A 1979 MG Midget was my first car. Bought for $1000 in 1986. LOVED having that car in high school. My dad painted the car (his side gig) and we worked on it together...quite often. The engine went south in 1989 and it sat in a garage while I went away to college, started a career, moved to a few different states, got married, and had a kid. 20+ years later, I retrieved the car, went through the entire car (all new wiring - NOTHING Lucas remaining), bought and rebuilt a motor, new brakes, new fuel tank, fuel lines, ignition, etc. Have driven it regularly since 2019 - even commuted to work in it in downtown Columbus, OH. ZERO problems. My dad passed away this year. I treasure the car and the now far-from-perfect coat of yellow paint it wears that my dad sprayed on it 35+ years ago.
A couple of years ago I bought my son a 79 midget while visiting in Arizona. He has had a blast with it. The car is quirky and there is always something that needs done. He is now attending college and studying mechanical engineering.
great story and I know you and your son are gonna love the car. I bought a sad 1971 Midget in college with the impetus from my girlfriend's dad. I remade the engine, changed the clutch, redid the entire interior etc. Painted it. Fun and ended up with a real nice car.
My first car in High School was a 1970 Midget. That was 1980. Perfect car for a young driver to learn car control in. You always felt like you were going fast, but were rarely breaking the speed limit.
I had a 1964.5, yup... 1964 1/2. It had roll up winfows and door handles. I had so much fun with my Midget... it wasn't fast but it was a fun little car back in 73 / 74 / 75. I graduated high school, joined the USAF and managed to stay out of Vietnam. My dad saw the handwriting on the wall with me leaving the MG would his. We had it painted red instead of British racing green and did some work on the motor and transmission. I was gone and my dad took it over... a little red MG in California. My father drove it until his health failed. This show was a lot of fun stirring up some good memories. Thank you. Scott
My Dad bought a new 1962 Sprite while living in England. We moved to Texas in 63 and I got my license in 64 at 14 years old and learned to drive in the sprite. I love sport cars because of the Sprite, but I now own a Miata cause I know it will run with no problems
I had a 1977 MG Midget “Special Edition” in blue. I kept it for 1 year (Dec.’91 -Dec. ‘92) and enjoyed it except for the fact that the gas tank floater didn’t work well and it needed tuning, etc. it was fun, but not reliable enough yo be a daily driver.
In 1972 my dad had a new Midget and in 1977 my stepmom mom had a new Midget. In 1975 my uncle had an MGB. I'm 54 now and have always wanted an original british roadster and recently bought a wonderful survivor 1969 Austin Healey Sprite in proper BRG. Love everything about it!
earlier this year at a car show at a local university, there was a long line of cars queued to enter the parking lot, and I got in line in my Midget. It doesn't like idling in place. It boiled the fuel in the float bowls, stalled out, would not restart, so I just pushed it the final 200 yards to the parking lot, through registration, and into my spot. Aided by a slight downhill the entire distance, and my wife in the passengers seat actuating the parking break if we got moving too fast, it was a piece of cake, and rather relaxing. (and was the only car of several hundred at the show that had to be pushed in)
After 38 years, owning a 1500, I'm not going to say I don't like them. My father had a 1275 and with his passing, that has come to me (With a request that I keep it). You don't drive a Midget, you wear it. They were simple cars, easy to drive and easy to work on. Modified cars can be very fast, as they are basically a light car (I've been to race meetings, where fastest lap of all went to a modified Midget and some of the other races were for modified MG V8s and special saloons, including and ex Ronnie Petersen BMW 2002 Turbo) but they are great fun to just go for a steady drive in the country. My 1500 has an overdrive gearbox (My own mod) and the engine gives over 100bhp, so if it was a longer trip, I'd perhaps use that one. It is possible to fit a Ford Sierra 5 speed box, to the A Series cars, thus making an economical car more economical. However, I like the standard 1275 box and enjoy the opportunity of double de clutching into bottom gear and since I have a higher geared Midget (And an MGB GT V8), I will leave it alone!! My father had fitted Spax dampers to the rear and it has improved the ride quality.
I've got some fond memories of the '64 Midget my father had bought in 1968 as a garage project for 800 bucks. After replacing some bent and burnt valves we had her back on the road again, soon entering the world of oil leaks , wacky smith's instruments ,almost non existent heater system and questionable electrics this car was a hoot to drive. On a good day with a tail wind 75-80 mph was possible and twisty roads ,top down,and the sound of that 1275 four. banger was intoxicating for an 18 year old kid. Today I wheel around in a Mazda Miata which is a fabulous car,but I never forgot the British glory and magical world of MG.
I had a 72 Midget in 1981, it was a fun little car you had to be real cozy with your passenger! I later traded it on a 67 Healey 3000! Now I have a 74 Jensen Healey and a 74 Triumph Stag. Goid show I enjoy your vids!!!Cheers
I loved this video. I owned two MG Midgets and loved the burnt orange color so much that I picked them both in that color. I can😢believe that the color was called that for sure after all these years. After those cars 🚗 I ended up purchasing a forest green Triumph Spirit, but my heart ❤️ belongs to the Midget and always will be! I wish I could afford to buy a restored MG Midget.
My first car was a new 72 Midget (red) only had it for about 10 months as the insurance got too expensive for a 19 year old. My future TR6's ended up being my favorites but I had many fun times in the Midget.
Thank you for this article. I was always enchanted by the MG cars as a youngster & my first car was a T registered 1978 MG Midget when I passed my professional exams in 1984. Sadly it was a typical BL "Rust Bucket" always requiring body work attention & the aged mechanicals of the suspension required greasing with a grease gun or replacement parts.
Great video, I loved my '74 Midget. Unfortunately it had so many electrical and mechanical issues I just could not keep it running. But boy was it fun to drive.
I had a '64-1/2 Midget as my first car. Roll up windows and wire wheels with a heater. Mine had the 10CC engine (1098cc high compression) that did not like unleaded gas. I rebuilt that car almost completely. Non-synchromesh first gear meant a couple of transmission rebuilds. Phenomenal fuel mileage. Positive ground electrics did not allow good radio/stereo options. Constant tune-ups, points, plugs, condenser and carburetor adjustments kept me a little busy. Easy to work on, except having to bend way over to work on it. I miss that little car.
In 1972 I bought a 1971 MG Midget 1275. I originally had my eyes on a Triumph TR6 but the salesman told me I would never get insured. Feeling somewhat deflated I walked to another nearby garage which had a 1275 midget for sale. It was priced at £740 which was not only cheaper than the TR6 but actually insurable. I loved the car. it had amazingly direct steering so when I first drove it I weaved all over the road. It was a bit troublesome though. The brake pads only lasted four thousand miles and the primitive front shock absorbers required regular replacement. But it was great fun and some of the happiest times of my life were with that car. I'm 69 now have an MX5, A much better car but still retains much of the MG spirit.
