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MG Midget and Sprite General - Should I buy a 1961 Midget?

Hi all I'm brand new here and have read thru several threads on restoring a a '60s Midgets.
As a background...
I'm 48 yrs old and I'm many electronically/woodworking inclined...I've changed water pumps, rads and alternators.
Have two teenagers and two preteens...but figure I could devote ~ 3-6hrs per week on a project.

Here's some pictures of a car I might be able to get.
Its an early VIN #GAN1L380, Body #000376

I'm 5'9 1/2" and 215

Does this look like 2-3 years work as the engine upsized to a 1098cc has been done along with clutch(balanced), and new wheels cylinders, it has a new rad too.

It needs rocker panels and other body work ...I've not seen underside

Does it look like a good project car? Restorable?
Big enough I hope just for driving around town/

Thanks
David '61 midget "pended"

D Pilot

Hi Dave

Welcome to the forum, I am sure that more knowledgeable folks than me will be along soon, but here are my thoughts.

I have had my MKII for two years now, and although it is on the road, I still have lots to do on it, which all takes time / money and from my experience a fair amount of time spent on here getting some very valuable and informed advice from people who have worked on these cars for many years.

I am not sure how readily available parts are for the MKI in Canada, so that would be a consideration as the cost WILL increase from what ever budget you set!!!

Outwardly the car looks good, but you really need to get underneath, look at the underside, A and B posts spring hangers, door fitting etc.

Hopefully someone who uses this forum who lives near to you will be along soon to maybe offer more help.


Hope this helps

Tony
Tony Brough

You will find it will cost more and take longer than expected.
But it will be worth it!!!!!
Onno Könemann

Thanks Tony and Onno for your comments...

Tony you asked .."I am not sure how readily available parts are for the MKI in Canada?"

I believe Moss and Victoria British ship to the Great White North but it will add up$$...would be wise to bulk order to reduce

The guy isn't to far away (45 minutes) maybe going up for visit this week.


Is the radio in this pic original?
The steering wheel isn't

Best David '61 Midget PENDING!!

BTW thanks for the greetings ::::

D Pilot

Difficult to see the radio, and I would have no any idea as to whether it was original or not, but it "looks right for the period". Had an ipod adapter soldered into mine as I cant get many stations on an old MW / LW unit nowadays.

Tony Brough

Hi David, looks like a very original car even down to what looks like the rubber mats which are as rare as hens teeth

Gordon
g c pugh

Jep wanted to say that to the rare nla rubber mat is in there.
For some that alone would be a reason to buy the car!
Gearstick cowel should be body colour iirc so either body or cowel have been painted
Onno Könemann

David. That looks like a car that should be bought. As others have said, you need to get under it and the more work that is required can be used as a tool to get the price down.
The early cars are getting rarer and this one at first glance certainly looks restorable. Go for it, you know you want to and we on here want to hear the full story. As Onno said, you will enjoy doing it and in the process learn new skills, not much call for woodworking skills, but electronics will be handy and you are already a hands on type of guy, so once again, go and get it.

Bernie.
b higginson

Hello David,

Welcome to the BBS!

As a long term fan of early Spridgets, I would answer your question with a definite yes!

The car you're discussing/thinking of buying is one of the earliest of the now rare early cars and as such is a real survivor. I would hazard a guess (with such an early chassis number - production started at GAN1/101 - that the car in question probably left the assembly line at Abingdon within the first two or three weeks of production starting.

The car appears at first glance to have survived remarkably well (the interior in particular with it's ultra-rare rubber floor covering and flecked rear carpet).

As Onno mentioned, the gear lever cowel, was usually painted body colour on the earlier cars, so it's quite possible that this was originally a black painted model. The two-tone red and black interior trim panels, along with the red/black piping seats would certainly be correct for a black car.

A green car would normally have had a black interior (not red); the only other paint options for a car with red interior would have either been Old English White or Tartan Red (and I believe both those options used white piping on the seats?).

Personally, I know of only 3 earlier surviving cars worldwide, so if the option to buy is still there - then go for it! Look forward to seeing more photos soon...

Jonathan

J Whitehouse-Bird

Good am or pm .....thanks for all the comments.
I do not know why I'm being so drawn to this car...so I'm going to go see it tommorrow.
I believe the colour was black see in this attached image the black "undercoat" at the back of the engine compartment.

