AutoPuzzles - The Internet's Museum of Rare Cars!

Puzzles, Games and Name That Car => Solved AutoPuzzles => 2015 => Topic started by: Ray B. on May 11, 2015, 07:27:54 PM

Title: Whaddyacallit #579 - Solved - John Hoke's electric King Midget
Post by: Ray B. on May 11, 2015, 07:27:54 PM
Ever seen this ?

If you did, please respond below and, tell us what is this car and who built it.
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #579
Post by: Ray B. on May 18, 2015, 05:23:24 AM
Experts ?
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #579
Post by: Zerk on May 18, 2015, 06:32:42 AM
Is this a King Midget?
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #579
Post by: Ray B. on May 18, 2015, 10:21:48 AM
Basically, it was, when new.
But that's only part of the answer.


Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #579
Post by: fyreline on May 18, 2015, 05:09:28 PM
While the base car was certainly a Type 3 King Midget from Athens, Ohio - the real clue for me was what the man standing next to it appeared to be holding. It looks like a good-sized storage battery, so a search for King Midget/Electric Car in various combinations finally turned up one Mr. John Hoke, who apparently had quite a history of energy-conservation efforts. He turned his King Midget into an electric car for (reportedly) less than $1,000. The vehicle had a top speed of 35 mph and could run 20 miles between charges according to Life magazine, which ran a photograph of Mr. Hoke standing in his suburban yard in 1966, preparing to plug in his car.
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #579
Post by: Ray B. on May 19, 2015, 05:31:24 AM
Right you are. A clever search and a perfect answer.

I could have blurred that clue but I thought it would have been a dishonest trick. I first found the picture in the Time-Life archives, and later more details about John Hoke in an obituary from the Washington Post.
So it's 200 points for you.
Doesn't this makes fyreline a pro?
Can an admin please upgrade him?

Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #579 - Solved - John Hoke's electric King Midget
Post by: Carnut on May 19, 2015, 05:54:08 AM
Congratulations fyreline and welcome to the barren wastelands!
:applause: :applause:
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #579 - Solved - John Hoke's electric King Midget
Post by: fyreline on May 19, 2015, 08:33:22 AM
Yep.  Now I've gone and done it. 

Well, I'm sure the puzzles I am eligible to solve will get harder and the competition will get tougher. Both, in my view, good things. I can't tell you folks how much I enjoy this site, and the people who make it so. Here's to the next 200 solved puzzles!

Dave Reeves (fyreline)
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #579 - Solved - John Hoke's electric King Midget
Post by: Paul Jaray on May 21, 2015, 05:04:21 AM
 :cheer: :drink: :applause: