We Bought a 60s Microcar with a Controversial Name... Will it Return to the Road After 22 Years??
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 ก.ย. 2024
- Micro cars were a big deal in the 1950s and 1960s due to the high price of new and used cars, and this 12HP Kohler microcar is one of the quirky, rare survivors of that era. These old micro cars are desirable these days because they're golf cart sized cars that are treated just like regular cars in the eyes of the law! That means they can be driven on public roads at highway speeds. Behold, the 1969 King Midget. The King Midget, built by Midget Motors in Ohio was built from 1949 to 1969. They produced about 5,000 units, and 1,000 are believed to be left in existence. We picked one up that has been off the road since 2001, and in today's video, we're going to get it running and driving again!
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Micro car road trip!!
We need more mini vehicles because you guys basically do always quads go karts, but never really like mini vehicles
They also had a dune buggy and a few scooters they have a few in Athens Ohio I'll take a few pics next time I'm there they have some more info on them too
John those are the turn signals not fog lights. They come on like that because one or more of the bulbs are of the wrong kind . Usually a 1157 {dual filament} was replaced with a 1156 {single filament} Thus causing them to come on when braking . And a 670 would for sure make it more roadworthy
You guys totally should do a road trip! I would love to see that!
Do a V twen engine swop with the transmission on the VTwen
When I was a kid (I'm 67 now) they sold these as kits or assembled in the back of Popular Mechanics Mag. I grew up near where they were manufactured, so it wasn't uncommon to see one. I've watched you guys from day 1, this has been one of my favorite episodes! Thanks
How close to Athens Ohio were you ? I live about 2 blocks from the original Midget Motors plant.
I'm about your age, Wayne, and I've seen several of these around the rural Pennsylvania area when I was in Jr. High School. I always wanted one, but had to settle for home made mini-bikes and go-karts!😄
If you want to sell them today, you'd probably have to sell them as a very easy to assemble kit to avoid all that crash test. BS
@@danw1955 i live in philadelphia so i never got
My two bits worth: I am 81 now.
When I was in high school about '59 or so I saw one of these at a stop light on Elston, and Addison in Chicago.
Already diggin this episode after just clicking on as I’ve got two King Midgets myself. My newer one is pretty close to yours but still in the factory white body color. Grandpa found it at an Arkansas campground in their playground buried in sand for kids to climb on. My earlier one was bought by a friend of the family to drive in parades with his Shriner buddies. It’s one of the first models with wooden doors and floor. Oddly enough I just found the convertible top bows for the later one last week that grandpa had put up in the rafters. Instantly knew what they were as grandpa had described em to me in the 90’s in hopes that I may run across them while moving parts around during my first ElCamino build. So cool to see other people discovering these cars, and that you’ve got one of the steel and aluminum bodies instead of the later fiberglass bodied cars. Can’t wait to see where you guys take the build.
Forgot to mention, if you guys ever need points, condenser, generator/starter or engine parts, Cub Cadet riding mowers from the same era will interchange.
Almost to the end, somebody had to have changed the gearing. They’ll run 50+ no problem with the original centrifugal clutch. On a crowned secondary road though they do tend to get a little bit sketchy with the factory caster built into them. The shocks were pretty primitive originally which doesn’t help either. I’m thinking grandpa said he used shocks from an Opel Kadette but I could be mistaken as he had one of those little cars for my mom to drive to the city park’s pool when she worked during the summer. Unfortunately the car stories run together for me unless they were about muscle cars or drag cars. I can look at my King Midgets and compare to old inventory at his old garage that I bought a couple of years back. I ended up with a 50 x 10 wall of shocks, front end and brake parts from the family business when he shut it down and went to the coal mines. I’m sure you guys are good with your research but I dont mind helping if you run into a dead end. Anyway, keep up the cool content.
Thanks for sharing the story and expertise! These are sweet little machines, you’re lucky to have 2
@@CarsandCameras hey if you do put a v twin engine in it a oil pressure and oil temp gauge should be added to the dash like the other two please and run a oil cooler with fan to help
And a tachometer analog one would look cool
@@CarsandCameras They are definitely a great little car. I appreciate the compliment, I just lucked out having a grandfather who enjoyed being a big kid. Didn’t matter if it was go karts, 3 wheelers or dirt bikes he was all in and got as banged up as the rest of us.
Glad you guys ended up with yours and are sharing some of the history of them for what I’m sure are thousands of viewers who would’ve otherwise never had any knowledge of them.
