Looking for a MG Midget/Austin Healey Sprite
Discussion
Hi Everybody
I am currently looking for a MG Midget or Austin Healey Sprite.
It must be a chrome bumper car, and ideally tax free. I have a preference towards steel/alloy wheeled cars but again this is not essential. The car must be in good to mint condition and not a restoration project.
Cash waiting for the ideal car.
If you think a car may be of interest, please get in touch.
Rylan
I am currently looking for a MG Midget or Austin Healey Sprite.
It must be a chrome bumper car, and ideally tax free. I have a preference towards steel/alloy wheeled cars but again this is not essential. The car must be in good to mint condition and not a restoration project.
Cash waiting for the ideal car.
If you think a car may be of interest, please get in touch.
Rylan
Have you tried the classifieds in classic car magazines? They would be my first port of call. If you belong to the MG Owners' Club there are lots for sale in the back of Enjoying MG. By the way, you're not that Rylan are you? If you are then forget everything I've said and scoop your eyes out with a spoon. Just a bit of friendly advice. 
On and off, I've had a hankering to go back to my youth and buy one of these, especially a 1972 RWA. Last year I found one that stuck on the market for 6 months due to the money spent on it, but it was only driveable as a hill climb car in the end - they were asking £12,000 for it and no way was it worth that, despite the supposedly £20,000 put into it. But what has intrigued me is the money demanded by dealers (and the specialist is Mike Authers) and what, according to the magazines, are fully restored cars. Dealer price is around £9,000-ish and the auction price £4,000-ish. I'm sure I'll get one some day (for the pint-size SWMBO who thankfully can't reach the pedals of my Jaguars) and continue to follow the market. I'd suggest you search the upcoming auctions like Anglia and H&H for a potential bargain.
medieval said:
Yes prices do seem a little frisky at the moment particularly when we are out of season as such but then I remember buying a mint one for £2250 back in 1990 and therefore I am clearly not au fait with the current values.
Nice 1965/6 red Midget on Fleebay for sub £5k at the mo...
I'd advise a bit later than this with a 1275 instead of the asthmatic 1098 engine. Looking not far from here this is perhaps bit too different to normal:-Nice 1965/6 red Midget on Fleebay for sub £5k at the mo...
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/m...
If you are very rich then there is always this one
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C319943
For me, this one looks about right, but then I haven't seen it:-
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C328572
They seem to be MG specialists though.
Edited by lowdrag on Thursday 31st January 16:24
1275 all day long.
I bought a 1500, and have torn out all the weight, taken the bumpers off, the interior is stripped, the roof, windows and windscreen all gone. It's really lovely, but I still wish I'd spent a little bit more and got a 1275.
And the small premium for a tax free car would have paid for itself by now.
I bought a 1500, and have torn out all the weight, taken the bumpers off, the interior is stripped, the roof, windows and windscreen all gone. It's really lovely, but I still wish I'd spent a little bit more and got a 1275.
And the small premium for a tax free car would have paid for itself by now.
lowdrag said:
On and off, I've had a hankering to go back to my youth and buy one of these, especially a 1972 RWA. Last year I found one that stuck on the market for 6 months due to the money spent on it, but it was only driveable as a hill climb car in the end - they were asking £12,000 for it and no way was it worth that, despite the supposedly £20,000 put into it. But what has intrigued me is the money demanded by dealers (and the specialist is Mike Authers) and what, according to the magazines, are fully restored cars. Dealer price is around £9,000-ish and the auction price £4,000-ish. I'm sure I'll get one some day (for the pint-size SWMBO who thankfully can't reach the pedals of my Jaguars) and continue to follow the market. I'd suggest you search the upcoming auctions like Anglia and H&H for a potential bargain.
I have a 72 RWA car - heavily modified for hillclimbing. It's far more comfortable for me to drive that my Jag - which is too small (I'm 5'10). People spend silly money on competition cars to get small advantages - they're only worth something to other who wish to compete in the same discipline.suffolk009 said:
1275 all day long.
I bought a 1500, and have torn out all the weight, taken the bumpers off, the interior is stripped, the roof, windows and windscreen all gone. It's really lovely, but I still wish I'd spent a little bit more and got a 1275.
And the small premium for a tax free car would have paid for itself by now.
Another vote for the 1275. I had a RWA model, with wire wheels, many ears ago and it was an absolute hoot to drive. The 1500 is not a good engine, especially when compared to the lively twin cab 1275. Look out for rust though. The inner wings of mine had bits of biscuit tin pop riveted over the holes. FRom the outside it looked mint.I bought a 1500, and have torn out all the weight, taken the bumpers off, the interior is stripped, the roof, windows and windscreen all gone. It's really lovely, but I still wish I'd spent a little bit more and got a 1275.
And the small premium for a tax free car would have paid for itself by now.
I agree the 1500 is not a great engine in a Midget but the 1098 is good. It's quite different to the 1098's in other BL cars at the time. It has 2" main bearings like a Cooper S and a 12G head. It can be tuned highly and will rev. and is not as prone to pulling out the centre main as a 1275.
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