Midas Mk2 Gold

[balders118]

Saw one of these today in sainsbury's car park. I'll be honest, I didn't know what it was at first, but it did remind me of the mini marcos and apparently its made by the same people. But thats about all I can find out about it.

Anyone care to give some details? Funny looking thing.

[rallycross]

Its a long time ago now, it was an attempt to re-do the mini marcos, so used the same (or similar metro A+) running gear and a fibre-glass shell with some changes from the original, but it was already well out of date by the time it was launched.


Around the same time someone in ireland tried to re-launch the clan crusader (similar idea to a mini marcos but engine in the back) but with the alfa sud engine instead of an imp engine, and called it clan-clover.

There was a few fibre-glass or kit based cars at that time eg duttons, scimitar ss1 etc but none sold well, and its amazing you saw one of these still in use on the road.

[grimfandango]

I almost considered getting one of these a few years ago when I was looking for something cheap to drive. I was put off by the size of the things they really are tiny inside. In the end I got a Ginetta G31 which was great

[Holly Stead]

Hey

This is my car ... you have excellent taste, thank you for admiring =)

[aka_kerrly]

^^^^ spill the beans then... what is it?

[littleredrooster]

I came this "." close to buying a Midas back in the day. Superb little things, handling like you wouldn't believe. Only a snotty salesman managed to spoil the party and I bought a Fiat 128 3p Berlinetta instead.

[Holly Stead]

Its Midas Mk2 Gold as you know kitcar built 1983, factory built, front wheel drive was 1275cc now 1300 john cooper. It was my dads he had it since i was a kid 1994 and kept it for me i learnt to drive in it. There are about 20 in the north east alone this is the only one this colour.

[Dave Hedgehog]

what to say

uhmmm

urhhh

ahhh

it is a nice colour

[balders118]

Holly Stead said:

Hey

This is my car ... you have excellent taste, thank you for admiring =)

Ah, hello. This was over a year ago I spotted this up in Teesside. How did you find PH and this thread?

[Holly Stead]

A friend of mine googled my car and saw it in photos, she then sent the link to my Facebook. Im originally from durham but currently living in Middlesborough as i go to uni at Teesside . The link came as quite a shock.. felt like my car was leading a double life.

[interloper]

Nice to see a Midas on the forum, great cars, mini alike handling in an even smaller, lighter package, whats not to like? I must admit during the summer I had been scouring the classifieds for a half decent one of these but they rarely turn up in good condition.

[tubster1275]

There's quite a few out there, good fun to play with. Designed by Richard Oakes tweaked by Gordon Murray of F1 fame. Very strong chassis though it is limited now by the power plant a little that's not to say you can't get decent grunt out of an A Series.

The company behind Midas made the Mini Marcos for a while with the idea being that the Midas was an evolution of the Marcos design. When the Mk3 came along in the mid 80's it was quite ahead of other road cars and kits using GRP sandwiched with foam and had a properly designed under car airflow system using undertrays to provide genine downforce at speed. When you add adjustable coilover suspension and in the case of the Mk2 the weight saving over the Mini shell you got a lot of bang for your buck considering what else was available.

I've got a Mk2 and Mk3 soft top.

[KDIcarmad]

Personal I like the Mini Marcos better! But would love a Gold coupe. Midas are still going, but with cars that look nothing like these mainly and the Gold convertible. I find these a bit ugly, with out the charm of the earlier cars.



I remember a Midas Gold (a convertible I think) on the front cover of Car magazine in the mid 80's.

[Golaboots]

KDIcarmad said:

Personal I like the Mini Marcos better! But would love a Gold coupe. Midas are still going, but with cars that look nothing like these mainly and the Gold convertible. I find these a bit ugly, with out the charm of the earlier cars.



I remember a Midas Gold (a convertible I think) on the front cover of Car magazine in the mid 80's.

That photo makes me think of those electrified kiddies things you used to get at seafronts in the 80s!

[tubster1275]

Yes the later cars have have lost some of the styling flair and have a face only a mother could love which is a shame because they now have significantly wider engine options. You can slot in anything from a 1.1 8v up to a 1.8VVC lump.

[balders118]

Holly Stead said:

A friend of mine googled my car and saw it in photos, she then sent the link to my Facebook. Im originally from durham but currently living in Middlesborough as i go to uni at Teesside . The link came as quite a shock.. felt like my car was leading a double life.

Ahh I spotted you and took that photo when I was getting my dinner on my way home from Tees Uni. . Still up there at the moment, doing a part time MSc.

It's not as weird as it looks, people often put oddities up on these forums when they see them.

[Holly Stead]

ahh vey nice. i know its a common thing but you always see other peoples cars on here rather than your own . glad you have taken an interest. do you drive anything 'different'?

[balders118]

Na. I've got a Ford Puma. But I love it, a lot of fun per £.

[Artstu]

Lovely little cars those MK2 Midas' are, could do with being a bit wider at the back though.