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MG Midget and Sprite General - Wrecked!!

This evening, I rear ended a Toyota, and wrecked my baby. I'd love to blame the soft brakes, but the truth is, I took my eyes off the road for an instant. I was going about 20-25 mph, and went under his rear bumper. The grill, radiator, both fenders, hood and front valence are done for. I hit just above the bumper, so the front end appears to be ok, and I think the motor and mounts are good as well. both doors open and close well, all the damage seems to end in front of the A posts.
I have Haggerty's insurance, and will do OK, so I'm wondering If I should buy back and try to repair the car.
My car is/was a rust free '72 with a fast road 1275, and a Datsun transmission. Newly recovered Miata seats, a rebuilt front suspension, etc. etc. I drove from Florida to Wisconsin and back this summer.
I'm ok, but I feel sick about the car, and don't want to part with it, but I'm unsure about straitening the inner fenders, and whatever else might be involved.
Phil
Phil Burke

Sorry to hear that Phil. It is so easily done! You have my commiserations.

I would firts get a professional look at the car. If he can confirm that the chassis rails and front suspension turrets haven't moved then the rest of the front panels are all easily replaced, either with new or good second hand stuff. The inner wings are non structural, and also easy to replace or maybe straighten out.

From what you say of the rest of your car it would be worthwhile you buying back and repairing. It is certainly what I would do!
Guy

Sorry to hear.
But happy you are fine (appart from the mental blow)

If the engine has not had a ding then the structure is most likely fine.
New inner and outer wings is just cosmetic work so no need to think about writing it off!
Onno K

Do the doors open/close OK?

If all damage in front of front bulkhead, I'd stay with it. After all, it wasn't its fault.

A
Anthony Cutler

Since you say, you are well covered on insurance, it IS (bold underlined) a rust free 1275 fast road 5 speed conversion, with you suggest a fair bit of work under it's belt. ---

I can't imagine why you are even asking the question.

Of course it' a keep. :)

All/most the damage is bolt off bolt on. Plus a bit of paint. Inner wings can easily be made straight.

And perhaps a massage or two to your mood. Chin up old boy.:)

Buy it back, better still don't let be written off.

Repair and keep it, and put it down to one of the adventures of owning it.

And next time, pick something with more style on which to wreck your classic. :)
Lawrence Slater

Dang, Phil - sorry to hear that! I'd be sick if anything like that happened to my Midge. I agree with the other guys, if at all possible, keep the little guy alive. You two have been through too much together to pull the plug now. (I remember when you drove from Florida to Missouri for Spridget 50, and then lost your keys...)

Cheers, and best of luck,

-:G:-
Gryf Ketcherside

Phil, so sorry to hear about the damage but very glad you're ok!

I'm definitely in the 'keep it' category - so hard to find a rust free car these days and you have history with that one - definitely I think you should have it repaired.
Rick Bastedo

Not wanting to be the disaster tourist but if you want any more advice or tips on how to proceed pictures are helpfull.

Our Danish friend Ole had a bad shunt in his racecar after that he did an amazing job bashing it straight.
So you are not alone
Onno K

What did she look like? = most common real reason for this type crash!
I've had several customers finally admit this. (it is often the wife who makes them do so!)
Anyway, fix it, no question. Pretty much straight bolt on deal, plus a few spray cans. Check fan and waterpump carefully if they are not obviously destroyed. About the only straightening will be the uprights that support the rad off the frame rails.

FRM
FR Millmore

Many years ago I skidded in an icy corner, slid
to avoid traffic, spun once or twice, and
slammed the rear-right into solid earth and stone.

Had it towed away dead. Sad.

At the last minute I called the tow truck folks
and a local BritCarShop, and had the car rerouted
to Flying Circus Cars in Durham NC. Had to
replace the rear axle, right wheel/brake/etc,
and rear-right body work.

So Damned Glad I did!!! Where else you gonna
find a hopped up 1275 with hot cam, 1.5
lifters, and a Datsun 5 speed???
chuckc

You can often do an advantageous deal with the insurance company. You get the full insurance valuation as a write off. And then you agree to buy back the car from the insurers. It costs the insurance company quite several hundred (dollars/ pounds) to dispose of a wreck both in admin terms and then either recycling costs or in auction fees to get rid of it. A lot of hassle from them so you can do them a favour by taking it over before they go through any of that. You may get it for virtually nothing. You have the advantage of knowing what it is worth - anyone else buying it for example at a salvage auction, knows virtually nothing about what they are buying by comparison.
Guy

That's a real bummer so near to Christmas.

