In the beginning, there was the cheap, cheerful Austin-Healey Bugeye Sprite. This car filled the “simple sports car” niche that Donald Healey felt had been vacated as its own cars grew heavier and gained seats. At first, the Bugeye sold strongly. But with no trunk lid, paltry performance, and only minimal creature comforts, the little car suffered in comparison to a contemporary competitor, the Mini. A facelift was needed. In 1962, twin successors arrived, called the Austin-Healey Sprite and the MG Midget. The Midget name was recycled from the very genesis of MG, in 1929, when the “M” type was launched. This tiny. cheap runabout was affectionately known as a “midget” and it might well be credited with saving MG from the Depression. The more modern Midget retained the original’s job description of “cheap, sporty, and fun”, but eventually incorporated roll-up windows, a decent top, a boot lid, better instrumentation, and even swiveling quarter windows. Here on eBay is a 1972 MG Midget in a no-reserve auction, currently bid to $6600. This car is located in Pompano Beach, Florida.
The model’s first engine was BMC’s A-series 948 cc in-line four accompanied by twin SU carburetors, managing 46.5 hp. Ok, the car was light and handy so horsepower barely mattered. Still, as the better things in life piled up – the aforementioned boot lid, real glass windows, and whatnot – weight gain was demonstrable. Another few ponies were required. These came courtesy of the 1098 cc, an odd duck of an engine sitting as it did between the first-and-thus-desirably-primitive 948 and the later-and-far-more-worthy 1275. That 1275 – the pinnacle of performance! – arrived in 1966. The Midget was thus transformed into an adequate performer with 64 hp. Also new along the way were front disc brakes (’63) and half-elliptic springs (’64) in place of the Bugeye’s quarter elliptics – which might as well have been solid steel for as much give as they provided. The four-speed manual transmission was a constant throughout, except for acquiring a synchro on first in 1974. This car’s 1275 is said to run well.
The interior rates about a B-minus. The surfaces are clean, with minor fading at its worst on the steering wheel rim. The dash is crack-free but warped. The passenger’s seat bottom is weirdly wavy as if the upholstery isn’t tight or the seat foam does not fit properly. Overhead, the convertible top appears to be in decent condition, with a fit that could use improvement. The gauges all work – and that’s the part that counts.
Finding a Midget with perfect panel fit is nearly impossible. Something is always “off”. Here, the trim around the grille doesn’t quite line up, and the boot lid sits high in its opening. The paint job is an older professional effort, and there is “no rust showing”. I really like Rostyle wheels over wires, and this car is early enough to sport chrome bumpers. Nice Midgets can easily reach $15k. The price of this presentable example is on the cheap side if the description can be verified by inspection.
Nice car. Believe it or not all those little things like trunk lid, doors, and hood alignment can be done with proper seals and height adjustments. Adjusted properly even the Bugeyes can be made almost straight. All the interior parts are available if needed from Moss Motors. BTW, the only straight answer I’ve gotten on why no trunk lid on the Bugeyes was the original rear sheet metal wasn’t strong enough to keep the car from twisting with the hole cut out for the lid. Later Bugeyes got reinforcements put in on each side of the trunk area which carried over to the square body cars.
If this MG is as nice in person as it appears in the photos its a Gem. Looks like it would be a blast to drive. It bring back memories of when I was a kid in the 70s. Family friend had one of these, asked my dad if he wanted to take it for a spin, he said sure. Problem is, he was a heavy guy. He managed to get in, I remember him looking at his friend saying I cant feel the clutch pedal, Ill drive it when I lose some weight.
If you look at the seats on the Daimler it gives you a good look at what the seats were on on early Bugeyes and Spridgets. They are a good replacement for the bulky seats on the later cars and do a great job of getting the heavy set of our population into the cars. We put a set of Porsche 914 seats in our ’67 to accomplish getting a bit more room to move around and getting headrests.
