# What Is/Was the Smallest Production Car, Street Legal in the US? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 19, 2004, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-the-smallest-production-car-street-legal-in-the-us/260537 "2004-08-19T13:08:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Doug\_Bowe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df788c/32.png) [@Doug\_Bowe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_Bowe)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2004, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-the-smallest-production-car-street-legal-in-the-us/260537/21 "2004-08-19T19:12:48Z")
There were fewer regulations in the very late '30’s when my Dad represented Crosley. [http://home.earthlink.net/~mherman/frame.html](http://home.earthlink.net/~mherman/frame.html) ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2004, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-the-smallest-production-car-street-legal-in-the-us/260537/22 "2004-08-19T22:14:49Z")
> [@bughunter](#): > > It’s **way cool!** > > It’d be even cooler with a machine gun mounted on the front, and an oil jet in back! > > For you Car Wars geeks: _ **Sparrow** _ — Med. Rev. Trike, cycle chassis, hvy. suspension, medium cycle power plant, 3 HD Tires, driver, MG front, OJ back, 3pt AWH front, 2pt AWH back, SWC (MG). Armor (sloped): F5, R4, L4, B-, T0, U0. Accel. 10, top speed 130, HC 4; 1040 lbs., $4995. Forget the oil jet. Use a linked smoke screen/spike dropper combo. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2004, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-the-smallest-production-car-street-legal-in-the-us/260537/23 "2004-08-19T22:37:44Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > Here is a pic of the [Junior](http://www.kingmidgetcarclub.org/kmj2page.htm) > They were street legal, no safety regs back in the 50’s ditto for smog, etc. If you’re going to include that, you might as well include the [Sinclair C5](http://www.sinclairc5.com/) electric car. But I don’t think either would make it to 55mph. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-the-smallest-production-car-street-legal-in-the-us/260537/24 "2004-08-20T00:12:15Z")
> [@BMalion](#): > > Well, here’s a car that I am seriously considering buying, it’s the [Sparrow](http://myersmotors.com/). > > It’s a 3-wheel electric car so it might not count. > > But it’s cool! I’ve visited that website before b/c there’s one of those in my neighborhood. However, the “Values” link on that site left me a little…oogy. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-the-smallest-production-car-street-legal-in-the-us/260537/25 "2004-08-20T00:17:01Z")
> [@Dooku](#): > > I’ve visited that website before b/c there’s one of those in my neighborhood. However, the “Values” link on that site left me a little…oogy. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-the-smallest-production-car-street-legal-in-the-us/260537/26 "2004-08-20T00:19:12Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > If you’re going to include that, you might as well include the [Sinclair C5](http://www.sinclairc5.com/) electric car. But I don’t think either would make it to 55mph. I’m pretty sure a gallon of battery acid would get a C5 a fair way 😃 ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-the-smallest-production-car-street-legal-in-the-us/260537/27 "2004-08-20T00:23:05Z")
dammit…mpg =! mph … ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-the-smallest-production-car-street-legal-in-the-us/260537/28 "2004-08-20T00:27:38Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > :eek: Shocked in agreement or disagreement? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-the-smallest-production-car-street-legal-in-the-us/260537/29 "2004-08-20T00:29:08Z")
> [@Dooku](#): > > Shocked in agreement or disagreement? I agree with you. Even if I were interested in this “car”, I wouldn’t buy it from that company. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-the-smallest-production-car-street-legal-in-the-us/260537/30 "2004-08-20T00:35:17Z")
I thought Corbin Motors (maker of the Sparrow) went out of business. What’s the link between the original company and the above Sparrow link? ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-the-smallest-production-car-street-legal-in-the-us/260537/31 "2004-08-20T00:37:16Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > I agree with you. Even if I were interested in this “car”, I wouldn’t buy it from that company. I thought so, but I wanted to make sure I wasn’t going to have to defend my belief system. Phew! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-the-smallest-production-car-street-legal-in-the-us/260537/32 "2004-08-20T00:53:15Z")
