MG Midget MK III (Black Bumper)
Overview
| Produced: |
1974-1979, 73899 produced. |
|---|---|
| Types: |
Sports,2 doors,2 seats |
In 1974 the MG Midget received its final facelift, the rubber bumper cars had arrived!. Along with the still current MGB, British Leyland had been forced to redesign both cars in order for them to continue selling in the all important US market. Like the MGB the Midget received a higher ride height and new bumpers made from rubber/plastic to improve crash performance.
To compensate for the cars added weight and also to improve performance a new 1500cc engine was now standard. This new engine came from another member of the Leyland stable, the Triumph Spitfire 1500. This choice of Triumph engine angered some MG enthusiasts, although no one could deny the cars much better performance.
The Midget Mk III (1500) was discontinued in 1979 with no direct replacement.
Source: Motorbase
Engines
| Capacity | Config | Model | Bore/Stroke | CR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1493cc | S4 OHV | Standard/Triumph S4 OHV | 74mm x 88mm |
Performance
| Top Speed | 0-60 | SQM | MPG | Engine Pwr | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 97 mph | 11.9 s | 29 mpg |
Auction Sales History
Books
Magazine Articles
| Title | Pages | Options | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Article |
Little wonder - MG Midgets |
98 |
 |
|
| Publication | Classic Cars October 2011 | |||
| Little wonder - MG Midgets - The MG Midget is 50 years old and the archetypal small sports car is still a favourite. So which of the four main variants suits you? | ||||
| Article |
Classic Evolution - Mighty Midgets |
7 |
|
|
| Publication | Practical Classics May 2011 | |||
| Classic Evolution - Mighty Midgets - John Simister helps PC celebrate the 50-year evolution of MG's small sports car. 1959 Austin-Healey (Frogeye) Sprite, 1963 MG Midget MKI, 1972 MG Midget MKIII, 1977 MG Midget 1500, 1965 Frontline Midget. | ||||
| Article |
Buying Guide - MG B 1962-1981 |
132 |
|
|
| Publication | Practical Classics April 2010 | |||
| Buying Guide - MG B 1962-1981 - All Bs are stylish and practical, but the rubber bumper version is a steal. | ||||
| Article |
Buying Guide Austin-Healey Sprite and MG Midget (1958-1979) |
112 |
|
|
| Publication | Practical Classics October 2009 | |||
| Buying Guide Austin-Healey Sprite and MG Midget - The guide to buying a top-notch Spridget lick Clarkson's | ||||
| Article |
Staff Car Sagas |
14 |
|
|
| Publication | Practical Classics September 2006 | |||
| Staff Car Sagas - Gervais Seymour - 1975 Midget 1500, "Little" Matt Jones - 1984 Mercedes-Benz W123 230, James Stanbury - 1980 Triumph TR7, Ben Field - 1982 Volkswagen Golf GTI, Paul Wakely 1994 Raleigh Max Mountain Bike. | ||||
| Article |
Staff car sagas |
16 |
|
|
| Publication | Practical Classics March 2006 | |||
| Staff car sagas - 1954 Austin A30, 1975 MG Midget,, 1989 Volvo 740GL, 1972 Jaguar XJ6 Series 1. | ||||
| Article |
Buying guide - MG Midget 1961-1979 |
104 |
|
|
| Publication | Classic Cars December 2005 | |||
| Buying guide - MG Midget 1961-1979 - The MG Midget offers inexpensive and reliable classic thrills, but you still need to buy carefully to avoid emotional and financial disaster. | ||||
| Article |
Buyers Guide MGB 1962-1980 |
118 |
|
|
| Publication | Practical Classics January 2003 | |||
| Buyers Guide - MGB 1962-1980. Affordably priced, fun to drive and mechanically simple, the MGB has it all. Throw in top-notch parts availability and you have one of the most practical classics available. | ||||
| Article |
Classic Cars Spring 2001 pg 86 |
86 |
|
|
| Publication | Classic Cars Spring 2001 | |||
| MG Midget vs Morgan three-wheeler - We relive the thrills of fast sporting cars for dashing young chaps. Thirties-style. | ||||
| Article |
Buyers Guide - MG Midgets/Austin-Healey Sprites |
78 |
|
|
| Publication | Practical Classics September 2000 | |||
| Buyers Guide - MG Midgets/Austin-Healey Sprites - Good things often come in small packages and the Sprite/Midget is one of them. WiIl Holman looks over the Kylie Minogue of classic cars. | ||||
| Article |
Happy birthday faithful friend |
90 |
|
|
| Publication | Classic & Sports Car January 2012 | |||
| Happy birthday faithful friend - It's the car that introduced millions to sports car motoring, and in 2012 the MGB marks its half-century. Former owner Alastair Clements pays tribute. | ||||
| Article |
Buyer's Guide: MG Midget 1961-79 - Perfectly formed |
86 |
|
|
| Publication | Classic Car Mart July 2011 | |||
| Buyer's Guide: MG Midget 1961-79 - Perfectly formed - With its DIY-friendly running gear and traditional driving experience, the Midget makes the perfect starter classic. Here's what you need to know about MG's smallest sports car. | ||||
| Article |
Marvellous Midgets |
10 |
|
|
| Publication | Classics Monthly Summer 2011 | |||
| Marvellous Midgets - To celebrate 50 years of MG's affordable sportscar, we've arranged a family reunion with its Sprite sibling to see which is the best buy. | ||||
| Article |
Classic to restore |
39 |
|
|
| Publication | Classic Car Mart March 2011 | |||
| Classic to restore - It's at this time of the year that many of us consider our next project. But which classics make the best choices right now? Paul Guinness chooses six of his most recommended classic to restore. Morris Minor, MGB & MGB GT, Classic Mini, Ford Anglia 105E, Triumph TR5, Austin-Healey Sprite. | ||||
