MG Midget - My First Classic
Discussion
Good to see it is almost ready !
Here are just a couple of thoughts...
A pal of mine ( who is a retired race mechanic and worked on historic Lotus/ Lancias etc ) has recently done a complete chassis replacement/restoration of a 1973 Elan Sprint. As in your case, his does not require an MOT, but he is getting one done anyway. More for peace of mind and it may be helpful for the insurance company ?
Also, just IMO of course, if it were my Midget, I would relocate the rear number plate upwards, perhaps with a 'stick on vinyl' one between the rear lights.
It would 'clean up' the rear view of the car but may offend the purists !!
It is a great job you are doing: I am envious because since I sold the Elan ( due to moving to a flat with no garage (!!) I cannot tinker on with cars anymore....don't even have a work bench to do 'stuff' on my relatively modern Volvo C30 !
I really miss my garage space !!
Not long now until yours is on the road I guess.
Here are just a couple of thoughts...
A pal of mine ( who is a retired race mechanic and worked on historic Lotus/ Lancias etc ) has recently done a complete chassis replacement/restoration of a 1973 Elan Sprint. As in your case, his does not require an MOT, but he is getting one done anyway. More for peace of mind and it may be helpful for the insurance company ?
Also, just IMO of course, if it were my Midget, I would relocate the rear number plate upwards, perhaps with a 'stick on vinyl' one between the rear lights.
It would 'clean up' the rear view of the car but may offend the purists !!
It is a great job you are doing: I am envious because since I sold the Elan ( due to moving to a flat with no garage (!!) I cannot tinker on with cars anymore....don't even have a work bench to do 'stuff' on my relatively modern Volvo C30 !
I really miss my garage space !!
Not long now until yours is on the road I guess.
Yeah, I probably will get an M.O.T. done, another pair of eyes looking over it won't hurt.
I saw a Midget a couple of weeks ago with the number plate located where you suggest and I have been thinking about that, not made my mind up yet.
Thanks, like I keep saying though, this is far from a concourse or nut & bolt restoration etc. But mechanically it's going to be pretty good at least.
I feel for you, the garage is my favourite room of the house! I just wish it was bigger.
I guess not, there's still a load of little bits to do, but I'm hopeful I can have it safe (for a Midget) to drive by 18th june when it turns 40!
I saw a Midget a couple of weeks ago with the number plate located where you suggest and I have been thinking about that, not made my mind up yet.
Thanks, like I keep saying though, this is far from a concourse or nut & bolt restoration etc. But mechanically it's going to be pretty good at least.
I feel for you, the garage is my favourite room of the house! I just wish it was bigger.
I guess not, there's still a load of little bits to do, but I'm hopeful I can have it safe (for a Midget) to drive by 18th june when it turns 40!
Hey Martin,
Do you know when you can apply for classic car certification or whatever. Also do you know if you can have silver and black plates when this has been done?
Not start looking into this yet, however thought I would see if you know. My car hits 40 on the 29th of June, so hoping to also have it sorted by then.
Do you know when you can apply for classic car certification or whatever. Also do you know if you can have silver and black plates when this has been done?
Not start looking into this yet, however thought I would see if you know. My car hits 40 on the 29th of June, so hoping to also have it sorted by then.
You’re doing a great job. My first proper car was a MG Midget - it was brilliant - even did track days in it. I owned it for around 15 years and one day it was naughty (again) so I put it on eBay thinking it would never sell... but it did, and someone picked it up and took it to Germany the next day. Still gutted 8 years later. Miss you GNR47L.
mathew-t6qh2 said:
Hey Martin,
Do you know when you can apply for classic car certification or whatever. Also do you know if you can have silver and black plates when this has been done?
Not start looking into this yet, however thought I would see if you know. My car hits 40 on the 29th of June, so hoping to also have it sorted by then.
Hi.Do you know when you can apply for classic car certification or whatever. Also do you know if you can have silver and black plates when this has been done?
Not start looking into this yet, however thought I would see if you know. My car hits 40 on the 29th of June, so hoping to also have it sorted by then.
By "classic car certification" do you mean the zero value road tax?
If so, I've not yet looked into it yet but I'm not sure I'll be able to apply for that until the beginning of july, I'll find out soon.
Silver and black plates are only legal on cars registered before 1st january 1975.
I wouldn't change mine anyway as I like the fact that it still has the original dealership plates!
Good luck getting yours up and running!
Petrus1983 said:
You’re doing a great job. My first proper car was a MG Midget - it was brilliant - even did track days in it. I owned it for around 15 years and one day it was naughty (again) so I put it on eBay thinking it would never sell... but it did, and someone picked it up and took it to Germany the next day. Still gutted 8 years later. Miss you GNR47L.
Thanks!I don't think I'll do any track days in mine, it'd be a mobile chicane!
I'm hopeless at electrics!
And it's really starting to piss me off!
I just can't get my head around finding what I've done or what's gone wrong.
My Haynes manual was written in '77, my car is '79 and the wiring is different, so I don't have an accurate diagram, either.
Every time I try something and test it I'm more confused!
Just wanted to vent really, grrr!
