The Original Mazda Miata: 1972 MG Midget Review

This 1972 MG Midget is the round fender version with the 1275cc engine. The owner has hopped up the motor a little bit by boring it out to a 1300cc and fitting a hotter cam. In the video I will let you know how that has changed things!

[@stantheman5163]

I owned a 1969 MIdget back in 1974 - 1980. It was a daily driver and drove well. Once in a while you had to knock on the starter motor and/or fuel pump, but that was rare. Drove it from Georgia to California in 1978. No issues. I now drive a 1994 NA Miata. Love that car too.

[@paulcleve88]

On my first Midget, my trick for the stuck starter was to rock the car with my foot and the pop the clutch: a similar but lesser cousin to a bump start. Would free up the starter and then it would spin as designed. Only had to knock the fuel pump the first time it came out of the garage in the spring.

[@richarddamico9894]

I have owned many Midgets, they were my daily driver. Living in Massachusetts, we have some heavy snow at times. I drove home in a Midget in a blizzard about 20 miles with a bag of cat litter in the trunk for added weight. Made home just fine, low and slow as they say. Low gear, slow speed 😊. Great cars!

[@awalk5177]

My family ran a Midget for 7 years and we only did normal services, put in petrol and greased the steering. Children meant it found a new home. Didn't have any problems as a daily driver in all that time. I now (after children grown) have an another one which I had a full restoration on with a new body shell, but its just for fun. The Miata was a bit of a Lotus Elan copy, but unlike the fibreglass Elan, with a steel body that has some tendency to rust, a lot. It seems someone mounted your mirrors in the wrong place. If you have steering under acceleration and deceleration it seems you have a serious suspension / steering fault, these cars are usually pin sharp on steering, and renowned for precise steering. If the brakes are dodgy to I dont think I would be driving that example , other than to a repair garage.

[@syrapianrule407]

It’s odd as my mirrors were mounted in the same place.

[@awalk5177]

@@syrapianrule407 Yes, they are indeed mounted in that place / area on the door, as are mine, but they should not be fouling the quarter light opening, so the mountings were slightly incorrect. Interesting that some North American Midgets had THREE wiper blades too.

[@denmueller3378]

I owned a brand new MG Midget in 1973 while I was in College. Loved that little car so much. I am currently looking for another "Harvest " gold '73 Midget to purchase. Thanks for the great video.

[@dff19707]

It was my brother’s MG Midget that he owned in the mid-1980s that led to my love of roadsters and why I now own my second Miata.

[@davealley2761]

"and I'm going barely the speed limit..?" As a former owner, my sentiment exactly! I liked to brag I could drift around a corner without breaking the speed limit.

[@warrenblain2365]

The steering fault that you describe is almost certainly caused by a worn out bush on the front of the left rear spring. Either that or loose fitment of the rear axle to the spring on the left side.

[@greenNRGinit]

Thanks for the MG Midget review!! Love the early 70s MGs.

[@StanleyZurawski]

What a great video! just bought a 73 this summer. Loving it

[@tarustrader]

Perfection in analog motoring

[@TractorBots]

Brilliant car, brilliant review - thanks. Mine was red with the same wheels and original mirrors further forwards on the front wings. 😊

[@PaulCleve]

As for the title, I’d argue that the Miata was created to capture what was lost in the demise of the British roadster, not destroy them. The British roadsters were destroyed by BL and hot hatches. For the most part, the only convertibles really available when the Miata came out were the Le Barons and Mustangs, and handful of low volume, short runs like the Allante. Not even comparable really. I love the NA for that very reason, and lament that even it is slowly and steadily outgrowing its own raison d’être with each successive model.

[@200degrees]

Yea I fear I wrote that one to grab attention but you're right it's not really correct. It might have hurt resale value of used ones on its release but it's hardly competition crushing when the competition was discontinued nearly a decade before your release. I'm experimenting with a few different titles and I will see what catches on while also sticking a little closer to what is actually true haha As for the N/A Miata I wholeheartedly agree with my love for it. I think that I really enjoy the styling and package of some of the special edition NB Miatas, I've always felt their design really worked for me. But the true charm of the Miata certainly sits with the NA.

[@rogerburrows2429]

Here in the UK,the Miata is the MX5,and a lot of the earlier ones are becoming popular as the basis for kit cars.

