Category Archives: MG

1962 MG Midget MK1 “D Check”

May 11, 2016 karmabarnard

In my real life I have a lot of exposure to large aircraft and their required maintenance. The FAA has four levels of periodic inspections to keep the general public and military aircraft users as safe as possible; A, B, C, and D checks. A-checks are the least comprehensive and occur frequently. D-checks, on the other hand, are extremely comprehensive, involving major disassembly, removal, overhaul, and inspection of systems and components. D-checks may only be done a handful of times in the life of an aircraft because the expense may not be worth the value of continued use. During a D-check the aircraft needs to have every fastener, nut, wire, hinge, and component inspected, repaired, maintained, or replaced. Because of the high cost and length of time, maybe 50,000 labor hours, required, older planes may not be worth going through this process, and will be scrapped for parts.

It’s almost sad to think of all the great cars that have been parted out throughout history like Ferrari Dino’s that were not even considered Ferraris at one time or the Austin Healey 100s’ that have seen prices skyrocket over the last decades. I pulled over to look at a Triumph GT6+ parked along the road for sale not long ago and had to really control myself not to buy it. I mean, it was only $500, how bad can it be? I came to the conclusion that it was probably pretty bad once you get into it and it was probably time to part it out.

Well, while I continue to prepare my garage for my new MG Midget “D-Check”, I’m going to start with the simple visual inspection. I then plan on tearing the car down and doing an amateur restoration but, there are the obvious things I know I’ll need to do…. New paint, new interior, new brakes (I had to drive it off the truck and into my property in reverse because the brakes were frozen and the car wouldn’t drive forward), it will need new side curtains and rubber, all the bright work will be refinished, but there will be many things I discover as I tear it down that will make me regret my decision more than once I’m sure.

Since I haven’t got the garage ready for the work yet, I’m going to start my documentation of my amateur restoration with my visual inspection.

Ouch… Passenger floor boards need replaced, but it shouldn’t be a surprise since these early Midgets aren’t exactly watertight.

Lots of bright work needs attention and the front grill is bent a little, but overall save a couple of small dents, the body is pretty straight. Not original mirrors :( — Lots of bright work needs attention and the front grill is bent a little, but overall save a couple of small dents, the body is pretty straight. Not original mirrors 🙁

The original seats and coverings appear to still be in place as was the carpet before I tore it out for a little closer inspection of possible rust. The new interior color will be red.

The dash doesn’t look too bad if you like wood grain vinyl. I think it was probably originally vinyl covered but probably in red or black. I’m hoping I can have power coated metal. The steering wheel looks alright. — The dash doesn’t look too bad if you like wood grain vinyl. I think it was probably originally vinyl covered but probably in red or black. I’m hoping I can have powder coated metal. The steering wheel looks alright.

Everything looks pretty original under the hood, but there is a lot of cleanup and painting that needs to take place and probably replacement of many of the bolt-on parts.

MG Midget background.

The MG Midget was produced by the MG Car Company in 1961 with a price tag of £669. The last car rolled off the production line in 1979 after British Leyland had taken ownership of the company.

Midget model was originally used in the 1920’s to describe the C Type Midget followed by the D Type, J Type, the TD Midget, and others until the TF Midget in the 1950’s. Today the first Midgets are almost never referred to as Midgets and the MG model of Midget usually refers to the cars made between 1961 and 1979. It was the Midget series that established MG as a manufacturer of sports cars in motor sport in the 1920’s.

1929 MG M-Type "Midget" owned by Russel Hertzog of Georgetown, TX — 1929 MG M-Type “Midget” owned by Russel Hertzog of Georgetown, TX

The Midget MK1 was really a re-badged Austin Healey Sprite MK2 that originated from the Frogeye or Bugeye Sprite (MK1).

1964 Austin Healey Sprite MKII owned by Leonard Boyd of Kemah TX

Sprites and Midgets are often considered one and the same car and are called Spridgets by many. The MG Midget Mk1 and Austin-Healey Sprite MK2 were introduced in 1961 with a 52 bhp 948cc A Series engine, sliding plexiglas sidescreens in the place of roll up windows, and a convertible top that needed to be completely removed with its frame and stored in the trunk. There are no external door handles requiring the driver and the passenger have to slide the side window open to reach inside to open the door. The Midgets MK1 and Sprites MK2 had the square rear wheel arches with quarter elliptic rear springs and a front slatted aluminum radiator grill, almost all parts are interchangeable between the two marques except the badging.

MG TD "Midget" Toolkit and original manuals — MG TD “Midget” Toolkit and original manuals

Specifications:

Production/sales period:	June 1961 – early-year 1962
Model years:	1961-1962
Country of origin:	GB United Kingdom
Engine manufacturer:	BMC Austin A-series 948
Fuel type:	Gasoline
Fuel system:	2 SU HS2 carburetors
Valves per cylinder:	2
Cylinders alignment:	Inline 4
Displacement:	948 cc
Horsepower:	52 bhp
Fuel capacity:	7.1 Gallons
Engine oil capacity:	3.9 Quarts
Engine coolant capacity:	6 Quarts
Weight	1565 lbs.
Length:	136.25 in
Width:	53 in
Height:	49.75 in
Wheelbase:	80 in

What’s it worth?

Current Values and condition definitions according to Hagerty:

#1 Concours $17,700

Condition #1 vehicles are the best in the world. The visual image is of the best vehicle, in the right colors, driving onto the lawn at the finest concours. Perfectly clean, the vehicle has been groomed down to the tire treads. Painted and chromed surfaces are mirror-like. Dust and dirt are banned, and materials used are correct and superbly fitted. The one word description for #1 vehicle is “concours.”