And it's really starting to piss me off!
I just can't get my head around finding what I've done or what's gone wrong.
My Haynes manual was written in '77, my car is '79 and the wiring is different, so I don't have an accurate diagram, either.
Every time I try something and test it I'm more confused!
Just wanted to vent really, grrr!
Martin350 said:
mathew-t6qh2 said:
Hey Martin,
Do you know when you can apply for classic car certification or whatever. Also do you know if you can have silver and black plates when this has been done?
Not start looking into this yet, however thought I would see if you know. My car hits 40 on the 29th of June, so hoping to also have it sorted by then.
Hi.Do you know when you can apply for classic car certification or whatever. Also do you know if you can have silver and black plates when this has been done?
Not start looking into this yet, however thought I would see if you know. My car hits 40 on the 29th of June, so hoping to also have it sorted by then.
By "classic car certification" do you mean the zero value road tax?
If so, I've not yet looked into it yet but I'm not sure I'll be able to apply for that until the beginning of july, I'll find out soon.
Silver and black plates are only legal on cars registered before 1st january 1975.
I wouldn't change mine anyway as I like the fact that it still has the original dealership plates!
Good luck getting yours up and running!
Petrus1983 said:
You’re doing a great job. My first proper car was a MG Midget - it was brilliant - even did track days in it. I owned it for around 15 years and one day it was naughty (again) so I put it on eBay thinking it would never sell... but it did, and someone picked it up and took it to Germany the next day. Still gutted 8 years later. Miss you GNR47L.
Thanks!I don't think I'll do any track days in mine, it'd be a mobile chicane!
jules_s said:
Better to know now I guess 
The dull thud and loss of drive still haunts me.......a quick google suggests there are upgrades now available though
I do appreciate the warning.The dull thud and loss of drive still haunts me.......a quick google suggests there are upgrades now available though
Reading my reply back it looks a bit arsey, sorry.
I think I'm just slightly disheartened and frustrated with it tonight.
I was hoping to start using it next week but that seems very unlikely now.
RobXjcoupe said:
Just reading as I’m thinking about owning a midget, the black and silver number plate thing now rolls with the 40 year old zero tax and no mot. I was aware of the original 1975 plate change over but that’s irrelevant now. Technically when a 1990 car turns 40 it can be legally fitted with black and silver plates. Strange but true. Go figure?!
Ah, that kinda makes sence to follow the 40 year tax and M.O.T. thing, I suppose.I'm still going to stick with the original plates, they're slightly tatty but I think they're a bit cool.
Martin350 said:
Reading my reply back it looks a bit arsey, sorry.
I was hoping to start using it next week but that seems very unlikely now.
Don't be daft - no offence taken at allI was hoping to start using it next week but that seems very unlikely now.
I loved mine despite the issues. It certainly benefited from a full Janspeed which made it very capable indeed
tbh I think it was a bit of a duffer, and running it too many miles perhaps added to its weaknesses
Nothing healthy maintenance wouldn't help out with though - and a Moss account!
jules_s said:
Don't be daft - no offence taken at all
I loved mine despite the issues. It certainly benefited from a full Janspeed which made it very capable indeed
tbh I think it was a bit of a duffer, and running it too many miles perhaps added to its weaknesses
Nothing healthy maintenance wouldn't help out with though - and a Moss account!
Oh, I have a Moss account! I loved mine despite the issues. It certainly benefited from a full Janspeed which made it very capable indeed
tbh I think it was a bit of a duffer, and running it too many miles perhaps added to its weaknesses
Nothing healthy maintenance wouldn't help out with though - and a Moss account!
Janspeed, as in a sort of full engine toon up thing? Do you know what power it had?
I don't expect it to be trouble free motoring, I've owned Minis and Fords from around this age, and an old TVR!
RobXjcoupe said:
Martin350 said:
mathew-t6qh2 said:
Hey Martin,
Do you know when you can apply for classic car certification or whatever. Also do you know if you can have silver and black plates when this has been done?
Not start looking into this yet, however thought I would see if you know. My car hits 40 on the 29th of June, so hoping to also have it sorted by then.
Hi.Do you know when you can apply for classic car certification or whatever. Also do you know if you can have silver and black plates when this has been done?
Not start looking into this yet, however thought I would see if you know. My car hits 40 on the 29th of June, so hoping to also have it sorted by then.
By "classic car certification" do you mean the zero value road tax?
If so, I've not yet looked into it yet but I'm not sure I'll be able to apply for that until the beginning of july, I'll find out soon.
Silver and black plates are only legal on cars registered before 1st january 1975.
I wouldn't change mine anyway as I like the fact that it still has the original dealership plates!
Good luck getting yours up and running!
Petrus1983 said:
You’re doing a great job. My first proper car was a MG Midget - it was brilliant - even did track days in it. I owned it for around 15 years and one day it was naughty (again) so I put it on eBay thinking it would never sell... but it did, and someone picked it up and took it to Germany the next day. Still gutted 8 years later. Miss you GNR47L.
Thanks!I don't think I'll do any track days in mine, it'd be a mobile chicane!
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