Lot details
Registration No: AWR934G
Chassis No: GAN471925G
Mot Expiry: Jan 2012

Come the '60s, BMC embarked upon a programme of 'badge engineering' in order to fully capitalise on the many respected names in its care. As a result, the new MG Midget of 1961 was essentially a MKII Austin Healey Sprite in a slightly different suit of clothes. Of course, in christening its new small sports car 'Midget', the company revived a name made famous by a range of pre-war MGs. Certainly the Midgets, old and new, shared the same basic concept - ie they were two-seaters clothed in a simple, relatively light body and equipped with front-mounted engines driving the rear wheels. Moreover, they had suspension and brake components etc common to other cars, making them easy to replace or repair and cheap to service. The newcomer started life powered by a 948cc BMC 'A' Series engine fed by a pair of SU carburettors. The doors were without external handles or locks and the side windows comprised sliding perspex screens. Braking was by drums all round. Matters had greatly improved by the time the MKIII version appeared in 1966, not least in the engine compartment where the motor's capacity had been increased via 1098cc to 1275cc. Semi-elliptic rear springs had replaced the original quarter-elliptic ones inherited from the Frogeye Sprite, and the front drum brakes had been replaced with discs. Wind-up windows had been fitted, together with a superior hood.

'AWR 934G' is a home market MKIII Midget from 1969 that sports Red coachwork and a Black vinyl interior. The vendor's enjoyed it so much he's owned it twice, acquiring it for the second time in 2008 after it had benefited from a degree of restoration and an engine overhaul. At this stage he treated it to a new bonnet. The odometer was zeroed at the time of the restoration and now reads 2,343. The vendor currently rates the bodywork and engine as "all good", the interior trim and transmission as "good", but as regards the paintwork, he notes that there is "some micro-blistering on the nearside front wing". The venerable Midget comes complete with both half and full tonneau covers and an MOT into January 2012, and is being sold without reserve.