Too Small? 1974 MG Midget
To be honest, we are fairly spoiled as consumers. We live in a time where choices are plenty and everything is bigger. At least for now. Take for example automobiles. Lengths, widths, and curb weights average out to be a whole lot bigger than many of the cars we grew up with. That also includes sports cars. If you are looking for a diminutive vintage sports car that you can practically wear, then take a look at this 1974 MG Midget for sale on Craigslist in the Walnut Creek area of San Francisco, California. Resplendent in what looks to be its original orange paint, this MG Midget is a lot smaller than anything on the road today. Is it worth the not-so-small $6,250 asking price? Thanks to Todd K. for the tip!
According to CARFAX, the smallest car sold in America in 2023 is the Mitsubishi Mirage ES. It is just 151.4 inches long and weighs a gargantuan 2,095 pounds. Powered by a three-cylinder engine belting out 76 horsepower and 76 ft-lbs. of torque, this rarely-seen commuter car is definitely small despite holding four passengers. In contrast, the 1974 version of the MG Midget soldiered along with just 54.5 horsepower and 67 ft-lbs. of torque from its pollution controls choked A-series engine. Believe it or not, the length of the car was just 137.6 inches and it weighed in at a hefty 1,636 pounds. Author Richard Knudson wrote in the Illustrated MG Buyers Guide a line that would have to qualify for understatement of the year. It simply read that “In order to be comfortable, one should be under five feet ten inches tall to enjoy a Midget.”
Well, I am exactly five feet ten inches tall. I also suffer from a lifelong inability to pass up chocolate and barbecue. When I was a car-crazy teenager, I stopped at a used car lot to check out a very nice MG midget on the front row of a somewhat seedy used car lot. At the time, British cars were still regarded as used cars rather than collectibles. Their dubious reliability reputations also regulated them to the back rows of such dens of ill repute as a general rule. So, despite a distinct lack of jingling and jangling of pocket change, I stopped in and asked to check the car out. It looked awfully small even then. I knew it was an ancestor to the fabled Bugeye Sprite and thought it would make for a good sports car.
Sitting in it proved otherwise. Until you have opened that postage-stamp door and gone through the motions of forcing your legs under the steering wheel and into the tunnel that those aforementioned legs rest in, you just haven’t lived. Once inside it was comfortable enough. I just couldn’t see myself getting out of it in a hurry. Or, getting out of it even if it were sideswiped. At least my family could save a few bucks on a coffin. Granted, these were the impressions of a teenager who thought he knew everything about sports cars. There is nothing wrong with a Sprite or a Midget. They were designed for use in Great Britain where distances are shorter, cars are smaller, and the road isn’t congested with zip code sized American land barges. Or car-crazy teenagers with lead feet and a distinct lack of common sense.
As time and education have slowly worked their magic on me, I can now see just how interesting an MG Miget can be. While not quite as minimalist as an Austin Healey Sprite, they are a sports car boiled down to its bare essence: light, small, and simple. If you are looking for a very original example made with round rear wheel openings and chrome bumpers, then this may be the car for you. Changes to the car seven months into production in 1974 replaced the A-series engine with the one out of the Triumph Spitfire, the wheel openings were returned to the previous squared-off version to assist in passing crash testing in the US, and the infamous rubber bumpers made their first appearance. For MG Midget collectors, this is quite the desirable car.
The seller also went to the trouble to refurbish it around 5,000 miles ago. The upholstery, numerous mechanical bits, and anything needed to make it presentable and reliable was handled. The engine was even treated to a set of hardened valve seats to make running on dishwater unleaded gasoline more palatable for the four-cylinder engine. While not perfect, the car is a good chance for someone to get into a good running convertible at a fair market price. Pictures reveal a car with no visible corrosion and a color that is very flattering despite being from a decade that found avocado green and every shade of brown absolutely fabulous.
So, while my criticisms were likely half-baked way back when I have grown to admire the MG Midget for what it is. While I still wouldn’t put it into my daily driver rotation if interstates and heavily congested areas were my route, it would be a wonderful weekend car. I’d also still not look too graceful prying myself out of it. Chocolate and barbecue have a cumulative effect, as many of you well know.
Are you a fan of the MG Midget, or do you still think they are too small? Please let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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Comments
Jeff…. Put a 12 inch leather steering wheel and a pair of the early seats in it and you solve the space problem. We put Porsche 914 seats in our ’67 and got a lot of room and headrests. If we bought his car I would lower it back to original height to improve handling This is a very nice example of a fun car with a decent asking price.
!
My beautiful fiance bought herself
a brand new 74 MG Midget while going to college. I had a 65 Triumph TR4A and her car was as fun to drive as my TR was. All of the British cars handled great be and you could feel the road through the steering wheel. Simple SU carbs and fun to shift. But alas the Miata replaced those fine British sports cars as the Japanese motorcycles killed the British Norton’s and Triumphs and BSA’s.
