UPDATE – This tiny, tired time capsule 1959 King Midget Model 3 is listed for sale again after it was featured last February here on Barn Finds. The same seller has it posted here on eBay in Turlock, California and they’ve dropped the price from $5,000 down to $3,000. Will it sell this time?
FROM 02/26/2024 – I’m a huge fan of these small cars in the first place, but the thought of someone driving a King Midget for 90,000+ miles was pretty shocking. The seller says that this one has 94,000 miles, but I believe it’s 9,416 miles. In any case, this 1959 King Midget Model 3 would be a fun project. The seller has it listed here on eBay in Turlock, California and they’re asking $5,000. Thanks to Terry B. for the tip!
Dale Orcutt and Claud Dry sold their first cars, a kit for a “midget racer” and by 1947, an assembled King Midget Model 1, through their company, Midget Motors Supply out of Athens, Ohio. In 1948, their company Midget Motors Manufacturing ramped up the King Midget Model 1 and was well into designing their second car, the – you guessed it – King Midget Model 2.
The big (so to speak) breakthrough came in 1957 when the Model 3, sometimes seen as Model III, was introduced. This was the most “modern” car-like vehicle that the company had produced, but it was a different era and these were and are pretty basic and somewhat crude cars. The rear-engine rear-drive setup was somewhat unique, at least for an American car maker. Ohio gets cold and snow in the winter months and that drivetrain setup is great for traction, but not having a hardtop or a heater is not great for winter travels in snow country.
They were all two-seaters and it really wouldn’t be a big project to restore this car, at least compared to almost any other 1959 car. It was around this time when the former wooden doors (no lie) were changed to steel as seen here. At just under 10 feet in length and sitting on a 76.5-inch wheelbase, they were a foot or more shorter than most other compact cars of the era. Weighing in at under 700 pounds, it would be fairly easy to push around your garage as you finish the restoration.
The engine is either an LS, an SBC, or a Hayabusa, I can’t quite tell from this photo… No, it’s either a Wisconsin or Kohler engine and the seller doesn’t know much about this one, including if it runs or not. I’m hoping it at least turns over. Prices have tumbled a bit in the King Midget market and given the amount of work to do here and the price of a restored car being maybe $10,000 on a very good day, I’m not sure if they’ll get $5,000 for this example. How much would you pay?
Clearly the odometer reads 9416 miles. Actually, would it be unusual for one to have been driven even this far? Maybe, on sunny days, it was cheap transportation to get to one’s job at the factory which is a few miles down the back road?
I’m glad there is an active club to support them.
I dig the Channel Master 8-track player.
Thanks Scotty. I can tell you like writing up these unique vehicles.
I simply can’t resist commenting on the authors posts. His Dylan reference on a previous post was classic. Can you imagine if the staff gave him full reign? I can.
94K is clearly a bit of a stretch, but I bet some poor Sam did indeed drive a King Midget to work. I read, these cost $270 new, it has a 1 cylinder air cooled Wisconsin motor of 9 hp.( Kohler 12 hp in ’66) and a belt drive system like a snowmobile, or a 2 speed automatic was offered. This also had hydraulic brakes and a soft top was included, but 12 volt wasn’t offered until 1966. Believe it or not, I read there was indeed a fuel crisis in the late 50s( Suez Canal?) and micro cars were deemed viable. They claimed 50mph( good grief) and almost 50mpg. It never materialized, as gas crisis or not, Americans wanted Niagara Falls down the intake, and not much has changed. What is amazing, is look at that unusually styled, what was it, a Lincoln before this post, man, compared to this? Pretty amazing, thanks SG,,,and moderate,,,
I remember going to the barbershop with my Dad around that late 1950s time frame and seeing these things advertised in the Popular Science/Popular Mechanics magazines provided fo those waiting their turn. I was a slightly built kid and thought that it would be the greatest thing possible, street legal and everything and my size. I had no money of course, and since I was a kid I didn’t have a drivers license, but a boy can dream.
and it comes with a trailer hitch!
For pulling a garden cart perhaps???
Sorry, but I had a better-looking pedal car when I was 8.
There was one of these at the VMBC meet in Portland Indiana a couple years ago, all restored, it look beautiful. The owner told my son and I it would easily go 50 mph. He didn’t want to sell it though. It was a huge ‘draw’ at the meet.
94,000 micro miles maybe . . .
Why is it so hard for people to read 5 digit odometers?
Mine in storage at the moment and its a late 60’s model…..i think? My gas tank and coil are mounted completely different from this one. Can somebody chime in and tell me if this king midget tank and coil are factory mounted?
Thanks
I had a 57 and it’s tank was mounted like this. I have a 67 and its located to the right side. Don’t remember the coil location
94,000 miles in that and I’d need my spine replaced. ha ha
I just discovered the king midget and im in. Been looking around some. I would go upto 2k but 1k would be more where im at
Now, this time around, will the seller be including the red wig, nose and shoes?
Might be a fun toy to play with at $500!