American Austin Car Company

American Austin produced 8,448 cars were sold during 1930, the company's first (and best) year of sales but only 1,279 vehicles were built in 1931.

Gill established a relationship with Roy Evans, owner of a large chain of dealerships in the southeast United States.

But production slowed down and during the summer American Austin filed a petition in federal court to plan for reorganization.

[12] The following week the federal court ordered the liquidation of American Austin and appointed Gill as trustee.

[13] When Evans heard that American Austin was about to be auctioned off, he quickly sent his good friend and lawyer Bill Ward Jr. to Butler to see if he might negotiate a favorable acquisition.

Ward negotiated a deal to acquire the American Austin land, buildings, equipment and inventory for $5,000 cash in addition to assuming $214,099.83 in debt.

On August 21, 1935, the liquidating trustee sold the assets of Austin to Roy S. Evans, Martin Tow and William A.