MG Midget Classic Cars for Sale

The MG Midget was a compact sports car built in roadster form from 1961 to 1979. It was built by the British car company MG and was seen as the "little brother" of the successful MGB coupé. The name "Midget" had been used by MG before World War Two, but the earlier models are not closely related.

The birth of the MG Midget

The Mark One MG Midget, often known as the MkI, entered production in 1961 and was similar to the existing Austin-Healey Sprite. The MG version was intended to be slightly more upmarket, with trim options that included leather seats and a wider range of colours. The car used an identical engine to the Sprite: the 0.9-litre A-Series. With only 45 horsepower at its disposal, it was criticised for being too slow, and a 1.1-litre, 56 hp engine was used from late 1962 onward. To cope with the extra power, front disc brakes were also introduced. Like all the variants of the MG Midget, the first cars were produced in MG's main factory in Abingdon, on the outskirts of Oxford.

The MG Midget reaches maturity

In 1964, MG introduced the MkII Midget. This had slightly improved looks, including more practical window and door handles, as well as a stronger bodyshell. The car was more comfortable than its predecessor and handled more smoothly, with a further power boost to take output to 59 hp. The MkIII car was perhaps the most successful MG Midget of all. This borrowed the Mini Cooper's 1.275-litre engine, although in a slightly detuned version to avoid the Midget competing directly with the MGB. The MG Midget was now exported to the US in significant numbers, although from the 1968 model year several safety modifications became necessary for the American market. These included extra lights and a collapsible steering column. The MkII and MkIII Midgets together sold about 100,000 cars.

Later variants of the MG Midget

US federal law changed in 1974, meaning that the MG Midget's traditional chrome bumpers could no longer be fitted. These were replaced with black plastic units that looked unappealing and adversely affected the car's handling. Despite a 1.5-litre Triumph Spitfire engine, the car's power was not increased, though it did pull more strongly at low speeds. This final version of the MG Midget could just top the 100 mph mark in UK-spec form, although increasing environmental regulation in the US meant that American cars were slower. By the late 1970s, the MG Midget was starting to feel obsolete and the model was discontinued in 1979, the final cars being produced for the 1980 model year.