HM Vehicles Free-way

Last updated
H-M-Vehicles Free-Way
Denver transport museum 128.JPG
Overview
ManufacturerH-M-Vehicles Inc.
Production1979–1982
Assembly Burnsville, Minnesota
Designer Dave Edmonson
Body and chassis
Class Microcar
Body style Coupe
Layout RMR layout
RelatedD&A Minikin [1]
Powertrain
Engine Tecumseh single-cylinder engine
*12 hp model: 345 cc (21.1 cu in)
*16 hp model: 453 cc (27.6 cu in) [2] [1]
permanent magnet DC motor, 4 hp [3]
Transmission CVT, no reverse gear
Dimensions
Length115 in (292 cm) [3] [4]
Width53 in (135 cm) [3] [4]
Height51 in (130 cm) [3] [4]
Curb weight gasoline: 700 lb (318 kg) [4]
electric: 900 lb (408 kg) [5]

The H-M-Vehicles Free-Way (H-M meaning high mileage) was a three-wheel microcar manufactured in Burnsville, Minnesota, from 1979 to 1982. [1]

Contents

HMV Freeway vehicles, 2010 HMVFreeway med.jpg
HMV Freeway vehicles, 2010

These small commuter cars had a single seat and were powered by a 12 or 16 hp (9 or 12 kW) gasoline engine [2] or a 4 hp electric motor. [3] A diesel engine was offered, [2] [3] but none were ordered with it. [2]

The 12 HP version was guaranteed to get 100 mpg‑US (2.4 L/100 km; 120 mpg‑imp) [2] [3] when driven at a steady 40 mph (64 km/h). [2] The 12 HP version averaged 80 mpg‑US (2.9 L/100 km; 96 mpg‑imp), and the larger 16 hp averaged 60 mpg‑US (3.9 L/100 km; 72 mpg‑imp) to 70 mpg‑US (3.4 L/100 km; 84 mpg‑imp).[ citation needed ] The standard fuel tank had a capacity of 3 US gallons (11 L) [3] [6] while a 10 US gallons (38 L) tank was optional. [3]

The engine was mounted behind the driver and was coupled to a snowmobile-style CVT belt drive transmission. Final drive to the rear wheel was by chain. The gasoline-powered Free-Way did not have a reverse gear in its transmission. [2] [3] An electrically powered reverse drive was offered as an option, [2] [3] but was never made available. [2]

Front view Yellow HM Vehicles FreeWay.jpg
Front view

The Free-Way had a welded tubular steel frame, with a secondary perimeter frame at bumper height to protect the driver from impacts. Suspension was fully independent, with two wheels in front and a single wheel in the rear. The fully enclosed two-piece fiberglass body was approximately 0.125 inches (3.2 mm) thick and had the color molded into the material and was available in high-visibility red, yellow, or orange. [3] The lower body included a full undertray to reduce the drag coefficient of the vehicle. [3] [6]

The Free-Way had a single headlight and per federal standards were intended to be licensed as a motorcycle, but in some states they were titled as cars. [7]

About 700 Free-Ways were sold before the company closed in June 1982. [8]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "HM Vehicles Freeway". 3-Wheelers.com. Archived from the original on 2017-03-05. Retrieved 2011-11-05.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "High Mileage Vehicles - A New Technology: Page 6". Clubs.hemmings.com. Archived from the original on 2011-09-27. Retrieved 2011-11-05.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Frey, Peter (December 1979). Dianna, John (ed.). "Driving Impression - "Free-Way" Commuter". Motor Trend. Vol. 31, no. 12. Los Angeles, CA: Petersen Publishing. pp. 44–45. ISSN   0027-2094.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Leo's Garage: Free-Way Maintenance". Leostoys.com. Retrieved 2011-11-05.
  5. ↑ "Tim Medeck's 1981 H-M Vehicles Freeway". Evalbum.com. 2004-03-16. Retrieved 2011-11-05.
  6. 1 2 "High Mileage Vehicles - A New Technology: Page 5". Clubs.hemmings.com. Archived from the original on 2011-09-27. Retrieved 2011-11-05.
  7. ↑ "The Freeway Newsletter Vol. 1 No. 5, June 1981" (PDF). Retrieved 2011-11-05.
  8. ↑ "High Mileage Vehicles - A New Technology: Page 9". Clubs.hemmings.com. Archived from the original on 2011-09-27. Retrieved 2011-11-05.
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