I’ve owned five British sports cars and a Miata. Of them all, a 1966 Austin Healey Sprite, which is essentially identical to the MG Midget, was the most fun, by far. Of course, at the time, I was 20. So there’s that.
Not a bad looking midget. I loved my 72. This one appears to be missing the heater and a turn signal stalk, but a good project nonetheless.
In the mid-70’s I was racing a Bugeye, and there was a never ending stream of Spridget’s cycling through the shop I shared with two other Sprite racers. Some of them got cut up for suspension, brakes and drivetrain, others got fixed up and flipped. That’s how we paid for tires, new camshafts and all of the other items needed on a Nationally competitive F and H Production racer.
IMHO the round wheel arch (RWA) Midgets were the most handsome of the square body cars. They really looked nice with about a 3/4 inch drop and a set of Cosmic mags.
Now, close to 50 years later, this Spridget is probably a good example of a survivor car, and it wouldn’t take much (relatively speaking) to make it a nice driver. Hot rod parts are readily available, and 75 horsepower isn’t that difficult to reach.
Good car!
Even with a small misalignment in the grille on the left side, the car is very solid.
An inspection is always welcome.
It’s a fun car.
If I were closer…
This is an MG Midget.
This is pretty much the pinnacle spridget, with all of the refinements and upgrades, but no huge bumpers or emission-choked single Stromberg carb. Probably a hoot to drive on a sunny country road.
This is an MG Midget.
The cognoscenti will point out the desirability of this car due to it’s round rear wheel arches. RWA cars are nice collectible Midgets.
Niche
I’ve always been fond of those… especially the earlier ones,but before I submit a bid I would need to sit in one.6′ tall with size 13 shoes,I have peeked in the foot well on one once and don’t know if I could drive one.
When I worked for a bank, my boss’s boss’s boss was slightly accessible to me, and he was a Big Deal in the Portland car world along with Monte Shelton. Bob is maybe 6′, 6’1″. He told me the story of an early race car of his – a Midget. He didn’t fit (very long legs), so he took a sledge to what would be the parcel shelf area immediately behind the seat. The resulting cavity was enough for him to move the driver’s seat back to gain access to the pedals.
The pedals are close. I drive mine (a ’68, which I think is the best year) in stocking feet. Another interesting note – the ignition is buried in the whole dash/binnacle area – it’s pretty tight in there. Fitting my key barely allows my hand enough room to turn it.
My sister had maybe a 1971 with 3 little windshield wipers I kid you not! Anyhow I got to drive it & top speed on a straight country road in NW Ohio was 85 mph & it got slower if you had a big lunch! Of course I am 6’4″ & 230 lbs so you have to figure my size into the equation! I at the time not thoroughly impressed but I was a uncultured 17 yrs old.
I don’t remember spridgets having 3 wipers, only Bs. I’ve been wrong before!
The Midgets did indeed have 3 wipers in the ’70s. Why is something l’ve never figured out. The two on our ’62 and ’67 seemed to work just fine.
Back when I had my Spitfire, I went looking for some parts. I found a mechanic that had taken a Early/Mid 70’s Midget and parts car for non-payment. I could have gotten it for a good price except for one big red flag. On both the bodies, the drivers side door jam was rusted out and the door was only hanging by one hinge.
I can’t say I saw a big difference in driving between the Midget and the Spitfire, but that rusted out doorjam was a dealbreaker for me at the time.
The open rear wheel arches look way better. I wonder if the 1400 Datsun four and a five speed would fit ?
The adapters are available and only the driveshaft length needs adjusting. Lots of room as the transmission is long and thin like the ribbed cage stock unit.
RE: the comment about the Mini–then- that were even smaller at 850cc’s and weighed more. the later ones gained cc’s and dual carbs but were still slower than the equiv sprigits, cars were just slower then! I drove my bugeyes all over the place and wasn’t the slowest by far, The factory offered “a how to race prepare your car” booklet for 2 shillings which didn’t void the warranty.