Latest news

The MG Midget is considered to be a good point of entry into the classic British sports car market, bringing a lot of fun for a reasonable price – and with prices on the rise, you could turn a pretty profit, too.

But, just like any car, before going out and buying an MG Midget, you want to make sure it’s the right motor for you. The last thing any classic car enthusiast wants to do is to lose money on an investment which prevents them from going out and getting something else.

It’s another reason why having adequate insurance is so important. It offers financial protection should something unexpected happen to you while out on the road.

Lancaster Insurance are specialists in arranging insurance for classic cars, as well as cover for vintage and other classic vehicles. Combining our wealth of experience and industry knowledge, we are able to quote for virtually every classic car available and offer discounts to classic car club members.

However, we can’t help you when it comes to your choice of classic car. All we can do is arm you with the facts so you can make an informed decision. With that, here are some fast facts about the MG Midget we think you’ll find interesting.

1. It shares its DNA with the Austin-Healey Sprite

Set the Austin-Healey Sprite alongside the MG Midget and you won’t see too many differences in appearance. It’s no coincidence. The was a collaboration between Donald Healey and the British Motor Corporation (BMC), which owned MG.

Designed specifically to be an entry level sports car, the Sprite took a modern unibody construction and packed it with a 948CC version of the famous BMC A-Series engine. This first ‘Frogeye’ Sprite was a big hit, which encouraged MG to start producing its own version.

2. Its name dates back to the 1920

In these more politically correct times, hearing MG Midget might make you wince – but knowing that it dates back to the 1920s (simpler times, as they say) might help.

The first car with the Midget name was the MG M Type Midget (1929-1932). The M-Type was one of the first sports cars by an established manufacturer that could be purchased for a reasonable price.

Costing much less than the Morris Minor on which it was based – a mere £175 at launch – the M-Type could reach 65mph (105km/h) and return 40 miles per gallon.

3. The 1966 version upped the power

Although it was technically a sports car, the MkI and MkII models weren’t exactly punchy, prioritising style over performance in order to keep costs down.

However, that changed somewhat with the 1966 MkIII, which came with the famous twin-carb 1275CC version of the A-Series. It was almost a carbon copy of the engine found in the Mini Cooper S, although pared down to 65hp compared to 75hp in the Mini, thanks to lower compression and smaller valves.

Apart from the engine, MG didn’t see fit to make many more changes to the Midget for several years, aside from minor cosmetic updates – if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, as they say! By 1972, the Sprite was no longer in production, leaving the Midget out front in the battle for the title of cheap roadster.

4. The much-derided black bumpers came in 1974

In 1974, the US introduced a raft of safety and emissions-led changes. For the Midget (MkIV) that meant getting big rubber bumpers and a cleaner 1.5 Triumph engine.

Meanwhile, after tinkering with rounded rear wheel arches in 1972, the design team brought back the square wheel arches in order to comply with – yep, you guessed it – more safety guidelines.

5. They retain their value whatever you do to them

While this is probably pushing the confines of what a fact is, it’s fairly safe to say that you can’t go far wrong with an MG Midget. Coming in at a fair price point means that you’ll have to go some with the modifications and not be able to get something near your money back when it comes to selling it.

In fact, if you end up buying an MG Midget, there’s a fair chance that the one you end up with has already undergone some work along the way. If you buy a MkIV Midget, don’t be surprised if the rubber bumpers have already been removed.

Plenty of Midgets have also undergone a paint job or three, and some have been turned into race cars and then put back to roadworthy status.

A word of warning, however, if you do decide to make any alterations to an MG Midget, make sure they are done reasonably well and tasteful. Like we said at the start, one risk too many can result in you losing a big chunk of your investment.

If you do manage to break your MG Midget, you can rest assured that spare parts are widely available.

There are also some really strong owners’ clubs to steer you in the right direction should you need it such as The MG Owners' Club and the Midget and Sprite Club.  Happy hunting!

Protect your investment with classic car insurance

If you’re lucky enough to get behind the wheel of an MG Midget – or any classic for that matter – you’re going to need specialist classic car insurance to protect your motor for the future.

Whatever model you end up buying, we can offer cover to match. Lancaster Insurance is the classic car insurance broker of choice for owners of 96,000 vehicles. Did you know that over 30% of all MG Midgets have their classic car insurance arranged by us?

Like you, the team at Lancaster is passionate about classic motors and we want to help preserve them for the future.

Benefits of classic car insurance through us include:

• Up to 25% classic car club member discounts
• Cover for static shows
• Cover for historic rallies
• Salvage retention
• 90 days free EU cover
• Limited mileage discounts

You’ll also have 24-hour access to our claims line and UK call centre, so any claims will be handled as quickly as possible.

Get a quote today.

Policy benefits, features and discounts offered may very between insurance schemes or cover selected and are subject to underwriting criteria. Information contained within this article is accurate at the time of publishing but may be subject to change.