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1981 HMV Freeway news, pictures, and information | ||
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The HMV (H-M-Vehicles) Free-Way was built in Burnsville, Minnesota and produced from 1979 to 1982. It was a small, compact microcar that measured 115-inches in length and just 51 inches tall. They had a single seat and were powered by either a 12 or 16 horsepower gasoline engine or a four-horsepower electric motor. The company offered the vehicle with a diesel engine but none were ordered with it.
These three-wheeled microcars were economical, with 100 mpg for the 12 horsepower engine when driven at a frightening 40 mph. The 'larger' 16 horsepower version still faired well, achieving around 60 to 70 mpg.
The engine could be found behind the driver and was mated to a snowmobile-style CVT belt drive transmission. The Free-Way powered by gasoline did not have a reverse gear in its transmission, making it a bit awkward when trying to maneuver backwards. An electrically powered reverse drive was available as optional equipment, but was never made available.
The Free-Way had a welded tubular steel frame with a secondary perimeter frame at bumper height to provide protection from impacts. The suspension was fully-independent and there were two wheels in the front and a single, chain-driven wheel in the back. The fully enclosed body was formed from a two-piece fiberglass material and colour molded into red, yellow, blue, or orange. In the front was a single headlight and - per federal standards - were licensed as motorcycles though some states they were titled as cars.
Total production reached about 700 units.
By Daniel Vaughan | Jul 2011
For more information and related vehicles, click hereThese three-wheeled microcars were economical, with 100 mpg for the 12 horsepower engine when driven at a frightening 40 mph. The 'larger' 16 horsepower version still faired well, achieving around 60 to 70 mpg.
The engine could be found behind the driver and was mated to a snowmobile-style CVT belt drive transmission. The Free-Way powered by gasoline did not have a reverse gear in its transmission, making it a bit awkward when trying to maneuver backwards. An electrically powered reverse drive was available as optional equipment, but was never made available.
The Free-Way had a welded tubular steel frame with a secondary perimeter frame at bumper height to provide protection from impacts. The suspension was fully-independent and there were two wheels in the front and a single, chain-driven wheel in the back. The fully enclosed body was formed from a two-piece fiberglass material and colour molded into red, yellow, blue, or orange. In the front was a single headlight and - per federal standards - were licensed as motorcycles though some states they were titled as cars.
Total production reached about 700 units.
By Daniel Vaughan | Jul 2011
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