HMV Freeway on:
[Wikipedia]
[Google]
[Amazon]
The H-M-Vehicles Free-Way (H-M meaning high mileage) 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 gasoline engine or a 4 hp electric motor. A diesel engine was offered, but none were ordered with it.
The 12 HP version was guaranteed to get when driven at a steady . The 12 HP version averaged , and the larger 16 hp averaged to . The standard fuel tank had a capacity of while a tank was optional.
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. An electrically powered reverse drive was offered as an option, but was never made available.
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 thick and had the color molded into the material and was available in high-visibility red, yellow, or orange. The lower body included a full undertray to reduce the drag coefficient of the vehicle.
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.
About 700 Free-Ways were sold before the company closed in June 1982.
groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/freewayhmv/info
nbsp;— HM Vehicles Free-Way Yahoo! discussion group
Free-Way Reunion, Autos & Parts For Sale
* {{YouTube , id=k2IRJsZu1xQ , title=The HM-Vehicles Freeway is the Lawn Mower Powered Three-Wheeler of Your Dreams (published 2019-09-26) Microcars Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of the United States Burnsville, Minnesota Motor vehicle manufacturers based in Minnesota Three-wheeled motor vehicles Cars introduced in 1979 Cars discontinued in 1982
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 thick and had the color molded into the material and was available in high-visibility red, yellow, or orange. The lower body included a full undertray to reduce the drag coefficient of the vehicle.
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.
About 700 Free-Ways were sold before the company closed in June 1982.
See also
* List of microcars * Three-wheelerReferences
External links
groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/freewayhmv/info
nbsp;— HM Vehicles Free-Way Yahoo! discussion group
Free-Way Reunion, Autos & Parts For Sale
* {{YouTube , id=k2IRJsZu1xQ , title=The HM-Vehicles Freeway is the Lawn Mower Powered Three-Wheeler of Your Dreams (published 2019-09-26) Microcars Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of the United States Burnsville, Minnesota Motor vehicle manufacturers based in Minnesota Three-wheeled motor vehicles Cars introduced in 1979 Cars discontinued in 1982