In my younger years, I owned five British sports cars, four MGBs and an Austin Healy Sprite. So much did I enjoy these cars that, in my dotage, I sought to reclaim the feeling of freedom and control they offered. So I bought a Miata. As much as I loved my earlier cars, I must say that it took the Japanese to build the ultimate British sports car.
It’s a very original car, a good year, chrome bumpers and original interior. You don’t find them like this in the east. In today’s BAT prices this is a good deal. I sold one for $5500, 20 years ago so jump on this one. I have had many Sprites and Midgets, stock and modified and it is still my favorite top-down British car to drive, especially the pre-rubber-bumper models. If you have never had one and want one, (make sure you can fit in it) buy one like this. They are not problematic. They are easy to fix and you don’t have to worry about value loss if you drive them. They are made to be driven, not garage pets! GLTA!!!
We have a ’58 Bugeye, so yes you do need to understand the dimensions of the Spridget series. We only run ours on our area country roads due to that. If this car is as good as the seller states, it’s a steal. Unfortunately, both of my garages are full at the moment.
If I were 5’10” I’d rule the world! Good luck!
I have a 58 Bugeye and have had a Mark 3 Sprite great cars, fun to drive!
As far as the size goes, I have driven big Healeys and small Healeys. Outside the car is obviously different. Inside (for me), not much difference. I’m 5’9″. 200 lbs. Plenty of legroom in the wells. Once you get over 6 feet ( never been there!) I would think every inch gets tougher. I knew a guy who drove one and loved it and he was 6’2″ and didn’t complain.
Right (round) wheelweels – check!
Right colour – check!
(presumably) Right amount of rust, ie none – check!
Priced to sell – looks good to me. I am 6′ tall, and have never had a problem getting in one. Usually the only thing hampering my exit is the huge grin I get from driving one!
best
bt
These little MG’S is some what of a cult classic now and this one appears to be quite nice. You’ll definitely get attention because you don’t see many of them but with such a low presence you’ll have to watch out for some of those modern day monsters called Hellcat and Demon to name a few being driven by people that don’t respect the law or rules of the road.
Only those? Around here I don’t think anyone does under 85 and hover right around a 100 on most of the interstates. It’s the new speed limits, 25- 40, is actually 60. 45- 55 is actually 80, and 55 and above is whatever it will do. Yield, double lines, oncoming traffic, stop….FAGETTA BOUT IT!
Thank you for the very entertaining write up, Jeff. If I wasn’t still having so much fun driving my 2001Toyota mr2 Spyder, I would be all over this. When is one of these going to show up on BF? Talk about an extraordinary sports car, I don’t think it’s too old not to feature one here.
“[A]ncestor to the fabled Bugeye Sprite”? I think you meant to say “descended from”? ;)
I have a 75 1500 and it is the most enjoyable car I have ever owned.
If you driving are just for the sake of driving it is a pretty tough act to beat.
Very fun, very simple and nothing is powered so there is less to go wrong.
I have a minivan for the kids and the hockey bags.
The only year the MG Midget was produced with round wheel arches was 1972. I had a 71, 72, 74. My favorite was the 72 because it was so different. I stand 5’10”. In 2008 had a stage accident on set while working, had to have back fused. Sold all three in 2009.
Sorry about your accident. Must’ve been fun driving prior to. Enjoy your ‘wind in the hair’ memories. Take care.
Used to know a female who had one. She was a larger gal, about 5’11” or so, thick with rather large dagmars which would almost be touching the steering wheel when she forced herself into it. It was a sight just watching her get in and out of it! Don’t think she ever put the top up, the way she had to get into it she kinda just slid into it, so I doubt she could’ve even got in it with it up.
This is a general reply to the article, not a reply to you Bama (I am not getting a general reply box on my page, which seems to be happening more and more often).
Anyway, I have owned three Sprites. One ’66 and two ’67s. As a daily driver in college I fit in it fine at 6’0″ and about 175 (those were the days). My legs were a little bent, but nothing too uncomfortable or awkward. Their was a guy in town who was the “Sprite guy” he always had a few running, and bought all the wrecked or broken cars for parts. He was 6’4″. He drove with a very knees bent position, and he liked the early cars with slightly less cushy seats, no radio console, and side curtains v. roll up windows so he could spread his length sideways a little better, but he drove them all on a regular basis.
Much older and slightly bigger me has tried to fit in one recently. A little extra weight (215) isn’t a problem, but less flexibility in the knees makes it hard to bend the legs to get in the door opening.
