CHASING CARS
ASKING £11,995 PRICE
ENGINE 1796cc/4-cyl/DOHC POWER see text TORQUE see text MAXIMUM SPEED 110mph (est) 0-60MPH 6-7sec (est) FUEL CONSUMPTION 27-35mpg TRANSMISSION RWD, five-speed manual MoT 12 months on sale ODOMETER 79,740 miles
WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?
This ‘restomod’ is fitted with a carb-fed 1.8-litre Ford Zetec engine further tuned to a claimed conservative 140bhp and corresponding five-speed gearbox – needless to say it goes like stink! However the unit’s flexibility, tractability and glorious soundtrack are equally impressive. Telescopic rear dampers help the car to put its power down very well all things considered, despite skinny 165/70x13 tyres and the MG’s spry nature and crisp steering aren’t spoiled. The biggest compliment you can pay is that it doesn’t feel like a DIY conversion at all.
BODYWORK CHECK
Baby blue paint and Minilite alloy wheels aside this standard-looking Midget turns heads even when it’s parked. The restoration has been carried out to a high standard and requires no attention other than ongoing TLC. It’s a rare round arch model, registered January 1973, to which an early chrome mesh grille design has been fitted which suits the car, as does the deletion of the matt black sill treatment that was adopted on Midgets after 1969. The brand-new hood fits snugly, too.
HOW’S THE INTERIOR?
The cabin remains mostly ’73 Midget, the only deviation being the lovely wood-rim steering wheel plus the added instruments and switchgear for the new engine (electric fuel pump, etc). The fully refurnished cabin is in a very tasteful contrasting blue to the exterior with grey seat piping, which, if one wants to be pedantic, has just started to wear on the driver’s seat. The speedometer and rev counter are the original MG items, which need re-calibrat