I own and drive as much as i can, in which is often a 72' round arch 1275 mg midget. It has been an absolute labor of love. This car i purchased 30years ago basically in boxes. Most of the renewed parts came from Victoria British in Lenexa,Ks.U.S.A.,i painted it SpeedBlue acrylic enamel, has original rostyle wheels with 145 70R -13 sneakers. Gives me that original low to the ground feel with great handling. Thx for your time,Bruce
My Sister talked my Father into buying a 1971 MG Midget from a guy at a gas station. She drove it until a rod bearing tore up. Every Spring we would pump up the tires, roll it out into the sunlight and wash it off! EventuallyI asked about it and Dad gave to me. I rebuilt my first engine...a 1275cc. I took a friend to see a fireworks display and found as I went down a big hill, that I could not stop! So, I began to learn the charming/frustrating nuances of a Midget: Paper axle end seals were leaking grease into the brake drums! Any MG owner has stories, but I'll cut it short. I love the design, with its quirks, but the sad truth is, it was a wonderful car made of cheap materials. The camshaft, admittedly well used...l[ked like somebody had attacked the lobes with an ice pick! I tore into a friend's 1976 Corona, where the camshaft had begun to wear through a rocker arm...and the ca lobe was worn off...but smooth as glass. It may have been stainless steel. It pains me to say it, but Mazda did what Abingdon never did...make a Midget-like car...the Miata...that was made of reliable materials. The last day I spent with my Midget was a Saturday morning...living now in a different city from the Midget...under the car with a pickle fork taking the front end apart...only to find the sheetmetal clips that hold the lower suspension arm to the frame...had corroded and SPLIT! I won't end on a bad note. A friend once asked..."When are we gonna find a road with some "S" curves?!" It WAS a fun car.
I married into an early my 4 Midget. It was still a BMC car and it is still is very much fun to drive. My son just finished a restoration and drives it on mountain roads. I must say that no other car has taken as much maintenance, but it is all worth the effort. Soooo much fun.
In 1967 I was graced with a Red 1963 MG Midget as my first car which was purchased for the mighty sum of $1,000. The car had never been driven in the winter and was in showroom condition. I loved that car!
A brilliant doc. I had a MG Midget Mk III 1971 bought in 1977 and sold in 1984 with 56K on the clock. it was a brilliant little car, all my friends wanted a lift in it and it never broke down despite a couple of severe winters.! Would like to have one now so looking keenly at the sites.
I've got a nice white 1968 Midget for sale ..another nice red mgb 1971 freshly redone all thru & paint & an old 1960 MGA red show car..moving need to sell them all.
I loved my first car, a red 1975 MG Midget, unfortunately it was full of holes and I spent loads of money on it. (First name terms with the AA man). However I had great times and enjoyed many MG rally’s with my friends in the Bromsgrove MG Owners club.... happy days 😍😍
Nice history, a lot i did not know. I had a blue MK4 Sprite in the 70’s. Eventually sold it and was in regret for years. Now retired and found a nice BRG MK4!
There was a mid 70s mg midget in collage when i was learning car body repair in the early 90s my lecturer used to hit it with a hammer in several places then get us car body repair students to repair the damage and paint it back to stock condition i had to repair the bonnet and wing for an assesment and it was full of filler from previous repairs lol so it took ages but i finaly repaired it useing no filler and painted it and passed that segment of my test .
First car in 1981: 1966 Midget II (1098) BRG, wire wheels JHJ 394D. £175. Loved it. Eaten through with rust, starter motor regularly jammed. Hood leaked. 😊
My second new car was a 74 Midget. Burnt orange with all the extras ... (can't name any of those :). Great car for a single sailor barely 21 years old. I loved it.
First car was a '38 TA. Wooden chassis, fly off handbrake and "air conditioning" via a hood that perpetually leaked. Twin SU carburetors that needed constant balancing and for some reason no fuel gauge. Sold it to a chap who still has it to this day and is probably worth more than my house. Oh happy days.
I had three Midgets...A 65' 1098, a later 72 model, and a King Hell 1275cc from 1967 (pre emissions)...I had the dealer that had won multiple SCCA championships (Mostly in Minis) juice it up to 9/1 compression 1293cc and a Weber carb- with a couple of easily changed rear axels and a straight cut gear box (w/competition clutch) it was a ROCKET!! Midgets were only one step away from street racing trim; I loved that car like a brother... :-)
learned how to drive stick on my dads 79 mgb, we used to completely lift out the convertible top revealing a perfect recess for our labrador to ride to the dog beach.
Isn't that a 'B at 14:18? In the early 70's I was the proud owner of a Red Midget the later a Harvest Gold Midget the last before the black bumpers. How I wish I still had it!
I've got a nice white 1968 Midget for sale ..another nice red mgb 1971 freshly redone all thru & paint & an old 1960 MGA red show car..moving need to sell them all.
As a teenager in the 1960's, my first car was a tired old Morris Minor, and I blew the engine almost immediately. That led me to a local junkyard, where I learned that the Minor and the MG Midget had the same engine block. So I bought a junkyard engine and it bolted right in! The dual carbs were impressive to look at, but the power was still so low I couldn't outrun my friend's Nash Metropolitan. But it was great fun to drive!
In 1975 my wife chose to buy a brand new MG Midget. On the way home from the dealer the oil light came on about 3 miles from the dealership. An oil line had broken/come off. Over the next four years of ownership it required constant repairs and maintenance. During the Michigan winter, a couple times a winter the transmission would freeze up solid. She learned to always park it in neutral during the night. All problems aside, my wife loved it.
I think it's sad we did not export the cars to the US in knock down, at least then some of the build quality could have been aided by local knowledge & things like the freezing gear box could have been sorted in the market that took so many.
Back in 1968 when I was 19 years old I was driving back from the beach in Sydney Australia in my beloved MG Midget I was pulled over by three Highway Patrol police cars who were stunned to see that I had six passengers in the car with me. It probably helped that all six were very attractive 18 years old girls in Bikinis. I was let go with only a minor reprimand and lots of grins. It was a bit stupid on my part but a lot of fun. Part of my misspent youth.
I aspire to be you, 19 currently, going to go look at my dream car. the MG Midget tomorrow with a friend of mine. If I end up getting it, I'll be sure to live vicariously as you once did.
I ran a 1969 midget from 1978 to 1980. (ENP625J) It was a blast ! Upgraded the engine and changed a clutch alone ! Not an easy task …. Though the MG didn’t compare favourably with my girlfriends 1300cc Spitfire.(OLO10L) The Spit was quicker, more spacious and far more refined.
The Spitfire was indeed much more roomy, with a nicer woodgrain dashboard, and much easier to work on; but Spridget was a rollerskate on wheels, a much nicer drive than the Spitfire
I love the fact that the original Sprite was called the frog-eye in the UK and the bug-eye in the US, despite being the exact same vehicle (except for the steering wheel placement).
I started with Minis and then had a ‘75 Midget from 1989 to 1996, but gave it up after the birth of our first child. I thoroughly enjoyed that car. Now I get my top down thrills with an ‘18 Mustang which I daily drive. I think my winter rims and rubber cost me nearly as much as the Midget.
My MG Midget was a lot of fun but also a lot of frustration with breakdowns, constant repairs and replacement parts. If I was to ever buy a convertible again it would be a reliable Mazda.
I was on a company trip years ago. A co-worker, also a Midget owner...and I were at a hamburger stand when a Midget drove by. I cracked, "Give him two weeks, he'll be working on it!" We left the hamburger stand and drove down the road...there was the Midget on the side of the road with the hood up! That really happened! Another friend had a pretty reliable one, but they weren't very "durable"! Some good memories, though.
My father bought me a 1976 MGB back in the early 80s and I used it every day. It was a fast and fun car to drive. Whenever I saw other MG on the road, mine seemed to be slightly bigger for some reason.