One more thing just hit me that I’d forget earlier. Grandpa mentioned that these cars had been used in amusement parks across the country around late 60s early 70s.
If they had one of the fiberglass bodied ones it would be a very rare find as only three complete 1970 Commuters were built before the fire at the factory. The only body mold and a bunch of finished bodies were destroyed. 12 model III cars were built in 1970 and that was the end of King Midget.
I would be thrilled if you could put some videos of them on your channel! Ever since this video came out I have been fascinated by these cars and learning about them and their heritage.
I see so much potential in these micro cars and how they could be upgraded and retrofitted with todays technology.
Thanks if ya do!
And no worries if ya don't.
But if you do decide to Let me know here and i will DEFINETLY watch and post comments and questions on your videos!
Dang, that thing is sweet! We need to see that road trip ASAP! Some performance mods to that little Kohler and a shifter transmission would make that thing awesome! Keep up the great work guys!
The Kohler K301 in that machine is a good stout engine. It is much better quality than a comparable Briggs of the same year and horse power. And, you can get all kinds of parts for the Cast Iron Kohlers. A ton of them are still in use today in garden tractor pullers making a lot more horsepower than they were designed for. As a garden tractor collector, I would recommend leaving the Kohler in place and maybe modifying it for more power rather than toss it for a Predator. Great little machine you guys found there! Best of luck in bringing it back to it's former glory!
I agree. tune the Kohler. You'll f*** it up completely other wise.
My simplicity landlord 1969 is a beast!! Kohler power
Or you could take out a mortgage and buy a honda engine.
Midwest Super Cub for more HP.
Kohler K301-12hp engine and Cub Cadet tractor is the starting point for all garden tractor pulling.
That 12hp engine, is the only engine that is used, if you want to pass inspection; rpm limited by rules, rest of engine can have work done.
Lots of aftermarket support for that specific engine and very strong cast iron block.
Yes I agree all the K series Kholers are nice especially pre 80s my tractor in my profile pic is a 67 case with a k241 never done repairs to the engine... was sitting for over 10 years in the elements just cleaned the carb and it's fired right up
The tail on the back was from a promotion run by Esso the message was," put a Tiger in your tank" and the tail would hang off of the filler cap, the tigers tail would be hanging out. 👍🏻 Great little car, I love it when you repurpose or modernise these old machines 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Pontiac G.T.O. , put a tiger in your tank Esso and Pontiac collaboration
And remember the tiger striped orange plastic boxing gloves to hang from your rear view mirror? Part of the same advertising promo.
@@edwicks66 in England it was only Esso
Oh my gosh, I thought that thing looked familiar!! Now I remember the TV ads!😂
Built in Athens, Ohio. After the car was put together they would run them up High Street hill and if they made it to the top they were ready to go. I have a photo of the plant where they were made with a bunch of them out front. Modern safety features put them out of business. There is a Midget Motors Club that comes back here occasionally for a weekend meet and tries the hill run. Fun to watch. Always thought it would be fun to have one with a mildly stronger engine.
I love that going up a hill was their main quality control
Was the factory on Columbus Rd?
@@John-1984 No, it was on Campbell Street where it parallels E. Stimson Ave. It's more like an alley. The building is still there and is right next to the AmVets Post 76.
Him out
Yeah put a motorcycle engine in it . there's a guy that puts every kind of engine in a 8n Ford tractor you can imagine don't remember his name or channel check
Nice to see a car finally make an appearance on this channel! Hail to the King Midget! Hopefully this turns into a series?
Indeed...I mean given the channel name lol
@@tmchase7 CarandCameras
Yeah, I think your plan for putting the v-twin engine in it is a great idea. I can’t wait until the next episode!
Hell yeah a Harbor Freight Vtwin will haul ass!
King Migits were built in Shelby Ohio for many years. There is a big shindig every year for this unique little car. Basically they went out of business due to the one wheel drive, Wonder what would happen if someone put a differential rear end a more modern say a Harbor freight V-twin.
Not much smaller than a "smart car" ! Awesome find!
Hey guys, that tail on your Midget, if original, is from Exxon gasoline advertising campaign of the 1960's. The tag line was "Put a Tiger in your tank!", and they gave away those little tiger tails with the elastic band to to put around your gas cap and have the tail hanging out.
Pretty cool. I don't know if anyone reproduces that tiger tail any more.
Also, I owned a British micro-car for many years. It was a 1959 Berkely SE392. Originally had a 392cc Excelsior two-stroke engine, but mine was modified with a 750cc Kawasaki Ninja engine. It was INSANELY fast!
