1974 MG Midget Review - Not Like The Other 70's Cars...

[@randyhoneycutt8153]

I had a 1969 model Midget while in college. It was fun, reasonably quick, handled like a dream and was surprisingly robust. Great little car. BTW, that’s not a cap on the wire wheels, it was a knock off holding the wheel on the axle. You used a rubber mallet to take them on and off.

[@geraldscott4302]

Those do look like knockoff wheels. I've seen them on early '60s Corvettes. But I thought they were outlawed in the U.S. long before 1974. You can buy fake ones for 1963-1982 Corvettes.

[@gw8486]

Note also the caps are RH thread on the RH side of the car and LH thread on the LH side of the car, so that natural forward motion tends to tighten the caps rather than undo them.

[@randyhoneycutt8153]

@@gw8486 I remember.

@@geraldscott4302 Yes, they did away with "ears" on the knockoff wheels long before 1974; period-correct wire wheels would've had octagon shaped knockoffs

[@xxxpensive1415]

That 4 cylinder sounds are throwbacks 😊😊

[@mrEC]

Had a ‘67 MG Midget in Hawaii. Too much fun driving the island. Best little car, great gas mileage, easy maintenance. So much fun racing TR3’s and MGB’s. Later bought a ‘69 MGC-GT.

[@GForceVRX]

I miss classic sports cars like this beauty

[@ClamBake7525]

Can't find 'em, grind 'em.......🏎

[@ModelA]

That engine bay is cleaner than a tray of surgical tools!!!

[@robertbrodowski1379]

I love it. Little cars, especially little roadsters like this, make me smile and they've always seemed perfect for having fun or just getting around.

[@rightlanehog3151]

Zack, I will try to phrase this as diplomatically as possible. The Valiant seen at 3:37 would have provided a decade or more of faithful service while you would have been very lucky to get your MG to start ten days in a row. 😁

[@randyhoneycutt8153]

My 69 started every time and ran like a top. Never let me down.

[@geraldscott4302]

Totally agree. I used to own a white 2 door 1961 Valiant with the 170ci slant six and a push button automatic. A VERY unique car. I would still have it, but someone offered me an absolute fortune for it, and I sold it. I bought a nice 1970 318 Challenger with the money.

[@rightlanehog3151]

@@geraldscott4302 👍👍

[@ModelA]

Funny because it's true.

[@ih302]

Different car, made for a different purpose.

[@markhealey9409]

I'm quite sure those MGs had the A-series engines,that were used in Minis right up until the 'New BMW Mini' came out,as well as other versions of English BMC & British Leyland mini cars....definitely has a very distinctive exhaust note. Even the 1980s & 1990s Austin & Rover Metros used that same engine. Morris Minors used them,as well.

[@T3PinR]

I owned a '74 Midget in my senior year in high school. Great video, but you could've mentioned where the Midget came from.......the Austin Healey Sprite.

[@steveafanador6441]

What an awesome car. You don't see these around anymore 👌👌

[@bwofficial1776]

MG made use of every inch. It's still a good-looking little car and the US bumpers ruined the classic styling. I'm surprised you weren't looking over the windshield. Let's see you get in with the top on.

[@BadAtFootball]

Great video! Everything you said is spot on. I'm lucky enough to drive the same car, same colour, same June 1974 in right hand drive - almost 50 years old and still going strong.

One small error at 4:11. That's not the hazard light, it's a brake failure warning light. The hazard switch/light is located on the console (4:54)

[@peugeoting]

Just like mine but better condition - spec wise, identical! Not enough reviews of these out there

[@Koulis_]

The Morris Minor actually shares the engine with the Midget: the Austin A-series.

[@johnd8892]

Shares the engine family type, but not the spec of the Midget. No 1275 Minors.

[@Koulis_]

@@johnd8892My point was that it is essentially an A series which is the same engine. Specs varied over the long production run of this engine.

[@darcyarchambault5901]

Thank you for communicate your enthousiasm

[@coldlakealta4043]

the Midget was a pure sports car - everything you needed on a sunny weekend day, and nothing else. Pure basic funn.

[@eddiefalcon8316]

Another great review. Any idea if the older bumpers could be retrofitted?

[@seanvgainey]

You should include more exhaust clips in your future videos. Great work! God bless you!

