1974 MG Midget Mark 3

This stunning little Midget was subject to a restoration in the early 2000s and has been very well cared for and properly maintained since. RWA (Round wheelarch) cars are seen as being the most desirable of the lot, as they were produced for the shortest amount of time and were the pinnacle of the chrome bumper cars. Painted in Teal Blue with OE spec ‘Ochre’ trim, it looks absolutely fantastic and is continually complimented wherever you go!

The car remains in very nice condition – no, it is not a concours show pony, but a car to use, enjoy and tinker with as you please without fear of the floors falling out in 3 months time!! Looking at the other cars currently on the market, this is priced very competitively and I don’t think you’ll find a nicer example for the money.

Purchased from an enthusiast owner who’d had the car for a number of years, only selling due to loss of storage. In his ownership, the car had been to the MG Owners Club workshops in Cambridgeshire and had around £3000 worth of extra work including removal of the engine and gearbox for fitment of a new clutch, new seat covers and foams as well as various other mechanical works to ensure the car was completely up to scratch and ready for reliable use.

Works over recent years includes:
• Engine removed and new clutch assembly fitted, along with various other jobs while the engine was out
• Wheels reconditioned and painted correctly, with chrome embellishers fitted
• New battery
• Replacement seatbelt fitted
• Carburettors stripped, cleaned, tuned and rebalanced
• Ignition timing set and ignition components checked/ replaced
• New cooling hose set and coolant backflush
• …and much, much more!

The bodywork remains very good indeed, the wing-top seams are bubble-free and the paint finish is good. Of course, it’s 20+ years since the car was last painted so there are a few very minor marks here and there - however it was obviously done very well and still looks great. There are a few VERY minor cosmetic bits here and there but as you can see the car presents very well indeed! The panelwork all fits very nicely and the doors shut with a satisfying clunk. The chromework is in very good order and shines beautifully. You’ll notice that the car has an earlier front grille fitted, which I think looks great but would be simple to return back to a later one, should you wish. The Rostyle wheels are in very nice order with matching Michelin tyres all round. The engine bay is clean and tidy - some further detailing here would make an excellent and rewarding project for the next owner to enjoy, if that’s your thing! Structurally, the car is exactly as you’d expect and has been kept in good condition since the car was rebuilt.

Mechanically, the car appears to be in fine fettle. Of course, the vast majority of the running gear has been replaced or rebuilt over the years. The engine starts readily and runs well, ticking over at around 800rpm, just as it should. It ticks over smoothly, sounds very sweet and pulls strongly throughout the rev-range. Exhaust note is lovely and the car pulls and drives very well (for a Midget!). Oil pressure is just as it should be (hot and cold), and the car does not overheat – nor does it appear to use any excess oil or water. A compression test revealed good, even results – around 130psi when hot. Electrically, everything works just as it should. The gear selection is really nice and slick, with no synchromesh issues, and the car stops in a straight line, just as you’d expect, and rides well with no nasty knocks or bangs. Front suspension has no excess play and the wheel bearings are all good. They’re excellent fun to drive!

The interior is in very nice order indeed. The seats have had replacement covers and foams professionally fitted. Door cards, dashboard and carpets are all present and correct, and in good order. The vinyl soft top is in reasonable condition, with some minor splits here and there between the side windows and the vinyl – easily plastic-welded up should you so wish. Most people don’t ever put the roof up! A hood cover is also included in the sale. A roll bar has been fitted, this is a simple bolt-in affair so if you wish to remove it, this is quick and easy.

The car is, of course, tax and MOT exempt but we have given the car a good check over. You’ll see that the MOT history is nice and clean, with nothing untoward. There is some service history which includes records some of the parts bought over the past 20-odd years, and bills from the MGOC Workshop etc etc.

All in all, this is an absolutely stunning little car that is absolutely ready to be used and enjoyed. No, it’s not a concourse-condition show winner - after all, it was built 20 years ago now - but it’s a car that has been restored very well indeed and presents excellently, and I’m sure that you won’t find another car of this quality, for this price anywhere.