King Midget Model III
The King Midget was produced for a remarkably long 20 years, yet you have probably never heard of it. It was created by the American company Midget Motors Company and remains one of the strangest vehicles ever put into production.
It is an open, sports-style vehicle whose layout resembles that of genuine sports cars, with the engine mounted in the middle.
So far that sounds appealing—you might imagine something like an MGF, a Porsche Boxster, or a Renault Sport Spider. The reality, however, is quite different. The word “little vehicle” is entirely appropriate, because calling it a proper car would be somewhat misleading.
At first glance, it looks more like a toy than a real road-going automobile. The King Midget was manufactured from 1947 to 1967. Three years later, Midget Motors Company ceased operations. The vehicle is so unusual that it even has an international owners’ and enthusiasts’ club.
Midget Motors was founded by Claud Dry and Dale Orcutt, who met while serving in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II, where they were involved in aerial patrol duties. Their original idea was to create a single-seat sports car inspired by racing midgets—hence the vehicle’s name.
It was initially intended to be sold as a kit with assembly instructions, following a concept that was very popular in the United Kingdom. Eventually, the idea evolved into factory-built vehicles, and in 1951 the company introduced a two-seat model with tandem seating in a body styled to resemble an old, weathered car.
Over the years the model was gradually improved, gaining hydraulic brakes, a safety windshield, optional heating, and electric windshield wipers during its 20-year production run. The company advertised it with slogans such as “The World’s Most Interesting Small Car” and “A 225 kg car for $500,” which was indeed its price in the American market during the 1950s.
Midget Motors used Ford paint colors for its models. Top speed is said to be around 72 km/h, which may actually be rather ambitious for something this small.
The Model 3 arrived in 1957 with a larger 1,940 mm wheelbase and an overall length of about 3 meters, though it was still smaller than a Crosley. It gained four-wheel hydraulic brakes and a more powerful 9.2 hp Wisconsin single-cylinder engine. Its welded unit-body construction provided greater structural rigidity and remained unchanged through the end of production.
By 1958, the price had risen to nearly $900, although that was still far below the cost of a full-size compact such as the Rambler American, which started at $1,775. In 1966, Midget Motors upgraded the car with a 12 hp Kohler engine and converted the electrical system to 12 volts. Production continued throughout the 1960s, and total output eventually approached 5,000 vehicles.