| Article |
Buyer's Guide Express - MG Midget (1961-1979) |
59 |
|
|
| Publication | Classic Car Weekly 27 October 2010 | |||
| Buyer's Guide Express - MG Midget (1961-1979) - Small it might be - but with all the right bits, in all the right places, the MG Midget is a bungle of classic fun. MATT GEORGE finds out why. | ||||
| Article |
Miles of smiles |
78 |
|
|
| Publication | Classic Car Mart July 2010 | |||
| Miles of smiles - Since the Sprite's launch, there have been many imitators - but there's nothing quite like the real thing. | ||||
| Article |
Midget Gem |
8 |
|
|
| Publication | Classics Monthy May 2010 | |||
| Midget Gem - Years of restoring cars ensured Me! Collins kept his nerve and save this rusty £280 MG Midget. | ||||
| Article |
Buyer's guide - Simply the best MG? |
94 |
|
|
| Publication | Classic Car Mart June 2009 | |||
| Buyer's guide - Simply the best MG?- Cheap to buy, fun to drive, great to work on - the MGB has it all. | ||||
| Article |
Six of the best - 1970s Classics |
89 |
|
|
| Publication | Classic Car Mart April 2007 | |||
| Six of the best - 1970s Classics - Often described as the decade that style forgot, the 1970s were responsible for some fascinating - and controversial - new cars, as Paul Guinness explains. Austin Princess, Porsche 924, Renault 14, MG Midget 1500, Lancia Beta Saloon, Ford Cortina MKIV/MKV,. | ||||
| Article |
What's the worst that can happen...when MG shrinks the sports car? |
54 |
|
|
| Publication | Classic Car Mart September 2006 | |||
| What's the worst that can happen...when MG shrinks the sports car? - One of the most popular MGs of all time, the humble Midget staying in production for an impressive 18 years. Paul Guinness takes a look at its success and the reasons behind its popularity. | ||||
| Article |
Six of the best - Economy classics |
63 |
|
|
| Publication | Classic Car Mart May 2006 | |||
| Six of the best - Economy classics - Volkswagen Beetle, Austin A30/A35, Citroen 2CV, Mini. Ford Anglia 105E, MG Midget. | ||||
| Article |
Cheap Thrills - 1974 MG Midget 1500 |
32 |
|
|
| Publication | Classic Car Mart April 2006 | |||
| Cheap thrills - 1974 MG Midget 1500 - MG may have been on the slippery slope by the mid-Seventies but they still knew how to build a fun car. Steve Wilson hits the highway, cocooned within a Midget. | ||||
| Article |
Tiny treasure |
8 |
|
|
| Publication | Classic Car Mart Spring 2006 | |||
| MG Midget - The MGB is all very well, says Rod Ker, but the Midget is much more fun. Is he right, we wonder... | ||||
| Article |
Generation gap |
56 |
|
|
| Publication | Classics Monthly January 2006 | |||
| Generation gap - The MG Midget offered affordable sportscar fun, but stayed on long after its time had passed. Mark Robinson says the X1/9 shows what it could have become. | ||||
| Article |
Buying power - MGB Roadster |
24 |
|
|
| Publication | Classic Car Weekly 4 August 2005 | |||
| Buying power - MGB Roadster - With timelessly elegant stying, simple underpinnings and unrivalled spares support, the MGB Roadster proves that you can enjoy two-seater open top classic fun without the hassle, as SIMON GOLDSWORTHY discovers. | ||||
| Article |
A Little Help - Restoration: MG Midget |
64 |
|
|
| Publication | Classics Monthly Spring 2005 | |||
| A Little Help - Restoration: MG Midget - Steve Bowling from Leyland, Lancashire, found he’d bitten off more than he could chew with one very rusty RWA Midget. He told Greg Whitaker he needed a friend who could weld and paint. | ||||
| Article |
Marque Five - The Best MGs! |
35 |
|
|
| Publication | Classic Car Mart August 2004 | |||
| Marque Five - The Best MGs! - Whatever your thoughts on MG, you can’t deny it’s the archetypal British Sporting marque. Paul Guinness picks five of the best models to buy right now. MGA, MGB, Midget, Magnette MkIII & IV, MGF | ||||
| Article |
Starter Classic - Midget and Sprite |
154 |
|
|
| Publication | Classic & Sports Car May 2004 | |||
| Starter Classic - Midget and Sprite - The archetypal miniature sports car makes a great first classic, explains Malcolm McKay. | ||||
| Article |
Affordable Sports Cars - Supplement |
|
||
| Publication | Classic Car Mart May 2004 | |||
| Affordable Sports Cars - Supplement - Austin-Healey 3000, Jaguar XK120, MGB, Daimler SP250, Triumph Spitfire MK IV, MG Midget 1500. | ||||
| Article |
Small change |
126 |
|
|
| Publication | Classic & Sports Car July 2002 | |||
| Small change - Alastair Clements traces the evolution of the Midget - MG's sporty little cherub that brings out the devil in you. | ||||
| Article |
Classics October 2001 pg 16 |
16 |
|
|
| Publication | Classics October 2001 | |||
| Martin Gothard signed up for years of effort when he bought a 1978 MG Midget at auction. David Bowers tells the story. | ||||
| Article |
Classics July 2001 pg 22 |
22 |
|
|
| Publication | Classics July 2001 | |||
| Make mine a small one. These three cars are the best Spridgets from more than 40 years' production. But which of them is the best Spridget of all? Andrew Noakes and Tim Morgan help Andrew Charman to decide. | ||||
People who looked at this car, also looked at:
Have you any further information on this car?
