1973 MG Midget

This 1973 MG Midget started out in life as Orange. It was put through an extensive restoration in 2005, which is when the colour was changed to Maraschino Black. The car was entirely stripped back, leaving nothing untouched. From the engine, gearbox and drivetrain to the interior and bodywork, everything was covered and also documented with photographs and a detailed list showing all the parts fitted and the costs involved.

Since the restoration, approximately 8,000 miles have been covered in that time, and it has been taken for regular MoT tests each year. It appears that the MG has been well maintained with some more detailed invoices around 2012/2013 for various other parts and upgrades and further paperwork for services.

Finished in the Maraschino Black, the 1973 MG Midget presents very well. As the car was restored 18 years ago, some slight blemishes and chips have gathered over time. During the restoration, some repairs were carried out to the front wings, and a new bonnet was fitted. Walking around the car, the shut lines all appear to match with an equal gap.

Starting at the front of the Midget, the chrome bumper is in excellent condition with a bright, tarnish-free finish, and the indicators and headlights are clear of any chips or cracks. The grille has been replaced during the restoration, so this is in good order. We did notice a small amount of paint has started to flake off, but it wouldn’t take much to repaint this if desired.

Looking at the side profile of the British classic, there are no noticeable dings or dents to point out other than a small scratch on the driver's side rear quarter, which has also scratched the light lens. The windows look to be in good order with no scratches to mention, and also the window frames are in excellent condition with no tarnishing, and the seals don’t appear to have shrunk or perished.

The roof fits like a glove and has no signs of damage; the three plastic windows are also in excellent condition and free from discolouration or excessive scratches. A tonneau cover can be fitted over the roof to give a cleaner look when the roof is down, and this also fits very well.

At the rear, the chrome quarter bumpers, like the front, have a bright finish, and the light lenses are in good condition with just the scratch already mentioned on the driver's side. The boot aligns well and sits squarely in its aperture, and an additional luggage rack is fitted, perfect for the picnic hamper, which is also included.

The painted wire wheels look in good condition with no signs of corrosion, and a small amount of paint has come off in places, but nothing excessive. There is a matching set of Toyo 330 tyres with plenty of miles left.

Inside the MG was fully retrimmed in 2005. The seats have been retrimmed in the correct vinyl and are in excellent condition. The door cards are also in good condition, although some holes have been covered along the top edge. A new carpet set was also fitted, which looks in good order, with no real wear, thanks to the MG Midget all-weather rubber mats included.

The dashboard is trimmed to match the seats and is in lovely condition, and the fascia is finished with a crackle paint effect. The instruments look clean and tidy, with the odometer reading 95,175 miles. The switchgear seems to be the original, and there is a small amount of wear to the lettering, in keeping with the age of the MG. A leather Moto-Lita steering wheel is fitted, which does have some patina to the leather.

Inside the boot is nice and clean, but there is a small amount of paint which has come off, revealing the previous colour. There is a wire spare wheel that has a matching tyre fitted. The tool to remove the wheel nut and the original roof support bars are in place.

Fitted with a 1275cc engine, this was fully rebuilt in 2005, and since then, from looking at the MOT history, it has covered approximately 8,000 miles. The engine fires up as expected, with a little choke opening up the twin SU carburettors. The MG has an even idle with no issues reported with the car's running. The car was upgraded to electronic ignition in 2013, which does improve starting and reliability.

Also rebuilt was the gearbox; this has no issues reported, and the change is as you would expect. There was also a new clutch fitted, which should have plenty of life left, having only covered around 8,000 miles.

More recently, in 2017, new front discs and pads and one brake cylinder were fitted. Since then, around 3,000 miles have been driven, and the brakes are working as they should, confirmed by a recent MoT test four months ago.

There has been a new fuel tank fitted along with some work to the suspension with uprated front dampers and an anti-roll bar kit fitted, carried out in 2012.

Looking at the underside of the Midget, this all looks clean and tidy, with no areas of concern spotted. The car has been treated with Waxoyl in the past, which looks to have kept everything in good order.

It’s nice to see a well-documented history file with the MG along with photographs during the restoration so you can clearly see the extent of the work carried out during this time. There are also other invoices for work, such as the fuel tank and suspension upgrades.

A British Motor Industry Heritage Trust letter confirms the car was built at the MG factory in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, in September 1972. The V5C is present and shows eight previous keepers have enjoyed the Midget. Since 2005 the car has been taken for an MoT each year, with the current one valid until the 6th February 2024, even though it qualifies to be MoT exempt.

The MG was a hugely popular car when it was made and is still as popular in the classic car market today. This means there are plenty to choose from, some good, some bad, but it’s the history that makes all the difference.

This 1973 MG Midget not only looks great but has a comprehensive history to back up the total restoration claim, which is perfect for anyone looking for a classic MG Midget.

We estimate this two-seater British classic to reach between £8,000 - £10,000.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with the vendor in Poole, UK. To arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.