Just as American cars were getting bigger and more powerful, along came the King Midget line of cars and they almost couldn’t have been any smaller and still have been street legal. This one is just under ten feet in length. This 1969 King Midget Model III is listed here on eBay in Cowlesville, New York and the current bid price is $1,725.
We have recently seen a couple of Subaru 360s that are about the same length as this King Midget and they are also rear-wheel-drive with a rear-engine, but the similarities end there for the most part. Come to think of it, there are more similarities between the King Midget, at least the Model III as seen here, and the Subaru 360. The King Midget Model III was introduced in 1957 and the Subaru 360 was introduced in 1958 in Japan. Ok, that comparison is stretching it a bit, no pun intended.
My investment advice, given today’s crazy vintage vehicle market and the fact that almost anything and everything is being snapped up, is to grab small and unusual cars like the King Midget ASAP. They’re typically very inexpensive even in nice condition and I think I’m more right than wrong as evidenced by this rough example already being at $1,700. I predict that almost any unusual, small, and inexpensive vehicle will soon become collectible and will rise in value so quickly that those of us who have always wanted one will be left in the dust, again.
The Model III would be the last production car for Midget Motors Corporation which had been around since the 1940s selling everything from scooters to the Model I and Model II cars before the final Model IIIs came out in 1957. As with vehicles today, the Model III was a touch bigger having been lengthened about four inches over the Model II. You can see that comfort and features were few and far between, these cars were meant more as a second vehicle than the main do-all car that a lot of Americans had at the time. This example was originally red but for some reason was repainted white at some point.
The engine would have been a 12-horsepower Kohler engine by the end of the run. This car has been “resting” for 27 years or so according to the seller and has just over 2,000 miles on it. There’s no word on if it runs or not as it was apparently their father’s car and he’s been gone for quite some time. Don’t plan on it running when you pick it up but hopefully it can be on the road again someday. Have any of you owned a King Midget?
I happen to know, if the author had the room, THIS would be in his collection. Just to show what kind of guy Scotty is, he has several “oddball” classics in his “collection”,, and a King Midget would feel right at home. While cars like the 360 or Honda 600 were actual cars, the King Midget was something that looked like it was created in a suburban garage, with a lawn mower engine and wheelbarrow tires and had a dismal following. Again, all about timing. In ’69, most folks wanted Cobra Jet this, and Ram Air that. Saving gas with a “puddle jumper”( like my old man called them) was the last thing on peoples minds, and roads had no place for a vehicle like this. I’d at least update the motor to some modern motorcycle engine to at least make it somewhat road worthy, and be sure to duck when that RAM dually( with texting driver) rolls over the top of you. Great find.
Drove one of these once. Only once…
Have any of you owned a King Midget? Yes, as I wanted one every month with their ad in back of many “hands-on” magazines. It took me several decades but about five years ago purchased my ’63 King Midget. It has been restored to stock condition. oh yes it’s red in color.
Yes I did in 1973 had a good time with it if it would quit running we would just put in the back of a 8 foot bed, wish I still had it
But what about the all important 1/4 mile performance times? Potential buyers want to make educated purchases. Throw us a bone…..
Always wanted one. Also after getting out of school, for some reason, I thought that a “dealership” in Richmond VA selling the King Midget would be a great success. I wrote to the owners and promoted my idea. They were very kind and wrote back… saying that their company did not have “Franchised Dealers”, but if I wanted to buy a car or two, I could be a “driver representative” or something like that. They said that I could use my car or cars as demos and they would give me a commission or kick back on any car that was purchased from their company because of my efforts. Well, that did not trip my trigger and I sort of passed on that idea. I never did buy one.
All ways wanted one since I lived in Athens Ohio for over 30 years where they were made …However I now live in Colorado and if this one was closer i would certainly give it a look see !! I have been to several of the K.M. Rally’s since they were usually in Athens and there is a display of them in the local Mall !!! But that is way to far away to fool with ….shame !!
Excellent Mark! Also, numbers matching? Are the miles documented? Damn, there’s a lot missing.
….
Do the door card, steering wheel and gas pedal wear align with the claimed mileage?
So many questions,
Worth saving?
1 of 1?
Last one in existence?
Rod or restore?
Nicest, best or last one left?
Lol. Just busting chops.
I can grasp how common ordinary Detroit iron can be allowed to look like this after awhile but a King Midget can’t be that difficult to shelter and be cared for.
I got pulled over by the police while driving a King Midget…Full stop….
ls swap??
Used to drive around the gas pump”island” fast as we could till we popped the chain off,then put it back on to start over.Fun times all those years ago.Passaic Park Chevron,Passaic N.J.
Auction update: this one sold for $2,650.