King Midget is an exceptional automobile. It was billed as both "World's Number One Fun Car" and "World's Most Exciting Small Car". Many people still believe it is. These people, and countless others, helped King Midget establish an important and significant niche in the annals of automobile history.

The automobile celebrated it's 100th birthday in 1986. Among all automobile ever manufactured, throughout the world, King Midget holds one untouchable record. King Midget was the only small car continuously manufactured for nearly a quarter of a century; from 1946 until operations ceased in 1970. In addition, Midget Motors Corporation was the sixth largest automobile manufacturer in the United States for a number of years.

King Midget featured it's own unique, patented automatic transmission at the same time the majority of larger manufacturers began introducing automatic transmissions to the public. It offered incomparable fuel economy. Midget Motors' use of aircraft lightening techniques and unit body construction resulted in a strong, light vehicle years ahead of its successors.

All this makes King Midget very special.

The evolution of King Midget began in 1946 when Claud Dry and Dale Orcutt conceived King Midget as an inexpensive, affordable car that anyone could buy. They developed and sold the King Midget as an inexpensive, affordable car that anyone could buy. The first King Midget was a single passenger kit car in which any single cylinder engine could be installed. By 1951, Dry and Orcutt had developed the second model King Midget, a two passenger convertible offered either fully assembled or as a kit, powered by the 7.5 horsepower Wisconsin AENL engine. This model firmly established King Midget's reputation and incredible ability to perform extraordinary feats. It could carry more than its own weight, it could pull exceptionally heavy loads, it had the agility of a mountain goat; all over arduous terrain with durability and economy for thousands of miles. It began as the 500 pound car for $500. It was this model which first offered the optional automatic transmission, reverse, shatterproof safety-glass tinted windshield, top, steel winter doors with sliding Plexiglas windows (and in 1955, Philippine mahogany doors and winter enclosures), hot air heater, speedometer, turn signals, hand operated controls for handicapped persons, bright red and bone white upholstery and the golf model, complete with two golf bag racks, extra wide traction tires on the rear, special low gearing, foot rests on the front fenders and an extra quiet muffler system. King Midget came in one color, California Cream, unless you paid $10 extra. By 1955, the standard color was Peace Rose Cream and later became bone white.

Dry and Orcutt introduced the third model King Midget in 1957. The basic body design of this model was used through the end of production. Other significant changes included unit body construction, with the frame and all fixed body components welded together for strength, four wheel hydraulic brakes, and 9.2 horsepower. As time progressed, other improvements evolved. The Philippine mahogany doors were replaced by aluminum doors and, near the end, steel doors. The electrical system was upgraded from 6 to 12 volts in 1961. The old standby Wisconsin AENL engine was replaced by a 12 horsepower Kohler K301 engine in 1967. The brown canvas top was replaced by a vinyl covered black or white top. An optional electric windshield wiper was offered, along with a windshield washer, radio, carpeted panels, floor mats, safety belts and new paint colors: Corinthian white, Rangoon red, yellow, blue and aqua.

Throughout its history, King Midget was manufactured under the stewardship of only three groups of people. Claud Dry and Dale Orcutt first sold King Midget as part of their Midget Motors Supply operations in Athens, Ohio. In time, they changed the name to Midget Motors Manufacturing Co., and again, in about 1956, to Midget Motors Corporation. In 1966, a group of investors bought Midget Motors Corporation and Joseph C. Stehlin, Jr. sold to Barthman Corporation, led by Vernon D. Eads. Eads tried desperately to revive King Midget. He designed and built the King Midget commuter, a molded fiberglass bodied, dune buggy type automobile, for an American export show and eventual production. He attempted to start a licensing operation in both Florida and Canada. A fire at the fiberglass plant destroying 13 bodies and the mold, monetary costs of the required Federal crash test program, and diminishing demand for the automobile, caused Eads to stop making King Midget. Ironically, Eads as a college student, had worked as a consultant for Midget Motors during development of the second model. Eads' longstanding interest nurtured the hope that he one day could again build King Midget.

After production stopped, King Midget Parts Co. was formed in Dayton, Ohio to continue to provide parts support. It was operated by Eads' sister Vivian and her husband, Bob Craven. Bob had worked hard with Eads during the last months of production to improve assemble processes and factory output. Unfortunately, those successful efforts were to no avail.

In 1980, John Weitlauf, of Dayton, Ohio, bought the parts which had come from the Florida licensing operation. They had all been in storage for 10 years.

In 1986, Dave Stults, of Westport, Indiana, purchased Weitlauf's remaining parts. In 1988, he bought the Craven's parts, and, from Vernon Eads, all rights to Midget Motors, King Midget and King Midget Commuter. In 1990, he bought the remaining Canadian licensing operation parts from Brian Coleman and Bob Cook. Dave owns several King Midgets, including the last one produced. It's his desire to be King Midget's strongest advocate.

This is a brief historical perspective of the fascinating little King Midget. I believe every vehicle of historical significance deserves a champion; a steward to promote and support it. A great deal of gratitude is owed the Cravens for providing that role, coupled later with the efforts of Weitlauf and Bill Hossfield, of Ringwood, New Jersey, who started the first King Midget Registry and Dave Stults, for organizing the first ever King Midget Jamboree in Westport, Indiana in 1991 and for supplying the fullest parts support and information for King Midget from 1986-1995.