Talk:MG Midget

Next to the Lotus 7, the MG Midget was the epitome of minimalist sports car, which is, in my opinion, the true definition of a sports car. I believe most cars passed off as sports cars these days would be better described as sport touring or grand touring coupes/roadsters.

While not a spectacular performer, the Midget felt fast! This was largely due to the extreme low seating position, crisp steering and the lack of isolation from the road along with plenty of wind noise. On a fair and sunny day these things were loads of fun to drive. Unfortunately, when it rained they were not so fun. The reliability was also a major issue as the side draft carburetors were near impossible to keep in tune, the Lucas gauges required a knuckle tap to work upon start up, they had a crash box non-synchromesh 1st gear and various electrical gremlins assured that periodic unplanned stops were in order to let the car sit for a minute or three until it would start again.

64.58.180.50 (talk) 23:26, 29 May 2008 (UTC)My Midget gave its last gasp when an electrical fire started and filled the cockpit with smoke. That was the last straw for me, and I got rid of the thing. Still, I have always dreamed of taking a Midget shell and installing modern Japanese running gear in it. 64.58.180.50 (talk) 23:26, 29 May 2008 (UTC)And my Midget was finally traded in after balking one too many times when I 'had' to be somewhere and it declined. I too considered installing a Japanese driveline. Too funny.

Being a former Midget owner, I can appreciate the comments, but how do they help improve the article? That is the purpose of the talk page. Thanks, Alanraywiki (talk) 00:34, 30 May 2008 (UTC)

The carburettors have a strange reputation of being difficult to keep in tune.In fact they could be left for years without attention ; certaily mine haven't required any adjustment for the last 12 years.
Lack of synch in first gear is no problem;the car will pull away easily enough in 2nd anyway but the trick is simply to select second gear and immediately select first where it will go in effortlessly.

The only reliability problem I have encountered in the 21 years I have owned my Midget was with the SU fuel pump. In 1996 I replaced it with an electronic unit from Mopar.I mounted it in the boot and since then no problem. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Broadsideuk (talk • contribs) 19:13, 24 November 2008 (UTC)

Today

This section under the heading "Today" reads like an advertisement.: Frontline Spridget (later Frontline Costello) of Batheaston have developed the car to a huge extent, so that a modern Spridget can have an engine that develops 100 PS (99 hp/74 kW) more than the original, yet weighs less. A Frontline car can achieve 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in approximately 5 seconds[5]. The Frontline suspension developments make the car a delight to drive. This company can also support this performance with suspension and brake enhancements that make a 21st century Spridget a real competitor with a Lotus Elise. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Flight Risk (talk • contribs) 18:18, 9 April 2009 (UTC)

I have decided to remove this section since it doesn't conform to Wiki rules.

Power ratings for the Cooper S engine

In the latest edit, the author reduced the power ratings for the Cooper S 1275 engine. The 65bhp figure comes from Terry Horler's book, The Original Sprite & Midget - page 86. Malcome Green's book, MG - Britain's favourite Sports Car, places the horsepower at 76 bhp (page 98). The BMC A series engine is highly tunable, with a 9.5:1 compression ratio the HP ratings are consistent. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 74.162.137.50 (talk) 14:15, 31 May 2011 (UTC)

MG Midget 1500

The article states "The last car was made on December 7, 1979, after 73,899[6] of the last version had been made. There was no Austin-Healey Sprite equivalent. However, there was a limited number of cars produced in 1980 of the MG Midget." Well, either the last car WAS made 7th December 1979 (as stated) or it wasn't! How can a limited number be produced in 1980 when the last car was made in 1979?
LewisR (talk) 22:15, 30 May 2009 (UTC)

I was always under the impression the last Midget rolled off the line in '79. I wonder if the article is referring to some leftover specimens which were constructed in the December of '79 but not registered until 1980 (but still share the V registration plate). Extols (talk) 22:12, 31 May 2009 (UTC)

Windshield wipers, and misc

My friends had a debate(dispute) where one friend (who says she owned one) says that the mg midget had three wipers and the other friend did not agree, but the pic seems to show three wipers :) Secondly she says that she could sit in it and reach out the window and touch the ground.(she's 6'1") My other friend insists no car is that small, and that she's mistaking a midget for something else. So with regards to the article: A. Did the car have three windshield wipers? B. If so which ones? C. How big was the car, really? I know that the specs are listed but can someone help the reader visualize a little better? Like a comparison with the mini cooper or something. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 99.127.147.218 (talk) 19:33, 18 October 2011 (UTC)

As far as I know, the only Midgets with 3 wipers were destined for export. (I used to see them around American air bases in Suffolk.) I owned a 1963 and a 1970 Midget, and both has TWO wipers. Read the article: " In late 1967 (1968 model year), US-spec cars received several safety additions: ... a third windshield wiper ..."--ExpatSalopian (talk) 01:28, 18 August 2014 (UTC)

US safety regulations put in place in 1968 required so much of the windshield area to be swept by a wiper. Since the Midget windshield is long, the solution was to change to three wipers for US (export) cars. UK cars still retained the two wiper system. This was part of the safety improvements mandated in the US for the 1968 model year (collapsible steering wheels, dual brake master cylinders, head rests to prevent neck injury, padded dash, and side marker lights). — Preceding unsigned comment added by 174.109.191.208 (talk) 07:17, 18 April 2017 (UTC)

Date of engineering changes

I have a problem with the statement that the 1098cc engine was introduced in October 1962. My 1963 Midget (presumably no earlier than Oct 62) had a 948cc engine. I don't recall the front brakes - they may have been disk or drum.--ExpatSalopian (talk) 01:28, 18 August 2014 (UTC)

External links modified

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76 Midget

How can you determined it is a series 6? Mjh113 (talk) 22:47, 2 June 2017 (UTC)