MG Midget - Less Is More (1973 Mk3 1275 Road Test)

Sometimes forgotten in the shadow of its B bigger brother, the MG Midget represents a half-pint entry into classic sports car ownership. Aaron McKay explains why the Midget is BIG fun!

- Music -



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[bluetickhound]

My first car (1983) was a white 1972 Midget with a dark navy, almost black interior. It was lhd for the North American market and I’d love to have it back. Great little car.

[rjdavies]

My dad has just bought a BRG Mk 3 with same interior colour. Perfectly summed up the driving experience! Great classic fun which doesn’t break the bank!!

[eddybabe]

I have owned an MG Midget identical to this one for over 38 years. Superb little fun car, cheap to run and reliable. Love it.🥰

[robber_h]

I love my Midget. Don't know why I took so long to buy one!

[stephenhenion]

Who needs a Veyron when you can have an MG Midget!! This one is in quite nice condition!

[matthewoverton]

Awesome little cars to drive on the A and B Roads.

[davidclewer]

I had a British racing green Austin Healy Sprite, 1275 cc but it was fitted with a 1st gear racing gear, wow it didn't half make a whine, but I.t stuck to the road like glue, I even had a solid brass hand made thermostat housing made, because I could not find one, but to turn the down in the summer you had a hand wheel in the engine compartment, but God I love every part of it.

[thistimeyou]

In 1970 I bought a 64 midget. No exterior door handles, sliding side curtains and a dreadfully breezy convertible top. If memory serves me it had an 1098cc engine that had a wrist pin clip come loose and the wrist pin gouged the cylinder wall past the point of boring so it was replaced with a slightly warmed over 1275cc. Originally a white car that I had repainted red. Replaced the top, carpets, seat covers and new tonneau cover bought from JC Whitney. Paint job was done for free so long as the painter could use it as a pace car at the old Bryer Motorsports Park in Belmont? New Hampshire. Wish I still had it. Thanks for the drive down memory lane

[JerryMotorsport]

Fantastic fun these cars and really looking forward to getting ours back into competition where they are emmense fun. This car weighs the same as my old kit car (although doesn't have the same performance). The heater is amazingly efficient; managed to melt the rubber on my wife's shoes! Nice film that just makes me want to finish getting ours sorted after a few years of standing in the garage.

[johnbroomer]

Had a ‘75 1500 for 9 years and loved it dearly. Sold it when no. 1 daughter arrived.

[glpilpi]

Mine had a good heater too, it was a 69 mk3. The best I've had in a car, the Smith's heater was excellent . I still fancy getting another but they should really have a roll hoop fitted for safety, if the vehicle overturns it's deadly.

[snarfusmaximus]

I lusted after a Triumph TR-6 but ended up getting a 1968 Midget as it was within my budget. I have absolutely no regrets. I love that thing.

[rogerking]

Absolutely gorgeous. I'm tempted to get one to go with my Frogeye. One point - steel wheels ARE alloy wheels. People seem to have confused the word alloy (a metal mixed with another element, in this case iron with carbon and a few other things) with aluminium.

[tonygreenbank]

I was never that keen on the offset leg position. I well remember making a right prat out of myself. Coming out of the pub carpark on a sunny evening with a crowd watching. I hit the revs and dropped the clutch for a wheel spinning exit. What did I get? A big clunk and I didn't go anywhere! I'd snapped a half shaft. Well your only young once but what's the old saying "Pride before a fall".

[Proud_Texan]

I miss my 1975 0:34 MG Midget, Special edition.
😔

[sendgl]

I had a Sprite Mk IV in 1973 (Sprite's were one Mk in front), went on holiday to Germany and took the passenger seat out to make more luggage room.

[americanpatriot]

I prefer my MGB. The MGBs have a little more elbow room, plus parts are way easier to get.

[rodrigoybarra]

From America here been wanting to buy one of these! Love little cars! Just wondering why they so cheap?!

[cdjhyoung]

I had forgot how much fun it was stirring that transmission constantly. Nothing wrong with the car itself, it just is one of those cars you drive, not merely ride in. I've never had another car that was as much fun driving only 45 mph.

The car reviewed, I have questions about. 1973 is when MG made the changes required for new North America safety and crash standards. In NA, all those cars with the suspension jacked up arrived with the Triumph sourced 1500cc engine. This car looks to have the suspension changes, but still has the 1275 A35 engine. Was MG making two different versions of this car for awhile, one for export, one for home market?

[bread]

Driving this in the United States is going to suck because of all the big trucks and SUVs