1972 MG Midget Resto-Mod

First registered in August 1972, this round-arch Midget was purchased by the vendor following the departure of his much-beloved Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint, and with the wife’s approval to find another project car, the decision was made to pick one of Abingdon’s finest, thanks to readily available parts, extensive knowledge and the ability for the vendor to carry out plenty of work himself, in his heated double garage and drawing upon his extensive industry experience.

Designed to be his personal vision of a “Midget for the 21st Century” work commenced in earnest in February 2014, with an initial target date for completion around Easter 2015.

Whilst the bodywork, paint and interior are undoubtedly worthy of mention in their own right, we’ll come back to those later, for the true hero of this build lies underneath the bonnet. Utilising the original A-series engine, the decision was made to convert the carburettor-fed unit to a modern fuel injection system, allowing improved reliability, usability and tuning potential.

Specifically, the choice was made to utilise a Specialised Components aluminium Crossflow head, throttle bodies and a custom fuel injection setup to provide the ‘go juice’ to the 1380cc A-series engine, with the swirl pots and fuel pumps on display in the boot for all to see. In total, the estimated power output for this one-off build sits at around 120-125bhp, which may not sound a lot in today’s world of 600bhp-plus family cars, but in a car that weighs about the same as a packet of Quavers (other lightweight crisp brands are available) that’s enough to put a grin on anyone’s face very, very quickly indeed.

Naturally, these upgrades require plenty of new electrical systems and wiring, which necessitated the fitment of a bespoke, fully-custom wiring loom to support the various new systems, gauges and features fitted to this Midget. Whilst this can often be a nightmare for successive owners, the vendor is supplying a clear and concise wiring diagram with the vehicle, allowing any wiring faults to be easily traced and rectified, should they occur.

In order to help put the power down, the standard Midget transmission was done away with, replaced by a Ford Type 9 five-speed gearbox, with a Burton centrifugal clutch release. The rear axle is fitted with a Quaiffe ATB and 3.7 differential, along with Peter May competition-specification driveshafts.

Underneath, the chassis was fitted with fully adjustable rose-joined coilover front suspension by JLH motorsport, along with telescopic dampers both on the front and rear axles. On the rear, a Panhard rod was fitted, whilst the standard drum brakes were retained with upgraded linings. Up front, enlarged 240mm discs with JLH alloy callipers were sourced and fitted, along with a rose-jointed root anti-roll-bar. Yokohama high-performance rubber was wrapped around the 14” wheels to give plenty of road-going grip.

In terms of the bodywork and shell, any attention to the bodywork was carried out by John Holden, whilst the paint was left to renowned expert and concours-level painter Sean Watson of The Old Coachworks in Hampshire, with the body finished in Alfa Romeo 716 Graphite Grey. The factory hard-top was stripped and refurbished, painted in contrasting RAL7001 and fitted with polycarbonate windows and vents.

Whilst the build was not always plain sailing - with plenty of details of the trials and tribulations of the build in the vendors’ MASCOT magazine feature, copies of which are included in the car’s history folder - the end result was worth the hassle, toil and late nights, with the vendor saying that he succeeded in his initial goal of creating ‘the ultimate’ MG Midget for the 21st century, and one that can be used in any conditions at any time.

Having covered only just shy of 1,500 miles since the culmination of the project, the initial intention was to get some time out on track - after all, that was part of this project’s raison d’être but due to various COVID-related restrictions and life getting in the way, this was an intention that was never realised. That said, numerous journeys and trips have been made to GRRC events, other motorsport events and various shows, with no issues or problems making themselves known during this running-in period.

However, on its initial outing to the MG and Triumph show in 2021, the car scored a first-place in the “Modified Class” concours, which is testament to the overall fit, finish and quality displayed by this one-off build.

If that isn’t enough, lifelong MG owner, enthusiast and mechanic Steve at Retromarques of Strenham - who are consigning the vehicle with us on behalf of the owner - had the following to say about this Midget:

“It is easily the best-prepared MG Midget I’ve ever seen, and its completely worthy of its concours win. Insanely quick and finished to an incredibly high standard, it looks the business and it IS the business. It would make a fantastic track or hill-climb car for the next owner.”