> [@Dooku](#): > > I thought so, but I wanted to make sure I wasn’t going to have to defend my belief system. Phew! 🙂 I get the same feeling when I see a commercial vehicle with a Jesus fish on the back. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-the-smallest-production-car-street-legal-in-the-us/260537/33 "2004-08-20T01:20:17Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > I thought Corbin Motors (maker of the Sparrow) went out of business. What’s the link between the original company and the above Sparrow link? Apparently, the assets of Corbin Motors were awarded to an outfit called Phoenix Environmental Motors, run by (and perhaps consisting solely of?) a guy named Ron Huch: [http://www.motobykz.co.uk/Corbin/Sparrow.htm](http://www.motobykz.co.uk/Corbin/Sparrow.htm) > [@](#): > > He plans to finish the assembly 70+ Sparrows that were in process so that they can be supplied in kit form for completion by a qualified assembler. They are interested in finding partners that would like to be involved with PEM. The [http://www.phoenixenvironmentalmotors.com/](http://www.phoenixenvironmentalmotors.com/) link given in that article redirects to the “myersmotors” link given above. And here’s an article on Myers. Huch got financial backing from him: [http://www.autoweek.com/article.cms?articleId=100546](http://www.autoweek.com/article.cms?articleId=100546) ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-the-smallest-production-car-street-legal-in-the-us/260537/34 "2004-08-20T01:22:38Z")
Is it just me, or does it look like the car was designed Dr. Seuss? ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-the-smallest-production-car-street-legal-in-the-us/260537/35 "2004-08-20T01:33:27Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > Is it just me, or does it look like the car was designed Dr. Seuss? I’ve seen a couple of them around here (Silicon Valley) - somebody used to commute on 85 with one. I’s say it looks more like you’re driving a giant dayglo colored tennis shoe. That said, it’s not a bad stab at doing a personal commuter vehicle. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-the-smallest-production-car-street-legal-in-the-us/260537/36 "2004-08-20T01:49:24Z")
And before Corbin folded, it was planning another single person three wheeler called the “Merlin” - a “roadster” powered by a V twin motorcycle engine: > **[Corbin Merlin](https://www.pistonheads.com/news/general/corbin-merlin/3511)** > > Bizarre 3 wheeled fun from America ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-the-smallest-production-car-street-legal-in-the-us/260537/37 "2004-08-20T01:49:34Z")
> [@yabob](#): > > And here’s an article on Myers. Huch got financial backing from him: > [http://www.autoweek.com/article.cms?articleId=100546](http://www.autoweek.com/article.cms?articleId=100546) Thanks! I wonder if they have any plans on finishing any of Corbin’s prototypes? They had some cool two-seater gasoline engine roadsters in the work, as well as a new version of the Sparrow. p.s. I loved the Sparrow chase scene in one of the Austin Powers movies… ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-the-smallest-production-car-street-legal-in-the-us/260537/38 "2004-08-20T02:02:11Z")
The MG midget was way small. Like driving a go cart at highway speeds. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-the-smallest-production-car-street-legal-in-the-us/260537/39 "2004-08-20T02:48:38Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > Christ the cars you guys are listing are HUGE when compared to the [King Midget](http://www.kingmidgetcarclub.org/model11page.htm) or look at this [pic](http://www.kingmidgetcarclub.org/mod26page.htm) > The website is a bit short on specs, but there are a few here and there > Here is a pic of the [Junior](http://www.kingmidgetcarclub.org/kmj2page.htm) > They were street legal, no safety regs back in the 50’s ditto for smog, etc. > So 32" wide > 60" overall > 42" wheelbase > That is about the size of my desk! :eek: I don’t know if they’d fit the OP’s description of a production car. The [Nash Metropolitan](http://www.whidbeycruzers.com/other/Linda%20Wernecke%201959%20Nash%20Metorpolitan.JPG), mentioned by **brianjedi** , was a production car by anyone’s standard. There were nearly 80,000 of them in the US by 1959. > [@HeyHomie](#): > > I think I’m going to change the “street legal” phrase in my OP to “highway legal.” IOW, something that goes at least 65mph at top speed and can be driven on the interstate. Nash Metropolitans had a top speed of roughly 80MPH, definately highway material there. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-the-smallest-production-car-street-legal-in-the-us/260537/40 "2004-08-20T02:54:09Z")
Weren’t the original Minis available in the US at one time? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-the-smallest-production-car-street-legal-in-the-us/260537.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-the-smallest-production-car-street-legal-in-the-us/260537.md?page=3)