Random # 218: MG Midget

What's not to love about the mighty MG Midget and its twin, the Austin Healey Sprite?  Both cars are virtually identical, as is the case with so many British cars that share bodies and mechanical packages - with slight variations within the ranges - such as the Morris and Austin Minis, their Riley and Wolseley variants (Elfs and Hornets, respectively); Morris, Austin, Wolseley, and MG sedans; and some of the Jaguar Daimler models - to name a few.

In the case of "Spridgets," as some people like to call them, variations are very minor, with only a bit of chrome here and there and sometimes the provision of wire wheels over steel rims separating the two variants (usually on the slightly fancier MG models).  However, it should be noted that there was never a "Frog Eye" (or "Bug Eye" if you're an American) Midget, meaning that model - officially known as the Mk I - was a stand-alone Austin Healey-only product.  This also explains why the year and specification of a Mk II Sprite is the same as a Mk I Midget and how it is that the Mk designation for the former is always one ahead of that of the latter (Mk III Sprite = Mk II Midget and so on ...).

The Midget shown here looked like a Mk III (a Mk IV had it been a Sprite), as it had the slightly longer cabin to accommodate the folding roof that stayed in place when lowered, rather than being un-clipped and removed once down, as featured on previous models.  However, this particular car was fitted with a tonneau cover anyway, making it difficult to really tell if that were the case.

It was a very tidy looking vehicle, with lovely duco, straight panels and nice chrome.  The wire wheels were spray-pained silver, as was standard at the time.

UMPH still laments selling his Mk III/A Sprite.  Mrs UMPH less so.

U M P H

(uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.)

All iPhone images.