Fighter7700 said:
that somehow people like a lot.
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As someone who bought his father's 2006 1.6 XLT, it makes sense.

My father once towed a double axle trailer carrying 40 balls of hay. Not sure about the combined weight, but the bakkie struggled.
All I remember was my father saying, "Hoop daar is nie polisie nie". We were far and well over weight.
The Bantam had no issues on the body after.

It then went to support me carrying servers and I recall once, 45 * HP RP 5800 desktops in the back on my way to Sandton.
Marie biscuit wheels looked like it would pop.

Then there was the dude in his 1.3 that helped us once.
Our 3L Ford Cortina was also pulling massive weight once, engine just gave up on us, 20KM from the farm.

Oke helped us with his 1.3 to get home.
 
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My_King said:
As someone who bought his father's 2006 1.6 XLT, it makes sense.

My father once towed a double axle trailer carrying 40 balls of hay. Not sure about the combined weight, but the bakkie struggled.
All I remember was my father saying, "Hoop daar is nie polisie nie". We were far and well over weight.
The Bantam had no issues on the body after.

It then went to support me carrying servers and I recall once, 45 * HP RP 5800 desktops in the back on my way to Sandton.
Marie biscuit wheels looked like it would pop.

Then there was the dude in his 1.3 that helped us once.
Our 3L Ford Cortina was also pulling massive weight once, engine just gave up on us, 20KM from the farm.

Oke helped us with his 1.3 to get home.
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I mean I get it, we had a 1.3 XL, and it drove I guess, owned it from new, but honestly
was dog slow, could barely make it up hills with the aircon on,

drove it many places but I kept on thinking its essentially a sedan without seats
and Less space than a proper Sedan like the Ikon,

I mean I guess if your transporting workers, and need to get them out to the field, yes it works, kind of,
only because our laws arent enforced, where as the rest of the world such things are capital crimes.

so I get why they were popular, but part of me wonders why, they even were popular in the first place,
as a hatchback can do all of those things, even if its the commercial version without back seats.
 
Jet-Fighter7700 said:
I mean I get it, we had a 1.3 XL, and it drove I guess, owned it from new, but honestly
was dog slow, could barely make it up hills with the aircon on,

drove it many places but I kept on thinking its essentially a sedan without seats
and Less space than a proper Sedan like the Ikon,

I mean I guess if your transporting workers, and need to get them out to the field, yes it works, kind of,
only because our laws arent enforced, where as the rest of the world such things are capital crimes.

so I get why they were popular, but part of me wonders why, they even were popular in the first place,
as a hatchback can do all of those things, even if its the commercial version without back seats.
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I had a Ikon and a Bantam at the same time, no less space perceived by me in the Bantam. I could go buy two refrigerators at the PnP Hyper and take them home, none of this delivery (with fee) nonsense or the wait. No way that would have fitted into a commercial version hatchback without backseat. I could take garden refuse to the local garden refuse dump and then just wash out the back with a hosepipe, would you wash out the commercial version hatchback without backseat with a hosepipe?

No I have to pay about R200pm for a garden refuse service. I miss the Bantam.
 
Jet-Fighter7700 said:
I mean I get it, we had a 1.3 XL, and it drove I guess, owned it from new, but honestly
was dog slow, could barely make it up hills with the aircon on,

drove it many places but I kept on thinking its essentially a sedan without seats
and Less space than a proper Sedan like the Ikon,

I mean I guess if your transporting workers, and need to get them out to the field, yes it works, kind of,
only because our laws arent enforced, where as the rest of the world such things are capital crimes.

so I get why they were popular, but part of me wonders why, they even were popular in the first place,
as a hatchback can do all of those things, even if its the commercial version without back seats.
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Any bakkie we can wonder why people bought it for personal use.

For a workhorse, I know why my father used one.

1741870446399.png

If he needed to install 2 of these, or even 1. You cant use a car to transport these machines. If blood leaks out or something, the back can just be washed out.
No need to book it in to have carpets cleaned out.

And I am also not taking my car to refill our 48L gas canisters:

1741870731292.png

Bantam has space at the back.
 
Jet-Fighter7700 said:
we had a Bantam as a company car once, drove okay, if a bit under-powered
this is coming from a Tazz 1300,

part we really didnt like was the mechanicals where the alternator bracket is weak, and simply broke apart,
almost overheating the engine, having owned this bakkie from new. and for something like this to happen, has us sworn off anything that isnt Asian built,

pricing reflects that, look how much a Bumtum costs VS a equivalent Toyota (even an old one)
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Strange, I have a 2006 model bought new, never had any overheating problems and the alternator is still going strong,the alternator bearings are starting to get a bit noisy but that can be expected after 200k. The failure's I've experienced were: heater valve, thermostat housing and oil pump ( due to me using a thicker oil) other than that she's still going strong.
 
Update on the Bantam.
  • Sourced the driver's side door cable for R195.

Tried to put it through roadworthy and saw my arse.
  • Leaking power steering fluid (this was the leak I saw) -> New steering rack and tie rod ends - R7751 (Incl labour)
  • Insufficient braking force to the left rear (hand brake at 3%, foot brake at 40%) -> Cable in left rear drum was stuck open, skimmed rear drums and rebonded the brake shoes - R1484 (Incl labour)
  • Front tyres deemed to be too worn (this pissed me off as there was still clearance on the tread wear indicator) -> Set of Duruns - R2620 (Incl alignment and balancing)
  • Middle exhaust box leaking -> New box @ R1350
  • Plastic cover on the right rear taillight was cracked (Also pissed me off as the lights worked fine) -> New cluster - R525
And for good measure, I misplaced the key for the lock nuts, so they had to be stripped off and I had to replace them, so an extra R181.50.
 
I also wanted to recommend 4 Sure Motor Spares in Benoni if anybody is looking for parts for their Rocams. They deliver nationwide if you are not in the neighbourhood.

These are the guys I went to when I needed to replace the rear taillight (brand new, boxed and bubble wrapped) and door cable.

They specialise in older gen VWs, Nissans, Fords, Mazdas, Toyotas and Opels. The familiar ''fan favourites'' from the 90s and 00s you still see running around.
 
I have started project save my Bantam.

Step 1.

Get the windshield replaced.

Step 2.

Get new tyres. Get new brakes.

Step 3.

Replace the plastic strips on the door.

Step 4.

Change the blue canopy from blue to the silver that is the bakkie...50% here done. Also fix 19 years of damage on the canopy. Getting the paint today. Other prep work is done. Canopy is grey.

Step 5.

This will involve rubberizing the back. Yet to start.

*Going slow as I am doing this myself.
 
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