You may be asking yourself, if it’s so good, why is it being sold? Well, the simple answer is that it’s all a matter of space. Following a house move, the vendor no longer has access to his workshop, and therefore the choice has been made to move this ‘ultimate’ Midget on with the hope of it going to someone that will continue to cherish it, fettle it and use it in anger.

Full specification breakdown:

• Bodywork in AR 716 Graphite Grey, with contracting RAL7001 hard-top
• Glass-fibre bonnet
• Dynamat lightweight soundproofing fitted throughout
• Bespoke interior trim by Stitch Perfect in Black
• Custom dash with upgraded instruments and digital speedometer/tacho
• Centre-console mounted battery cut-out
• Bespoke half-cage by JLH motorsport, mounted on strengthened turrets
• Quick-release MOMO Prototipo steering wheel
• Fire extinguisher mounted behind passenger
• Simpson lap belts
• Full professional, bespoke wiring loom with extensive diagrams and photographic records
• Early rear light units
• Rear hazard lights and HI fog lights
• DRLs hidden in the front grille
• Lightweight headlight units
• A-Series 1380cc block, converted for fuel injection
• Lightened, balanced Omega pistons
• Calver Tuning camshaft
• SC aluminium Crossflow head
• Throttle bodies with 1.5 rockers
• Maniflow exhaust manifold
• Anti-surge sump baffle
• Competition-spec oil pump, timing gear, water pump and crank damper
• Engine mapped and set-up on the dynamometer by Northampton Motorsport, running 120bhp on its first run and estimated at 125bhp currently
• Bespoke aluminium radiator with integrated oil cooler
• Earls race-spec oil thermostat
• Fuel pumps and swirl pots located in the boot
• Type 09 Ford five-speed gearbox
• Burton centrifugal clutch release
• 3.7 rear differential and Quaffie ATB
• Peter May competition driveshafts
• Fully-adjustable rose-joined front coilover suspension by JLH Motorsport
• Telescopic dampers front-and-rear
• Panhard rod
• 240mm front discs with upgraded alloy callipers by JLH Motorsport
• Uprated rear drum linings
• Rose-joined front anti-roll bar
• 14” alloy wheels with Yokohama tyres all round
• Finally, the vendor wants to note that “with exception of small items such as window-winder mechanisms, all original components of the car have been replaced in the course of the 6-year-plus restoration of the vehicle, including the fuel tank, master and slave cylinders, all lines and plumbing, all electrical components, etc.”

Resplendent in its Alfa Romeo Graphite Grey, contrasting hard top and 14-inch wheels, this MG Midget screams ‘club racer’ and seemingly possesses the ability to look like it’s going fast whilst standing still. It really is a true head-turning machine, without having strayed from the immediately-recognisable silhouette and likeness of the round-arch Midget.

As you’d expect from a vehicle that has covered less than 1,500 miles since competition, there are virtually no signs of any wear-and-tear visible on the car, so we’ve had to be really picky on this one, and we’ve only found the following minor imperfections:

• A small scratch on the nearside rear wing, just aft of the passenger door
• Slight stone chips to the front end
• Light dulling/flatting to the chrome window trims, particularly on the A-pillar
• Pitting to the front indicator chrome trims
• Light marks to the alloy wheel lips, most prominently on the nearside front wheel.

Looking along the flanks of the vehicle, there are no signs of any dents, dings or impacts, nor any mis-aligned panels. There is a very, very slight indentation on the upper offside edge of the bonnet, though this is only visible when the light hits it perfectly, and is otherwise unseen in day-to-day use.

The removable hard-top is in excellent condition, and is attached via the OE front clips and two bolts in the rear, and goes on-and-off with ease.

Inside, the good news continues unabated, as the cabin is virtually box-fresh from the day that Stitch Perfect finished the re-trimming work.

Finished in a custom corduroy-style material for the seats, transmission tunnel and centre console, there are virtually no signs of any wear-and-tear visible to the cabin, not even on the outer bolsters of the incredibly comfortable and supportive bucket seats.

