this video made me want to get into a midget more than i already did, my grandpa has had one previously (around the 70s and 80s) but he sold it when my dad was born, now that im getting close to getting a job and hes been out of a job for a few years, i really want to buy an older mg and restore it with him, my end goal is go give the mg to him and for him to cherrish it as if he was in the 80s again, anyone think thats a good idea?
I had a 72 midget in 73 and nothing I'd like to see is that car sitting in my drive again . Your dad will love it. Like you dad I had to get rid of it ...being my only car I had a child coming too
Sounds sweet, no timing chain rattles, tappets set and not too smokey other than burning off gunk. I'd say it's either low milage or been rebuilt at some time in its life.
Hello, I just bought my 8th MGB. The last one I sold I said thats it no more. I sold all my books, wentworth tools. I love these cars. I do all the work myself.
My first car was a brand new '74 Midget, Flame Orange. Came with the added rubber blocks on the bumpers that year. Had the full tonneau cover and all! $2850 delivered!!I Very fun, but when kids came along we needs more room!😄😄
Had one just like it in British Racing Green. The car was basically a toy, broke a pinion gear and the motor went on a long trip, British Leyland covered the repairs.
what a blast! unbelievable it started that easy.. must be the electronic distributer and that weber. Those a series engines sound great. lose those horrible bumpers and off you go! cheers for sharing!
"Wait! I can explain!" Sounds about right for the long-suffering wife of a petrolhead! 🤣🤣 Great channel, great enthusiasm, looking forward to seeing your projects develop. Salutations from an MG owner in Ireland ☘️
I have similar challenge just picked up a 66 Austin Healey Sprite with removable hardtop and its been in a warehouse here in California since 83 so will see what she will need to get her going everything 😂.....
I have some front fenders for that car if you want them, LOL, they were in my dad's basement and I was wondering what they were for over the past 2 years. The little logo at the bottom and hood post gave it away.
SU carbs are the simplest carb ever built in operation BUT they don't like old fuel in the reservoir and float needles get stuck. Any car with SUs that has been stood needs a good clean out and and fuel blown out then they will run just fine. I am like 'meh' with Weber carbs and prefer the DHLA45 Dellortos I ran on my Ford Escort rally cars as they held their tune better than a Weber. That Midget (well 2 Midgets) is a great find mate so well done. Another little beauty back on the road. As an old Brit I prefer the chrome bumpers and never really forgave America for those big black crash pads Lol! But it is what it is and looks great. And all those spare parts? Like Xmas Round 2. Those RoStyle wheels are very much 'of the era' on Brit cars and really look the part if you don't have classic wire spoke wheels. Another great story mate well done. Oh and when you upset the wife just buy chocolates ...
You’re right very simple! Just temperamental to certain little things! 😋 you’re right I’m not a rubber bumper guy! I have everything to convert it 🙂 but will leave that to the next owner! As they may want the rubbers! Thank you sir! 😊 haha I will!
I have a blue one exactly like this, I first saw it 6 years ago for the first time and it looked like it just rolled of a dealership, unfortunately it was stored in a garage and it got bad rust on it now and it’s covered in bird shit but the engine is still good, planning on restoring it
Those MGs are are awesome, it*s sad to see the state of the red one, those are two unique models, the yellow one is from 1974 on & the red one has the older steel bumpeŕs.
Carb and choke cleaner is just about the worst thing to spray into a carb to start an engine, because it will instantly strip any lubricant off the bores, at the exact moment that you need lubricant the most. Pouring petrol down the carb is almost as bad, but petrol still offers a certain amount of lubrication. The only really safe way of starting a car in this way is some kind of ether spray with an upper cylinder lubricant, so that the bores don't operate without oil for those critical first few seconds.
Good videos ! My background with British sports cars is limited to Triumph TR4s and TR6s. Watching you get the midget started doesn't make me want another British car but it was good entertainment. 🤣 Good content, your channel is going to be huge ! 🍻
The 1275 A series was the earlier, and some say, more authentic engine. The later 1500 came out of Triumph and was fitted to Spitfires, Dolomites etc. Webber carb though, ugh.
great little cars but mg should never of changed them bumpers to plastic ones the chrome ones were the best that would be a nice little project for someone to put a bit of love and time into restoring they are still a very sought after car here in the uk enjoy watching your vids brother
Sadly the “laws” made them! 😕 They do lots of terrible things for us car lovers it seems! I do have everything to convert it though! 😊I’m really glad you’re enjoying!