These conversations about cars are always interesting. While there are certainly differences in body types, I think there is more difference in what people are comfortable with. As to some people cramped seems to be “don’t have an extra 6″ around me on all sides” and some are ok with bending the knees a bit to drive.
As far as being in traffic, they are tiny cars. Once again, people have much different tolerances/risk aversion. Last time I had a Sprite was in the late 90s. I felt a little exposed in such a tiny, low car in traffic, but I am Ok in my TR250, in which I sit maybe 3-5″ higher and have 800 or so more pounds of car around me (NA/NB Miata sized pretty much). I know some people look at Miatas as tiny death traps, all relative and largely dependent on where you come from, what you are used to.
I was 6’1″. And 225lbs. When I bought my ’75 Spitfire. Never had a problem fitting in her. But I never traveled far without tools and emery cloth.
My understanding is points problems are more prevalent in cars that had aftermarket sound systems added. Why? Anything that affects current up and down fluctuating results in irregular spark across the points. CDI Ignition upgrade especially the old British cars with poor switches, fuses and wire jacket material, need an isolated fuse box and one setup I saw was an auxiliary battery with capacitors, fuses and an upgraded electrical system to an alternator charging two batteries, the smaller in parallel fused but only for ignition nothing else resulting in a steady coil thus steady spark. And less pitting of points. But I’d do all of that and upgrade to CDI just so when adjusting carbs, you’re not adjusting fuel and air with irregular spark. Plus easier to time the engine if the spark is steady and clean. But all cars of the era are similar. I don’t practice what I preach, but spark should be addressed before doing final tweaks on carbs.
I had a ’79 Midget with the rubber bumpers and the 1500cc engine, one of the last produced.
It wasn’t fast by any means, and was not very reliable. However, of all the cars I’ve owned, it was the most fun to drive.
On a warm night with the top down, it was such a treat! This one seems reasonably priced, and it does have chrome bumpers and the “A” series engine.
Hopefully it will go to a good home.
I was 6′ 1″ and 195 when I bought and maintained mine. Never a problem. Granted I too left the top down most of the year. If it wasn’t raining, I left the top down even though I lived in VA. Had that half tonneau cover and just cranked the AC and enjoyed the winter.
Has remained my most fun car to drive. Much more fun than my Camaro ever was. The passenger side could handle larger folks, since there was no steering wheel. But my best friend was 6′ 6″ and he drove it all the time. What you miss in the larger cars is how fast you ‘feel’ you are going when in actuality you aren’t going that fast. Oh yeah, and no SUVs were around in the 70s so not as much a worry.
@Bruce. You’ve said it all. Being close to ground makes the feel appear faster. I you have a little grumble in your exhaust, it even adds to the feel of being fast!!
Had a Mark IV Sprite while stationed with Navy in Norfolk VA in early 70s. Most fun car to drive I have ever owned. Agree with Bruce about how fast you feel you are going, and no SUVs in VA in the 70s
My gambit of cars over the years is many. I had a 66b but a gearhead buddy had a midget. At 6’0 I had no problem with it. In fact it was what got me from my big late 50s and up convertibles. Everything is a death trap today. One of our dailies is a Solstice. I tell my wife anything under USS Gerald Ford class is nothing more than a motorcycle with 4 wheels and a cardboard box around it. With that said, one must be on heightened alert when driving. For most the world ends at the edge of the, for this article and vehicle, we say “bonnet”. This is a great copy. I would love to own it but my list is many and I need to finish several including a P1800 and a Opel Cadet. I hope this one finds a loving home as it brings back memories of a friend and experience long gone miles ago.
Caution: 1974 OK but was a transition year most visibly from chrome to rubber bumpers and taller stance. Ok on that part. But otherwise many undocumented differences in other parts make 1974 a headache when replacing some parts. Are they ’73 or ’75 items? Whatever came out of the parts bin in manufacture. From experience it can result in the purchase of many “wrong” parts until you fine the correct. Bottom line: not many more fun cars than a nice Spridget, or NA Miata.
Lots of comments on this little car!! Much to be said for the love of the Spridgets!! Just plain fun and not a car for the Barrett auctions!!
I have a MG TD another small British sports car that is fun to drive. It was one of the first cars with rack and pinion steering. Upon purchase I painted the car the same color orange as the Midget to modernize the look and joined the local MG club. I was mentioning how getting in and out was a challenge to the other enthusiasts when the club President at 6’5″ said you get use to it. With my new perspective I never complained again. That was 50 years ago and I still have the car.
I have a 62 Sprite, and drive it absolutely everywhere I can when ever there isn’t salt on the roads. It makes everyone happy that sees it and is far more practical than at first glance. It fits in any parking spot and is ever darn good in gas considering the age. I end up with about 1500-2000 miles on mine each year.