Paying for it is easier said than done...I won't get into my money wows...with four hungry kids, ice hockey, a huge house, a Bernese Mountain dog, not to mention a wife(she thinks I should get a MGB..which I like too..but this came along)
I'm getting nickel'd and dimed to death...but I have some assets mainly guitars and ampifliers etc and could take a loan 'cause my credit is good? ..just a bit extttendeeed$

Man I'm going to do what ever I can to snag her.

Wish me luck!!!



D Pilot

You'll run out of time - you can't possibly fit it the dog into it - let alone a hockey stick - and the wife has a point ......

So, I have the perfect solution ......



I can buy it :P



LOL - enjoy it - you'll have fun - and welcome to the board :)
rachmacb

David
If you buy it and restore it do not throw anything away and take loads of pictures.
These early midgets have some now rare parts and small differences from later mkI midgets.

If the owner happens to have any old parts get them with it especialy the steering wheel a good one is like rocking horse poo
Onno Könemann

Selling guitars and amps to buy a midget???

What a difficult decision to make.

Ian
I Ball

David,

Welcome to the board.

These cars are fun to drive, easy to work on and in reality, a never ending project. But well worth it. I've had my Frogeye since 1972 and before that I owned a Mk. I Midget. They get into your blood.

The radio, as mentioned above looks period but I believe they didn't come with one from the factory. There was a punch-out section in the dash for "future fitment".

Driving them around town is no problem though many of us take our Spridgets on extended trips without any problems. If you maintain the car you should be able to just get in and go. Mine is my daily driver and just going to the store is a real pleasure. The only problem is that I want to keep going.

Let us know how the restoration is progressing.

Here's a piccy of my Midget way back when.

Martin Washington

Guys guys I'm sad to say someone beat me to her..dam it big time!!!
I'm still in line if he fails on selling his other car apparently.
But I really don't have the money right now just the dream..only $2500 cdn

Holy crap this upsetting, but if it was meant to be?

So now I'm going to sell/save/salvage and make guitar amps all winter 'til I can pickup another unit maybe an MGB or Midget in the near future...enough said.

I'll be reading up and preparing myself so I can strike quickly.

I want one more than ever now

Thanks againeveryone for all your time and responses they were very helpful and encouraging.
durate et vosmet rebus servate secundis
David
D Pilot

That's a bummer. Might not be as rare, but there will be others.

If you do get another shot buying it, I'd do the absolute minimum of restoration, only what is needed.

I'm not a purest, and it's nice to see shiny new looking cars, BUT, I think that when restored, old cars lose some of their character.

Looking at the pic of the interior reminds me of the condition (worse) that mine was in when I got it in 1977.

I can still remember the buz as I sat in it for first time, amongst the dead leaves and dirt. (left out in open no roof).

There is a lot of milage history in that car you missed (maybe not), and it would be a shame to rub it all out with a shiny new restoration.
Lawrence Slater

come on raid the house hold fund sell the kids
a early mkI for 1500 pounds!!!
You simply can not pass the offer
Onno Könemann

Onno wake up, it's past noon.
AND it's sold...
Alex G Matla

Bugger
Must still be sick if i missed that.
Onno Könemann


I'm so new to this in fact a real "green horn" I didn't see the danger in waiting.
So I'll move on ...we should end the thread so I don't have to re-live the moments.....I have no regrets its just like the girl (or fish) that got away!!

The reason I just recently started hunting for a MG was (I was always a 50's America truck guy) my older brother had a 1974 Harest gold MGB.
Get this he drive it in the winter and a motorcycle in the summer....
the memories of him and I ploughing thru knee high snow difts fish tailing for a 1/4 of a mile down the country roads where we lived are deeply ingrained...starting that car in the middle of a canadian winter (-30C) was so cool!

I use to take his MGB out for rides when he wasn't about (drunk or at a job) and I only told him this last June.

Recently my wife started working for a classic car Insurance agency and her boss has been giving us the old classic car magazines...she wants a porsche and I said I want an MGB so I started looking....a friend spotted the '61 Midget and a dream started.

So now you know the rest of the story....bloody hell that felt better!!!

Thanks guys hope to be involved in a restore project in the near future and I'll hold on to my dream...at least the corolla and our kia soul have a stick.

"Imagine"
Best David




D Pilot

This thread was discussed between 04/09/2011 and 06/09/2011

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