Solar Midget Race Car

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In November of 1944 Solar Aircraft held its annual Craftsmanship Contest which usually produced a number of small inventions. Elmer Ross, a member of the Research Department submitted a midget race car that he had built and was racing in the Southwest. In October, 1945 approval was given for the production of twelve pilot kits to test the manufacturing process. Four of the kits were made of aluminum, four of stainless steel, and four of auto body steel. The pilot kits were completed in 1945 and all twelve were sold prior to production to enthusiasts in the San Diego area. Approximately 100 of these kits were made in 1946 and sold through a distributor. Most of the cars were powered by a Ford V8-60, with some running with Drake or Offenhauser engines. The entire production period lasted six months and there were only two changes to the body kit...elimination of the stainless steel wheels and replacement of the handmade wire grill with a cast aluminum unit.

The production of the Solar midget race car was stopped for several reasons. The introduction of the Kurtis Kraft Midgets by Frank Curtis with their tube frames and torsion bar suspension were light years beyond other midget cars built at that time including the Solar midget. America was on the verge of space exploration and Solar executives were ready to get back into the business they really knew ... aircraft components. The Solar midget played its part in helping to keep Solar alive during the early post World War II years. Today an original Solar midget is a rare find.

The Solar Midget is currently being displayed for Solar by the San Diego Auto Museum in Balboa Park.