They also gave them away in the 1980's, too, at least in the DC area, where that King Midget was last registered.
30 seconds in and I can tell this is gonna be sweet. Looks like lots of fun for the future. It deserves a good detailing and buffed
Would love to see more with this car. Would be really cool if you guys took the 670 motor and put that in the car and then ran duals out the back.
Absolutely love this project, and I cannot wait to see what you guys do with it. Really looks like it brought some old life back for John and Isaac
I vote on 670 👍🏻 a true dual exhaust would be cool
For sure!
@CarsandCameras this would be amazing!!
@CarsandCameras maybe a welded diff too!
@@jeffreymoffitt4070 they want it for road trips,a welded diff would be terrible
670, duals but, with an X-pipe for a unique sound ! Should you use a 5 speed harley- type transmission, or a new matched CVT with the over-drive (dome shaped overdrive Driver) from Go-Power Sports!
Hell yeah we wanna see a hell of a lot more of this micro car, and also you could just make an entire mini series on this car!!! Thanks for all the amazing content and much love and respect to all of you!!
🤘💯🤘💯🤘
17:00 I love the fact that Charles ain't minding the mice, yet Ike and John don't even want to be near it! A manly sign of a true mechanic!
I'm with Charles, lol .
And there country boy cred blown by a few dead mouse ! (I don't like em either but as a farm worker I can't show fear either)👍
Killer Midget King smoke show!
Drop that V-twin in and let's go to the BEACH!!!
That with the Tillotson 225, suspension and boggy tires would be a little beast. But Ike would most likely shed a tear if anything drastic happened to it.
Hi, it sounds kinda petty, but could you do up the engine best you can, maybe use a higher compression piston, I'm not sure how it works but I love the engine and I think it should stay so that its not just the body that defines its character, of coarse if the engine is not original, then replace it but all the other fixes seem good 🙂
Anyone who sees this comment I hope you have a awesome day!!!
The engine is very similar to the version used on some of the 70’s cub cadets. The starter may be the same setup; it is a starter when energized by the solenoid, but becomes a 12V generator once the engine is running.
As Someone with a 69 Cub Cadet 147 (14 hp) I can confirm. they also ran a sediment bowl and round air cleaner.
I know my opinion doesn't count for much but I think, with such limited numbers of these little cars out there, repairing and modifying the factory engine may be a little more unique than just stuffing a 670 in a classic car (unless the Kohler is toast). Plus a little hotrod flat head would be uber cool .
Bolt vm22 directly to the cylinder head no intake needed. You can use the stock bolts. It’s a direct bolt on.
I have that same engine on a couple of my Wheelhorse Tractors. Those old 12 horse Kohlers run forever!
Great video. I think I'd like to see what can be done with the Kohler engine before the Predator V-Twin is installed. A few mods and general maintenance. Once all that's done and you've road tested a bit more, then think about the upgrades. Cheers and keep up the interesting content.
The Kohler engines were strong mules and used in everything requiring an industrial small engine. I bet you could modify it starting with tampering with the governor to get some real rpm and more torque.
Been liking this channel for a while but Charles brings it to a whole new level.
This channel never disappoints. Go King Midget!
That's like one of the car's on the prisoner series 👍🤣🤣💚💛❤️
I would love to see it back on the road. You don't see any of them out on the road it is part of the automobile history
Love it
Hey man I just wanted to say I love your guys's content I think the King Midget needs upgraded engine and parts I would absolutely love to see it I love what you guys are doing and encouraging the young to get into stuff like this keep up the great work man y'all stay safe stay blessed
Consider this, since you're replacing the master cylinder and a few other brake components. Start out with the idea of this car sits most of its life. DOT 3 brake fluid does not do well over a period of time. Build your new brake system around DOT 5 brake fluid, which is pure silicone base. It won't absorb water and it does evaporate. My Harley always had brakes in the spring when I got it out for the summer. You need to start fresh with all new hoses and wheel kits, but it will be worth it when it's ready to drive every time you want to drive it. Love your find and look forward to the 670 build.
On the older models, they were equipped with Wisconsin motors. The Koehler looks factory. I wasn’t aware they had switched engine companies in the newer models. My dad used to service the factory in Athens Ohio. He used to come home and tell me about the Midgets. I’ve always wanted one.
I would LOVE to see you build your own King Midget variant. Midget is also a fine name to call a car btw, just not a fine thing to call a person!
