King Midget

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King Midget Model III (1957-1970)

King Midget was an American automobile brand that was built from 1947 to 1969 by Midget Motors Supply (from 1948: Midget Motors Manufacturing Company , from 1956: Midget Motors Corporation ) in Athens (Ohio) . The founders were Claud Dry and Dale Orcutt .

description

The King Midget was a very small kit car and had a one-stage automatic transmission in-house. Only one rear wheel was driven, so no differential was required. Dry and Orcutt designed the Midget while serving as an air patrol during World War II . A lot of aeronautical details were used in this car, which made it easier.

The first generation was only offered as a kit. For the building instructions, the chassis, the axles, the steering, the suspension and templates for cutting the body parts, US $ 270 had to be paid. In the course of 1951, this Model 1 was also available fully assembled and with a single-cylinder engine from Wisconsin with an output of 6 bhp (4.4 kW).

In 1951 the Model 2 was developed. This was a two-seater roadster that was offered as a kit or a pre-assembled car, with a side-controlled single - cylinder Wisconsin AENL engine that drew 7.5 bhp (5.5 kW) from 377 cc. The wheelbase was 1829 mm, 203 mm less than the Crosley four-cylinder model . The total length was only 2591 mm. The Model 2 was still a simple automobile with no speedometer or reverse gear, but it was light and strong and available for only US $ 500. In 1955 a more luxurious Model 2 was introduced. It was on sale until 1957 and cost less than US $ 550. In contrast, a fully assembled Crosley CD from 1952 as a sedan cost US $ 943, - and a similar station wagon only US $ 1002, -.

In the 1950s, Midget Motors developed the Junior and the Trainer . Both vehicles had no body or even plans for it. It was left to the buyers to take care of it. The junior had a single cylinder engine from Briggs & Stratton with 2.5 bhp (1.8 kW) and the trainer one from the same manufacturer with 3.0 bhp (2.2 kW). Both vehicles were equipped with an automatic clutch and had a reverse gear. Production ended in the early 1960s.

The Model 3 was introduced in 1957 . With a new chassis with a 1943mm wheelbase and an overall length of 2972mm, it was still smaller than a Crosley. This model had four hydraulically operated brakes and was powered by a 9.2 bhp (6.8 kW) engine. In 1958 this car cost US $ 900. The much larger Rambler American started at $ 1,775. The Midget was manufactured until the late 1960s, but in 1970 tightened safety regulations ended production. Around 5000 copies were made.

literature

  • John Gunnell: Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946-1975. Krause Publications, Iola 2002, ISBN 0-87349-461-X . (English)
  • Frank Markus: Concours d'Ordinaire . Car and Driver (March 1993). Pp. 115-119.

Web links

Commons : King Midget  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k J. "Kelly" Flory jun .: American Cars 1946–1959 . Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Coy (2008)