I'd keep it and seen as I'm a heathen I'd repair it with a fibreglass flip front. I'd also look at some bigger brakes, you mentioned they were soft. I know it wasn't relevant in this accident but might prevent another.
J White

Oh Phil, terrible news.
Glad you're OK and nothing hurt other than your pride.

I say get it fixed. The car looked great at Midget 50 in Wisconsin. I even remember it from LoTO in 2008.

As much as you drive it and are confident enough of it that you -- and your wife -- can travel across the continent in it, there is no way you Can't fix it.

If you haven't tweaked the body structure, the repair is relatively straight forward. You can do it over winter.

Lee

-- I found one picture of Phil and his Midget at Midget50 in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, July 2011.


Lee Fox

First off: g;ad you're OK. Keep it and fix it.

Lawrence writes: <<< And next time, pick something with more style on which to wreck your classic. :) >>>

Back in '76 mine was hit by a Zagato bodied Bristol.. one of six in the world, apparently.



David Cox

Glad that you're ok too - at least you weren't going too fast, and, as a result, certainly keep it - if only for the parts.

Hope your insurance company make it easy for you, I know they make it fairly easy here as they tend to give you the option on all cars, thankfully not something I needed for any of my MGs, but I certainly purchased an old volvo estate back from them once as it hadn't really hurt itself too much. So, good luck.

Show off David :)!

rachmacb

"Back in '76 mine was hit by a Zagato bodied Bristol.. one of six in the world, apparently."

Did you thank the driver David? lol.
Lawrence Slater

Sorry, no pics yet. I'm going up to Orlando on Saturday, so I'll get some then.

I have an agreed value of $12,500, so they told me about $9300 worth of damage should total it and I have first right of refusal at the salvage price.
My Midget will ride again.
I've found a strait rust free rolling 1972 body about 100 miles from me. He wants $600. I think with radiator, oil cooler, etc., etc. about $2000 in parts will be plenty. There is no damage to the A posts and back, but the car will need a total paint job.
Thanks for all the encouragement.
Phil
Phil Burke

Scary that only 20-25mph can total a spridget.

Maybe bull bars are a good idea after all, or instead of lowering, raise it up, so it can't go under the other cars bumper.
Lawrence Slater

had a long conversation afterwards!!
New use for wire-wheel hammer: removing wing from front tyre. Thnak goodness for Richardsons of Staines [for those of you with long memories!]. 30 whole English pounds later and the replacement wing and lights were back on.
[The white Vitesse in the background belonged to a house mate]

In fact there's a thread here: show us your bloodied cars...[as opposed to your bloody cars!]

Season Greetings to all!

David Cox

Ouch!

Yes start a thread, I reckon that would get quite a following. I could post a pic of mine as it is now. It looks like it's been wrecked, but actually hasn't lol.
Lawrence Slater

Phil. You have to keep it! I threw mine sideways at a lamp post many years ago (hooligan driving) and hit the post with the left front wheel, smashing the front wheel, hub, rack, wing, bonnet and severely damaging the underframe. It took me a long time and many hours of sweat, tears and some blood to get it back on the road, but I did it and I'm so so glad I did. Don't give up.

Bernie.
b higginson

Id strip the front clip off and take the car to a good frame shop esp one called the kansas jack...its a system that they put the car on a plateform then the car is bolted down and brought into alinment...with a midget...it would be fast and easy for them as all you would have is the 2 front frame rails to be checked for proper alinment...remember they have an upward slant...there not level

After that... Its just good high quality front clip....to be honest, now would be the time to have the new front clip welded togather with a front hing so the entire front end would open from the back and lift foreward to expose the entire engine bay
Well... Thats what id do

So what color are you going with.

But yes keep the car... Even if for parts

Personally i really think this is a good oppertunity to do something really special and cool....id explore all options

Prop
Pro P

Prop aren't you busy enough just getting the head back on? lol.
Lawrence Slater

This thread was discussed between 14/12/2011 and 16/12/2011

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