The air filter, assembly and stuff like that on that 12 horse Kohler it looks a lot similar to the old 60s international cubcadet
The Cub cadets used the same series of engine. So that would make sense
Camping gamer ,your right when lived at home we had two ih cub cadets 125,129 and had the same engine.
I like the idea of keeping it simple with the predator 670. Parts availability would be key. But keep everything you take off and keep mods and upgrades easily reversible.
I agree, as long as it would fit!
Man guys. That thing is awesome. I’d love to see what y’all do to this. A live axle might help
Keep her original some engine upgrades but keep the original engine besides that that is cool
60s BIG BLOCK brings flat swapping my go kart at the moment I wouldn't have gotten this far without you guys go kart wise the stuff on cars I know came from Kevin at junkyard digs
Puddin from Puddin's Fab Shop
Josh from Sleeperdude thank you to all you guys
GPS disc brakes fore and aft,dual master cylinder,larger final drive sprockets,more aggressive cvt,a big air cooled v twin and new adjustable ressy type shocks all around and beach bound I would be...
out of all the things you guys have put back on the road this is the kewlest thing yet ...... good job guys.
You know a 2 stroke snowmobile engine might be fun in it.
True, but a Predator 670 would be better for trips!
@@CarsandCameras nice find!! A 670 will be awesome!! You guys should fully restore it and take a road trip on it!!
@@CarsandCameras I prefer my trips LSD or Guilt. 😂
Yes do it would love to see it
@CarsandCameras please do the vtwin
You should try and get a hold of an old robin reliant three wheeler! They are pure fun to drive and can tip over too fast round a corner. My friend had on and I said why don't we put stabilisers like on a kid's bike on so he stole them off his kids bike and even though they didn't have bearings on they worked really well after that it would fly round corners! Yo could feel it tip over then get on the stabilisers and it would actually help it steer better and sharper. Anyway I think you should get one and fit stabilisers and it would make a great load of videos 👍🤣🤣🤣💚💛❤️
You said it in the end V-Twin engine and double the horsepower to 24hp.
And nice custom rims and tires from GoPowersports. On top of that make a stand for a pair of surfboards. They can double as a roof. You are after all aiming for the beach.
I would also consider a nice rack on the engine compartment. For some camping euqipment. Or maybe a hitch and a little trailer behind.
Make it look good.
670 with a nice mid range cam and valve springs, and billet flywheel with a mukuni carb and free flowing filter and exhaust would be a nice bump in power but not too radical and would probably let it ride at highway speeds with ease once you get the brakes working good. I'd probably replace all 4 shocks to be safe too 😅. Could even throw better pushrods and rockers and billet rods in it for more longevity
Definitely want to see you guys take this on a long adventure. Needs a Harley 883 swap or maybe a snowmobile motor swap.
The predator engine sounds like a sweet addition. It is a sweet little ride and well worth the upgrades it needs.
A 670cc Vtwin swap is very popular with the guys in the King Midget club. I am a former member. they are a great bunch of guys. If you contact the KM club they will be happy to help.
Awesome .rake the screen back 10° 5mph extra free speed .😅
Big twin motorcycle engine and box and safety equipment
Since when is midget controversial? Midgets were never enslaved! Unless you count the Wonka factory. *cough* John Mulaney joke
Looks like it could use one of those compact 6 speed sequential lawnmower transmissions!
That's a Kohler k321 . That's a great engine. Used to build them for cubcadet pulling tractors as a kid
That second sound you asked about is the intro to “there is no place like Nebraska”. Fight song for the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Welcome to the Micro-Mini car world. I've been into Subaru 360's and Nash Metropolitans for 40+ years. King Midgets are cool, saw them a number of times at the SWULCS which has gone on for 40+ years. Enjoy the ride guys!
sure if you have a 670 go for it. but if not may want to look into older twin cylinder motorcycle engines would take some shoehorning but after market upgrades could work but I think a 670 would be good start iirc they can be souped up pretty well.
Your best bet is to rebuild the Cast Iron Koler You can get more power out of it than the China made pot metal V twin you may get mroe speed from the predator but not torque or raw Power. those ole Kolers like that are Tough I have a 14 in my Tractor and ita a big tractor.
How about a Polaris liquid cooled 3 cylinder 2 stroke engine. Then it could keep up with traffic.
Please put the original Wisconsin engine back into it. It definitely didn’t come stock with that junk Koehler engine!!
Nice little car. Super cool yin's guys found something like that. Take care of it. And keep up the great work
Put a vtwin briggs in her. Cooling fans, hydraulic brakes, bigger cvt clutches.
