1979 MG Midget 1500 - Rubber Bumper
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Highlights
• Less than 70,000 genuine miles
• Garaged since at least 2003
• Covered less than 550 miles in 17 years
• Very original, unrestored condition
• Original half tonneau, full tonneau and bag
The Appeal
When it comes to roadsters, especially handsome, lightweight ones with revvy engines, MG were the masters of the craft. The Midget was in production from 1961 to 1980, and epitomised the values of light weight, crisp handling and a relatively small but engaging powerplant.
This car is one of the last ones made – a 1500, which featured a Triumph Spitfire engine instead of the classic A-series. It’s easily identifiable by the black rubber bumpers, installed to pass US Federal regulations and a return to the square rear arches. It also benefitted from anti-roll bars, a better gearbox with longer ratios and a bigger engine with more torque.
While afficionados may prefer the early chrome-bumper MGs, in reality the latter models are better to live with on a day-to-day basis. The extra power and longer gearing make them a more enjoyable drive on modern roads, and they still benefit from an enormous level of parts support all over the world.
This particular car is very original, having been lovingly cared for and garaged for much of its life. As such, it would make a perfect starter classic, everyday classic, or second car.
The History and Paperwork
• First registered in August 1979
• 8 owners from new
• Previous 3 owners since: August 1995, March 2003, April 2021
• Historic vehicle status - MOT and tax exempt
• Garaged since at least 2003
• Covered less than 550 miles in the last 17 years
• Matching numbers car
• Very original – never restored
• Car only being sold due to health issues
The Interior
• Original full and half tonneau, with original bag
• Radio cassette player with electric aerial
• Mota Lita steering wheel and wooden MG gearknob
Sporting the classic “weave” style black vinyl interior, the cabin of this little roadster is a great place to be. It’s very clean, tidy and original, with no signs of significant wear or damage. In fact, it’s surprisingly good for a car of this age – especially an unrestored one. The dash and switchgear elements have little evidence of wear and no damage we could see, and everything works just as it should - the controls feeling solid and confidence-inspiring.
With good quality carpets in nice condition, and original door cards in similarly fine condition, overall the cabin is very good – much better than 99% of MG Midgets you’ll see. The boot area is similarly in excellent condition, with no evidence of damage or crash repair. It also contains a full-size spare wheel.
The Exterior
• Vermillion paintwork in excellent condition
• Factory-fitted boot-mounted luggage rack
• Remarkably original
Overall, this car is in excellent condition externally. It would be good for a restored car, for an unrestored car it’s truly exceptional. We say this is unrestored because, as fas as we can see and as far as the owner is aware, it is. Evidence of this can be seen in the cabin footwell, where the chassis number is still stamped in the floor panel on the driver’s side. Also the original plastic coating is still present on the sills. These are usually two of the first areas that require attention on a MG Midget restoration project of this period, so we are reasonably confident that this is a completely original car.
The vermillion paintwork, other than a few minor blemishes and age-related marks, is in very good condition, as is all of the external trim and brightwork. All of the body panels are free of damage and very straight, complemented with what appears to be the original fabric hood - which is still in good condition and operates well. Riding on the original 13” Rostyle wheels, which could benefit from a light renovation, it’s a pretty and likeable little machine.
Underneath the car is very solid, again with no sign of damage or repair that we could see, and only some minimal surface corrosion in the usual areas (rear leaf springs and chassis rails). The floors and chassis appear to have been well treated with a protective coating and you can really see how this car has benefitted from being garaged for so many years and only taken out in good weather.
The Mechanics
• 1,491cc 4 cylinder engine
• 4-speed manual transmission
• Recent brake refurbishment, inc. new discs and calipers
• Recent full service
When lifting the bonnet, we were struck by just how clean and original the engine bay is. It’s clearly been well maintained and looked after over its lifetime. The little 1.5 litre engine spins up well and the owner tells us that the car drives very well, accelerating, steering, stopping and changing gear just as you’d expect.
One of the joys of these cars is that they’re mechanically simple and easy to maintain. But with a recent overhaul to the braking system and a recent full service, it should provide any buyer with many miles of fun classic motoring before they have to get their hands oily.
Summary
With similar power but more torque and longer gearing than previous versions, the 1500 Midgets are a great way to enjoy classic motoring in a car that can realistically keep up with modern traffic. As an ownership proposition, they’re very appealing – simple to maintain and easy to source parts for.
This particular vehicle makes a great case for itself too: it’s highly original, well maintained and has been meticulously kept for some years now. Coming with the half and full tonneau make it a genuinely usable car too, even in the unpredictable British summertime.
If you’re looking for a fun little roadster to enjoy on a weekend through the summer months, or something to tinker with and take to classic car shows, there’s not much better than an MG. And here you have one of the few truly original examples that doesn’t require restoration. It’s a lovely little car, presented in great condition, and it deserves a home that will continue to cherish it.
If you’re looking for a fun little roadster to enjoy on a weekend through the summer months, or something to tinker with and take to classic car shows, there’s not much better than an MG. And here you have one of the few truly original examples that doesn’t require restoration. It’s a lovely little car, presented in great condition, and it deserves a home that will continue to cherish it.
Notice to bidders
Although every care is taken to ensure this listing is as factual and transparent as possible, all details within the listing are subject to the information provided to us by the seller. Car & Classic does not take responsibility for any information missing from the listing. Please ensure you are satisfied with the vehicle description and all information provided before placing a bid.
As is normal for most auctions, this vehicle is sold as seen, and therefore the Sale of Goods Act 1979 does not apply. All bids are legally binding once placed. Any winning bidder who withdraws from a sale, is subject to our bidders fee charge. Please see our FAQs and T&C's for further information. Viewings of vehicles are encouraged, but entirely at the seller's discretion.
Consulta le nostre FAQ qui e i nostri Termini e condizioni qui
Specifiche del veicolo
- Anno 1979
- Marca MG
- Modello Midget 1500
- Colore Red
- Chilometraggio 69,664 Miglia
- Cilindrata 1491
Dettagli d'asta
- Tipo di venditore Privato
- Posizione Cheshire
- Paese Regno Unito
14
offerte
da 10
offerenti
- du•••• £5,000 12/06/22
- hi•••• £4,400 12/06/22
- HK•••• £4,300 12/06/22
- hi•••• £4,200 12/06/22
- ch•••• £4,100 12/06/22
- ad•••• £4,000 12/06/22
- Ch•••• £2,700 11/06/22
- Ha•••• £2,600 11/06/22
- Ch•••• £2,400 10/06/22
- Ga•••• £2,300 10/06/22
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|---|---|
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