I've got a nice white 1968 Midget for sale ..another nice red mgb 1971 freshly redone all thru & paint & an old 1960 MGA red show car..moving need to sell them all.
I’ve had 3 midgets and found them to be quite serviceable little gamers. None of the electrical and such problems people write about. Maybe just opportunistic mechanics?
Clueless Americans used to relying on at least 3 of 8 cylinders in their neglected cars working to get them home. Second or third hand specimens not having been near a competent mechanic since they were 6 months old. I daily drove a 1961 Morris Minor from 1988 to 1990, 90 km's (56 miles) on my college roundtrip. The only problem was the electric fuel pump, which had adjustable points like the ignition. A few knocks with a hard object got it ticking again. The Midget used the same driveline and Lucas electrics like my Minor. The brakes were crap, though. It got T-boned by a Lada and I got a much worse 1970 Minor to replace it.
@@erik_dk842 The points on the fuel pump simply needed cleaning, another thing not understood by clueless Americans . I have owned about 6-7 Morris Minors and 2 Morris Oxfords. Both fine cars. There is not better basic automobile than a Morris Minor, far superior to a VW bug of which I have owned 55, 56, 57, 58, 599, 60 54 double door right hand bus and a POS Thing. The Brakes on the Morris were fine if in good condition and properly adjusted.. Operator error, either going to fast for conditions or the brakes needed attention. Likely a master or slave cylinder brake fluid issue, or ...
@@jeffhildreth9244 The main problem was my shoestring budget and the parts availablity in Denmark at the time. Front drums were like £200 each at the time, so I had to make do with turned drums and relined shoes professionally ground to the turned diameter. That seriously worsens the leverage in the system. Disk brake conversions couldn't get through MOT. I got a set of larger drums from a Riley for my second 1970 Minor, but never got around to fit it. I changed the points for the "improved" double contact set, and the pump problems were actually rare. I did consider getting a mechanical pump, but was told that there was no lobe on the cam behind the blanking cover on the engine. I don't miss my Minor, but I have many good memories of it.
Great video. I shared a house in the 80s with two guys that owned midgets. One lime yellow and the other BRG. Another friend had an MGBGT. happy times- great fun, much preferred the midgets to my Morris Marina! Only fault with the video is a couple of shots showed MGBs where they should have been Midgets. Thanks!
I remember visiting the Abingdon MG plant in the mid seventies and was shocked the production track required the assemblers to physically push the car to the next "station".
Loved my brief encounter with my Midget, sold her a few years ago. Never forget how good the heater was, so good in fact that it started cooking my feet! Cheap fun! Always drove with the roof down and a smile on my face!
British engineering was underrated and still is ...and I am glad it still like this because that's how we Brit craftsmanship fans will be able to afford our Brit dreams!! My fav is TR5 and Rover P6...I wish I would get to have both some day soon!
My Dad owned an early 1970's Midget in the US. Amazingly, it never needed work over the 5 or so years he owned it. A lot of people do not realize that he Midget FELT much faster than it was. The driver was so close to the ground even at speeds of 45mph (72kph) on a tight twisty road, it seemed that you were blazing along. We lived in a mountainous area, so the driver felt very involved continually upshifting and downshifting to keep the car in its power zone. In the past 50 years, I have owned much more powerful cars and cars that could corner faster, but none of them gave me the sensation of speed that the old Midget did in the mountains.
Had a Midget in the early 70s, racing green beautiful to look at but, a nightmare on breaking down miles from anywhere. In the end had a VW beetle, no breakdowns in the middle of nowhere..
I had a 1965 MGB Sebring with flared wheel wells and a milled head and magnesium wheels and a racing stripe. One of the most fun cars I ever drove. I went thru a car wash once and the whole wiring harness went up in smoke due to cloth wrapped wiring (not plastic wrapped)
My first car, in 1975, was a '72 Midget. It was British Racing Green with a tan interior. I added a roll bar. It was a fun car, but it kept stripping axle shafts. Being a teenager, I burned up the motor. The garage that rebuilt it did a terrible job. We sold it and I bought my brother-in-laws' '74 Mercury Capri. It was a luxury car compared to the Midget. Thanks for the memories.
1966 Midget, 1100 (1098) cc engine putting out 62 hp I believe, erector set top, Su carbs (have you checked the oil lately?), SU fuel pump (tick, tick, tick), and a clutch travel more like an on/off switch than a progressive clutch. I lived on a very curvy two lane in the hills of East Tennessee and everyday was a wonderful exercise in shifting and drifting. Later the engine was exchanged for a '67 1275 unit but we left the rear axle at the 4:22 instead of changing to the 3:90 that the '67 1275 Midget had, so it was a little (little being the operative word) faster than a '66 or '67. As soon as the original Dunlops wore out I replaced them with Michelin X Stop, at least I think that was what they were called. Benn running Michelin ever since. When the stop light turned green you push in the clutch and pull back on the shift lever toward second just a little to engage the balk ring to stop the gears from turning and this allowed engagement of first without a "crunch". Other memories: the front suspension with a king pin instead of ball joints. I still have the reamer for sizing the bushing in the "trunnion?" I think it was called and the other bushing for the new king pin. Sadly I cannot recall the exploded view of the front suspension and what went where. However, if anyone need to use the bushing reamer just let me know. Armstrong lever arm shocks, negative earth with generator, meaning you could push it off even with a totally dead battery. The Midget and the '69 Triumph Bonnie taught me a great deal about automobiles, very little of which is useful now as things have changed so much. Pensky timing light anyone? It was stolen around 1980 or it would still be with me. Really fun car to row through the curves! Eventually replaced with a '65 Sunbeam Alpine which was slightly faster and more sophistocated (slightly, again being the operative word). I will one day repair/restore the Alpine, and get a battery and carb filters for the '72 Triumph Daytona 500. I think I am detecting a theme here..... I best go out and drive the X150 body XKR to return me to the reality of the present. "Safety Fast" y'all.
you made me laugh with memories of the checking the oil in the SU carbs bit! mine was a '67 Mk III Sprite with the same 1098 engine; must have been one of the last, because the 1275 came out that year. It was noisy on the open road , though, I always wanted to get a Riley 1.5 diff which was a 3:5 ratio, for more relaxed cruising!
Great to see the 'J' type MG again. I was often stopped by the local police who recognised it as an ex-patrol car. They just wanted to look at it!! I had to trade my 1933 J because of problems finding the cork oil seals for the back axle. I once had to wait for Dunlop to produce a run of tyres and was able to get a full set of five to get the car back on the road. I traded it for a mark 2 Midget, quick, reliable, economical, easy to maintain. I took it camping all over Scotland and the UK. The only problem ever was grounding on unmade Scottish roads.
