Due to Austin’s capacity being overrun, the 1959 Healey Sprite ‘Frogeye’ was built at the MG factory in Abingdon – a move that also led to the revival of a name of old.
With the Sprite being built at Abingdon and MG needing a boost, it was decided that the car would be redesigned with an MG front end. In 1961 the MG Midget made its debut, alongside the Austin-Healey Sprite Mk 2. Both cars had a squarer body, with separate front wings and a more conventional bonnet, while the car also got a boot – something that was missing from the original Sprite.
It evolved through a further four generations, the square rear arches replaced by round to allow more competition options. But in 1975, the Midget met do-or-die new rules from the USA, requiring a raised ride height and rubber impact bumpers.
The square rear arches made a comeback, too, as a result of the car having to be raised over an inch to meet the federal rules, which would otherwise have left an unsightly gap in the back arch. The 1,275cc engine couldn’t be detuned to meet the American rules, so in went the 1,493cc Triumph engine as used in the Dolomite and Spitfire, which met emissions targets. It actually made the Midget a more mature car, with far better cruising refinement.
This is one of those cars – a 1977 1500 – the most mature of the Midgets while still retaining its fun personality.
It was restored several years ago and has been enjoyed as a fun car by the vendor for the past four summers, but he’s after a new toy now and the Midget needs to go to make room. UMvtUTgCHgD8fo3xXdWPZU92QiwgLThupG1PWHQL.jpeg1.6 MB
If you’re looking for an inexpensive and straightforward entry into classic car ownership then a Midget is a good way to go – they’re huge fun, cost pennies to run and are extremely simple to maintain, with peerless parts back up thanks to the huge number of MG specialists there are out there.
This one is a great starting point – it’s solid and smart, mechanically spot on and in need of some very minor cosmetic attention that you can get done over the winter when not out enjoying its wind-in-the-hair thrills. It’s a good, solid example of the one of the last Midgets made.
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