MG Midget Buying Guide - Fun, Affordable Classic Sports Car !

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MG has a long history of sports cars, the MGA and MGB included. The Midget, a smaller roadster built as a twin sister to the Austin Healey Sprite, offered a more affordable sports car experience. Over a 19-year life, the Midget sold over 74,000 cars worldwide, with particular success in America. Whether an early square-arch car or rubber bumper, A-Series or 1500 Triumph engine, it's one of the most popular, most iconic sports cars and remains an affordable entry point to classic car motoring. Former MG Car Club employee Jeff tells you all you need to know when buying one!
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[@williamegler8771]

My grandparents owned one in the United States. They actually drove it across the entire Continental United States in the middle of January when my grandfather graduated medical school and got a job as a physician in Seattle Washington. He said it was fine for the first 6 months but the engine just stopped and when it was towed to the nearest dealership for repair they said that a intake valve had been installed on the exhaust side and burnt up and disintegrated thus destroying the engine. They called the distributor and complained and the distributor said it's out of warranty. They put in a new long block and my grandfather said it was an engine where you filled the oil and checked the gasoline because it was either burning oil or leaking oil even when new. My grandfather kept it for several years until terminal rust got to it and said it was doomed living in Seattle with the nearly constant rain and the leaky roof and side curtains that let water in all the time. After the coast to coast journey in January my grandmother demanded a car with an effective heater and weather proofing so he bought her an Opel Kadett wagon. When you ask my grandfather about it today he said it was a fun car to drive and when it ran it ran perfectly plus he met so many nice people at garages across the United States while getting it fixed or waiting for it to be towed.

[@rob5944]

An interesting story. You were very gentle on the quality of the car, no wonder that here in the UK we don't build our own nowadays. It should of been replaced entirely at the end of the sixties too, listening to all the rust issues and mechanical and electrical problems it's not surprising that the Japanese killed us in the everyday market and the Germans in the luxury sector....when we weren't on strike that is!

[@brianiswrong]

What a brilliant video on the car as a whole👍 Being 6ft 5" it was never on my radar, but what a superb warts and all buyers guide.

[@ClassicsWorldUK]

Thanks Bryan!

[@MrMacroJesseSky]

I’m 6’3 and I fit just fine!

[@stantheman5163]

I bought a Yellow 1969 Mk IV in 1974. It was in great condition as the original owner bought it new and he was an MG fanatic. He needed the cash to purchase a new home and still had his daily driver MGB as well as an MGB-GT he was restoring. It served me well for over 5 years before it started giving me some engine problems with severe smoking on start-up. I had to sell it as I was still in graduate school and had no funds to properly repair the car. In 1978 I drove it from Georgia to California for law school. It performed flawlessly at the time and the chrome luggage rack on the boot was very handy. The only ongoing issues were 1) it occasionally needed a whack on the fuel pump to get it going (you could hear it clicking) and 2) the starter gears sometimes got locked up and I needed to turn the bolt on the starter with a spanner to get it started. Otherwise, I loved that car! I did replace the top with a new one with my wife´s assistance. The original plastic window fogged up and it started looking really bad. Thanks for reminding me how much I loved this car. I now have a 1994 Miata which we inherited from my mother-in-law in 2018.

[@joshacollins84]

Hi, an American here. I just want to say, sorry for what we made you all do to the MG's with those ugle bumpers and raised ride height.

[@WillHoll4399]

Just took mine off anyway 😅 I’m thinking of even putting it somewhere in my bedroom as decoration 😭

[@Kennywood_Fanatic]

They should have just kept the Sabrina’s on instead of that ugly front bumper

[@777dragonborn]

The dot did that to justify their bureaucratic job. Everything in mid 70s fugly bumper era .

[@ericcriteser4001]

I've always crushed on Midgets but have only owned Bs. Maybe one day. In the meantime, I love my '77B roadster. Thanks for sharing.

[@peterm5924]

I just bought a 63 last August. Love the car...it is a great summer drive in south jersey. I am 6ft and fit fine...but any taller and it would be a problem.

[@abesplenthe_mad_bugsy5879]

Bought my wife a '70 Midget last year. Loads of fun, and have taken it to 2 Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prixs. Slowly restoring it. Thanks for the vid!

[@cdjhyoung]

This a quality review and buyers guide for the the Midget. I would add a couple of things. Get the car on a lift before buying. As mentioned, rust can be a killer on these cars. Get a magnet so you can be sure you are looking at good structural steel in the tunnel and side sills and not a botch cover up/rebuild. My favorite of the series is the cars built in 1972-73. Mechanically best of the lot, the only short coming is the the pretty wire wheels were not an option. If you buy a rubber bumper car, plan on lowering it back to the original ride height (not the worse job in the world). Visually, the rubber bumpers look much better if repainted to the body color. Lastly, if that Triumph engine is shot, look at installing a 2.8-3.1 Chevy V6 instead of doing a rebuild. Sourcing a T-5 trans will also give you a cruising gear. This is a transplant that can be done without cutting the car to pieces and really adds to the car's performance. The overall V6 engine and trans is a few pounds lighter than the stock components so you aren't destroying the balance of the Midget.

[@tides2002]

Great video, even if it was tripping my Midget hood folding OCD off. If you buy a Spriget make sure the hood is folded correctly (unlike the one in the video) otherwise it will look like a pram but more importantly it will damage the hood in long term.

