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MG Midget and Sprite General - Original spec interior

Hi all
I was wondering if any of you intelligent kind folk could tell me as a newcomer where I can find the original spec, interior trim colour, carpet colour etc of my 1978 midget. I am a member of the midget and sprite club and also the mg owners club and have also registered my car on the midget register.
Look forward to your replies
Regards
Stu
Sr Guest

Hi Stu and welcome on here.

You should go for an Herritage Certificate.
It gives all info your car originaly had (collor interior+exterior, enginenr., and more.)

Some one will come allong on this thread who can tell you precisly where to order one of these forms.

Good luck and enjoy your car!
Arie de Best

http://www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk/store/heritage-certificates-and-archive-services/heritage-certificates.html

Guy
Guy

Try the members section of the NEW Midget and Sprite Club website for the info that you want
A Anstead

Hi Stu,

The heritage certificate will give you lots of information about your actual car. For more information about the more general spec of a '78 midget, or any other midget, Terry Horler's book, "Original Sprite and Midget" is a goldmine of information. I understand it has recently been reprinted. There is one for sale on ebay at the moment. Another source of information used to be DVLA but I don't know whether or not they still provide registration histories. If it is still available it's worth getting. When I got mine I found my Midget was previously registered MG 3700. I wish it still had that one now. Best of luck with your research.

Regards,

Ray
Ray Rowsell

as a member of MASC I'd have thought you'd been offered the new reprint of Terry Horler's excellent book

if not, other supplies, one such is - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Original-Sprite-Midget-Restorers-Austin-Healey/dp/1906133336/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1308740792&sr=1-1

course you'll still need a copy of the owners Handbook :)
N Atkins

Amazing what one can pick up on this site. I read this site each night and from this thread via numerous links I found my way to a 50% sale of parts for today only. I have just ordered a 3.7 diff for 90 pounds. Someone here please tell me that's a bargain.
Mark Wilson

hmmmmm!

Hi Stu - would strongly recommend the heritage certificate - after all, without that, I wouldn't be able to tease my friend with a beautiful indigo blue Midget with a yellow Ashley front that it was originally babysick gold .......!

Welcome to the site btw, and I assume from your comment that your car wasn't already registered with the Midget Register, otherwise they might know more?

What colour is it at the moment? If you have a look in some "usual suspect" areas, then you can often see what the original was if you think it's been painted a different colour.

Good luck
rachmacb

I have just received copies of the logbooks and registration documents for my MG from the DVLA.

It costs £5 and all you need to do is complete a V888 form available from http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Diol1/DoItOnline/DG_10016794.

It took about 10 days.

Ian
I Ball

Mark W - yes a bargain if it turns up, if in good condition, if you don't get screwed for shipping costs, etc etc. There have been problems with a trader in the same town (Wilmslow) reported on here previously tho' I've no idea if it's the same chap or not. Hope it works out OK for you.
David Smith

ignore my last, town in ad is Congleton not Wilmslow, no connction?
David Smith

I have dealings with that same trader I believe he works under a few names and also pops up on ebay from time to time in fact he still owes me £60!
C Carter

Hi Ian will the log book and original registration documents give me the original paint colour of my car? Is there a way to find this out Free of charge?
C Carter

"Is there a way to find this out Free of charge?"

But its only a fiver?
Oops, only just now noticed your from Yorkshire. LOL!!!!
Arie de Best

lol I like the Yorkshire joke! I dont mind paying a fiver if it will give me the information I require but I need to know the exact colour not just red? I think it is Damask red but not sure?
C Carter

C Carter what Ian got was basically history of previous keepers and other (recorded) relevant details to DVLA, all very interesting and can be usefull, look good to have when selling too sometimes

but it wont tell you exact colour only something like 'Red'

the Hertiage certificate will tell you the colours inside and out

my car is Damask red (see Profile photo) Carmine red looks similar, I had my B in that red, but other original Spridget reds are like either of these two (that I can think of)

if you tell me your GAN number, model number and year I'll - for free - look up what reds were about as original in my 2011 reprint of Terry Horler's excellent book -
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Original-Sprite-Midget-Restorers-Austin-Healey/dp/1906133336/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1308740792&sr=1-1 other suppliers exist

I will credit the information to this source

N Atkins

sorry yet agian I've missed out a very important word

>>but other original Spridget reds are - NOT - like either of these two (that I can think of)<<

N Atkins

The documentation from the DVLA simply refers to the colour, not the shade. My car is red, but from the year of manufacture I know it to be Tartan Red having just received a copy of Terry Horler's book.

Ian
I Ball

yeap Ian we agree, DVLA and Terry's book

and I'm sure no one would mistake tarty Tartan or the other bright reds for old man's Damask or or old man's Carmine
N Atkins

" I'm sure no one would mistake tarty Tartan or the other bright reds for old man's Damask or or old man's Carmine"

I knew that I'd bought a tart when I saw her (Rosie) sidling up to this toyboy!!

I Ball

tarty, never, looks quite demure
N Atkins

I think mine is Damask bad pic will take another one.

C Carter

Just a word of caution when buying tartan red, isn't there more than one shade? I've been caught out by this before when buying touch-up paint...

RD-9 is marked on some BMC paint chips as "Tartan Red #2"
Mothy

Even if you have the same collorcode as is already applied on your car you still have collor/shade-differences.
Try to get the same paint brand as used and still be ready for collor differences.
Working with collors has been a pain for the last 5 years as manufacturers change ingredients al the time(enviroment and stuff) which has a direkt impact on the collor/gloss.
Arie de Best

C Carter that very much looks like Damask red

- can't see the year of the car, but if the paint colour is original then as it's a rubber bumper it'll be built between Sept '74 and Dec '79

Damask Red (BLVC99) built up until Feb '77, black interior (GAN6-191***)

the only other colour it could possibly be is,
Carmine Red (BLVC209) built from Feb '77 black interior or possibly Biege/chestnut or Autumn Leaf (from GAN6-191***)

all the information in this post is from pages 135-7 of Terry Horler's excellent book Original Sprite & Midget The Restorer's Guide

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Original-Sprite-Midget-Restorers-Austin-Healey/dp/1906133336/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1308740792&sr=1-1

other supply sources are available
N Atkins

This thread was discussed between 22/06/2011 and 01/07/2011

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