My father had an MG Midget if I remember rightly it was a 1978 model. but to be safe I'd just say it was a late seventies model. it had the classic MG steering wheel and wood dashboard. it had steel bumpers and soft top and it had a small four cylinder engine. with twin SU carburetors and a four speed. it had budd type wheels (lug nuts) it was maroon with black interior. the whole time my father owned the car it proved to be a pretty reliable trouble free little car. in the particular area of the United States where we lived the inland Pacific Northwest. it was difficult to get parts for the car. and there was no ordering parts online back then quite simply because there was no internet. we only experienced two problems with the car. the ignition switch failed and my father replaced it with an after market switch which worked fine. and the soft top started getting bad especially the plastic rear windows. they became foggy, yellow, and began cracking. by this time my father had owned the car for about five years. and he decided to sell it and otherwise was still in very good condition. it was an enjoyable car to drive especially with the top down. with the top up it was somewhat difficult to get in and out of the car. dispite being a little underpowered and the four speed leaving you wanting another gear. it was quite fun to drive it handled quite well and was very nimble and the classic MG exhaust note was pleasing. over all it was a very good car. I owned a Fiat X19 it basically was a go kart with a body. it had a polycarbonate top that was removable. it was of course fun to drive but I believe the MG was a much better car and would beat it in competition. it was a mid engine car with the engine just behind a bulkhead/firewall behind the seats. it's one fatal flaw was that it was difficult to work on. I ended up selling it when I decided I wanted a bigger car.
My neighbor has a '72 MGB while a friend of his owns a '68 Midget. I've driven both, and have to say that they are lovely cars, fun to drive and easy to operate, with styling made before the black crash bumpers and raised ride height were introduced. Interesting also how both are narrower than my 01 Miata. Also, my father has a Triumph, but it's called a Bonneville and thus has a two wheel deficit to the MG's.
Just did 230Km/hr in a rag top SL 500 ‘97 w/113Km or 68K miles on it. Not bad for 22Yrs old. Owned a TR6 in ‘75 stebros chromed v cover royal blue. Drove a flipped TR6 2,000 miles Calgary to Ontario farm for a buddy that rolled it moving. Always wanted an MGB after a book about Colorado US MG TF escapades post WWar. Physics teacher had an orange ‘71 MG Midget 6’2” could never figure out how he fit in to drive it.
Nice little video. I am currently saving for a later 1500 Midget. I was originally looking for a '90-'98Miata, but the prices got outrageous. For the same cost, why not have a car that's less common and more a driver's car?
Great content, nice to see how tha car fits within the history of MG and Austin Healey. One comment the AM Lagonda was designed by British designer William Towns, not the American Tom Tjaarda, both great designers.
i had mk1 and mk 2 midgets as every day cars, then got into racing and building them, great cars in their day but time moved on and i discovered Lotus 7, built 3 of them and finally the mazda MX5, sensible cars that didnt break down.
The MX5 might be a 'sensible car' that didn't break down - but it sure as hell rusted! The Series 2/2a was diabolical......If they'd been made by MG they would have been slagged off, up hill & down dale but, because they were made by Mazda, they could seemingly do no wrong - & Mazda had had 10yrs. approx. to get the rust situation under control since the Mk.1 had hit the shelves .....
@@geoffwright2845 like MG,s didnt rust ?. as i said, time moves on, BL stood still, i took my MX5,s over to France with just a few hand tools and never needed them, cant imagine that in theMG.
Lovely video. I am struck by the similarities between ADO34 and the Peugeot 204 cabriolet. My wife drives (on sunny days) a Tjaarda-designed Innocenti Spider. The Spider is a delicious car and has features (reversing lamp etc al) that one might not expect to find on a Midget that age. However, it is in character pure Spridget. Another good video, very comprehensive. I had always imagined that the Innocenti had some influence on the design of the '61 Midget, but launch dates suggest mere coincidence... I am inclined to see crossover and influence everywhere and also see some TR4/TR5/TR6 in the Innocenti. But after seeing this video I am intrigued by my newfound feeling that there is something 204 cab on ADO34.... Enjoyed the video!
I owned a late Spitfire. I also had driven a later MGB and a midget 1500. After the a Spitfire, the midget felt cramped. As for the MGB, my Spitfire felt faster. That might be due to the Spitty having a dual carb setup instead of the seriously bad single Stromberg the US market B got. Still, all were perfect little fun in the sun runabouts for Hawaii, where we lived at the time.
I've got a nice white 1968 Midget for sale ..another nice red mgb 1971 freshly redone all thru & paint & an old 1960 MGA red show car..moving need to sell them all.
Most enjoyable video! Adopted my '73 Midget, 'Maggie', in March of '21. She ran well but I decided to refresh many items such as alternator, starter, interior carpet, brakes, clutch and other safety and dependability items. A great many parts are readily available at surprisingly affordable prices. Now she's my great, good fun, around town errands and sunny day, top down girlfriend.
Erratum: The video around 9:40 is the MGB, not the Midget.
And this is an early video where I'm too wooden and the camera angle is weird. Argh!
7:20 DeTomaso Pantera. The Pantera and Longchamp, from 1974 were powered by Australian Ford 351ci (5.8 litre) V8s.
Could you do a video on the Austin Healey Mark 3000. My favourite British sports car.
@@Ozvideo1959 One day, but there are LOTS of cars I have that I'd like to do, so I don't know when.
Malaysian here...I didn't know about TD Cars and TD2000. It's always interesting to know about the fine details throughout automotive history.
@@railtrolley V8 Cleveland, big clue there 😎
A 1979 MG Midget was my first car. Bought for $1000 in 1986. LOVED having that car in high school. My dad painted the car (his side gig) and we worked on it together...quite often. The engine went south in 1989 and it sat in a garage while I went away to college, started a career, moved to a few different states, got married, and had a kid. 20+ years later, I retrieved the car, went through the entire car (all new wiring - NOTHING Lucas remaining), bought and rebuilt a motor, new brakes, new fuel tank, fuel lines, ignition, etc. Have driven it regularly since 2019 - even commuted to work in it in downtown Columbus, OH. ZERO problems. My dad passed away this year. I treasure the car and the now far-from-perfect coat of yellow paint it wears that my dad sprayed on it 35+ years ago.
The one thing owning an MG Midget did for me was teach me how to work on cars.... constantly. My Haynes Manual was my best investment.
Didn't you just love that Lucus ignition system, especially once it got wet?
@@cdjhyoung There was a reason we always called Lucas "The Prince of Darkness".
@@eaglechawks3933 that’s why the brits drink warm beer. They all have Lucas refrigerators.
@@darrellknott1110 Lucas vacuums are the only Lucas product that doesn't suck.
Thank god for miatas..
A couple of years ago I bought my son a 79 midget while visiting in Arizona. He has had a blast with it. The car is quirky and there is always something that needs done. He is now attending college and studying mechanical engineering.
great story and I know you and your son are gonna love the car. I bought a sad 1971 Midget in college with the impetus from my girlfriend's dad. I remade the engine, changed the clutch, redid the entire interior etc. Painted it. Fun and ended up with a real nice car.
My first car in High School was a 1970 Midget. That was 1980.
Perfect car for a young driver to learn car control in. You always felt like you were going fast, but were rarely breaking the speed limit.
I had a Midget in late 60s Los Angeles. I rarely saw the legal side of the speed limit.
One day on the Hollywood Freeway, my Midget had a mechanical problem. I was ticketed for slow driving! In Calfornia! Thats humiliatin.'
I dug mine too!
I had a 1964.5, yup... 1964 1/2. It had roll up winfows and door handles. I had so much fun with my Midget... it wasn't fast but it was a fun little car back in 73 / 74 / 75. I graduated high school, joined the USAF and managed to stay out of Vietnam. My dad saw the handwriting on the wall with me leaving the MG would his. We had it painted red instead of British racing green and did some work on the motor and transmission. I was gone and my dad took it over... a little red MG in California. My father drove it until his health failed. This show was a lot of fun stirring up some good memories. Thank you.
