1961 MG Midget

Highlights

• Desirable early specification with thin seats and hollow doors
• Fitted with a factory Gold Seal replacement 948cc engine
• New soft top, side screens, front windscreen, tonneau cover and seatbelts fitted by the current owner
• Structurally solid underneath with MOT valid until April 2027
• Brand new seat covers for both seats included in the sale

The Appeal

If the Great British Sports Car is an art form, it's hard to deny that MG are one of the great masters. The midget was lightweight, compact and gently modernised, taking and reaffirming the formula of the must-loved Austin-Healey Sprite while making it bang-up-to-date and eminently drivable.

The earliest MG Midgets are cherished for their purity of design - the thin seats, hollow doors and compact proportions give the Mk1 an intimacy and lightness that later cars, with their added bulk and safety equipment, could never quite recapture. It's the Midget in its most elemental form, and has never been more desirable.

This 1961 example is an honest, usable car that has been sensibly maintained rather than over-restored. The current owner, who purchased the car in October 2022, has invested in a number of practical renewals as detailed below. A factory Gold Seal replacement 948cc engine was fitted by a previous owner and is reported to have good oil pressure.
Previous owners have also fitted a number of considered handling upgrades, which the vendor states make the car comfortable and capable in corners. The car holds a current MOT valid until April 2027 and is ready and waiting for its lucky new keeper.

Key Information

• Mileage: 37,188 miles (indicated as correct; no supporting documentation mentioned)
• Country of registration: United Kingdom
• Technical inspection status: MOT valid until April 2027
• Technical specs: 948cc inline four-cylinder, four-speed manual
• Paperwork: Accompanied by a large stack of invoices, latest MOT certificate and V5c

The Detail

• Factory Gold Seal replacement 948cc engine fitted by a previous owner
• Engine reported to have good oil pressure and perform as it should
• New soft top fitted by the current owner
• New side screens fitted by the current owner
• New front windscreen and rubber fitted by the current owner
• New tonneau cover fitted by the current owner
• Hardtop is also included
• Inertia reel seatbelts fitted by the current owner
• Spare wheel replaced by the current owner
• Removable steering wheel fitted; original steering wheel included in the sale
• Stalk indicator added for convenience
• Uprated 11/16" front anti-roll bar fitted by previous owner(s)
• 1.75° negative camber setup fitted by previous owner(s)
• Uprated 400 lb front springs fitted by previous owner(s), providing a lowered stance
• Positive earth dynamo system with Dynamator upgrade fitted by previous owner(s)
• Contactless electronic ignition fitted by previous owner(s)
• Some corrosion beginning to show through the bodywork
• Bodywork could benefit from a polish but is usable as is
• Appears to be structurally solid underneath
• Seat covers are worn but usable; brand new covers for both seats are included
• The vendor describes the car as a well-maintained, honest and usable example

BEFORE YOU BUY

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✓ The seller is registered as a private seller which means consumer rights stemming from EU consumer protection law do not come into effect. However, you are still covered by Car & Classic’s own Terms and Conditions..

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