Solved - NEH 114: Talmadge Judd's home-built Humming Bird Special 1945

[Carnut]

Tell me what this is and who built it for 1 point:

[Carnut]

Movin' on up..

[Carnut]

And again..

[Otto Puzzell]

Is this Crosley-based?

[Arunas]

1946 Hummingbird. Built by Talmadge Judd, Kingsport, Tennesee. Austin Seven-based.

[Carnut]

1946 Hummingbird. Built by Talmadge Judd, Kingsport, Tennesee. Austin Seven-based.

Yes again!

[Otto Puzzell]

For one point: Who built this little car, and when?

Only a complete and specific answer will earn a point!  

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[Otto Puzzell]

Experts?

[Zerk]

It's a neat little thing. Proportions are pretty good. Is it based on a 1930s Ford/Mercury chassis?

[Otto Puzzell]

I'm sorry to say, I don't know. I know only the builder, and the year.

[RayTheRat]

USA?

[Otto Puzzell]

Yes, from the old USA.

[RayTheRat]

American Bantam?

[Otto Puzzell]

I'm sorry to say, I don't know. I know only the builder, and the year.

[Bill Murray]

OK, I am totally lost on this one at this point, but........

To give some pointers to others that are perhaps smarter than myself......

In the background seem to be a 1939/40 Chevrolet and what I think is a
similar year Ford.

I think a major ID point is that it seems the car has some sort of retractible
top.

As Ray suggested, it seems to have some American Bantam roots but Google did not help there.
Nor did a search on retractible hardtop/roof/top.

Perhaps someone with good knowledge of different roof systems can go from here, I am lost.

[Zerk]

That's very interesting, Bill!
I had just about made up my mind that this car had Pontiac DNA, like a sort of 1938 Fiero. After having no luck searching there, maybe I'll try your suggestions.

EDIT: I tried to thumbnail-guess the size of this car, and it seemed to be in Crosley territory. If anyone else has a guess in this regard I'd love to hear it.

[RayTheRat]

I noticed what appears to be a retractable hardtop, too, but didn't follow it too far.  It looks too small to be a Pontiac, but anything's possible.

RtR

[Otto Puzzell]

After digging up more information, I've discovered it's a re-post.  

This car was used by George Judd (brother? Father? Son?) to promote Judd's Lock Shop in Kingsport, TN, through at least 1955. The location of the lock shop is now occupied by Lender's Title & Escrow‎ and Title Ventures.com. According to the article, it's called Humming Bird, not Hummingbird. Merged, and title fixed.

I see no mention of a direct Austin 7 connection; American Austin engines produced 17 HP, vs. 20 quoted in the article. The later American Bantam '3 main' engine (an evolution of the American Austin) was said to produce 22 HP, so perhaps the RayTheRat is on to something.

Here is an article about the car, and some additional photos:

[Zerk]

It's a sweet car, and IMHO the new picture makes it worthy of a repost.

Hey, maybe sometimes a repost can be not so much an error as serendipitous.