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| MG Midget 1500, Hard/Soft Tops, 98K miles For Sale (1979) edit C67754 | | | You are looking at my Aztec Yellow 1979 MG Midget 1500 with approx. 98,000 original miles.
I have owned this car since December 2006 and have really enjoyed it.
The Midget was fully restored in 1999. I have some pictures from the restoration and they show that the car was entirely dismantled and rebuilt.
The Midget starts on the first try every time and the engine runs smoothly, ticking over at approximately 1100 RPM once warm. I was told that the engine was fully rebuilt in 1999 at the time of the restoration. Unfortunately I have nothing to verify the rebuild, but it runs quite well so I have no doubt that it was skillfully completed. The engine does not burn or leak oil and maintains a constant temperature when in use.
The 4 speed transmission shifts rapidly and smoothly. From the time that I bought the Midget, it has occasionally popped out of first gear if you lift off of the accelerator at very low speeds. Aside from being a bit annoying in parking lots, I have not found this to be a significant problem. The clutch works well – no slip.
The steering and brakes (including the parking brake) work well and provide good feel/feedback to the driver. The parking brake will likely have to be adjusted soon as it has to be pulled a long way before it grabs.
All gauges and accessories work well including the heater, the interior light, the horn, all external lights and signals, the windshield wipers, the locks, etc. The light on the temperature gauge does not work – the light bulb will need to be replaced.
I always keep the car in a dry garage. I use the car quite often and it has been 100% reliable. The only time I was left stranded was completely my own fault when I left the headlights on all day after driving in morning fog.
The Midget has an inexpensive Goodmans detachable-face single CD player mounted in the dash with door speakers. The CD player works well, but the door speakers are old and would need to be replaced in order for the CD player to sound really good.
Aztec Yellow is the Midget’s original colour, but the paint was redone in 1999 and it looks like subsequent owners have done periodic (not very professional) touch up work. The paint is faded and un-even in spots. Although the paint is presentable from a few meters away and is fine for everyday enjoyment of the car, a respray would be needed to make the paint really nice.
The floors and frame are solid (as with everything, these were redone in 1999). There is surface rust on the frame and it could do with a good some rust proofing work, especially if the new owner wants to use it wet weather often. There are a few small spots of surface rust showing through the paint, but these are not significant (and easily repaired).
I replaced the hood with a new hood in spring 2008. The car also comes with an older tonneau cover for the hood and a black fiberglass hardtop which is in very good condition and very useful if you are going to use the car much in the winter.
The interior is in very good condition:
• I installed a full set of new black rugs, a new gaiter for the shifter and a new shift knob in January 2008.
• The driver’s seat has no rips or tears.
• There is one small tear in the passenger seat which has been patched.
• The door cards are worn but presentable.
• There are a few scratches on the dashboard but it is presentable as is the original steering wheel.
• All of the gauges work as designed (except light on the engine temp. gauge), as do the interior light and the heater (yes, a working heater!).
The Midget has original “Rostyle” wheels (including the spare) which are in good condition. The tyres (including the spare) were nearly new when I bought the car and remain in very good condition. They have many thousands more miles in them.
The Midget comes with tax and MOT until April 2009. Some welding was required at the last MOT (around where the rear leaf springs attach to the frame). This was performed at Brian Brown Classics, an MG specialist. Other than the welding, there were no other problems that required repair for the MOT.
Work Recently done:
• New battery in December 2007 (comes with transferable 3-year warranty from Halfords)
• New hood in Spring 2008
• New interior rugs/carpets, gaiter for shifter and shifter knob in January 2008
• New spark plugs, wires, cap/rotor in Fall 2007
• New air filter in Fall 2007
• All regular oil, oil filter and other fluid changes
I have all receipts from the time I have owned the car and some from the prior owners. I have some photos taken during the 1999 restoration. I have all tax discs since the 1999 restoration (so mileage at that point and since then can be verified).
In addition to the hardtop, I will include the following miscellaneous parts with the car:
• A new set of spark plugs
• Sets of chrome metal “MIDGET” letters for each side of the car (These were removed, possibly at the time of the 1999 restoration. I was going to replace them because I wanted the car to appear as original as possible, but I never got around to doing it.)
• A Haynes repair manual
• Anything else that I find in my workshop that will fit the car.
In its current condition, this car is a fun, usable classic. I would feel confident driving it anywhere, but it is at its best on a secondary roads with the hood down on a sunny day. Of course, you could spend some money and time making this car a show piece – but as for me, I’d rather keep up the routine maintenance and enjoy it as is. Either way, I really hope this Midget finds a good home where it will be enjoyed and cared for. I am only selling the Midget because I am moving overseas (back to America).
I have tried to be as complete as possible in this description. Please feel free to call me if you have any questions or would like to view the car.
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MG Midget 1500, Hard/Soft Tops, 98K miles For Sale (1979) on Car And Classic UK
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