#1964-MG-Midget. This 1098cc
#Midget has covered only about 3900 miles since restoration from 2004-2006 and it remains in sharp condition. It's pleasingly still on steel wheels, the only additions being a Moto-Lita steering wheel, an alternator and electronic ignition, which you can't see. The original bodyshell was retained, but probably received new floors and sills during the rebuild.
There's no rot in the punt, the spring boxes are in fine shape and the welds are neat. The panel gaps are fairly even (except at the front tops of the doors) and the paint remains shiny, with the odd polish mark, but there are a few blemishes under the rechrome on both bumpers. The rest of the bright-work is smart and, although it had a replacement screen in 2007, the vendor recently replaced it again - complete with pillars - because he had better parts. The interior is all fresh, with unworn carpets and inertia-reel belts, plus the hood was new in 2006. The tyres are hardly worn
#Avon CR322s, the spare too, and the bounce test shows the dampers to be taut.
Year of manufacture 1964
Recorded mileage 3898
Asking price £10,750
Vendor Mike Authers Classics, near Abingdon, Oxfordshire; tel: 07703 465224/01235 834664; -mgmidgets.-com
WHEN IT WAS NEW
Price £623
Max power 60bhp
Max torque 65lb ft
0-60mph 12.6 secs
Top speed 90mph
Mpg 43
The engine is tidy, in factory finishes aside from the chromed air filters, but it may be a replacement because it has no number. There are bottles of Valvemaster in the boot, although there's an undated invoice for an unleaded cylinder-head conversion. The coolant is full and green, the oil golden and just over the 'Max' mark and there's a battery cut-off switch.
It starts after a brief churn, taking a while to warm and pull cleanly, but when it does it revs freely, giving sprightly performance, with super- direct steering and a firm ride, tracking straight. The brakes pull a little, but soon settle - probably lack of use. The unservoed disc/drum set-up isn't the most powerful, but they're all like that, Sir, and work adequately if you lean on them. All of the gearbox synchros work well, except, of course, on first. Oil pressure, flicking instantly to 80psi on start-up, shows 50psi at warm tickover and over 60psi at any revs, with coolant steady at 160°F.
It will be sold with a swathe of bills for just about every part except major driveline components and a bodyshell, plus a new MoT on request.
SUMMARY
EXTERIOR
• Gleaming paint; generally superb
INTERIOR
• New, with refinished dashboard
MECHANICALS
• AH rebuilt; unleaded tolerant
VALUE ★★★★★★★★☆☆
For - Rot-free, original-spec fettle; drives well; looks spot-on, too
Against - Maybe redo the bumpers
SHOULD I BUY IT?
In effect a new car in super, post-restoration order. It's still less money than a
#MG Midget MkI Sprite but more capable, and priced right from a dealer who really knows them.