#2 Excellent $9,600

#2 vehicles could win a local or regional show. They can be former #1 vehicles that have been driven or have aged. Seasoned observers will have to look closely for flaws, but will be able to find some not seen by the general public. The paint, chrome, glass and finishes will all appear as excellent. No excessive smoke will be seen on startup, no unusual noises will emanate from the engine. The vehicle will drive as a new vehicle of its era would. The one word description for #2 vehicles is “excellent.”

#3 Good $4,700

#3 vehicles could possess some, but not all of the issues of a #4 vehicle, but they will be balanced by other factors such as a fresh paint job or a new, correct interior where applicable. #3 vehicles drive and run well, but might have some incorrect parts. These vehicles are not used for daily transportation but are ready for a long tour without excuses, and the casual passerby will not find any visual flaws. “Good” is the one word description of a #3 vehicle.

#4 Fair $3,100

#4 vehicles are daily drivers, with flaws visible to the naked eye. The chrome might have pitting or scratches, the windshield might be chipped. Paintwork is imperfect, and perhaps the body has a minor dent. Split seams or a cracked dash, where applicable, might be present. No major parts are missing, but the wheels could differ from the originals, or other non- stock additions might be present. A #4 vehicle can also be a deteriorated restoration. “Fair” is the one word that describes a #4 vehicle.

Good links from around the web:

A very nice blog on an MK1 restoration

Parts for you MK1

The Midget Register

The MG Experience…. a nice MG forum

The British Motor Museum

Check out many more pics on Facebook and Instagram 🙂

CarReads on Facebook

CarReads on Instagram

MG, Midget, TT

1962 MG Midget MK1, my new project

April 17, 2016 karmabarnard

The Audi TT has wintered in my garage with a bit of interior work over that time, but as with many garages, clutter and tools and this and that has accumulated around and it’s now time to put the seats back in, clean up the accumulation of stuff and get the beast roadworthy again. I’ve owned the 2001 TT since 2001 and have only 27,000 miles or so on it, but this summer we have a 6,200 mile trip planned in it, so I’ll want to make sure everything is perfect. I’ll write about the trip and the TT when that time comes, but the real excitement of getting the garage cleaned up and the TT moved out is the new addition to our sports car family; a 1962 MG Midget MK1 (1961 built GAN1).

The garage is the new nursery for the rebirth of this classic British sports car. It has been 10 years since I moved into this house and I haven’t taken on an automobile restoration project here yet, so the nursery needs to be equipped almost from the bottom up. I purchased a 5HP, 230V, twin cylinder Ingersoll Rand air compressor with a vertical 60 Gallon tank that needs to be wired and plumbed. I will be constructing a heavy duty wood workbench as soon as the rain stops, and I’ll need to add shelving for new and old parts and much better lighting to see what I’m doing. Furnishing a nursery can be a fun task.

I’ve bought a couple of cars off of eBay (a 2001 Audi TT and a 2007 PRHT Mazda Miata), but I was a little more trusting of the seller of the MG than the other cars. His ad explicitly said that there was no rust through spots on the car. Imagine my surprise when I unloaded the car from the carrier and found that most of the driver’s side floor pan was full of holes and that the passenger side floor pan was completely rusted away. I was very disappointed with the seller to say the least. The floor pans are $157 each from Moss Motors. I guess one silver lining to it is that at some point in history someone covered the passenger side hole with two original Sinclair gas pump signs that were in exceptionally good condition. A quick check of eBay shows buy it now pricing of between $150 and $455 per sign, but I would have still rather had good floors than have had to replace them. It makes me worry about what I have yet to uncover.

An early MG has always been on my wish list of in expensive cars to own. My first car at 15 years old was a 1968 primrose yellow MG Midget that I learned to drive in on the back roads of Pennsylvania. The first car I remember sitting on my Dad’s lap and steering was a 1962 Austin Healey Sprite MK2. It had the sliding Plexiglas windows and no exterior door handles just like my 1962 MK1 MG.

It appears that my new project has been three different colors. From the factory it appears to have been Old English White, followed by some color of blue, followed by the current red. Both of the paint jobs after the original had terrible craftsmanship. If you look close you can see brush marks in the red where it was touched up.

I haven’t ordered the British Heritage Museum certificate yet, but will soon. I’m thinking I will take it back to the original Old English White at this point, but not completely sure. It will stay one of the original color options from 1962 nevertheless for sure. I pretty much have decided on a red interior. I think the original was black, but I’ve always wanted a red interior car and this will be it.

I will be documenting the restoration, so look for more posts coming up.

MG, MGB

4th of July

July 6, 2014 karmabarnard 1,678 Comments

There is something great about the American ideal. We will call the man that washes our car for us sir. Sir, a word not reserved for royalty in this country and not someone knighted; there is no difference between the President of the United States and the man working in a saw mill, the law applies to them both, they both are granted the same opportunities.

The American ideal makes me want to like American cars, it makes me want to have pride in our automobile industry and point to it and say, there, beat that. I think our cars were made with the open road in mind; endless miles of pavement and few turns. Getting from the east coast to the west coast with the family. So in a way, they are great. On this anniversary of our independence from Great Britain I won’t bash them, but celebrate what they were made for regardless of my preferences.

So, happy 4th of July! Enjoy the cars in my neighborhood 4th parade!