MG Midget 1275. 1970 RWA - Tax & MOT exempt

MG Midget 1275 - 1970 RWA, TAX & MOT Exempt

Usable and very affordable classic car with fast-road mods and factory hardtop, the car is in a great position where it can be used and enjoyed whilst either being developed further or moved back to original. I had planned to continue down the fast-road avenue and have reached a junction where I either drop a load more money into it or move it on. As my wife and I have started plans to move down to her native Italy (a blessing in the disguise of Brexit and Covid combined) it makes sense to sell on the Midget before going ahead with suspension upgrades etc, I'll be investing in something left-hand drive (probably an Alfa Spider) at a later date.

Since buying the car in 2019 I have carried out various work, some mechanical and some aesthetic. The car ran very rich and lumpy when we test drove it and it was evident that the air filtration and therefore mixture was incorrect, this has been rectified by servicing the carbs and swapping the non-standard inlet trumpet and air-filter combo with a performance kit by Ramair. The fuel pump has also been upgraded to a Hardy solid-state unit with an additional filter located between the tank and pump. Under the bonnet, fuel lines have been replaced and upgraded with an additional fuel filter being added. The backing plate to the carbs has been replaced with a stainless steel one and new gaskets and throttle cable fitted whilst the carbs were off. The carbs have been balanced and the mixture set so the vehicle runs as it should. 

I replaced a leaking rocker cover gasket whilst checking the clearance of the tappets (the car still has the old head and runs on E5 with lead additive), in addition, the spark plugs and leads have been replaced as has the fan belt. The car benefits from an oil cooler and I have fitted a high-quality ‘Stack' digital/analog water temperature gauge and sender unit. The old mercury unit had failed but the oil pressure gauge still works (engine shows great oil pressure), I planned to also update the oil pressure gauge to a Stack unit and add a voltmeter, hence the space in the refurbished dashboard.

Also under the bonnet, I have added a new battery and stainless steel retaining bracket with the addition of quick release terminals which help prevent any drain on the new battery whilst the car is not in use, the car is a negative earth variant with a dynamo rather than an alternator.

The plastic air intake pipe was cracked so this has been replaced with aluminium ducting, I still have the original part along with a few other spares.

In the cockpit the dash has been renovated with an Alcantara/wrinkle finish paint combo, there is a period navigators light and a new GPS odometer (under the dash I have added a fuse box for the new gauges and there is room for the wiring of additional gauges). The previous owner lost the ignition key so the car also benefits from a new ignition barrel and new door and boot locks. 

There is a basic (non FIA/MSA approved) roll-over hoop with an additional cross brace that allows for the OMP four-point harnesses (passenger side included in sale but not photographed) to come over the shoulder at the correct angle. The non-standard steering wheel and boss is by Mountney and there is a slender MG branded aluminium gear knob on a shortened shaft. The brightwork is in good condition and the center support for the windscreen has been replaced as the old one was very corroded. The fold-down hood is intact and is fitted in the car.

The car sits on 14-inch Minilite wheels, all of which are in good condition with lots of life left in the tyres, there is a new wheel in the boot ready for a tyre to be fitted, the boot has been lined as the previous owner used a sticky black rust inhibitor not only on the underside of the car but on the interior of the boot (you can see this on the underside of the boot lid). Other exterior mods include fiberglass wings with additional venting, de-trimmed grille (original trim will come with the car), tow hook. The reversing lights and rear wing seams have been deleted, unfortunately, a previous owner who carried out this work did not make the best job of it, there is evidence of poor body prep and the rattle can paint job is a different shade from the rest of the car, my plan when buying the car was to go full fiberglass bonnet and back end. There are a few scuffs and marks on the exterior and some odd patches of surface rust as might be expected of a vehicle this age at this price point, however, none are so bad that they can't be recovered easily if I had the spare time I would be taking this on next.

Any questions just drop me a line, please be patient if I am slow responding to messages, I work out in the forests of Scotland and may not be online for a few days in a row. 

Also published at eBay.co.uk

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