In this edition of the Nice Price or No Dice challenge, we examine a true classic: a mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive convertible finished in bright yellow with a black soft top. The power comes from a modest 12-horsepower lawn-mower engine. The question is whether this King Midget commands a royal price.

Many claim that Australia hosts countless dangers, from venomous spiders and crocodile attacks to aggressive kangaroos. The 2016 Chevrolet SS reviewed earlier this week originated there as a rebadged Holden Commodore. Equipped with an LS3 V8, manual transmission, and rear-wheel-drive layout prone to playful slides, the SS promised enjoyment without excessive risk. Yet its forty-five-thousand-five-hundred-dollar asking price proved fatal in the poll, resulting in an eighty-eight-percent No Dice verdict.

The Compact King

Consider the roster of mid-engine convertible sports cars and the duration each remained in production. The list remains brief, and aside from the Porsche Boxster, which has continued for nearly three decades across generations, few models achieved longevity. Although ten years short of that record, the King Midget endured for twenty years, manufactured from 1947 until late 1967. Such persistence is notable for any vehicle, particularly one driven by a lawn-mower engine. Its maker, Midget Motors, operated even longer, established in 1946 and closing only in 1970. This 1967 King Midget III represents the final production year and ranks among the most unusual American automobiles ever created, inspiring its own international owners club.

Midget Motors History

Claud Dry and Dale Orcutt founded Midget Motors after serving together in the Army Air Corps during World War II. Their initial idea involved a single-seat vehicle styled like a midget racer, offered as a kit with assembly instructions. The concept progressed to complete factory-built cars sold from their Ohio facility. In 1951 they introduced an updated model featuring tandem seating for two within a roadster-style body. Refinements over time included hydraulic brakes, safety glass, an optional heater, and an electric windshield wiper. Marketing described it as the Worlds Most Exciting Small Car and the five-hundred-pound car for five hundred dollars.

The featured 1967 Midget III incorporates the final specification: a twelve-horsepower Kohler K301 single-cylinder air-cooled engine, centrifugal clutch, and belt-driven continuously variable transmission. Electric start and reverse gear, once optional, are present here.

Playful Appeal

The seller notes the car has remained with one family since 1981 and includes a clear title plus current registration. It reportedly runs well, though the brake master cylinder requires attention because the pedal sinks after prolonged inactivity. There is little reason to leave such an eccentric machine idle when it can provide neighborhood entertainment at modest speeds, perhaps startling youngsters who imagine clowns emerging from within. Additional enjoyment comes from its diminutive size, allowing passage beneath certain trailers or easy transport by two people if needed.

The vehicle appears sound overall, with minor body ripples possibly from handling and a repaint in a non-factory shade resembling surplus school-bus paint. The convertible top and interior remain usable. Although not intended as daily transportation given its roughly forty-five-mile-per-hour top speed and other limitations, the Midget serves well as a parade attraction or lighthearted collectible. At seven thousand dollars the price invites debate, and the seller will consider trades involving firearms or motorized items, though cash remains preferred.

Final Assessment

Does seven thousand dollars represent fair value for this historic and distinctive King Midget, or does the figure exceed the cars scale? The decision rests with you.