Scott
My Dad bought a new 1962 Sprite while living in England. We moved to Texas in 63 and I got my license in 64 at 14 years old and learned to drive in the sprite. I love sport cars because of the Sprite, but I now own a Miata cause I know it will run with no problems
I had a 1977 MG Midget “Special Edition” in blue. I kept it for 1 year (Dec.’91 -Dec. ‘92) and enjoyed it except for the fact that the gas tank floater didn’t work well and it needed tuning, etc. it was fun, but not reliable enough yo be a daily driver.
In 1972 my dad had a new Midget and in 1977 my stepmom mom had a new Midget. In 1975 my uncle had an MGB. I'm 54 now and have always wanted an original british roadster and recently bought a wonderful survivor 1969 Austin Healey Sprite in proper BRG. Love everything about it!
Years ago, before the advent of cross-fit
You would simply push your British car home.
(done that. more than once)
earlier this year at a car show at a local university, there was a long line of cars queued to enter the parking lot, and I got in line in my Midget. It doesn't like idling in place. It boiled the fuel in the float bowls, stalled out, would not restart, so I just pushed it the final 200 yards to the parking lot, through registration, and into my spot. Aided by a slight downhill the entire distance, and my wife in the passengers seat actuating the parking break if we got moving too fast, it was a piece of cake, and rather relaxing. (and was the only car of several hundred at the show that had to be pushed in)
After 38 years, owning a 1500, I'm not going to say I don't like them. My father had a 1275 and with his passing, that has come to me (With a request that I keep it). You don't drive a Midget, you wear it. They were simple cars, easy to drive and easy to work on. Modified cars can be very fast, as they are basically a light car (I've been to race meetings, where fastest lap of all went to a modified Midget and some of the other races were for modified MG V8s and special saloons, including and ex Ronnie Petersen BMW 2002 Turbo) but they are great fun to just go for a steady drive in the country. My 1500 has an overdrive gearbox (My own mod) and the engine gives over 100bhp, so if it was a longer trip, I'd perhaps use that one. It is possible to fit a Ford Sierra 5 speed box, to the A Series cars, thus making an economical car more economical. However, I like the standard 1275 box and enjoy the opportunity of double de clutching into bottom gear and since I have a higher geared Midget (And an MGB GT V8), I will leave it alone!! My father had fitted Spax dampers to the rear and it has improved the ride quality.
I've got some fond memories of the '64 Midget my father had bought in 1968 as a garage project for 800 bucks. After replacing some bent and burnt valves we had her back on the road again, soon entering the world of oil leaks , wacky smith's instruments ,almost non existent heater system and questionable electrics this car was a hoot to drive. On a good day with a tail wind 75-80 mph was possible and twisty roads ,top down,and the sound of that 1275 four. banger was intoxicating for an 18 year old kid. Today I wheel around in a Mazda Miata which is a fabulous car,but I never forgot the British glory and magical world of MG.
I had a 72 Midget in 1981, it was a fun little car you had to be real cozy with your passenger! I later traded it on a 67 Healey 3000! Now I have a 74 Jensen Healey and a 74 Triumph Stag. Goid show I enjoy your vids!!!Cheers
I loved this video. I owned two MG Midgets and loved the burnt orange color so much that I picked them both in that color. I can😢believe that the color was called that for sure after all these years. After those cars 🚗 I ended up purchasing a forest green Triumph Spirit, but my heart ❤️ belongs to the Midget and always will be! I wish I could afford to buy a restored MG Midget.
My first car was a new 72 Midget (red) only had it for about 10 months as the insurance got too expensive for a 19 year old. My future TR6's ended up being my favorites but I had many fun times in the Midget.
Thank you for this article. I was always enchanted by the MG cars as a youngster & my first car was a T registered 1978 MG Midget when I passed my professional exams in 1984. Sadly it was a typical BL "Rust Bucket" always requiring body work attention & the aged mechanicals of the suspension required greasing with a grease gun or replacement parts.
I bought a 1976 midget as my first car two years ago and daily drove it for a year including winter, it was so much fun!
Great video, I loved my '74 Midget. Unfortunately it had so many electrical and mechanical issues I just could not keep it running. But boy was it fun to drive.
Obviously the wrong owner.
Great video. In my little town in North Yorkshire back in the early 70's the Midget was everywhere; what a fantastic little sports car they were.
I had a '64-1/2 Midget as my first car. Roll up windows and wire wheels with a heater. Mine had the 10CC engine (1098cc high compression) that did not like unleaded gas. I rebuilt that car almost completely. Non-synchromesh first gear meant a couple of transmission rebuilds. Phenomenal fuel mileage. Positive ground electrics did not allow good radio/stereo options. Constant tune-ups, points, plugs, condenser and carburetor adjustments kept me a little busy. Easy to work on, except having to bend way over to work on it. I miss that little car.
You had to open the bonnet to adjust the heater
In 1972 I bought a 1971 MG Midget 1275. I originally had my eyes on a Triumph TR6 but the salesman told me I would never get insured. Feeling somewhat deflated I walked to another nearby garage which had a 1275 midget for sale. It was priced at £740 which was not only cheaper than the TR6 but actually insurable. I loved the car. it had amazingly direct steering so when I first drove it I weaved all over the road. It was a bit troublesome though. The brake pads only lasted four thousand miles and the primitive front shock absorbers required regular replacement. But it was great fun and some of the happiest times of my life were with that car. I'm 69 now have an MX5, A much better car but still retains much of the MG spirit.
The TR6 is worth a whole lot more today in comparision to a Midget. Probably would of been worth to of brought the TR6 and kept it.
I own and drive as much as i can, in which is often a 72' round arch 1275 mg midget. It has been an absolute labor of love. This car i purchased 30years ago basically in boxes. Most of the renewed parts came from Victoria British in Lenexa,Ks.U.S.A.,i painted
it SpeedBlue acrylic enamel, has original rostyle wheels with 145 70R -13 sneakers. Gives me that original low to the ground feel with great handling. Thx for your time,Bruce
My first sports car... 1965 MG Midget, bought new in West Germany, USAF... Loved that car.
My first car was a maroon 1974 midget in 76. So much fun to drive , it made me forget about the constant maintenance!
Same with my 1973. But at least it was a car you could actually fix on your own when you popped the hood.
My Sister talked my Father into buying a 1971 MG Midget from a guy at a gas station. She drove it until a rod bearing tore up. Every Spring we would pump up the tires, roll it out into the sunlight and wash it off! EventuallyI asked about it and Dad gave to me.
I rebuilt my first engine...a 1275cc. I took a friend to see a fireworks display and found as I went down a big hill, that I could not stop!
So, I began to learn the charming/frustrating nuances of a Midget:
Paper axle end seals were leaking grease into the brake drums! Any MG owner has stories, but I'll cut it short. I love the design, with its quirks, but the sad truth is, it was a wonderful car made of cheap materials. The camshaft, admittedly well used...l[ked like somebody had attacked the lobes with an ice pick! I tore into a friend's 1976 Corona, where the camshaft had begun to wear through a rocker arm...and the ca lobe was worn off...but smooth as glass. It may have been stainless steel. It pains me to say it, but Mazda did what Abingdon never did...make a Midget-like car...the Miata...that was made of reliable materials. The last day I spent with my Midget was a Saturday morning...living now in a different city from the Midget...under the car with a pickle fork taking the front end apart...only to find the sheetmetal clips that hold the lower suspension arm to the frame...had corroded and SPLIT!