[@viperocco]

You are one busy dude! thanks for the reviews

[@melvinburwell8202]

My seventh grade teacher had a newer one. I used to see it in the school parking lot. She was a tall good looking lady. I wondered how she fitted in it. 👌😁❤️💜😎

[@MegaRetr]

What an awesome car! Love it!

[@bartscarstories]

This is definitely the sweet spot for the Midget. Great video!

[@Doctor_Robert]

I have a soft spot for the MGB with 5mph bumpers (in part 'cus my Dad owned one and in part because it's cute), but yeah, that regulation was not kind to the Midget. Honestly, though, I'm amazed British-Leyland carried on with the Midget and B as long as they did in the US, considering the horrendous smog regulations stifling what were already mills that didn't make huge power.

[@cardiffchris]

I've seen plenty of these Midgets with a Datsun B-210 engine.

[@tarustrader]

Supposed to open the door with your opposite hand. Good review. I own a 74 Midget.

[@christophersmith1155]

nice weekend car. with all the big SUVs and pick up trucks , i would never drive one theses days. A different time.

[@mikeyerke3920]

Without the MG, I might not have an S2000 in the garage. A very influential roadster that inspired the Miata and the S2K. 🏁

[@johnd8892]

I would lookup the 1964 Lotus Elan to see the Miata inspiration that likely the inspired Honda to match or outdo the Miata.

[@mikeyerke3920]

@@johnd8892The Elan is another great example of sports car influence!

[@sentiencepsn2714]

Beautiful car. Nice review.

[@geraldscott4302]

1974 is not old. I have five cars, and the newest is a 1972. All of them are American. I like British cars, but they are simply not reliable enough to actually go anywhere in. And I wouldn't touch an Asian car with a 10 foot pole. I wish an American company would have made a car like this back then. No, I can't afford a first generation Corvette, and would be terrified something would happen to it if I had one, so it would never get driven. If that throwout bearing is a known problem, you'd think the aftermarket would have come up with a solution for it. None of those old British cars would still be running if it were not for the aftermarket. To me, that car would be ten times the fun of a Miata. The Miata is basically a computer on wheels, and is a bit too refined for me. I like cars with a few rough edges. I call it character. One of my cars is a 1969 VW Bug, with a well built motor and a somewhat loud exhaust system. Maybe I should trade it for a convertible model.

[@davidp2888]

That's a well-loved car.

[@dave11686]

Love these little British cars

[@KeabetsweBadumetse]

Please review the Isuzu KB 200 or 250 fleetside

[@arielsaadat]

Where did you get the shift knob from?

[@wholil_j4y]

I don’t think it’s his so it’s probably rented but there are all types of shift knobs on moss motors but if you want one with your own feel, you can 100% make your own.

[@unowen-nh9ov]

Friend of my Mom's had 1, 3 of us could ride in it with the top down.

[@Metalodeath]

Ya know Zack It would be cool If every video you put a msrp like you do with new cars even if it’s a guess

[@Metalodeath]

I bet this car also gave inspiration for Japanese K cars!

[@johnd8892]

No . Kei cars an early fifties set of Japanese regulations. The Midget was first early sixties, but still far to big for a Kei cars. Both dimensions and engine size. Kei cars started with limits of 360cc and took around the eighties to be allowed 660cc. Midgets 1098 to 1275 cc.

[@jamesstuart3346]

Front bumper and woodwork tray are not stock

Nor are the wheels or the exhaust or the air filters, and the rear bumper overriders are missing. Of course, he didn't claim it was 100% stock and very few of them are

[@normalizedaudio2481]

I bet the owner was scrambling before he showed up.

[@James-bi9de]

I have a chance to buy a 74 MG is it easy to get parts?

[@trucks_n_tractors_6335]

Yes very easy moss motors is an awesome spot

[@sheldonlamey7010]

I always thought these had a 1600 engine.

[@gw8486]

No, from the earliest Mk1 (same as Mk II Sprite), they had 948, 1098, 1275 then 1493 cc engines. First three were BMC A-Series, last was a Triumph, borrowed from the Spitfire.

[@geoffreymak000]

Why they no make roadster no more? 😢

[@TwoDollarGararge]

No one buys them

[@mbd501]

They still sell Miatas.