So you would like mpg? King Midget is the answer!

Congested highways make for dirty air that comes from gas guzzling vehicles. Improved methods of public transportation and more fuel-efficient green autos have helped this problem to an excellent extent, but there is nevertheless room for improvement. Change are expensive. But when it comes to autos, one answer could come straight from the past. The King Midget, an American car made from 1946 to 1970, is as small as its name but boasts big mpg numbers.

It’s said it ‘will be the future kings of the road’

King Midget cars are followed by many according to an interview of Dick Messer by AutoWeek. Since the automobile is small and inexpensive, it makes complete sense. The two-door convertible micro cars (70-plus-inch wheelbase) were initially sold as kits for $ 49, and these kits involved the frame, axles, springs, steering and patterns to cut sheet metal for the body. You can also get it already built. One-cylinder, two-speed automatic transmission engines varied from 6 hp all the way up to a “huge” 12 hp big block. 50 mph could be achieved along with 50 to 70 mpg figures within the King Midget. In the 1950s, prices were from $ 500 to $ 1,000, as reported by Wikipedia.

What killed the King Midget?

One big concern was safety. Production ended in 1970s because there were more strict federal crash requirements. There were only 5,000 cars made. The bodies of modern cars absorb much of the shock of a collision; the King Midget would pass much of that on to the driver’s body, resulting in more frequent injuries and death. They get some great mileage though?

Getting used car loans to buy your Midget?

Click the button below. Just be sure to check with your lender first to see if they’ll fund private party purchases, as you won’t find a King Midget at your standard used car dealer. Click the International King Midget Car Club link below to do some online window buying if you’re significant about the King Midget. Prices appear to vary from around $ 1,000 to several thousand dollars.

Citations

AutoWeek
autoweek.com/article/20100713/CARNEWS/100719968
Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Midget
International King Midget Car Club Classifieds
kingmidgetcarclub.org/classifieds.html
Vintage Car Show interview with car collector Barry Hilbert
youtube.com/watch?v=suv1Dyz4HWo