Boss Todd’s Garage, Episode 9: The 1957 King Midget Model 3

Camaro Burnout pics only!!! - Third Generation F-Body Message Boards
[source]
[A 1985 Camaro IROC-Z squeals its tires, bursting onscreen to the sounds of Judas Priest’s “Breakin’ The Law”.]

BOSS TODD IS FUCKIN’ BACK, BITCHES!

[source]
LOOKS LIKE THAT STUPID INTERNET ASSHOLE IS LOSIN’ FUCK TONS OF MONEY AGAIN. No, not THAT stupid internet asshole, the OTHER one. With the bad jokes and all the kids that won’t talk to him. Gettin’ so bad he had to cut the prices of his cars for the second time this year. So I figured, fuck it, why not scoot around for a little while in a Model 3 to see what all the fuss is about?

Hahah. You dumb thunderfuck. Not the electric one. THIS one. LOOK ME IN THE GOD DAMN EYES WHEN I’M SHOUTING AT YOU, COWARD!

1962 KING MIDGET 2 DOOR CONVERTIBLE MODEL III
[source]

THE KING MIDGET MODEL 3

Model Year: 1957

Total units produced: ~3000

Vehicle type: two-seater convertible

Engine: Kohler K301 or Wisconsin single-cylinder, air-cooled; 9.2-12 hp

Drivetrain: RWD (rear-engine mounted), no differential; chain-driven right rear wheel only

Transmission: two-speed automatic

Gross weight: 700 lbs.

0-60 time: not a chance

Top speed: 50 mph

Vehicle cost: $900 (1957 pricing)

What makes this car interesting?

We’ve seen a number of microcars so far in our time in this series; some have been really clever, while others have been absolute deathtraps. This one might have started its life as the latter, but ended it rather as the former.

At the end of World War II, American industry was rapidly changing gears, ramping down production of military materiel and pivoting back towards consumer goods for the first time in many years. With the economy prospering, demand for consumer vehicles jumped once again, and many new upstart companies wanted to try their hand at stealing some market share away from the Big Three of GM, Ford, and Chrysler. Enter Midget Motors Corporation.

Midget Motors’ founders, Claud Dry and Dale Orcutt, were originally pilots, but turned to car design later in their careers. Their first version of the King Midget, released in 1948, was originally just a kit closely resembling a small boxcar, but subsequent additions and redesigns continued to enhance and improve the original version of a cheap, simple, compact and lightweight vehicle suitable for most daily driving needs. The Model 2 made a few waves in a series of ads in Popular Science magazine, advertising “a 500-pound car for $500” in 1951 – a steal even in those days.

model_ii
The King Midget Model 2, as advertised in Popular Science magazine.[source]
In 1957, the King Midget Model 3 was released, and compared to the first two versions of the vehicle, it was a significant upgrade. There was now a reverse gear, four-wheel hydraulic brakes, electric starter, windshield wiper, seatbelts, carpeting, and a radio – compared to the early days of the Model 1, which lacked even such simple things as door latches or a speedometer, the Model 3 was luxurious for what it was. Compared to its main competitor, the Crosley (yes, the same company that makes modern cheap portable record players for millennial assholes), it was smaller, lighter and still much less expensive. For those concerned with gas mileage, this model was tough to beat. It’s believed to have averaged in the 50-60 mpg range without breaking a sweat.

The Model 3 was produced up to about 1970, when a fire destroyed the factory; the new owner, Joseph Stehlin (NO, NOT THAT GUY), a longtime Midget enthusiast who purchased the company in 1965, couldn’t deal with the costs to rebuild, and the King Midget faded into obscurity. Most are gone from the roads, but a few still exist today in museums and private collections across the country.

What makes this car stupid?

Stick this shit up against a modern F-350. Not a chance that it’s allowed as anything more than a Shriners parade novelty today. Truth be told, that’s not actually a knock on the car itself, but rather the fact that modern safety standards of vehicles have necessitated continuous expansion of vehicle size and protective equipment and technology in the car itself. The Big Three automakers won their war against these vehicles by ensuring legislators supported transportation and urban design that focused on customers acquiring vehicles that were as big and expensive as could possibly be, and as such, some of the only suitable places left to drive this are in the VD-ridden retirement communities of the Florida Everglades, where golf carts rule the faux-cobblestone pathways.

That said, this thing still offers less than zero protection. One has absolutely no margin for error while at the wheel of this thing. Do NOT get in if Donte Stallworth offers you a lift in this thing.

CAN YOU GET PUSSY IN THIS CAR? 

MIDGETS, YOU SAY? Oh you fucks just KNOW some OnlyFans dwarf kink broad is firing up a Craigslist search right this second. She smells an opportunity. Though that might just be the smell of a two-stroke. Same shit, really.

How can BOSS TODD fix this thing? 

Y’ALL EVER HEAR ABOUT THE KOENIGSEGG TFG???

How Koenigsegg's 2-Liter No-Cam Engine Makes 600 Horsepower
Tiny and absolutely furious. [source]
This little cocksucker stands for “Tiny Friendly Giant.” It has three cylinders, two turbos, weighs 150 pounds all in, and produces 600 horsepower. Screams like a methed-out banshee. If you want it, you gotta buy an entire Gemera sedan for a million bucks, but that is fucking WORTH IT. In fact, this guy is probably the answer to fixing all the problems in every single vehicle that has ever existed. Just gotta hold a bunch of Swedes at gunpoint to make more, faster. Fuck, stick one on your running back’s shoulder pads and see what happens out there on the field.

BOSS TODD out, bitches. See you in hell.