[@donjames5761]

no power anything is what i love about my 72 mg midget. i dont have to worry about things like. sensors going bad or need cleaning. i or costly o2 sensors or bad or clogged catalytic converters or window an electric lock motors . my grand father left me my 72 midget. i didn't think i would love it so much an enjoy it but my 04 celica gts everytime i get something fix something else tears up. its been 3 years problem free. i loved the fact i had to learn to tune the carbs

[@michaelstoliker971]

First gear is noisy because it has a straight cut gear. Not helical cut like the other gears.

[@thomasleemullins4372]

When I was younger, I saw a MG Midget at the mall on display. I always wanted one. I think it also came with an automatic transmission. I still want one. I still think it is cool. A company in China owns it now. They have a new MG and it is a SUV called #1. I think they ruined MG; IMO.

[@monkeysuncle2816]

The British, Germans, other Europeans DON'T like "warm" beer- they just drink it at cellar temperatures: 50-55 F. Their beers actually taste GOOD and don't NEED to be served so cold your tongue can't taste it.

[@roberty21]

I believe the Lotus Elan was the influence for the Miata

[@200degrees]

The design certainly was but the concept of the Miata was to replace the open top sports cars so MG's/Triumphs/Spitfires/Lotus's etc were the spiritual inspiration.

[@roberty21]

@@200degrees great cars I’ve owned my NA MX5 1.8 since 1999 can’t see me ever getting rid of

[@paulcleve88]

Love it so much! But, uhm, BROWN?!? It's Harvest Gold, of course!

[@200degrees]

There’s a thin line between light brown and harvest gold ;) great colour either way though!

[@gordonblank6845]

I had a 73 in harvest gold. Great car till a lady t boned me at 7th street and Osborn in Phoenix, December 7th 1984. Totaled.

[@user-xy7lf1tx1d]

The Mazda Miata is basically an MG that works.

[@anthonya3220]

Exactly what I'm looking for. What did it run you. Absolutely love this car.

[@200degrees]

My friend who owns it bought it in the 90's so I'm not sure that's still relevant today haha

[@anthonya3220]

@@200degrees ok, I thought it was yours.

[@200degrees]

@@anthonya3220 I wish!

[@anthonya3220]

@200degrees I'm definitely in market for one. I recently saw one at a car show side by side with an MGB, Midget

[@anthonya3220]

Got cut off Midget is much better. Thanks for video

[@dzmacd3547]

still want one when I can actually store one 😂

[@UberLummox]

You don't look particularly short, and you seem to fit. How tall are ya? I'm 6' 2" & wondering if I can fit in one. Never had the chance to try one on when they were around. They're not particularly tough or practical cars, so never all that many here in Maine. But I'd LOVE to drive one in the snow!!! Good job with the video!

[@200degrees]

It’s the first one I’ve ever ridden in and I was surprised how much space there was! I’m 6’1” but more torso tall than legs but in order to get my face showing through the window I had to slouch and didn’t find a legroom problem when I was doing that. I’m trying to convince the owner to come out ice racing with it this winter cause I think it would be a blast! Thanks for watching!

[@UberLummox]

@@200degrees Hell yeah, that would be an absolute blast! And thanks much for the info!

[@ilfred6857]

Beautiful little car. With such a small pedal set, I assume you drive barefoot.

[@200degrees]

I have sneakers and barefoot shoes which were just narrow enough, it would have been entirely impossible with my boots though haha

[@garethkeri]

Did anyone else see the thumbnail and immediately think David Brent?

[@user-sy1ed9ex5m]

Cool car, however the Miata was inpired by the Lotus Elan.

[@200degrees]

The styling of the Miata no doubt was most inspired by the Elan (A bucket list car for sure!) but the concept of the Miata was inspired by the British Roadster which is more what I meant here. Cheers

[@deetesmin]

Rubbish it was based on the Lotus Elan. Comparing the MX5 to the Midget is like comparing a racing thoroughbred with a cart horse

[@rimizoem]

3 wipers !!!!

[@androidtexts6948]

The Triumph Spitfire is tĥe original and any Triumph is better than MG

[@200degrees]

I like them both for sure!

[@chrisadams6595]

I've got an MGB GT which I adore , but , I also love the tr6 and am thinking of buying one as a counterpoint to the mgb

[@spitfires1979]

To be fair, the original Mazda Miata was the Lotus Elan, this is well-known. The Japanese stole the sleek design with the pop-up headlights (though their version was bland and derivative ) as well as the engineering creed of Colin Chapman, the head of Lotus - rather than add power, he believed you must ‘add lightness’, and Mazda also strove to create a similarly refined chassis that traded BHP for handling. The English way was to prioritise handling, as on our twisty narrow old roads, cornering speed and ability is more important than straight-line acceleration to achieve fast point-to-point times.