By Greta Suiter, Manuscripts Archivist
Summers in Athens can feel a little lonely. The students are mostly gone, the streets are empty, the town is quiet. But every ten years Athens is the summer destination for a unique group – those who drive King Midget cars. You can hear them roaring down East State Street, gathering on Court St., and groaning up High Street. And most importantly they bring smiles everywhere they go.
If you aren’t familiar with the niche car history that is King Midget* let us introduce you to this Athens, Ohio invention.
*Disclaimer on the use of the term “Midget”. The term “Midget” appears here because it is part of the historic name of the car and car company. The name reflects the company’s original branding and the terminology commonly used in the mid-twentieth century to describe small vehicles and products.
King Midget History
Back in the 1940s two Civil Air Patrol pilots, Claud Dry and Dale Orcutt, founded the Midget Motors Supply company in Athens, Ohio. Inspired by their experiences flying planes they created a car that was small, cheap, and could be bought fully assembled or as a kit. The cars were made from 1946 to 1969 in Athens, then for a short time were made in Glouster, Ohio, and finally for a very short time in Florida.
Model 1
The first diminutive car created by Dry and Orcutt. It came in a kit and was available for under $300 (equivilant to around $4300 today). It fit a one-cylinder engine. A year into production, in 1947, a fully assembled option was available.
Model 2
Model 2 was a two seat convertible that came as a kit or assembled. It was also affordable at around $500. This car did not have a speedometer or reverse originally. This car was the main one the company sold during the early-to-mid 1950s along with the Junior and Trainer models that were more like go-karts.
Model 3
Model 3 was introduced in 1957 and was produced through the 1960s. It was a bigger model and had a Kohler engine.
Model 4 / the Commuter
This model was created by Vernon Eads who bought the Midget Motors company and moved it to Florida. But it was short lived due to a fire at the plant and only three Commuters were built.
The International King Midget Car Club
Each year the International King Midget Car Club hosts a jamboree for King Midget enthusiasts to gather, ride, and celebrate the car. This year it was held in Athens, Ohio. The last time the group was in Athens was back in 2016, and previous before that, 2006. In 2016 the group donated the King Midget archives to Ohio University Libraries. In honor of the jamboree this year, the Libraries created an exhibit for the occasion, and on Friday, August 7th, David Funk (descendent of Midget Motors co-founder Dale Orcutt) spoke about the history of King Midgets at the exhibit opening event. After the event, cars hit the bricks and gathered on Court Street where car owners and locals alike checked out this quirky aspect of Athens history.
On Saturday, August 8th drivers took to the streets again, this time for a hilly adventure. Originally the cars made at Midget Motors were tested by driving them up High street in uptown Athens. This street has about a 20% grade to it and if the car made it up the hill it was then fit to sell. In 2026 the line of cars to get up the hill did an impressive job, with only a hand full needing to be physically pushed.
A red King Midget car bravely attempts the High Street hill climb in Athens, Ohio.
During the 2026 jamboree, David Funk delivered three more large boxes of materials to Alden Library to add to the King Midget archives. These papers are from Midget Motors historian and enthusiast Robert Vahsholtz. Included in the addition is jamboree information, handdrawn king-in-car cartoons, sketches and diagrams of cars, correspondence, research, news clippings, and International King Midget Car Club member information. The collection is open by appointment only at the Mahn Center for Archives and Special Collections at Alden Library. Use this form to ask a question or make an appointment.
Check out the collection description here.