[The Camaro burns out again, with “Breakin’ The Law” blaring once more.]

***

Information for this article taken from here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. Banner image by The Maestro. 

5 2 votes
Article Rating
The Maestro
The Maestro is a mystical Canadian internet user and New England Patriots fan; when the weather is cooperative and the TV signal at his igloo is strong enough, he enjoys watching the NFL, the Ottawa Senators & REDBLACKS, and yelling into the abyss on Twitter. He is somehow allowed to teach music to high school students when he isn't in a blind rage about sports, and is also a known connoisseur of cheap beers across the Great White North.
https://www.doorfliesopen.com/index.php/author/the-maestro/
Subscribe
Notify of
46 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
WCS

Reminder that Cousinfuckers and Rock Chawk 15:00 EST on TWWL.

Join me in my further arthrological studies of an obese man who prefers to use tarpines as clothes yell at people two-thirds his age.

King Hippo

Bill Self so skeered he ain’t even show up?

King Hippo

Senor’s Johnny Cakes to Extra Time

Gumbygirl

Gumby told me yesterday Mitch McConnell fell down, was on his shell, couldn’t roll over, and they had to keep dumping water on him until the paramedics got there.

LemonJello

Thoughts (bad) and prayers (to Cthullu).

comment image

King Hippo

Fronk’s Hammers could get relegated while winning Zooropa Conference. Imagine trying to balance 46 Championship fixtures with a European campaign.

Horatio Cornblower

Ah, now to take a big sip of coffee and log in to DF…

Oh dear god.

Last edited 1 year ago by Horatio Cornblower
King Hippo

Arsenal in Zooropa!

Horatio Cornblower

Absolutely do not give a shit about the Europa. Start the U-18 guys and rest everyone for the Premier games. These chances don’t come every year unless you’re owned by an Middle Eastern sovereign wealth fund.

King Hippo

Xhaka got a yellow for smacking the ball out of the keeper’s hand

LongtimeLionsLoser

The Lions are betting favorites to get Lamar Jackson

F1185FF7-4AFF-46A2-BA4E-89971CD04C3B.jpeg
LongtimeLionsLoser

Go Detroit!

comment image

King Hippo

Stock up on flannel, yo

BrettFavresColonoscopy

This is all part of Detroit’s master plan to end up with Carson Wentz

LongtimeLionsLoser

Take it back! Take it back right now!!!

Senor Weaselo

/Looks up the Gemera
So… Christian von Koenigsegg remains certifiably insane, got it. This sounds like the entry level model, which is again a cool $1.7M.

Sharkbait

I think you mean the Koenigseggseggeggeggegegg.

LemonJello

What’s the line of succession for a King Midget?

Horatio? Any ideas?

2Pack

Duke Midget? Earl Midget?

Duke, Duke, Duke, Duke of Earl
Duke, Duke, Duke of Earl Midget?

LemonJello

Earl Midget had a hell of a bluegrass Munchkin band!

LongtimeLionsLoser

Does this succession also take into account midgets who are “spare” and have stepped out of their senior Royal positions?

Sharkbait

I bet Horatio has spare midgets in case the primary needs a night off.

LemonJello

Like, there’s a dwarf bullpen in Cornblower Estate?

Game Time Decision

would this be getting called up to the big leagues or the little leagues?

Sharkbait
LemonJello

“Calling in Ol’Tripod it looks like.”

comment image

Horatio Cornblower

They’re free range.

We’re not monsters.

2Pack

A side Midget???

peter-sellers_a56975.jpg
LongtimeLionsLoser

I see can see the injury report now:

Out: Horatio’s primary midget (rest)

It’s all about LOAD management.

Last edited 1 year ago by LongtimeLionsLoser
WCS

comment image

He said, “load management.”

Last edited 1 year ago by WCS
blaxabbath

Arizona GOP put an old institutional GOP blowhard in charge of schools last year and now he’s setting up a hotline for parents to report inappropriate lessons in school. It’s a ways of money so I am against it.

From the article:

Parents can submit reports by calling 602-771-3500 during business hours or by emailing [email protected]. The emails are subject to release as public records.

How can we can all ruin this the way they ruined a peaceful transition of power? In our of the internet loop good but remember like AMC and when they got that bad singer to keep advancing on American Idol.

Serious pro- conspiracy comments requested.

BrettFavresColonoscopy

K-Pop

LemonJello

Let’s not use the nuclear option right out the gate.

blaxabbath

I called the hotline.

“Press 1 for English…”

Rikki-Tikki-Deadly

Ask for the Spanish option and then leave an angry message asking why they offer such an option this is AMERICA, GODDAMNIT!

LemonJello

Demand the re-introduction of Dodgeball to all PE curricula?

Game Time Decision

report the hotline for being a waste of money and someone’s time, like a zillion times

Sharkbait

Complain that all lessons around Ronald Regan are inappropriate. Cite examples of ignoring the AIDS crisis, trickle down economics, and how he was married to the throat goat

BrettFavresColonoscopy

Iran-Contra, shutting down insane asylums, union busting, your list needs to be much longer.

Sharkbait

If I didn’t stop I’m pretty sure I’d hit the character limit of WordPress

King Hippo

But the dopest DJ ever to spin in DC ppl forget that

BrettFavresColonoscopy

Midget enthusiast? BY GAWD THAT’S HORATIO CORNBLOWER’S MUSIC!

BrettFavresColonoscopy

(I fully expect the entire comment section to be Horatio/sex dwarf jokes)

Game Time Decision

it had better be, or the dwarf will be disappointed. Just like Deanna

Game Time Decision

Hey Horatio Cornblower, how does the dwarf like this vehicle?