Nice little MG. I love midgets in all their incarnations. just a thought. if it has the 1275 A series in it might be earlier than 76, they started using the 1500 Triumph lump in 74..
That car is a Frankenkar - and I say that in all respect, because my Midget is a Frankenstein car as well. The sills (rocker panels) have 2 jack points, the car sits high, and the obvious point - it has rubber bumpers - which means it is a 75 or newer. The Triumph engine is a fine engine - just very different from the Austin.
Great that you can get some interesting vehicles to work on, agree with your comments on the SU's. I like the Webers but the SU's do run well if you set them up right.
Kind of need your help I got an empty just like this one on your video with a Weber carburetor the bowl is filling up with whole bunch of gas even the weather bomb the carburetors Hits full of gas still got spark plug everything but it won't fire off and run
The SU's are so MUCH better than that Webber. I would take them any day. Not at all tempermental, if you learn even a little about them and will run way better, with better throttle response if they are set up even halfway right. I get MG's running on SU's all the time that have been sitting for years with less work than with those Webbers. Dead simple carbs.
Our car runs on finely tuned (by me 😅) SU’s and we love them! They have positives and negatives depending on your driving application, just as any other car and aftermarket parts. 🙂
We drive our personal MG 2-3 days a week since about May! We drive the blue ‘66 almost every other day! These our only 2 of our many previous classic! I have tons of miles behind the wheels of my old cars! 🙂 so yes I have finished many of them. This is only 2 months in the life of a car collector! 😉
To meet US federal regulations, large black plastic-covered bumpers were added to the front and rear and the ride heights were increased. The increased ride heights affected handling, and anti-roll bars were added to help with the higher centre of gravity. I think these changes totally ruined a beautiful little car, ironically the little red "parts car" in this video.
Look up the MG ADO34 development car. Very few made, never released to the public. First experimental ones were fitted with standard body parts to enable it to be driven and tested on public roads. Could have been a winner !.
I own one in 78, mG just like that but baby blue. It won't start, so I give it away to a friend 😀 he got it fixed.was a beautiful cool ride.,,, memory lane. Thanks for sharing. I also own a MGB green ,a gift from grandaddy. Lots of fun driving.
Around 1974 MG started offering cars with really different colors. They just tried to improve sales I guess. We have a 75 B color is citron. The car colors are a bit more accepted now. Still can’t compare with the dark green and deep red colors. Got a B and. Midget.Always happy to see these cars being restored.
Cars are so cheap over there but here in Australia everyone wants top dollar for their cars even the junk cars , your so lucky as i love small sports cars
Great little car and well done on getting it running 👍. Good to see more British cars being saved. I never liked the rubber bumpers on the US market they make them look stupid. Retro fit chrome ones.
"Wait, I can explain-" BAHAHAHAHAHA, man that was funny. We've all been there! Was never much of a fan of the Midget as my very first car was a 72 MGB Roadster. But watching this video has changed my mind. This particular Midget is in exceptional condition. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
You show the red car and say: That one is far beyound restaration! From a guy restoring the white Porsche, that's not exactly true. 😂😂 When you say they have around 50 HP, for the ones who never drove one of them, it doesn't seems a lot, but in reality they are realy fin toys. I personaly find the Midget to small. I had a 76 MGB convertible in college. A bit bigger. Good times.
Yeah you’re right...😂 price point and quantity are what change the factors on this one 😋 They’re definitely a blast to drive! I rag our little orange one out all over mountain roads locally and it does great! I gotta loose some weight b/c I am getting a little too...big..for it 😅
I bought it for someone and they didn’t want it, so I sold it 🤷🏼♂️ just a little beater. But ran and drove, was a 5 speed with 180k miles. Paid $200 for it.
Hey Michael, love watching your videos here in England, in a sea of loud and self important youtubers you appear to be a very pleasant young man. I have seen most of you newer uploads so now watching these older ones when you still hadn't quite found your feet and haven't even learned to look at the camera are very sweet. Keep up the good work, cheers
The 1500 was a downgrade from the 1275. Lower compression, but they had to do it for emissions. Any emission controls on this thing are a distant memory. BTW, the Weber will likely need tweeking as well--complicated device for this small motor. I have a Triumph Spitfire with the Weber, and the 1500. Runs when it feels like it.
Hey brother. Loving what you're doing on the channel. I'm building a S10 Chassis twin turbo LS in a 63 falcon on my youtube channel SE Speed Shop. If you get a chance check me out, if you like what I'm doing, maybe give me sub. My first car was a 1976 MGB! Still have it.
