King Midgets

A King Midget was the dream car for many "Boomer" children. These tiny cars were street legal and the epitome of a "cute car". Car collector Barry Hilbert shows Lance Lambert, host of television's "Vintage Vehicle Show" his small collection of small cars. More information about the "Vintage Vehicle Show" can be found at www.vintagevehicletv.com

[@FrAdamVoisin]

I’m here after watching Mustie1’s video

[@chukzombi]

yep same here, its a peach of a car. Mustie has his work cut out for him.

[@motorman1873]

Same here!

[@user-hq2li3vj2b]

Yup lol

[@jkristen100]

Me too 🤓

[@kevinlimo696]

Me too

[@RichieRouge206]

Who else is here because of Mustie’s latest video?? These are fascinating little cars and I had never heard of them until his video!

[@JorgeMedina-lr6me]

Daw

[@oakstream6041]

Mustie brought me here

[@GRAIL-zp3ue]

same here

[@RichardSloan65]

Me too!

[@rheidtech]

Lol. Not me but because i saw his i clicked in this. Lol. So i guess yes. Lol

[@RS-cd9cf]

Watched Mustie and now I’m surrounded by Midget cars !!

[@92xl]

Mustie is having a serious impact on KZbins. Everything he does now becomes related to an age old video that gets recommended for me. First the Waterwitch now the KingMidget......(why do I picture The Burger King driving one of these cars??)

[@cidercik]

I'm sure I'm not the only one who looked for a manual for it as well.

[@yesman6554]

Me top!,

[@markarrington3869]

I love Mustie.He has taught me half what I know about cars.

[@markarrington3869]

A bad thing is the motor is stuffed into a closed compartment and runs hot.They go through pistons and bores.

[@Inisfad]

How funny...all the Mustie viewers come here to see what this really looks like.

[@DavenHiskey]

"MUSTIE1" now has a new vid, he has a lot of work ahead of him on a disassembled rusty err one..good on him

[@ckamina768]

Same as everyone else, I’m here after watching the mustie1 video this morning. Love seeing all the mustie1 fans here! Shows his impact and how popular one of his videos can make things!

[@timfremstad3434]

Yeah, just finished watching Mustie1, had to see what one looked like restored

[@Philc231]

Mustie 1 got the engine running on his latest video.......

[@SailorAllan]

seem like " The Villages " in Florida would be the place for these little cars ! ( here from Mustie1 )

[@38911bytefree]

Because Mustie. Looks like a fun toy to have !!!!!

[@gregry111]

In 1972, I moved from Phoenix to Dayton, Ohio. During the trip, which took about five days, I passed a King Midget every day. It was doing about fifty every time.

[@herdfan697278]

Love these little cars! I remember these being advertised in magazines.

[@trackman174]

Interesting little car. I love how the exhaust pipe runs under the fuel tank.😄

[@spoddog1]

i could seriously use one of these as an everyday car. they look very useable.

[@dehoedisc7247]

My dad bought a King Midget in 1956 and drove it to work at Biggs Air Force Base, Texas.

[@fysmith6503]

Wish I had bought one. I lived in Athens and graduated from Athens High School in 1967

[@samising9339]

Here via mustie.

[@lancelambert5304]

I'm the host of this show and ended up owning both of these KMs.

[@amjott]

I'm working on mine--a '63. It's in not the best shape, but so easy to work on!! I got a Briggs Vanguard 23 Hp V-twin for it...shouldn't have any trouble on the hills now!

[@Skameni]

I had friend growing up that had 3 of them in his yard! Wow!

[@large_n_widetm2116]

My grandpa used to have one and put a Harley shovel head motor in it. Had a 5 speed and went about 120. It was awesome!

[@sammyjimsmith6100]

I saw these in Popular Mechanics when I was young in the 50's. I never got the car but I have most Popular Mechanics from the late thirties.

[@kerrykrishna]

Yesterday, I saw this vid of a dude getting an all original one of these with only 3 miles on it running. This video here, was a terrific compressed story of the company, and now, I want to buy one. Thanks so much...

[@alexanderkasady6839]

My dad bought a used one in 1959, the first version- built in the early fifties, rounded nose, round steel pipe front bumper, 'Mickey Mouse' headlights, & a 9.25-horse Wisconsin engine w/ electric start. 2-speed automatic transmission and a top speed of 50 m.p.h. Horrible in the winter time (Michigan), but a kick in the summer. Basically a 4-wheeled Cushman scooter. The windshield wipers were mounted at the top of the windshield & hand-operated. Simple to the point of being crude.