I won't end on a bad note. A friend once asked..."When are we gonna find a road with some "S" curves?!"
It WAS a fun car.
Had a 74 Midget back in the day. The girls at my high school loved it!
1978 mg midget was my first car was my moms car got it running when I was 14 I still have it today
Fabulous little sports cars, no wonder they were so popular; I would have loved one back in the day!!
I married into an early my 4 Midget. It was still a BMC car and it is still is very much fun to drive. My son just finished a restoration and drives it on mountain roads. I must say that no other car has taken as much maintenance, but it is all worth the effort. Soooo much fun.
I has a MG midget and I loved it. I think it was a 1972. Canary yellow with a black convertible top
I loved driving it
In 1967 I was graced with a Red 1963 MG Midget as my first car which was purchased for the mighty sum of $1,000. The car had never been driven in the winter and was in showroom condition. I loved that car!
A brilliant doc. I had a MG Midget Mk III 1971 bought in 1977 and sold in 1984 with 56K on the clock. it was a brilliant little car, all my friends wanted a lift in it and it never broke down despite a couple of severe winters.! Would like to have one now so looking keenly at the sites.
I've got a nice white 1968 Midget for sale ..another nice red mgb 1971 freshly redone all thru & paint & an old 1960 MGA red show car..moving need to sell them all.
I loved my first car, a red 1975 MG Midget, unfortunately it was full of holes and I spent loads of money on it. (First name terms with the AA man). However I had great times and enjoyed many MG rally’s with my friends in the Bromsgrove MG Owners club.... happy days 😍😍
Nice history, a lot i did not know. I had a blue MK4 Sprite in the 70’s. Eventually sold it and was in regret for years. Now retired and found a nice BRG MK4!
There was a mid 70s mg midget in collage when i was learning car body repair in the early 90s my lecturer used to hit it with a hammer in several places then get us car body repair students to repair the damage and paint it back to stock condition i had to repair the bonnet and wing for an assesment and it was full of filler from previous repairs lol so it took ages but i finaly repaired it useing no filler and painted it and passed that segment of my test .
My Mg Midget 1500 all black 1980 is one of the last last ones and i love it
First car in 1981: 1966 Midget II (1098) BRG, wire wheels JHJ 394D. £175. Loved it. Eaten through with rust, starter motor regularly jammed. Hood leaked. 😊
My second new car was a 74 Midget. Burnt orange with all the extras ... (can't name any of those :). Great car for a single sailor barely 21 years old. I loved it.
Always loved the Midget, "The car you wear."
The guy at the local gas station told me: “that looks good on you”!
I still have one of the last batch of MG TF made in 2007. still handles super well. great cheap fun roadster.
First car was a '38 TA. Wooden chassis, fly off handbrake and "air conditioning" via a hood that perpetually leaked. Twin SU carburetors that needed constant balancing and for some reason no fuel gauge. Sold it to a chap who still has it to this day and is probably worth more than my house. Oh happy days.
The TA had a steel chassis. There was an ash frame attached to the chassis and the body was bolted to the ash frame.
My Dad has a ‘79 he drove in his youth that we’re planning on restoring together. Great video, earned a subscription!
I had three Midgets...A 65' 1098, a later 72 model, and a King Hell 1275cc from 1967 (pre emissions)...I had the dealer that had won multiple SCCA championships (Mostly in Minis) juice it up to 9/1 compression 1293cc and a Weber carb- with a couple of easily changed rear axels and a straight cut gear box (w/competition clutch) it was a ROCKET!! Midgets were only one step away from street racing trim; I loved that car like a brother... :-)
learned how to drive stick on my dads 79 mgb, we used to completely lift out the convertible top revealing a perfect recess for our labrador to ride to the dog beach.
Watch the blond girl on the right at 7:58 shrug off that guys hand, what's going on there? Haha. Lovely car, great video.
Isn't that a 'B at 14:18? In the early 70's I was the proud owner of a Red Midget the later a Harvest Gold Midget the last before the black bumpers. How I wish I still had it!
I've got a nice white 1968 Midget for sale ..another nice red mgb 1971 freshly redone all thru & paint & an old 1960 MGA red show car..moving need to sell them all.
As a teenager in the 1960's, my first car was a tired old Morris Minor, and I blew the engine almost immediately. That led me to a local junkyard, where I learned that the Minor and the MG Midget had the same engine block. So I bought a junkyard engine and it bolted right in! The dual carbs were impressive to look at, but the power was still so low I couldn't outrun my friend's Nash Metropolitan. But it was great fun to drive!
In 1975 my wife chose to buy a brand new MG Midget. On the way home from the dealer the oil light came on about 3 miles from the dealership. An oil line had broken/come off. Over the next four years of ownership it required constant repairs and maintenance. During the Michigan winter, a couple times a winter the transmission would freeze up solid. She learned to always park it in neutral during the night. All problems aside, my wife loved it.
I think it's sad we did not export the cars to the US in knock down, at least then some of the build quality could have been aided by local knowledge & things like the freezing gear box could have been sorted in the market that took so many.
Your videos are priceless mate.... please please release another soon really enjoyable for a car bore like me 👍
Back in 1968 when I was 19 years old I was driving back from the beach in Sydney Australia in my beloved MG Midget I was pulled over by three Highway Patrol police cars who were stunned to see that I had six passengers in the car with me. It probably helped that all six were very attractive 18 years old girls in Bikinis. I was let go with only a minor reprimand and lots of grins. It was a bit stupid on my part but a lot of fun. Part of my misspent youth.
I don't have a story to top that.
Stupid...Well, maybe. Impressive: Off the chart. Well done.
Lucky son of a gun..😀😀
This sounds more like a ahem.... dream?
I aspire to be you, 19 currently, going to go look at my dream car. the MG Midget tomorrow with a friend of mine. If I end up getting it, I'll be sure to live vicariously as you once did.
@@dadams106 I truly wish that you will have a wonderful life. Enjoy the MG and have a fantastic time with lots of happy memories.
Everyone seems to hate the rubber bumpers on MGs but I prefer them to the chrome 😉
I agree with you.
I ran a 1969 midget from 1978 to 1980. (ENP625J) It was a blast !
Upgraded the engine and changed a clutch alone ! Not an easy task ….
Though the MG didn’t compare favourably with my girlfriends 1300cc Spitfire.(OLO10L)
The Spit was quicker, more spacious and far more refined.
The Spitfire was indeed much more roomy, with a nicer woodgrain dashboard, and much easier to work on; but Spridget was a rollerskate on wheels, a much nicer drive than the Spitfire
I had a midget and I loved it, just so much fun!
A nice informative video, with a few facts that I was unaware of or have forgot!
I love the fact that the original Sprite was called the frog-eye in the UK and the bug-eye in the US, despite being the exact same vehicle (except for the steering wheel placement).
And a few "facts" that were not facts.
Brilliant mate you have a such good information about old cars 🚘 and way of your explanation is so good 👍👍👍👍👍
I still have dreams about my '73 MG Midget, the car I owned from age 20 ~ 24
I started with Minis and then had a ‘75 Midget from 1989 to 1996, but gave it up after the birth of our first child. I thoroughly enjoyed that car. Now I get my top down thrills with an ‘18 Mustang which I daily drive. I think my winter rims and rubber cost me nearly as much as the Midget.
