This 1972 MG Midget was purchased by the seller in 2015 as a stalled project, and a subsequent five-year refurbishment was conducted. The overbored 1.3-liter inline-four was rebuilt, a Datsun five-speed manual transmission was installed, the body was repainted in white, Mazda Miata seats were installed, and rear disc brakes were adapted. Equipment includes a red hardtop, VTO 13″ wheels, rounded rear-wheel arches, dual SU carburetors, an APT camshaft, Hella driving lights, a Springalex steering wheel, a red vinyl dashboard cover, and three-point seatbelts. This modified Midget is now offered with refurbishment records and photos, seller-provided notes, spare parts, a car cover, and a Colorado title in the seller’s name.
Previously Harvest Gold, the car was stripped to bare metal, etch-primed, seam-sealed, and repainted in Kirker Automotive Finishes single-stage Pure White during the refurbishment. The seller notes that replacement steel A-pillars were installed in part to repair a previous owner’s Bondo work, and the driver-side fender is not original to the vehicle. Refurbishment records are pictured in the gallery below along with accompanying spare parts and a front air dam.
An aftermarket hood and an Ashley Hinton–supplied black grille are fitted. The halogen headlights were rewired with a relay circuit, and Hella driving lights with a relay also have been added. Aftermarket horns behind the grille utilize a relay, too.
The red removable hardtop was refurbished under current ownership; a convertible-top frame is included in the sale, but a soft roof is not. The vehicle lacks bumpers and door locks. The seller notes rust on the hood’s underside seams, and chipped paint and other imperfections are depicted in the gallery.
VTO 13″ alloy wheels are mounted with Solar 4XS tires measuring 175/70 that show date codes from 2018. The rear brakes have been converted to discs, mimicking the front brakes. The braking system’s metal lines have been replaced with Cupronickel components, the master cylinder also was replaced, and stainless-steel braided hoses and a pressure-limiting valve are used. The front suspension has been lowered using spacers, a sway bar and polyurethane bushings were added, and the lower control arms, front spindles, wheel bearings, and seals were replaced. Rebuilt shocks were supplied by World Wide Import Auto Parts, replacement rear-axle limiting straps were installed, and the rear leaf springs were replaced.
Bucket seats from a Mazda Miata are trimmed in black cloth; the seller notes overspray on the seats. Insulation material was applied to the floors and door panels before replacement carpeting and door trim with early-style red inserts and metal door handles were installed. Securon three-point seatbelts are fitted along with a red shift boot, a short-throw shifter, and replacement sun visors. The seller refurbished the pedal box with replacement bushings and converted the accelerator pedal to a hanging-style setup.
A red vinyl cover has been fitted over the steel dashboard stamping. The Springalex steering wheel sits ahead of a GPS-style 120-mph speedometer, a 7k-rpm tachometer, and auxiliary gauges for fuel level, coolant temperature, and oil pressure. An aftermarket gauge for air/fuel ratio is stationed ahead of the shifter. The digital odometer shows 300 miles, and approximately 3k miles are said to have been driven under current ownership; true mileage is unknown.
The 1,275cc inline-four has been rebuilt and populated with .020″-over high-compression pistons, .020″-undersize crankshaft journals, and resized connecting rods, according to the seller. The cylinder head was rebuilt by Acme Speed Shop with “mild street” porting and replacement valve inserts and seals. The engine utilizes the following components:
- Advanced Performance Technology camshaft
- Adjustable vernier timing gear
- Replacement rocker-arm shaft
- Replacement timing chain
- Front-cover sealing kit
- Gerard’s Garage rear-seal system
- Rebuilt dual SU carburetors with ABC needles
- Short carburetor velocity stacks
- K&N open-element air filters
- Replacement fuel tank and sender
- Solid-state fuel pump
- Steel fuel lines and ethanol-safe rubber lines
- Replacement oil pump
- Automotive Racing Products fasteners
- General Motors alternator
- High-torque starter
- Replacement engine mounts
The exhaust system was replaced from the manifold back and features a Harley-Davidson muffler.
The seller points out that the engine is currently tuned for 6,500 feet of above-sea-level elevation and idles around 1,000 rpm. The smog pump and associated parts have been eliminated. The hood and the trunk lid are supported by gas struts, and an Ashley Hinton stainless-steel hood latch and release are installed. An auxiliary hood release is located in the driver-side wheel well. The oil was changed in preparation for the sale, and the seller notes oil leaks from the engine.
The Datsun-based five-speed manual gearbox was fitted using a conversion kit sourced from Gerard’s Garage, and the transmission mounts have been replaced. The 3.90:1 rear axle has been refreshed with replacement bearings, seals, and paint. The car has been undercoated using an aerosol product from Eastwood. The differential fluid was changed prior to the sale, and the housing drips fluid.
The trunk compartment is trimmed in black carpeting and offers LED lighting.
Three pages of seller-provided “Restoration Notes” are presented in the gallery.
The Colorado title notes the odometer reading as Exempt.