While 40 m.p.g. appears to be the “new black” upstairs at the New York auto show, where the latest wares from manufactures are being introduced this week, downstairs, at the south end of the Javits Center, 40-plus m.p.g. is decidedly old school.
Appearing now through this Saturday is a collection of vintage microcars — vehicles of a diminutive size and with fewer than 500cc’s under the hood — or under the passenger seat, in some cases, or where the trunk might have been. These are cars that did not follow the “lower, longer, wider” philosophy of the bigger manufacturers. Microcars are gas sippers as well, with many claiming 50 or even more than 60 m.p.g.
Of the 29 cars on display, two were built in Ohio: the Crosley, as well as the King Midget, a car perhaps best known for being advertised in the classified section of Popular Mechanics magazine for many years.
The collection was assembled with help from the LeMay Museum of Tacoma, Wash. Many of the displayed vehicles come from the garages of local owners, and at least one of the microcars has local roots, and has even made a New York auto show visit.
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