After being trapped in a barn for 40 years, this ’64 King Midget III has been listed here on craigslist, priced at $2,100 and parked in Ingleside, Illinois. These odd little cars are rather fascinating and incredibly simple to work on! It seems like it’s time for this Midget to be set free!
From 1946 through 1970 the Midget Motors Corporation produced these mighty little cars.
Powered by this 9hp Wisconsin single cylinder engine. The car appears to be all original and complete based on the images and the ad. Only an one site inspection would verify this. This engine hasn’t been started since the car was put away, but it does spin.
The interior will need some freshening up. According to the owner there is some surface rust, but no holes. It is titled and street legal. We have seen a restored one with a price approaching 8K, so this might have potential. This could be a fun little project and the numbers might make sense.
Motor-on,
Robert
A heck of a nice project! I’ve seen nice, usable ones sell for $5,000ish; maybe the asking price is negotiable. The King Midget is a top-ten wish list car for me, they’re so unusual, not to mention small and easy to store. A lot of replacement parts are available at Midget Motors in Ohio, home of the King Midget. http://www.midgetmotors.com/ and here: http://www.kingmidgetworks.com/id2.html
I’m with Scotty, I think the asking price is a wee bit high. I’ve always liked these. Smaller than a Crosley but sophisticated enough to have 4-wheel hydraulic brakes. Shoo-in for a trophy if there’s one for the smallest car in the show! (I’ve seen pics of two parked cross-wise on a truck!)
vintage king midget photos for sale on ebay include one showing 3 being loaded cross-wise on a flatbed.
Are these street legal? I’ve never seen one before quite cool.
i have seen them, with tags, being driven on the road but i would check with your state’s DMV before buying.
Sure , they are street legal . I have owned 6 of them, restored several, belonged to the k m club deferral years. Lots of good car history, much cheaper than any “real car”. Hove driven in parades anc long distance cruises. Lots of fun would still b doing it if I hadn’t got so old
The original CVT transmission. Really a neat little car, but I wouldn’t take an extended road trip in one. And yes, the asking is around $5-700 to high.
Not actually a CVT, but rather a two-speed centrifugally activated “automatic”. Two fixed ratios determined by relative diameters of two sets of driving and driven pulleys. Many have been refitted with a true CVT, usually a Hoffco Comet (now made by CPC) which has variable-diameter pulleys with a single belt drive.
I have a 1966 model that used to be in the Hemmings Motor News collection. I’ve done about 100 miles in one day in mine :)
I have 3 of these yes street legal with. No top not running price to me is a little high but not crazy more in the 1200 to 1800 range prices keep going up. My car in 97 500 now 5000. Very good club support.
Always wanted on of these