# 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:** 6\ **Page:** 3
**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, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-the-smallest-production-car-street-legal-in-the-us/260537/41 "2004-08-20T03:03:53Z")
In the '30s there were the [American Austin](http://www.miramarevents.com/dreammachines/media-images/american-austin-300dpi.jpg) and the [American Bantam](http://www.aaca.org/susquehannock/George%20Domer%2038%20Bantam.JPG); they rode on 75" wheelbases. Top speed is estimated to have been about 50MPH. ---
**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, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-the-smallest-production-car-street-legal-in-the-us/260537/42 "2004-08-20T03:13:54Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > Weren’t the original Minis available in the US at one time? I believe they were imported from 1960 until 1967. Lessee…1964 Mini Cooper S Rally…wheelbase 80"…overall length 123"…top speed nearly 100MPH. ---
**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, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-the-smallest-production-car-street-legal-in-the-us/260537/43 "2004-08-20T03:32:11Z")
I found that the wheelbase on the King Midget ranged from 72" to 76½". There was a company in Kansas City called Small Cars, Inc; their [Panda](http://www.ggw.org/~cac/OddsEnds/panda2.jpg) rode a 70" wheelbase but evidently was only made in 1955. Some had a 26½HP Crosley four cylinder. The [Crosleys](http://www.calcruisingauctions.com/auction/XcAPUserImages/52crosley-1.jpg) themselves were small cars. Made from 1939 to '52, all Crosleys rode either an 80" or 85" wheelbase. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-the-smallest-production-car-street-legal-in-the-us/260537/44 "2004-08-20T11:30:32Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > I get the same feeling when I see a commercial vehicle with a Jesus fish on the back. Yes, very awful for a company to strongly advocates following the 10 Commandments or something. So much more comforting to follow the Enron values. If you don’t believe in God, your choice, but why dump on a company that is run by someone who uses his belief to try and be a better corporate citizen? You don’t have a problem with him using his profits to feed orphans I trust? ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-the-smallest-production-car-street-legal-in-the-us/260537/45 "2004-08-20T16:23:43Z")
> [@Dummy-up](#): > > Subaru 360 would also fit into this category. . . They were essentially an aluminum foil body wrapped around a cardboard frame (or it least it seemed like that). Your feet rested on the brackets that hold the front bumper on. Not the safest car that I have ever driven. IIRC, the Subaru 360 was the first car ever rated NOT ACCEPTABLE by Consumer Reports. They had so, so many safety concerns, but I think the primary one was braking. I had a friend who owned one. His dashboard fell off while he was driving. ---
**Author:** ![Dummy-up](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3be4f8/32.png) [@Dummy-up](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dummy-up)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-the-smallest-production-car-street-legal-in-the-us/260537/46 "2004-08-20T19:08:35Z")
The biggest advantage of driving a Subaru 360 was that you didn’t really have to worry about being injured in an accident…you would almost surely die. I repainted one of mine and from that point on had to be very careful not to lean or brush against it because the slightest preasure resulted in a dent. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-the-smallest-production-car-street-legal-in-the-us/260537.md?page=2)