For almost two decades, the MG Midget was one of the best values in sports cars, an inexpensive way for adventurous folks to get into an open-top, manual-transmission, dubiously reliable critter with only two seats and just room enough for your sweetie. That still might be the case with this 1973 MG Midget, which has a fresh paint job, refurbished interior, and solid undercarriage. It’s for sale on Hemmings Auctions in Fairlee, Vermont, and with no reserve, someone might be getting a bargain.
Any easy way to spot a Mk III Midget from the 1972-74 timeframe is its rounded wheelarches, a styling feature that drove the current owner to pursue our featured car when its mechanic mentioned that it was for sale. The brochure image above represents a Harvest Gold 1973 Midget as you might remember it, with Rostyle wheels and blacked-out lower body.
This Teal Blue Midget, however, has had a recent paint job, and the seller decided to omit the lower body paint and front bumper (and perhaps the parking brake, given the wheel chock). It certainly makes the car look like an earlier Midget, although the wire wheels were apparently on the books as an option all the way through 1976 (and were originally specified on this car, according to the Hemmings ad).
Teal Blue was a factory color in 1973, one of three paired with an attractive “Ochre” interior. Interestingly, the only other available interior color was “Navy,” so who says that limited interior variations are a hallmark of modern cars alone?
The 1973 Midget still used the 1275cc A-series four with two SU HS2 carburetors, which resulted in 54.5 (when you get down into the fifties, you use decimals) horsepower. The Midget was never a fast car, but the 1973 model was a little slower yet, albeit still capable of a 20-second quarter-mile according to the sales materials. For 1975, British Leyland switched to the Triumph Spitfire’s slightly larger 1500 four, a move that must have disturbed MG loyalists.
In addition to the new paint, the seller says that this car has had plenty of mechanical work, including the following:
- Tuned and synchronized carburetors
- New starter
- A header and modified exhaust system
- New distributor, coil, and fuel pump
- New engine mounts, wheel bearings, and “bushings” (I assume that means suspension bushings.)
The interior has also been treated to new carpet, convertible top, and door panels, although there is a small “split…on the driver’s seat.” It must be tiny, because the interior looks beautiful to me. Judging by the door jambs, I’m going to guess that the car did not receive a “jambs and all” respray, but that also indicates that Teal Blue is indeed the original color.
The Midget’s owner says that the reason for the sale is a recent back surgery, making it difficult to get into and out of the little MG. As such, it might not be surprising that we don’t have a ton of undercarriage pictures; however, if this picture is indicative of the rest, it’s no wonder the mechanic suggested it. The only visible issue is a differential that might have a drip or two (and the infinitesimal 7.5-gallon fuel tank).
I lived in a Midget neighborhood growing up, meaning that there were two of them in my GM town. At that time, they were 20 years old, so the combination of their Britishness and age left me smitten, and indeed, if I had been a little further along in life, I might have bought the green ’75 model that went up for sale for three grand. Given this car’s lack of a reserve, it’s going to find a new owner soon, and with so much recent work having been done, it could still be the best sports car bargain going.
Related Reading
Curbside Classic: 1972 MG Midget MkIII – Small Pleasures (by Paul N)
COAL: 1973 MG Midget — Squeezing a Litre Into a Pint Pot (by Dutch 1960)
Yes ;
This may well be a very good deal, “Spridgets” are not terribly fast but they’re _VERY_ quick and feel like driving a legal go-cart .
“Bushings” may mean many different things these cars have 1930’s tech Trunnions in lieu of ball joints, they need periodic replacement even if you’re un – American and grease them every 3,000 miles when HOT changing the oil & filter .
It also has king pins that can wear badly, whatever “bushings” were changed were done long ago .
Adding a hard but not impossible to find factory 3.72 final drive is dead easy and makes these cars travel at modern speeds with out beating up the high revving short stroke 1,275 C.C. engine .
-Nate
That appears to be in really nice shape with a nice colour scheme. The fresh paint is nice but could be covering up some horrors. Given the story and other work done hopefully not.
I do like these Midgets but the later ones can have tight cockpits and they are not built for relaxing modern highway touring. Overall the Triumph Spitfire is probably a better bet than a MG Midget but with classic cars condition is king.
Judging by the foam showing along the seam, that’s a fairly large split in the driver’s headrest. However would agree that otherwise the interior does look really nice.
You got me, Peter. I was looking at the seat bottom along the seams and totally ignored the headrest. That’s definitely a tear.
Yeah, but haven’t the presence of 1990s NA Miatas totally upset the economics? Agreed – there are going to be fans of the Classic British Roadsters and will accept no substitute; but there are loads of more casual enthusiasts who mainly want the experience – and for them the prospect of wrenching something 30+ years old with a fairly solid foundation of Japanese reliability vs. something 50+ years old that was on the wobbly side even when new… Yes, there’s a wonderful cottage industry of aftermarket sources – but the necessity of half-baked nearly-new vehicles built that cottage.
Know what you’re getting into…
They have surely fallen in value, usable Spridgets seem to run $5k-$10k in my area.
They are very tight, my English friend has one (named Bob after the previous elderly owner) and I hopped in to try it on during our visit last year. I found that I couldn’t get out afterwards, I wound up basically falling out the door then extracting my legs once my torso was on the ground. Not the way that you want to exit a car.
Yeah I can’t imagine having one of these versus whatever year Miata is cheapest these days. Great condition NAs are starting to go up in value, but given the sheer volume plus durability of the Miata, I’m sure there are still higher mileage ones for not too much money.
Fundamentally sound low-maintenance modern engineering, a top that goes up and down with one hand, plus air bag(s). Makes a Spridget a questionable choice, even as a weekend toy.
Even a stock Miata is sprightly (ha) – these have half the power, but not half the weight. Even back when Miatas were newish and poor teens and college kids like me couldn’t afford them, when someone told me they had an MG and they showed up in a Midget, I was disappointed. I really don’t care for rubbing up against a guy (it was never a lady) involuntarily unless I’m in a freaking Cessna, Piper, or Grumman Tiger. And that only is tolerable because I’M FLYING.
In high school, my 6’3″ brother sat in one of these and it took three people to get him back out again. Cute little cars, but cramped.
Addictive, too. My auto shop teach warned me years ago that he started with one and ended up with three different MGs. One of these was on my bucket list for years until I actually sat in one. Then I decided I didn’t really need one that bad. Now I own one. Funny how that worked out.
I got a loan of a Midget in the early 80s – you could fit a Fender Precision on the front passenger seat, a bass amp head on the passenger footwell, and the single speaker cab in the boot .
But the driver’s seat would have been tight for anyone taller than my 5’8″ .
If this auction goes for under $9,000 & only if you into these MG’s & DIY on minor fix’s / inconvenience, not first-time owner. I think is great FUN deal. just buying one for let say $3000 running will most likely easily run over $12,000 DIY on getting it to look good & run right. this one seems minor detailing & easy fix seams won’t bother me a bit. no indoor space otherwise I ‘ll make a move.