Honda or Briggs twin is the usual upgrade. I have seen one with a 3 cyl. transverse, (Justy maybe?).
Y'all come across some of the best and most interesting things. I picked up a 150cc tank motors moped and turned it into a truck-ish. Wish I could find a microcar cause I'd drive it to work
These are really cool! I saw a couple of these 30+ years ago at Carlyle. I really like the 670 twin idea for the engine, the brake master I'd use a motorcycle one oh excuse me 2 side by side. And go-cart or motorcycle shocks. Which I'm pretty sure you have around the shop! Lol 😅😅
Please, for the sake of Internet entertainment. Make this thing epic. A 670 would be a great idea in my opinion.
That thing looks sketchy as f.... Awesome to get to see this kind of old stuff.
Now, let's see when you shove a snowmobile engine in the rear of that thing! :D
YES to the Predator 670! Loving the ideas all around. Keep at it guys.
Dude one of my dads friends had one of these he restored and it had a 9hp Wisconsin hay bale engine on it the original 2 speed setup was a little worse for wear and the engine we could never get to run correctly so I set him up with the 13hp engine from harbor freight the blue one they sold before they started carrying predator motors and the same CVT setup like you have on yours and that thing would flat out fly it would just roast that one wheel you put that 670 on there and freshen up that cvt and the belt I promise you will love that little car
I am so excited for the road trip video
Yall should do something different with this one.
Would be could to build a sleeper, slap a 1 liter geo metro engine and drive train into that rig and it would probably fly haha
I am sure it weights about half of a geo.
So freaking cool. Take that old Kohler and put a predator 670 in it. 60mph easy
Are you really afraid to say midget? Not controversial in the slightest, there are MG midgets, Midget car racing, etc.
Better brakes, LED lighting, go through and upgrade the engine, wheels and tires. Make it so.
I really think you need to construct an air scoop under the seat into the engine bay help cool the engine before that long trip. Also use heat exhaust wrap on the pipe that is under the engine bay to help prevent heat under there.
An oil cooler to the front would be sufficient. These engines are made to run HOT.
Midget controversial? ???? Do people confuse it with an MG Midget?
You should find two more micro cars if you can and all three of you guys roadtrip them to the beach that would be awesome to see.
The master cylinder is a Ford @ 56 to 62. a slightly later Ford dual should fit.
Ok now you guys need to build ur own micro car. See how much better you could make one ourselves with today's tech
DUDE YOU GUYS SHOULD PUT LIKE A SOUPED-UP SNOWMOBILE ENGINE OR A MOTORCYCLE MOTOR.
There is aftermarket parts for the k301 they use them in tractor pulls and they turn some serious rpm’s
put a 4Kw generator hub in place of that old cvt and hub motors in the corners.
I believe that second song it played was a version of The Caisson Song.
This car doesn’t have a real following to get upset about the purity. I say go for the swap and have fun!
I think one of the new 999cc v twin engines would suit that car nicely and it would be blue to match
Anyone else not big fan of the 360 camera. It looks like you're in a bubble 😂😂
Was the previous owner a Shriner?? Seems to equipped as a Shriner Parade car.
All original stock looking sleeper with a BA power plant😁👍👍
Mags....😂😂😂😂and surf boards...😅😂😂😂and a radar detector.....😜😅😂🤣😂🤣
That is so cool.You guys rock keep em rolling rolling.All the best to you all.
Very cool find!
you guys should wrap and it Cars and Camera style, Put the a Vtwin swap in
Cool car , my opinion a built predator and a GPS axle kit.
Please leave the original 12-horse engine in it... it's only original once.
I for one would love to see you guys restore the king back to his former glory
You guy need to build two micro cars and all three of you guy can go on a road trip
Big brake kit, engine swap with a Honda d16 auto and weld the diff in said auto box
I definitely would like to see a v670 in that car!
I think putting the mag wheels you guys use on alot of the projects would look awesome on it.
My girlfriends grandfather was Dale Orcutt. He was one of the founders of the King Midget company. They were produced in Athens Ohio from 1946 until around 1970. Dale passed away in 1968.
That's so cool
That's such a cool car! Those old Kohlers are the best! By the way the points are external under a cover on the side of the block below the carburetor if you ever need to adjust or clean them.
some chrome or polished wheels from Go Powersports and some white letter Hoosiers?
Contact Mustie1 and let’s see some King Midget races.
how about a v-twin motor cycle engine? make it roar like a harley