[@NoelSquitieri]

I wanted to buy a brand new 1973 Midget, so I sat in one on the showroom floor. I was then just over 6'1.5". The top was up and I easily slid into place. I found it all enchanting and very comfortable. Then I tried to get out. After repeated efforts, we all had a good laugh while the top was lowered which for some reason I couldn't get out my way. I suppose a quick-release steering wheel would have helped, but everyone including me breathed a sigh of relief when I decided to buy a sportscar I could both get into and out of.

[@timbre7999]

Super video, supremely well presented!

[@garysimpson3900]

Thanks for doing this article. It brought back happy memories of my first car MTU418T. A 6/79 registered car in "Inca Gold" purchased by me 1/84. According to the DVLA site today it's last tax expired 1/89.

[@ClassicsWorldUK]

Great colour for a Midget!

[@emmajacobs5575]

@@ClassicsWorldUKMy first Midget was Inca Yellow when I got it; terrible colour for an open top car - I have lasting memories of sitting in a traffic jam surrounded by a huge cloud of greenfly attracted by the colour, and being unable to get away from them!

[@peterrenn6341]

Superb cars! I love my 1972 car (I've owned it since 1985) and I cane it hard.:-) - The difference between 'OK' suspension, brakes etc. and perfect condition is huge: A properly set up (zero play) car is fantastic: An even slightly tired one can be disappointing. - Even a couple of PSI error in tyre pressures will spoil the experience. Test drive as many as you can and you'll see what I mean. - Oh, and the 1500's bumpers are **absurdly** heavy and with the increased ride height ruin the car.

[@richardrichard5409]

Prices of all classics are dropping fast, far more sellers than buyers and only going to continue. The classic car auction just up the road from me is turning entries away and carefully vetting vendors for very sensible reserves...no point in entering them otherwise, they need to sell cars to pay the bills. 😎

[@urbanfrit]

I've owned 5 Midgets, the first was a 67 when I was 18, and the last 3 were RWAs, including my present one. Just love these cars, the feeling of being connected to the car and the road is something you cannot get in any other car for the price. Just go round and round a mini roundabout with the back end out and you will see what I mean. The most fun you can have at 10MPH. What's with the RWAs on the green one in the video though?

[@doit5560]

im currently 18 years old and i own a Austin Healey Sprite mk3 with a 1275cc engine. Im trying to grt her fixed. You said you owned z rwa, what does that mean?

[@urbanfrit]

@@doit5560 Round Wheel Arch

[@tedecker3792]

You’ve got me beat, having only owned three: 63,67,&76. Then I moved up to big cars:,MGB & XKE.

[@boglerun8444]

I have a '73, ....essentially a 2-person go-kart with a boot & hood, what's not to like!

[@cheekypigg]

Thanks for the guide super helpful. It has helped me decide to get it as my first car 🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@ClassicsWorldUK]

Great to hear!

[@dkoz8321]

How can anyone desire what is inevitably becomes pile of powdered iron oxide?

[@leetronix]

Good video covering some great points 👍

[@richardrichard5409]

1500 was always a nicer daily driver, more torque, higher gearing, especially the 77 onwards. Faster acceleration and top end too. Lots of bollocks about thrust wear, couple of hours to slip a new thrust washer in, so no great shakes.

[@mickyhamer1300]

Had a 65 MG Midget great car.

[@calbob750]

Drive before you buy. It may be smaller than you think compared to an MGB.

[@richardrichard5409]

Biggest interior bills comes with seat rebuilds, often missed. Can sink a grand into a pair.

[@Proud_Texan]

Parts are not cheap. I had a 1975 & 1979 - Midget . Windscreen wipers cost $45.00 each. & it takes 3 for a Midget from 1975 thru 1979. They both always had electrical issues but it was easy to work on. I never understood WHY they would put the battery right in the middle of the car AND back against the firewall. I'm 5'2". Midget was the perfect car for me, plus it had my initials all over it.

[@ClassicsWorldUK]

Sounds like it was worth the struggle!

[@kpt_vr46]

I am seriously considering one as a first car obviously i cant spend massive amounts but could i get a ok rubber bumper one for 3-4k i can do work my self as being in college for mechanics and relatives are also mechanics also just wonderd what the prices are year later 👍

[@sentrax1846]

Would it make a good first car for a young driver who wants a classic?😊

[@ClassicsWorldUK]

if you bear in mind the potential for rust and lack of safety, they're great! :D

[@karlhulme8014]

Absolutely great fun to drive. Make sure your best mate is a welder ad buy a good grease gun ! Personally my favourite is the round wheel arch version as not only does it look nicer, it’s got a soft top that’s easier to get up and down than early versions . Chances are you’ll never find another classic ( especially a sports car ) that’s as ( relatively) cheap to run. Make sure you join the MG Owners club and try looking for a car in their adverts. Good luck !

[@sentrax1846]

@@karlhulme8014 Thanks

[@tedecker3792]

They are the perfect first car, you will learn a lot doing your own work. Simple and easy to work on. Don’t sell your bicycle.

[@North49191]

Parts are definitely not cheap in Canada.

[@stunsisacul]

🫡

[@bostavely204]

Don't understand , why not just get an mgb ? Who could fit in that ?

[@ClassicsWorldUK]

Several members of our team are well over 6ft (180CM+) and fit in a Midget just fine!

[@cheekypigg]

Leave it for us ladies then 😂.

[@roygardiner2229]

Me...with ease.