My MG Midget was a lot of fun but also a lot of frustration with breakdowns, constant repairs and replacement parts. If I was to ever buy a convertible again it would be a reliable Mazda.
I was on a company trip years ago.
A co-worker, also a Midget owner...and I were at a hamburger stand when a Midget drove by.
I cracked, "Give him two weeks, he'll be working on it!"
We left the hamburger stand and drove down the road...there was the Midget on the side of the road with the hood up! That really happened!
Another friend had a pretty reliable one, but they weren't very "durable"! Some good memories, though.
Ian Jones....you'd rather patronize a foreign owned car manufacturer? Wow, what a douchebag....
My father bought me a 1976 MGB back in the early 80s and I used it every day. It was a fast and fun car to drive. Whenever I saw other MG on the road, mine seemed to be slightly bigger for some reason.
The MGB is much bigger than a Midget
I had a red 70 Midget all too briefly back in the mid 80's.
One of the funnest cars I've ever had .
Miss it still.
Want another one!
Someday soon.
I've got a nice white 1968 Midget for sale ..another nice red mgb 1971 freshly redone all thru & paint & an old 1960 MGA red show car..moving need to sell them all.
I’ve had 3 midgets and found them to be quite serviceable little gamers. None of the electrical and such problems people write about. Maybe just opportunistic mechanics?
No problems with mine either, maybe they were defective? LOL
British car failings are grossly over exaggerated.
Clueless Americans used to relying on at least 3 of 8 cylinders in their neglected cars working to get them home. Second or third hand specimens not having been near a competent mechanic since they were 6 months old. I daily drove a 1961 Morris Minor from 1988 to 1990, 90 km's (56 miles) on my college roundtrip. The only problem was the electric fuel pump, which had adjustable points like the ignition. A few knocks with a hard object got it ticking again.
The Midget used the same driveline and Lucas electrics like my Minor.
The brakes were crap, though. It got T-boned by a Lada and I got a much worse 1970 Minor to replace it.
@@erik_dk842 The points on the fuel pump simply needed cleaning, another thing not understood by clueless Americans . I have owned about 6-7 Morris Minors and 2 Morris Oxfords. Both fine cars.
There is not better basic automobile than a Morris Minor, far superior to a VW bug of which I have owned 55, 56, 57, 58, 599, 60 54 double door right hand bus and a POS Thing.
The Brakes on the Morris were fine if in good condition and properly adjusted.. Operator error, either going to fast for conditions or the brakes needed attention. Likely a master or slave cylinder brake fluid issue, or ...
@@jeffhildreth9244 The main problem was my shoestring budget and the parts availablity in Denmark at the time. Front drums were like £200 each at the time, so I had to make do with turned drums and relined shoes professionally ground to the turned diameter. That seriously worsens the leverage in the system. Disk brake conversions couldn't get through MOT. I got a set of larger drums from a Riley for my second 1970 Minor, but never got around to fit it. I changed the points for the "improved" double contact set, and the pump problems were actually rare. I did consider getting a mechanical pump, but was told that there was no lobe on the cam behind the blanking cover on the engine. I don't miss my Minor, but I have many good memories of it.
Great video. I shared a house in the 80s with two guys that owned midgets. One lime yellow and the other BRG. Another friend had an MGBGT. happy times- great fun, much preferred the midgets to my Morris Marina! Only fault with the video is a couple of shots showed MGBs where they should have been Midgets. Thanks!
I remember visiting the Abingdon MG plant in the mid seventies and was shocked the production track required the assemblers to physically push the car to the next "station".
it was a choice, Midget or Spitfire, the rakish looks of the spitfire got my money back in the day. Another well researched and very watchable video
Yes, the Midget and Sprite were not in the same league when it came to looks.
Loved my brief encounter with my Midget, sold her a few years ago. Never forget how good the heater was, so good in fact that it started cooking my feet! Cheap fun! Always drove with the roof down and a smile on my face!
I remember a friend, when I was in my teens, who had one of these. It didn't have much room, bit it was a fun car.
I always loved the Midget, I'd always see them parked in driveways and at car shows. Great cars
Am 65 now and had a 65 midget in my late teens. It was tartan red with steel wheels and I still regret selling it.
British engineering was underrated and still is ...and I am glad it still like this because that's how we Brit craftsmanship fans will be able to afford our Brit dreams!! My fav is TR5 and Rover P6...I wish I would get to have both some day soon!
A very popular sports car back in the day. I loved them; Great video.
My Dad owned an early 1970's Midget in the US. Amazingly, it never needed work over the 5 or so years he owned it. A lot of people do not realize that he Midget FELT much faster than it was. The driver was so close to the ground even at speeds of 45mph (72kph) on a tight twisty road, it seemed that you were blazing along. We lived in a mountainous area, so the driver felt very involved continually upshifting and downshifting to keep the car in its power zone. In the past 50 years, I have owned much more powerful cars and cars that could corner faster, but none of them gave me the sensation of speed that the old Midget did in the mountains.
I had a 1974 midget with the rear round wheel arch, it was great fun!
My MG Midget 1500 was brilliant. I now have a 1960 Sprite. M.
My first sports car was a 1964 a. H. Sprite it turned heads was red and I will never forget that car .
Had a Midget in the early 70s, racing green beautiful to look at but, a nightmare on breaking down miles from anywhere. In the end had a VW beetle, no breakdowns in the middle of nowhere..
Same we had one in British racing green
Thanks for your great videos and good luck with the new channel
I had a 1965 MGB Sebring with flared wheel wells and a milled head and magnesium wheels and a racing stripe. One of the most fun cars I ever drove. I went thru a car wash once and the whole wiring harness went up in smoke due to cloth wrapped wiring (not plastic wrapped)
Only a fool would take an MGB through a car wash.
My first car , 76 midget. 😂 taught me how to mechanic 😂😂😂 loved that car.
I love those little cars, good video like always 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
Very informative my aunt had a green MG midget was a fun little car
Awesome video! Please keep them coming
Another great video. However, the Aston Martin Lagonda shown was styled by Brit William Towns not the American Tom Tjaada.
Thanks for the correction.
My first car, in 1975, was a '72 Midget. It was British Racing Green with a tan interior. I added a roll bar. It was a fun car, but it kept stripping axle shafts. Being a teenager, I burned up the motor. The garage that rebuilt it did a terrible job. We sold it and I bought my brother-in-laws' '74 Mercury Capri. It was a luxury car compared to the Midget. Thanks for the memories.
