KEEPERS
Each of the 20 wonderfully diverse cars in the show’s Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show Pride of Ownership competition had a great story behind it. Nick Larkin chooses his favourites
1975 MG MIDGET
‘People ask why I haven’t used the Midget. Well, it’s unique. MG built 750 Jubilee limited edition ’B GTs in 1975 (which caused some controversy –MG dates back to 1923) and one Midget. I bought this car in 1976 with 74 miles on the clock and it’s still only done 176. It’s pretty much as it left the factory.
‘The car had gone down the line as a standard Midget but was painted New Racing Green, not British Racing Green – just like the MGBs. The steering wheel was swapped to a Jubilee one, the wheels changed to gold painted Rostyles and gold stripe side decals hand-fitted along with changed badges, mirrors and windscreen wipers. They also fitted every factory extra including a radio, heater and headrests.
‘The Midget was raffled during an open day at Abingdon on 1 August 1975, with only employees having tickets. I’m told that this was to say ‘thank you’ for there never having been a strike at the factory. The winner didn’t drive and sold the car to dealer Hartwells. A collector bought it through his business, which went bust. My pal spotted the ad that the receiver placed in the MG Car Club magazine, Safety Fast and got in touch, pointing out that the car was unique. I went to Abingdon the following morning and bought it before bringing it home in a Pickfords furniture van.
‘I’d wanted another Midget after my brother, David, and I owned a three-year-old example in the early Seventies and had a lot of fun summer motoring in it before selling it when mechanical faults occurred. I did intend to use the Jubilee but everyone said that it was unique. I took it for the odd trip round the block but eventually stored it in the workshop inside a Carcoon – basically a plastic bubble through which air is circulated. I did clean it – but only careful dusting; the car has never had water on it – and started the engine occasionally.
‘I have had the Midget professionally recommissioned on a couple of occasions to prevent it from deteriorating. The tyres are original but the exhaust rotted from the inside out and the battery has been replaced The furthest I’ve driven the car was basically up and down the road for a magazine photoshoot, which to be honest felt a bit strange!’
CLUBS & SPECIALISTS
■ MG Car Club, Oxfordshire, 01235 555552, mgcc.co.uk
■ MG Owners’ Club, Cambridgeshire, 01954 231125, mgownersclub.co.uk
