A refurbished 1981 HM Vehicles Freeway, a three-wheeled microcar developed during the fuel-conscious years following the 1970s oil crises, is now being offered through an online auction with a hidden reserve. Built by High Mileage Vehicles of Burnsville, Minnesota, the Freeway represents a short-lived but distinctive chapter in American automotive experimentation, with production claimed at approximately 700 examples between 1979 and 1982.
The Freeway was conceived by engineer Dave Edmonson in response to rising fuel prices and growing demand for ultra-efficient personal transportation. Designed around a single-seat layout, the vehicle features an enclosed cabin mounted to a tubular steel frame and clothed in lightweight fiberglass bodywork. While the Freeway was proposed in gasoline, diesel, and electric forms, only gasoline-powered versions ultimately reached production.
This example is powered by a 453cc Tecumseh four-stroke single-cylinder engine paired with a belt-driven continuously variable transmission and chain drive to the rear wheel. Later Tecumseh-powered cars were claimed to deliver fuel economy of up to 70 miles per gallon. The drivetrain has been serviced with replacement of the carburetor, fuel lines, and other fuel system components, along with repairs to fuel pump wiring and servicing of the drum brakes.
Refurbishment work under previous ownership included repainting the body in orange, a color not originally offered, along with the application of multicolor stripes and FreeWay decals. The acrylic windshield, side windows, rear quarter pop-out windows, and rear hatch were also replaced. Exterior features include a removable roof panel, a single left-side door, a central sealed-beam headlight, driving lamps, a windshield wiper, black steel bumpers, and a side-exit exhaust. The vehicle rides on black-finished 12-inch ITP alloy wheels with polished spokes, fitted with 215/40 Backlash tires.
Inside, the Freeway is configured with a single fixed-back bucket seat trimmed in black and gray vinyl, gray carpeting, and a push-button radio. A rear storage compartment is accessible through the hatch and open to the interior. The odometer shows 3,445 miles.
The Freeway is currently offered as part of a seven-day online auction and is sold as-is, with worldwide shipping assistance available. Pre-purchase inspections are welcomed, and financing options are offered through the seller. As interest in unconventional and fuel-efficient vintage vehicles continues to grow, the HM Vehicles Freeway stands out as a rare survivor from an era defined by innovation under constraint.
