HMV Freeway

The H-M-Vehicles, Inc FREE-WAY was a three wheel microcar manufactured in Burnsville, Minnesota, from 1979 to 1982. These small commuter cars had a single seat and were powered by a 12 or 16 HP gasoline engine or 4 to 6 HP electric motor.

The 12 HP version was guaranteed to get convert|100|mpgus|L/100 km mpgimp|abbr=on when driven at a steady convert|40|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on. The 12 HP version averaged convert|80|mpgus|L/100 km mpgimp|abbr=on, and the larger 16 hp averaged convert|60|mpgus|L/100 km mpgimp|abbr=on to convert|70|mpgus|L/100 km mpgimp|abbr=on.

They had two wheels in front and a single chain driven wheel in the rear. The engine (or motor) was coupled with a snowmobile style CVT belt drive transmission. Only the electric version had a reverse capability; for the gasoline version you had to get out and push.

The fully enclosed body was fiberglass with a gelcoat finish mounted on a steel tube chassis.

They had a single headlight and per Federal standards were intended to be licensed as motorcycles but in some states they were titled as cars.

About 700 Free-ways were sold before the company closed June 1982 when there was no longer sufficient orders to stay open.

ee also

*Microcar
*Three wheeled car
*Three wheeler

External links

*http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/freewayhmv/
* [http://home.comcast.net/~freeway3w/ Freeway Reunion, Autos & Parts For Sale]
*http://clubs.hemmings.com/frameset.cfm?club=hmvfreeway
* [http://www.tcinternet.net/users/cedmonso/freewaybirth.htm Birth of the H-M-Vehicles Free-Way]