Being *exceedingly* picky, there are one or two marks to the high-traffic areas such as the steering wheel, switch gear and inner door sills, but nothing beyond this. It really is rather remarkable!

Oh, the carpets would benefit from a thorough cleaning, but that really is about it.

In the rear, the boot presents very well, in keeping with the rest of the vehicle, and the custom-made fuel injection swirl pot and pumps are on display for all to see and appreciate.

All of the systems, gauges and switches are in full working order, with no reported issues from the vendor and no issues making themselves known during our photo shoot.

Undo the custom locking bonnet pins, lock the bonnet stay (also custom-made) into place, and admire the engine bay, for it truly is a work of automotive art.

Custom parts abound under the bonnet of this MG Midget, and the result is simply stunning. Looking around, there are no signs of any leaks, fluid misting or issues, with the only real indications of the car’s age being a few brackets with flaking paint visible lower down in the bay.

Underneath, the chassis is of an equally high standard, and the recent MoT - voluntary, owing to the car’s technical exemption by virtue of age, but a strong indicator of the project’s fit-and-finish - dated 29 August 2019 - shows a clean pass with no advisory items whatsoever.

The fuel-injected A-series engine fires into life with ease and happily idles, with a modern electric fan keeping things cool, activated via a switch on the dashboard next to the temperature gauge. During our photo shoot, the car was happy to start and re-start whether hot or cold, and no issues made themselves known.

The clutch is wonderfully direct, whilst the short-shift gearbox feels excellent, and will no doubt give the next owner miles and miles of enjoyable, spirited driving.

The owner reports no known issues with the vehicle from a mechanical or electrical standpoint.

Just in case you were left in any doubt about the meticulous, fastidious and detail-oriented nature of this MG Midget’s builder and current owner, the history file will certainly dispel and remaining concerns.

Well, that should be folderS, as there is no less than THREE ring-bound folders of paperwork, documentation and history, along with a full custom wiring diagram, USB of over 300 photographs of the restoration project, and other miscellaneous bits of paperwork, including the issue of MASCOT which the owner was featured in.

Not only is there is extensive documentation, but the documentation is also arranged alphabetically throughout the folders. Every invoice, receipt, business card, photograph, media feature and all correspondence that took place throughout the build process has been recorded in these folders, and the result is genuinely mind-boggling.

Of course, there is far too much for us to list everything below, though we have painstakingly gone through and photographed every page of history for you to browse, and this is available to view at the end of the extensive photo gallery below.

Whilst we can’t list everything, here are a few highlights for quick reference..

• The V5, showing 14 former keepers (though this is now all but irrelevant, given the complex and fastidious nature of the rebuild/modifications carried out to the vehicle)
• Full correspondence with the various engine builders, tuning houses and professionals involved in bringing this project to life
• A copy of every invoice for parts from washers and hoses to the SC alloy head and major tuning parts.
• A full set of spare keys, including ignition cut-out switches
• Copies of all known media and magazine features
• A full wiring diagram for the custom loom in the vehicle
• Two thick ring-bound folders of alphabetised correspondence, documentation and receipts from the current ownership
• One well-stocked ring-bound folder full of documentation from owners prior to the current keeper

A true one-off build that encapsulates the current owner’s vision of the ‘ultimate’ MG Midget, blending classical styling, analogue driving experiences and MG charm with modern technology, running systems and usability, without losing any of the car’s original 70s essence.

This really is a unique opportunity to obtain an MG Midget like no other. Ready for use as a fast road car, weekend toy, competition vehicle or even just as a fun ‘Sunday pub run’ vehicle, this round-arch Midget is certain to strike up conversation wherever it goes, and will no doubt provide the next owner with years of enjoyable driving and ownership.

Whilst valuing a unique custom build like this is always tricky, we estimate a value in the region of £20,000 - £30,000 which we suggest represents outstanding value for money, given the time, craftmanship and expense that has gone in to building this class-winning Midget resto-mod.

Viewing is always encouraged. This particular car is located with the vendor in Tewkesbury (WR8 9JZ), United Kingdom. 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’.