1978 MG Midget Restoration/Rebuild/Project/ProbableMoneyPit
Discussion
Hello all,
I've been saying for a long time how I'd love to buy a "classic" to teach myself more mechanical skills and to weld on cars, but due to recent conversations and weekends with the right people I finally decided to seriously investigate how I could do it.
Allowing myself to dangerously type in "classic cars" on ebay to see what was local, the very first search result was a gorgeous little MG Midget less than 5 miles away. It seemed perfect - it was local, cheap and honestly advertised, but most importantly of all it needed work without being a complete wreck.
Upon arrival the car was better than I expected, it drove well, everything seemed to work and whilst the bodywork needed attention it wasn't a disaster.
So the next day breaking pretty much all car buying rules I managed to secure this...
Previous owner bought it to enter local trials competitions but is now going down the beetle route. The owner before that owned it for 14 years but sadly died in 2006, with it sitting in their garage since then.
Showing 8600 miles (v doubtful!), 4 owners, 1500cc, overdrive and a few rusty patches. The car came with a box full of spares, a full chrome bumper conversion kit (although will probably just take the bumpers off) and most importantly a roll bar!
Opinions, tips, ideas greatly appreciated as I have no been so un-prepared for a new car!
Can't wait to get started.
I've been saying for a long time how I'd love to buy a "classic" to teach myself more mechanical skills and to weld on cars, but due to recent conversations and weekends with the right people I finally decided to seriously investigate how I could do it.
Allowing myself to dangerously type in "classic cars" on ebay to see what was local, the very first search result was a gorgeous little MG Midget less than 5 miles away. It seemed perfect - it was local, cheap and honestly advertised, but most importantly of all it needed work without being a complete wreck.
Upon arrival the car was better than I expected, it drove well, everything seemed to work and whilst the bodywork needed attention it wasn't a disaster.
So the next day breaking pretty much all car buying rules I managed to secure this...
Previous owner bought it to enter local trials competitions but is now going down the beetle route. The owner before that owned it for 14 years but sadly died in 2006, with it sitting in their garage since then.
Showing 8600 miles (v doubtful!), 4 owners, 1500cc, overdrive and a few rusty patches. The car came with a box full of spares, a full chrome bumper conversion kit (although will probably just take the bumpers off) and most importantly a roll bar!
Opinions, tips, ideas greatly appreciated as I have no been so un-prepared for a new car!
Can't wait to get started.
Had a midget for 26 years before the Marcos and memories include going camping and having too much luggage we could not get the roof on.
Can I recommend with the tonneau cover on, wind up the side windows, on goes the heater and go for a midnight drive in the countryside, sweet memories proving you don't need to spend a fotune to enjoy motoring,
And the best of all this, wave a massive goodbye to car depreciation whilst having fun
Martyn
Had to do a Heritage reshell at one period of ownership
Can I recommend with the tonneau cover on, wind up the side windows, on goes the heater and go for a midnight drive in the countryside, sweet memories proving you don't need to spend a fotune to enjoy motoring,
And the best of all this, wave a massive goodbye to car depreciation whilst having fun
Martyn
Had to do a Heritage reshell at one period of ownership
Edited by Martyn-123 on Friday 2nd January 07:36
Edited by Martyn-123 on Friday 2nd January 07:37
Thanks for the kind words guys, the pictures do flatter it slightly as there are plenty of imperfections and i'm expecting rust - we will see. If the weather holds this weekend i'm planning on giving it a good clean up.
I need to investigate a lot of ideas I've got but I'm set on going no bumpers, just suites the look i'd like perfectly. This is not going to be a concourse nut and bolt resto anyway.
Being honest I paid £1200. This included a large selection of spares, a full chrome bumper conversion kit and a roll bar. I'd guess the car therefore owes me around £1000? There are cheaper ones out there but these seem in considerably worse condition than this one (hopefully..).
This is my first proper project so I didn't want a complete rust bucket, plus with it being so local and in a driveable state I didn't need to worry/pay to get it recovered.
Definitely buy one though!
I need to investigate a lot of ideas I've got but I'm set on going no bumpers, just suites the look i'd like perfectly. This is not going to be a concourse nut and bolt resto anyway.
Being honest I paid £1200. This included a large selection of spares, a full chrome bumper conversion kit and a roll bar. I'd guess the car therefore owes me around £1000? There are cheaper ones out there but these seem in considerably worse condition than this one (hopefully..).
This is my first proper project so I didn't want a complete rust bucket, plus with it being so local and in a driveable state I didn't need to worry/pay to get it recovered.
Definitely buy one though!
Hours of fun with that!
Get in around the rear damper mountings - the only bit on one of those that is a sod to fix. In fact, unless you're very handy with the welding gear, get someone to do them for you if they need doing. Floors and sills are the other big rust point but quite straightforward - just remember to brace the shell when you cut the old sills out. The engine is ex Triumph and the gearbox is Marina but you could take back to a 1275 A series set up if you were so inclined.
Above all, have fun!
Get in around the rear damper mountings - the only bit on one of those that is a sod to fix. In fact, unless you're very handy with the welding gear, get someone to do them for you if they need doing. Floors and sills are the other big rust point but quite straightforward - just remember to brace the shell when you cut the old sills out. The engine is ex Triumph and the gearbox is Marina but you could take back to a 1275 A series set up if you were so inclined.
Above all, have fun!
Ahhh takes me back - back in the mid 80's I purchased this
Gave me two years of fun where the roof was only up probably at most twice (toneau cover providing weather proofing when parked) This may have been because when the roof was up it had at least a dozen holes when down just one.
No overdrive on mine but the 1500 lump was lively at the time if a little breathless at high rpm but with a period peco exhaust it provided a lot of fun on country roads
It taught me a lot about maintaining a car at home but not being able to weld I couldn't keep on top of the rust (it had spent a fair bit of time on the North Norfolk coast and the car was rusting everywhere) I chopped it in with a weeks MOT left (knowing it was going to fail on a lot of corrosion related issues) against a 205 Lacoste (XS in a posh frock).
It was to be 25 years later that I bought another drop top
Gave me two years of fun where the roof was only up probably at most twice (toneau cover providing weather proofing when parked) This may have been because when the roof was up it had at least a dozen holes when down just one.
No overdrive on mine but the 1500 lump was lively at the time if a little breathless at high rpm but with a period peco exhaust it provided a lot of fun on country roads
It taught me a lot about maintaining a car at home but not being able to weld I couldn't keep on top of the rust (it had spent a fair bit of time on the North Norfolk coast and the car was rusting everywhere) I chopped it in with a weeks MOT left (knowing it was going to fail on a lot of corrosion related issues) against a 205 Lacoste (XS in a posh frock).
It was to be 25 years later that I bought another drop top
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