1979 MG Midget Frogeye Sprite

The MG Midget benefitted from a run longer than that of the Austin-Healey Sprite, especially towards the later years when the completion of a contract between Austin and Healey was soon followed by a withdrawal of the Sprite from the market. This 1979 example, one of the later cars, came with a Triumph-sourced 1.5-litre engine and even had the US-market-friendly (but rather ungainly) plastic bumpers. Only that this example here doesn’t have the latter. It instead has the appearance of the original Austin-Healey ‘Frogeye’ Sprite, a car whose looks were appreciated as much as its driving ability.

Listed by Evoke Classics, this Midget-1500-based Frogeye conversion is a well-maintained, relatively low-mileage example. It’s had five owners from new, but what’s worth noting is that since 2006, it has just done about 13k miles. With upgrades over the original Mk1 Sprite and further improvements done by previous owners, it’s a classic that deserves to be driven more.

The inclusion of Old English White exterior paint works a treat on the car but what’s more prominent is of course the Frogeye Sprite styling. And immense care has been taken to replicate that keeping in mind some of the Frogeye’s idiosyncrasies — like the boot compartment which couldn’t be accessed from outside and the large clam-shell bonnet. The windscreen, side glass and doors were sourced from an actual Sprite, whereas the front and rear sections, which define the car’s distinctive appearance, are made of fibreglass.

This Austin-Healey-badged Midget is more than four decades old, but that’s not entirely evident in the way it looks. Some of the chrome parts and rubber seals give away the age, but the bodywork, although far from concours condition, is clean. There aren’t too many blemishes to speak of, but the edge where the bonnet meets the scuttle seems to have undergone a minor touch-up. The paint around the headlamps also has a few minor cracks while the lower offside corner at the front has some marks, too.

The vendor adds that the soft top looks to be in good condition and the clear window has no signs of fading, either.

Complementing its nice white paint is a red interior, and the simple dashboard layout is a perfect match for this fuss-free car. But it doesn’t just end there; it’s also got a period radio, seats with headrests slightly different from the original’s, colour-coded mats, etc. In terms of the condition, the seats look good, but have some use-induced wear. The carpet and door cards look decent, and the dashboard doesn’t look too aged, either.

The gear knob was replaced two years ago and the steering, while old, doesn’t need immediate attention. The speedometer is unique, and while not an original Smiths unit, it adds a modern touch to the car. The GPS speedometer, imported sometime last year, can also display speed and a few other parameters in its small digital readout. The boot, which, like on the original Frogeye Sprite, can be accessed by pulling forwards the seat, houses a full-sized wheel with some room to spare.

This was the final iteration of the MG Midget, which means it got a 1500 cc engine from Triumph, rubberised bumpers, and square wheel arches, although only the former is retained. Underneath it’s still the same platform that’s been used for generations and was responsible for making the Midget fun to drive. The Midget 1500 was claimed to have a fair bit of power, too: about 70 bhp and a top speed of nearly 100 mph.

The car has done about 72,000+ miles and the vendor mentions that the engine pulls cleanly without any knocks or excessive noise. The gearbox, which is said to be rebuilt recently, works smoothly and is free of any age-related issues. A new clutch kit was fitted to the car last year. The vendor rounds up the condition adding that the wire-spoke wheels are in great shape, the tyres have substantial tread left, and the cooling system has got new components (including fans, radiator, and hoses) so one can expect years and years of trouble-free use.

The original semi-monocoque construction is unchanged but the rear suspension has been upgraded on this Midget. Another worthy inclusion is disc brakes at the front. While exempt from MoT, the car will be delivered with a fresh MoT certificate for added reassurance. As can be seen in photos below, there seem to be no signs of rust. The engine bay, too, is exceptionally clean.

The seller has also noted that the car will come with two spare diff's & half shafts, calliper's, disc's, gearbox, radiator & gaskets. 

Registered first in September 1979, the MG Midget 1500 has had five former keepers. According to its MoT data, at the last test, it had done 72502 miles. Since 2006, as reaffirmed by the vendor, it’s just done 13,000+ miles in the last 15 years. Well looked after all its life, the car was sold to the vendor in 2019.

The registration number for this car is CXZ 707.

Replicas generally tend to stray far away from the car they’re trying to be, but not this one. The fact that the Austin-Healey Sprite shared its platform with the MG Midget brings this conversion even closer to the Frogeye. And while during the time the Frogeye was launched, there was no MG version of it but had there been one, it wouldn’t be too different from this. Only that this is more powerful, has better brakes, and isn’t going to cost as much as a Frogeye today.

At effectively half the price of a decent Frogeye now (this 1979 MG Midget has an estimated value of £8,000 - £12,000), one can own a car that’s very closely related to the Frogeye and doesn’t have too many miles on it. The good condition not just of the bodywork but also the engine and gearbox means that the new owner won’t need to spend on repairs or upgrades in the near future. The lack of rust and any major marks on the bodywork means it won’t look any lesser than an actual Frogeye Sprite, either. They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but this car is a touch more than just imitation.

Viewing is always encouraged and as stated this car is located with the seller in Dagenham, Essex. 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’.