Saleofcar.com :MG

MG Midget Spridget (1970)
for sale

Price: US $1.04

Description:

1970 MG MIDGET – BUGEYE CONVERSION BUILT-UP 1275 – 5 SPEED – UPGRADED SUSPENSION For sale at auction is a very fast and pretty 1970 MG Midget. This car has had thousands spent on restoration and modifications and is a remarkable running and driving car that has the looks to match. It has a very nicely installed fiberglass Austin Healey Bug-eye Sprite nose conversion. The weight savings from this, combined with the heavily modified 1275 engine, 5 speed transmission conversion and upgraded suspension provided fantastic performance and handling. I think this is the most fun per dollar that you will ever find in a car. Please read all of the text as I have attempted to thoroughly and accurately describe this great hot-rodded MG. In addition to the above I have additional pictures detailing this car. Please email me for additional Photo's rodrea@centurytel.net. MECHANICALS – This is the best driving MG Midget I have ever driven. It is powerful and handles like a go kart. I don’t have a thorough list of modifications but from driving it and observation, there is much I can tell you about it. For starters it has a heavily modified 1275 engine. Most of the paperwork on the engine work was unfortunately lost, but we do know that it has an APT VP3 Cam and a TWM intake manifold with a 40mm side draft carburetor by SK Racing, ARP head bolts and nuts and an Aldon racing distributor with a Jacobs high energy ignition. Based on how this car performs I feel that it has most likely been overbored to 1340 and has been heavily modified internally. If over $200 was spent on the head bolt kit alone, there is no telling what the extent of the internal modifications must be. It has also had an alternator conversion that will provide added reliability. In addition to the heavily modified engine, this car has been converted to a 5 speed overdrive transmission from a Datsun B210 and provides reduced RPM at highway speeds for more relaxed cruising. This conversion seems to work perfectly as it shifts smoothly and is noticeably free of the typical gear whine. I also noticed that under hard acceleration both rear wheels will spin indicating that this car has some type of limited slip rear differential. I have not pulled the cover to see what is in there but do know that the Quaiffe unit from Moss Motors is $1800.00. Other modifications include a custom exhaust with Pacesetter header and a Monza muffler; large front and rear sway bars and it has been converted to tube shocks front and rear. These suspension modifications, combined with the wide Mini Lite style alloy wheels, shod with excellent 185 60R13 Dunlop D60 tires, literally transform the handling of this car. It handles as if on rails and while being sensitive to steering inputs is not twitchy. It inspires immediate confidence and is an absolute blast to drive. It is equally at home at your local autocross or with its long legs, out on the freeway. Springs look to be stock so even though it handles very well it doesn’t have the ride of a buckboard. It is very apparent that whoever set this car up knew what they were doing. INTERIOR – The interior of this car is older but in good condition. There is a poorly patched hole in the dash but the seats have new factory style covers and the door panels are new as well. The carpets are faded and there is a light patina to other interior components but this car has obviously been well cared for and loved. The top was replaced within the last few years and has no tears or imperfections. Gauges are stock, look and work well and indicate 60 PSI (cold) and 40 – 45 PSI (hot) oil pressure. The tachometer occasionally pops up and down but seems to work good most of the time. The speedometer is not in service due to a stripped Speedo drive gear which I am trying to locate and replace right now. Windshield frame anodizing is very nice especially considering its age. The windshield itself is good with some light pitting and a little wiper rub. The car has a roll bar fitted that looks good, but has some scratches from the top mechanism contacting it when going up or down. BODY & EXTERIOR – The body of this car is excellent. It has a very nice burgundy metallic paint job that has a very nice shine. Panel gaps are generally very good and the body is very straight with no signs of rust anywhere. Paint preparation appears to have been done meticulously as the body is very straight and as you can see from the pictures looks very good. The nose has a few rock chips and there are a few minor scratches. There is a touched up scratch in front of the driver’s door handle but that is the worst of it. The fiberglass bug-eye nose panel is very light but it is amazingly straight and fits exceedingly well. Nose to cowl fit is excellent with a very good gap and with the shape matching the contour of the Midget cowl very well. There are a few very minor stress cracks but you have to look closely to find them. I have never been impressed with the quality and fit of aftermarket fiberglass until now. The overall quality is really remarkable. Body and floors appear to be rust free from what I have seen. The undercarriage looks good and the pans look very straight and solid. The front frame horns and inner finders look straight and undamaged and this car has never had any serious damage that I could see. The lower body itself appears excellent as well, with no signs of corrosion. There is no question that thousands have been spent. The cost of the wheels alone is about $700 not including the excellent tires. I have no idea what a 5 speed conversion would cost but this, with the bug-eye conversion and paint, all the suspension mods, custom wheels and tires and all the other bits and pieces it is apparent that thousands have been spent. You can buy this car now for less than the cost of just some of these modifications. It is apparent that all this work started with a good solid car as well. SUMMATION – This is one of the very few affordable classic British roadsters still available. There is no reason that this car should not supply you with years of reliable transportation and fun. In fact I think there is more fun per dollar spent here than with anything else. It looks very good but drives even better than it looks. If you want this car, bid on it. Reserve has been set low with the intent of letting this auction run its course.
_{update: 2016-07-20}