Not the easiest British classic car to spot on our roads, the Midget from MG was the roadster to own in the early 1960s. A fair number were sold in Malaysia alongside its larger sibling the MGB.
The first Midgets were powered by the A series 948cc engine as found in the Morris Minor and A35, it was both reliable and trusted; fitted with a pair of SU carbs the Mark 1 boasted 47hp. This little car could reach a top speed of just under 90mph and returned a respectable 40mpg. Out of 226,000 Midgets sold during the life of the car only 16,000 were the early Mark 1 as the engine was uprated to 1098cc in October 1962.
The 948cc powered early cars are now extremely rare. The early Mark 1 model is much rarer and will cost considerably more today. Looking over the car several things catch your eye, no door handles on the early model, PYE radio with single speaker above the gearbox tunnel and passenger dash mounted grab handle. The exterior although sparse has been finished in a subtle pastel ‘ice blue’ that suits the car perfectly; the phrase ‘sympathetic restoration’ is most apt for this car, keeping the originality as much as possible. The MG Midget oozes fun as it was designed too; fun to look at and to drive.
Today a well looked after mint condition unit could fetch anywhere from RM30,000 to RM35,000. But a tired, unloved Midget could be yours from just RM6,000 and then you will need a fair amount of cash to bring it back to life.