[@arthuriscool1994]

im 20 years old and really into the classics and hot rods and stuff i stopped at a show and when i seen it for the first time i thought it was a homemade go cart but when i found out what it was i was blown away and here i am and i want one lol

[@bobbymiller1414]

Nice King Midget I have a 1962 King Midget I got for my Christmas present 1 year I was 7 years old I still have the car in 53 years old love the car

[@lancelambert5304]

I ended up being the owner of both of these KMs.

[@chuckwiesner8730]

But they don't fire up the engine,, guess I have to wait for Mustie 1,,

[@pipestud3corncobpuffer785]

The younger generations like to joke about 1950's stereotypes, but truth is it was an exciting time that brought new products to the market and delved into space technology, biting Hollywood films (i.e. All About Eve, Rebel Without a Cause), groundbreaking recordings like Brubeck's Time Further Out and even a burgeoning interest into the paranormal. In many ways, as this video proves far ahead of it's time.

[@ricardochavez2908]

Friggin mustie

[@GodsMan500]

I was born in ‘57 but was completely unaware of these cars. I read plenty of my dad’s Popular Mechanics magazines, but the ads for this car never caught my attention.

[@Nitewatch-xc9yz]

Would love to have one

[@jarikinnunen1718]

That car retail price was $960 in 1960, $8444 money value in now days. It`s same amount than small, road legal electric cars price now.

[@timfremstad3434]

Dam.....that's pretty pricey for a road worthy go-kart

[@kakashi1578]

Working on mine as well. A 1957 type 3 with wooden doors. Needs some work, but we've got it running ^_^ Cant complain for $2500 XD

[@G56AG]

Yep, I'm a Boomer who remembers those ads in the back of Popular Mechanics in the late 50's.

[@genegoodwin8925]

I grew up and still live about 12 miles from Athens Ohio and didn't know about the King Midgets until I worked with a guy that told me about them in the 1980's.

[@Mspindare]

The guy doing the interview would rather talk then ask questions and listen.

[@Wolvespiritt]

thinking of building one from scratch, seems like a simple body to fabricate, will probably either move the engine to front or add weight to the front tho to keep her planted at above 55. I have a good yanmar 3 cylinder diesel that will probably be used with a 5 speed Yamaha trans.

[@latarshamccray2756]

grater

[@latarshamccray2756]

i went it

[@thomasleemullins4372]

Check out Midget Motors and International King Midget Owners Club online. They have information on it.

[@jamesnyholt4620]

Want to buy a 1958 King Midget that needs to be restored

[@jamesnyholt4620]

If you have one wanting to sell it call me 865-313-6168 or text

[@unclebob6728]

Thank You!

[@jarikinnunen1718]

Trabant Kübelwagen is very similar. Maybe trabant designers got inspiration from King Mitget?

[@nealtrenkamp7398]

somebody should really start building these again especially the scooters I would love to see these brought back somebody needs to start a patreon to see if they can bring these back

[@mdmjeremiah]

I don't know why this video was recommended to me but I had to watch it because my dad owned one of these when he was a kid and told me stories about it and I always wanted to know what they looked like and what they were.

[@bobkroupa8445]

Here from Mustie1's video!

[@blasthammer1806]

i must find or build one of these now and there is no going back

[@dirtcop11]

I wanted a King Midget when I was a teenager. I just wonder what the outcome would have been if the company had been able to survive into the mid-seventies? Gasoline was scarce and the price shot up. I can't remember the actual mpg but I know it didn't burn much gas. I am glad to see such nice examples of the car.

[@richarda996]

65 mpg at 35 to 45 mph

[@79tazman]

It's a golf cart that is built like a car in all reality that's what it is.

[@MrPeterbilt1971]

There was a neighbor in Tekamah, Nebraska that had one of these. Called it his clown car.

[@anthonypage828]

The car that you got from the junk yard is call king midgets

[@happychappy5135]

Mustie 1. Rules. Simply the best

[@thomasleemullins4372]

They should check out Midget Motors and King Midget Owners Clob online. Midget Motors was supposed to come out with a lot car and an electric version.

