orphanbabycars.com

AUGUST IN IOWA brings out the worst in people. They say
it's not the heat. It's the humidity. Covered by a miserably wet
blanket of perspiration, tempers tend to rise with the
thermometer.

"Years ago, Kat wanted me to go see Powel Crosley," Zeke
said. "She thought he might help me save these old baby
cars. I was too stubborn back then. But now, my back's
against the wall. So I'm driving to Cincinnati. Leaving tomorrow
morning."

The sudden news stopped me in my tracks. "Wow! Can I
come along?"

"I sure would appreciate the company, Bobby. But groveling is
something a man does alone."

As autumn drew near, Zeke taught Bobby all about the
postwar baby-car boom when some of the most unique
vehicles ever built in the United States were born. Most were
ill-conceived products of entrepeneurs who hoped to make a
fast buck before "The Big Three" resumed automobile
production. Others deserved a closer look.

THEY DESERVED A BETTER FATE
Bobbi-Kar was among the first newcomers to make national
headlines. The pocket-sized roadster was to carry its engine in
the front or rear, depending on the owner's preference. The
company president lost control of his operation in a hostile
take-over and the roadster and companion station wagon came
to market wearing another name.

The sporty Playboy was a more sophisticated offering that
hailed from Buffalo, New York. The prototype carried a cloth
top, but the factory crew was not particularly skilled with
fabric. So they crafted the first retractable hardtops ever offered
on an American production car.

Of all the postwar independent baby car manufacturers, Powel
Crosley was the most successful -- at least initially. The 1946
Crosley sedan was an odd looking egg of a car, but the public
was starved for anything new. They bought them by the carton.

The single-cylinder King Midget was introduced in 1946. Over
the next few years, it grew into a two-passenger roadster with
jeep-like styling. As an automobile, it made a great golf cart.

FROM DREAMS TO SCHEMES
On the flip side, more than a handful of postwar American
baby cars seemed too good to be true. In fact, some were little
more than stock sales schemes.

The sleek Davis with its hide-away headlights and pointed
nose rolled on three wheels. The automotive press hailed it as
the car of the future, but the marque was short-lived after the
company president was sent to jail.

Captain James V. Martin had his hand in several baby car
concepts, most of which were built on metalwood platforms
with three wheels. Perhaps no other entrepreneur tried as
hard, built as many prototypes, or failed as often. But as the
old saying goes, "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again."

When it came to personal transportation, not even the sky was
the limit. Several reputable engineers had us convinced that
the automobile was meant to fly. With names like Aerocar,
Airphibian, and Roadable, their cars literally flew from one
destination to another.

Unfortunately for the manufacturers, few of their stories had
happy endings. Readers of the ORPHAN BABIES series can
only hope that Zeke and his baby cars fared better. Be sure to
read all three volumes. Learn with Bobby and you, too, can
graduate from Zeke's impromptu nine-week summer school of
antique automobilia.

ORPHAN BABIES VOLUME 3 IS COMING IN 2011
ORPHAN BABIES, America's Forgotten Economy Cars,
Volume 3 1943-1969 is not yet available. The expected
publication date is 2011. Be sure to check back for updates.

A PARTIAL LISTING OF CARS COVERED IN ORPHAN BABIES, VOLUME 3: 1943-1969
Aerocar; Airphibian; Airway; Allstate; American Austin; American Bantam; Arbit; Astra-Gnome; Autoette Cruise About; Banner Boy
Buckboard; Basson's Star; Basson's Stationette; BMC; Bobbi-Kar; Brogan; Californian; Cargill; Carioca; Charles Townabout; Cheetah;
Chevrolet Cadet; Chevrolet Corvair; Colt: Comet; ConvAircar; Crofton; Crosley; Cubster; Cushman; CustomCar; Dallago; Darrin; Davis;
Delcar; Del Mar; Delta; Diehlmobile; Electric Shopper; Eshelman; Featherlite Motor-wheel; Ford Falcon; Ford Vedette; Gadabout; Gregory;
Hall Roadable; Hardy; Henry J; Heewson's Rocket; Honey Bee; Hoppenstand Gregory; Humming Bird; Imp; Kaiser Pod Cars; Keller; King
Midget; Laher: Marco, Marketeer; Martin DAV; Martin Stationette; Martinette; Marvel; Merry Olds; Metropolitan; Mighty Mite; Minicar;
Motorette; Muntz Jet; Nash Golf Car; Nash Rambler; NXI; Nu-Klea; Panda; Playboy; Publix; Pup; Richardson; Roustabout; Saviano SCAT;
Scootmobile; Skorpian; Scuttle Bug; Spook; Skycar; Stout; Stuart; Thrif-T; Towne Shopper; Travis Steamer; Tri-Car; Trivan; Tucker;
Valiant; Wade Midget; Walker Power Truck; Wienermobile; Westinghouse Marketeer; Willys Aero; Willys-Overland Torpedo.

Read about these and many more automobiles in ORPHAN BABIES, America's Forgotten Economy Cars.