The smallest cars in US history are some of the most fascinating vehicles ever produced

The smallest cars ever built have always fascinated gearheads and casual onlookers alike, and few niches embody this charm as well as microcars.

These pint-sized machines were so tiny that they looked more like mini science experiments.

Their creators often operated on the fringes of the auto industry, dreaming big by thinking small.

And today, the smallest cars ever made stand as delightful reminders of just how imaginative engineers could be.

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Many of the smallest cars ever weren’t commercially successful

One of the most iconic homegrown microcars was the King Midget, built by Midget Motors in Athens, Ohio, from 1946 to 1970.

Originally sold as a kit car for a few hundred dollars, the King Midget quickly evolved into a fully assembled production vehicle, though ‘full-size’ isn’t a term anyone would use.

The early models resembled shrunken-down roadsters, while later versions featured a neat, boxy profile about the size of a golf cart.

Powered by a single-cylinder engine (yes, really), the King Midget boasted lightweight construction, simple engineering, and an almost toy-like driving experience.

Despite its humble power, the car developed a loyal following, largely because it delivered genuine mobility with the operating costs of a lawn mower.

On the West Coast, the California-based International Motor Products (IMP) took microcar experimentation in a slightly different direction.

Founded in the early 1950s, IMP created a line of compact, fiberglass-bodied cars designed to be lightweight, affordable, and a bit futuristic for their time.

The IMP’s proportions were tiny even by microcar standards, often measuring less than 10 feet in length, with bubble-like styling that made the car look more like a Jetsons prop than a street machine.

Power typically came from small industrial engines, and while performance was modest, the company’s ambition was anything but.

IMP never became a mass-market success, but there’s no denying that the car’s design was one-of-a-kind.

The smallest car ever made is basically a one-seater

Of course, no discussion of tiny vehicles is complete without mentioning the legendary Peel P50, the Guinness World Record holder for the smallest production car ever made.

Originally built on the Isle of Man in the 1960s, it makes even American microcars look enormous.

With three wheels, a single door, and a body so small you could almost park it under a desk, the P50 was designed to transport ‘one adult and one shopping bag.’

Its tiny 49cc engine pushed it to around 35 mph, which meant it wasn’t going to win any drag races anytime soon.

Still, look on the bright side: you’ll probably never have trouble finding a parking spot.

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