[@kaekae4010]

Mustie algorithm

[@seastacker8582]

Mustie1 sent me. Cool little cars.

[@kccutiegirl1]

Same here mustie1 needs help putting his back together.i think he needs parts too.

[@mjjames2442]

Let’s see it drive!

[@jacksummers1736]

Stop confusing this poor guy that hasn’t produced a video in 10 years. This has got to be throwing KZbin analytics crazy.

[@jeremyhanna3852]

Its the ultimate golf cart drive it right on The course

[@alan6832]

Can they be made stable at 55 by adding spoilers? Reshaping the nose to produce a reverse the slant and push air up instead of down I think should help highway stability, anyone reshape the sheet metal to try it? The rear looks OK, but you could throw on a deck wing, since it has a deck to put it on.

[@jarikinnunen1718]

That thing on road legally? Other Ways good little car. I made once something like that from Renault R4 by stripping roof off. Its very pleasant to drive on back roads.

[@johnraymundmanalo674]

Mustie got me search this

[@davidjohns.3065]

It’s still bigger than the original mini.

[@succuvamp_anna]

Their from Athens Ohio!?, How did I never see these or hear of them? I'm in the Tri-State area and never seen them in my entire life....

[@almericussaxon8023]

10 year old video pops into my recommended cos M1 started a new project :)

[@peterredpath4922]

Mustie one also

[@danf4616]

Yeah...Mustie sent me.

[@BBC12oz]

Me too!

[@Boemel]

put a bench and indicators on a mower an huzzah

[@stap8598]

Mustie1 rocks!!!!

[@28YorkshireRose12]

Ah dagnabbit, I just sent Mustie a link to this video and all!

[@MrLeejan]

I think the scooter was actually a cushman with a bigger engine.

[@loloberry5932]

Put some atv tires on it and it’d pretty descent off-road.

[@Nunya_Bidnez]

I bet you could drive this thing right out onto most golf courses.

[@mrdanforth3744]

Midget Motors offered a golf cart version with golf bag holders bolted to the sides behind the doors. You could drive to the golf course, play a round, and drive it home.

[@brandonwellz007]

Mustie boy got us

[@imac1960]

there is one for sale on eBay

[@Madmark50484]

myself as well

[@KubotaManDan]

It's been 11 years since you shot this, did you buy one? also here because of Mustie1

[@lancelambert5304]

I ended up owning both of Barry's King Midgets.

[@mikemcguire8351]

Wonder what mustie1 is doing tonight?

[@bobkendall1805]

And me!

[@orangejuice410404]

cant even watch it... too jealous.

[@knauregriffiths7666]

Another Mustie1 fan...

[@thadude9013]

Same

[@niterockerone]

Folks bought one in 1960.

[@streetboy281]

let's put a k20 vtec on it and see how it does.

[@timwilliams9443]

Me too

[@craigwest9490]

Where mustie 1

[@doncarlo5]

well... throw bigger tires at it and you've just invented the Jeep Hurricane!!! I know, I know... can't compare to it ! Still, this midget is somehow sweet !

[@carlrae7129]

Wanted one when I was a kid.....

[@Thematt11]

'nother member of the Mustie club.

[@soaringvulture]

Do these things have starters or do you have to pull on a rope?

[@bonemar66]

The one Mustie1 has in his shop has electric start.

[@zeeblats]

View count has just gone up

[@zenocrooks7845]

How much u want for it

[@carlosanzola2938]

Mustie!

[@rawbacon]

*Want*

[@IIKPSII]

@Mustie1

[@joschimaus1]

This car has much to small weels.....

[@Corkoth55]

Nigga ain't even gonna take us for a ride or even start it up? Rude.

[@michaelclark8532]

Check out musty1, on KZbin, he’s got one that he’s going to bring back to life!!!

[@benshow3000]

Mustie1

[@ufoengines]

I was a sucker for the Pop. Mech. ad and would bug my dad about it who said why don't just hit myself in the head with a hammer if I want to die so badly . ( the man just was no fan of micro cars) . He hated Studebakers and the Volkswagens as well and I wouldn't have dared to ask why . He drove Fords but would have much preferred a Chrysler but said Chrysler would never give him the trade in he need but the Ford Dealership would . TO INFINITY AND BEYOUND! Patents 672256, 3190554, 3013505 .