Great video as always Andy
1966 Midget, 1100 (1098) cc engine putting out 62 hp I believe, erector set top, Su carbs (have you checked the oil lately?), SU fuel pump (tick, tick, tick), and a clutch travel more like an on/off switch than a progressive clutch. I lived on a very curvy two lane in the hills of East Tennessee and everyday was a wonderful exercise in shifting and drifting. Later the engine was exchanged for a '67 1275 unit but we left the rear axle at the 4:22 instead of changing to the 3:90 that the '67 1275 Midget had, so it was a little (little being the operative word) faster than a '66 or '67. As soon as the original Dunlops wore out I replaced them with Michelin X Stop, at least I think that was what they were called. Benn running Michelin ever since. When the stop light turned green you push in the clutch and pull back on the shift lever toward second just a little to engage the balk ring to stop the gears from turning and this allowed engagement of first without a "crunch". Other memories: the front suspension with a king pin instead of ball joints. I still have the reamer for sizing the bushing in the "trunnion?" I think it was called and the other bushing for the new king pin. Sadly I cannot recall the exploded view of the front suspension and what went where. However, if anyone need to use the bushing reamer just let me know. Armstrong lever arm shocks, negative earth with generator, meaning you could push it off even with a totally dead battery. The Midget and the '69 Triumph Bonnie taught me a great deal about automobiles, very little of which is useful now as things have changed so much. Pensky timing light anyone? It was stolen around 1980 or it would still be with me. Really fun car to row through the curves! Eventually replaced with a '65 Sunbeam Alpine which was slightly faster and more sophistocated (slightly, again being the operative word). I will one day repair/restore the Alpine, and get a battery and carb filters for the '72 Triumph Daytona 500. I think I am detecting a theme here..... I best go out and drive the X150 body XKR to return me to the reality of the present. "Safety Fast" y'all.
you made me laugh with memories of the checking the oil in the SU carbs bit! mine was a '67 Mk III Sprite with the same 1098 engine; must have been one of the last, because the 1275 came out that year. It was noisy on the open road , though, I always wanted to get a Riley 1.5 diff which was a 3:5 ratio, for more relaxed cruising!
Great to see the 'J' type MG again. I was often stopped by the local police who recognised it as an ex-patrol car. They just wanted to look at it!! I had to trade my 1933 J because of problems finding the cork oil seals for the back axle. I once had to wait for Dunlop to produce a run of tyres and was able to get a full set of five to get the car back on the road. I traded it for a mark 2 Midget, quick, reliable, economical, easy to maintain. I took it camping all over Scotland and the UK. The only problem ever was grounding on unmade Scottish roads.
My father had an MG Midget if I remember rightly it was a 1978 model. but to be safe I'd just say it was a late seventies model. it had the classic MG steering wheel and wood dashboard. it had steel bumpers and soft top and it had a small four cylinder engine. with twin SU carburetors and a four speed. it had budd type wheels (lug nuts) it was maroon with black interior. the whole time my father owned the car it proved to be a pretty reliable trouble free little car. in the particular area of the United States where we lived the inland Pacific Northwest. it was difficult to get parts for the car. and there was no ordering parts online back then quite simply because there was no internet. we only experienced two problems with the car. the ignition switch failed and my father replaced it with an after market switch which worked fine. and the soft top started getting bad especially the plastic rear windows. they became foggy, yellow, and began cracking. by this time my father had owned the car for about five years. and he decided to sell it and otherwise was still in very good condition. it was an enjoyable car to drive especially with the top down. with the top up it was somewhat difficult to get in and out of the car. dispite being a little underpowered and the four speed leaving you wanting another gear. it was quite fun to drive it handled quite well and was very nimble and the classic MG exhaust note was pleasing. over all it was a very good car.
I owned a Fiat X19 it basically was a go kart with a body. it had a polycarbonate top that was removable. it was of course fun to drive but I believe the MG was a much better car and would beat it in competition. it was a mid engine car with the engine just behind a bulkhead/firewall behind the seats. it's one fatal flaw was that it was difficult to work on. I ended up selling it when I decided I wanted a bigger car.
My first car - '73 Midget - loved it!
My neighbor has a '72 MGB while a friend of his owns a '68 Midget. I've driven both, and have to say that they are lovely cars, fun to drive and easy to operate, with styling made before the black crash bumpers and raised ride height were introduced. Interesting also how both are narrower than my 01 Miata. Also, my father has a Triumph, but it's called a Bonneville and thus has a two wheel deficit to the MG's.
Just did 230Km/hr in a rag top SL 500 ‘97 w/113Km or 68K miles on it. Not bad for 22Yrs old. Owned a TR6 in ‘75 stebros chromed v cover royal blue. Drove a flipped TR6 2,000 miles Calgary to Ontario farm for a buddy that rolled it moving. Always wanted an MGB after a book about Colorado US MG TF escapades post WWar. Physics teacher had an orange ‘71 MG Midget 6’2” could never figure out how he fit in to drive it.
Nice little video. I am currently saving for a later 1500 Midget. I was originally looking for a '90-'98Miata, but the prices got outrageous. For the same cost, why not have a car that's less common and more a driver's car?
@@mikelayman5972 got a Miata and am currently in the process of trading for a Midget. Weird how this comment aged.
@@mikelayman5972 still got em?
Great content, nice to see how tha car fits within the history of MG and Austin Healey.
One comment the AM Lagonda was designed by British designer William Towns, not the American Tom Tjaarda, both great designers.
I really enjoyed your video!!!!!// I look forward to hearing more of your car history!!!!/// Keep the GREAT work up!!!!
i had mk1 and mk 2 midgets as every day cars, then got into racing and building them, great cars in their day but time moved on and i discovered Lotus 7, built 3 of them and finally the mazda MX5, sensible cars that didnt break down.
The MX5 might be a 'sensible car' that didn't break down - but it sure as hell rusted! The Series 2/2a was diabolical......If they'd been made by MG they would have been slagged off, up hill & down dale but, because they were made by Mazda, they could seemingly do no wrong - & Mazda had had 10yrs. approx. to get the rust situation under control since the Mk.1 had hit the shelves .....
@@geoffwright2845 like MG,s didnt rust ?.
as i said, time moves on, BL stood still, i took my MX5,s over to France with just a few hand tools and never needed them, cant imagine that in theMG.
Lovely video.
I am struck by the similarities between ADO34 and the Peugeot 204 cabriolet.
My wife drives (on sunny days) a Tjaarda-designed Innocenti Spider. The Spider is a delicious car and has features (reversing lamp etc al) that one might not expect to find on a Midget that age. However, it is in character pure Spridget.
Another good video, very comprehensive.
I had always imagined that the Innocenti had some influence on the design of the '61 Midget, but launch dates suggest mere coincidence...
I am inclined to see crossover and influence everywhere and also see some TR4/TR5/TR6 in the Innocenti.
But after seeing this video I am intrigued by my newfound feeling that there is something 204 cab on ADO34....
Enjoyed the video!
I owned a late Spitfire. I also had driven a later MGB and a midget 1500. After the a Spitfire, the midget felt cramped. As for the MGB, my Spitfire felt faster. That might be due to the Spitty having a dual carb setup instead of the seriously bad single Stromberg the US market B got. Still, all were perfect little fun in the sun runabouts for Hawaii, where we lived at the time.
I've got a nice white 1968 Midget for sale ..another nice red mgb 1971 freshly redone all thru & paint & an old 1960 MGA red show car..moving need to sell them all.
Great summary of the Spritget story!
I've had two Midgets. A 1974 that I miss dearly, and a 1979 that I bought new and also miss, but not as much as that 1974 car,
Thank you!
Most enjoyable video! Adopted my '73 Midget, 'Maggie', in March of '21. She ran well but I decided to refresh many items such as alternator, starter, interior carpet, brakes, clutch and other safety and dependability items. A great many parts are readily available at surprisingly affordable prices. Now she's my great, good fun, around town errands and sunny day, top down girlfriend.