"Kiltedpadre" (kiltedpadre)
10/11/2020 at 11:31 • Filed to: None
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"Kiltedpadre" (kiltedpadre)
10/11/2020 at 11:31 • Filed to: None | 2
| 21 |
Yet another example of the tiny, impractical cars I love.
The King Midget:
These were built near where my grandfather grew up in Athens, Ohio. At one point there was even a sign at the city limits that said “Athens, Ohio home of the King Midget” with no picture or anything telling those not in the know what exactly a King Midget was.
They started as a single seat kit car you ordered from the ads at the back of magazines. You got a frame, axles, suspension, steering components, and drawings to let a local metal worker build a body for you.
Later they were sold as prebuilt 2-seat convertibles with automatic transmissions and single cylinder motors. They were build as the 500lbs car you can buy for $500.
Just how small were they? Well, here’s one of the early single seaters beside a “real” car.
I love the open wheel racer look of the Series I.
Some may think it’s basically a golf cart. You wouldn’t be wrong because at least for awhile the series II could be ordered with a golf kit which added holders for two golf bags. Unfortunately I can only find written records and no pictures.
What led to this long-winded write up? There’s one for sale. It’s not near me, and as much as I’d love to have one it’s nowhere near the top of the list of things I actually think I would spend real money on.
https://kansascity.craigslist.org/cto/d/kansas-city-1962-king-midget-mkiii/7211373158.html
If you’ve got a few minutes and want a bit of a history of the company here’s a short write up from the King Midget club.
http://www.kingmidgetcarclub.org/kmhistory.html
onlytwowheels
> Kiltedpadre
10/11/2020 at 14:11 |
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Just Jeepin'
> Kiltedpadre
10/11/2020 at 14:28 |
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Do you have to remove the soft top to climb into that Craigslist one? I thought the Crosleys were tiny.
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Kiltedpadre
> onlytwowheels
10/11/2020 at 14:44 |
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I didn’t even know someone had attempted to sell dune buggies based off of the King Midget.
Eventually I’ll make it to one of the King Midget Jamborees. They occasionally come pretty close to me, but I’d like to go to one in Athens. It’s a bit over 2hrs from me, but it’s in one of my favorite areas of the state.
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Kiltedpadre
> Just Jeepin'
10/11/2020 at 14:48 |
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I think that depends on your stature and level of limberness. They’re rear engine and your legs actually go forward into what looks like it would be a hood.
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onlytwowheels
> Kiltedpadre
10/11/2020 at 14:50 |
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There’s a dune buggy at the 10 second mark in this video.
Looks like a fun and inexpensive way to become a car collector. Repowering seems to be common on the car club site.
There is a shop in FL that has parts and makes all the body panels.
http://www.kingmidgetworks.com/index.html
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Kiltedpadre
> onlytwowheels
10/11/2020 at 15:24 |
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I can’t find the video, but my first exposure to them was an episode of My Classic Car where they visited one of the King Midget jamborees.
I remember there were several of the people they interviewed who had basically upgraded them with newer engines from either Briggs or Predator.
Last fall the jamboree was only about 40min from me, but I was on call that week and couldn’t go.
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onlytwowheels
> Kiltedpadre
10/11/2020 at 19:00 |
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When covid is gone, I have to get out to some shows. It would be awesome to check out some micro cars. They had a King Midget ja mboree in CT a few years ago. Maybe there will be another in New England in the future.
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Kiltedpadre
> onlytwowheels
10/11/2020 at 20:05 |
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The bulk of their jamborees are in Ohio, good news for me. Next year is already scheduled for Green, Ohio which is about 1.5hrs from me.
It looks like they do one in Athens, Ohio every 10 years. If that trend continues the next time won’t be till 2026. That’s the one I’d really like to go to. Since it’s basically a homecoming it’s probably the biggest gathering, and there are some absolutely gorgeous hiking areas nearby too. I’d definitely make it an extended weekend trip.
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onlytwowheels
> Kiltedpadre
10/11/2020 at 20:47 |
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https://www.hemmings.com/stories/2009/07/13/lost-king-midget-factories-the-complete-list
I found a Fb page that has Norwalk, OH on the King Midget badge.
https://www.facebook.com/King-Midget-497998420237374/?ref=stream
Maybe you know the answer to this question: Was this just a parts/sales/service business, or were they manufacturing here?
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Kiltedpadre
> onlytwowheels
10/11/2020 at 20:59 |
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I believe they were all manufactured in Athens, Ohio. The man that bought the rights to the intellectual property and the remaining NOS parts was from Norwalk. I bet that Facebook page was from his venture.
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onlytwowheels
> Kiltedpadre
10/11/2020 at 21:24 |
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Just found this informative Hemmings article:
https://www.hemmings.com/stories/article/long-live-the-king-1970-king-midget
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Kiltedpadre
> onlytwowheels
10/11/2020 at 21:48 |
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Interesting, it looks like at some point in my childhood the NOS parts supply made it’s way through my neck of the woods. I’m just outside of Dayton, Ohio.
I’m sure it just went into one of the many now empty warehouse spaces, but I’m still headed down the rabbit hole to see if I can track down exactly where.
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onlytwowheels
> Kiltedpadre
10/11/2020 at 22:05 |
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I’m in 3 rabbit holes at once...... maybe they connect at some point???
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Kiltedpadre
> onlytwowheels
10/11/2020 at 22:19 |
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If we meet in the middle I’ll give you the secret Oppo club handshake so you know it’s me.
I want that delivery truck. An old COE with three King Midgets on the bed would be awesome.
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onlytwowheels
> Kiltedpadre
10/11/2020 at 22:27 |
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Send lawyers, guns and money, or just lots of money.
https://www.chuckstoyland.com/category/automotive/cool-old-cars/cool-old-cars-king-midget/
https://www.slideshare.net/zebratwo/2535613-kingmidgetarticle
https://www.wisconsinmotorscanada.ca/whistorykingmidgetcars.html
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Kiltedpadre
> onlytwowheels
10/11/2020 at 22:42 |
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A midget motors scooter!
http://www.kingmidgetcarclub.org/scooter.html
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Kiltedpadre
> onlytwowheels
10/11/2020 at 23:00 |
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A PDF of the owner’s manual.
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onlytwowheels
> Kiltedpadre
10/11/2020 at 23:05 |
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onlytwowheels
> Kiltedpadre
10/11/2020 at 23:22 |
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Recommended maintenance service seems more than most would be willing to do today, especially the 2,500 mi or 12 months service.
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Kiltedpadre
> onlytwowheels
10/11/2020 at 23:43 |
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I can’t imagine needing to lube the drive chain weekly, and I actually enjoy things like that.
I don’t think most people could handle the recommended maintenance from most vintage cars. Can you picture most people crawling under a car and maintaining a dozen or more lube points on a routine basis?
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onlytwowheels
> Kiltedpadre
10/12/2020 at 00:02 |
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A modern King Midget would pr obably have a Scottoiler or similar to lube the chain, or maybe have belt drive.
Probably why the ze rk fittings virtually disappeared o n eve rything from ball joints to u- joints. I use a needle in the grease gun and lube through the boot for those without a zerk.