MG Midget: Britain's Beloved Little Sports Car
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Some cars define an era. Some define a nation. The MG Midget did both, placing open-top sports car motoring within reach of a generation of young British drivers who could only otherwise dream of it. Small, nimble, and bursting with character, the Midget remains one of the most loved British classics ever made.
Ask anyone who has driven one and the answer is always the same: it makes you grin. In an age when cars are increasingly isolated from the road, the Midget is a reminder of what driving used to feel like.
Origins and History
The MG Midget story begins in 1961, when British Motor Corporation launched what was essentially a rebadged Austin-Healey Sprite. It was a cynical piece of badge engineering by the standards of the time, but nobody seemed to mind. The formula was simple and it worked: a lightweight two-seater with a folding hood, a small four-cylinder engine, and a price tag that made it accessible to ordinary people.
Production ran from 1961 to 1979, spanning four distinct series. Over that time the car grew up, gaining more power, better brakes, and improved safety equipment. Later cars wore rubber bumpers demanded by American legislation, a styling compromise that divided opinion then and now. But throughout its life the fundamental character never changed.
Over half a million Midgets were built, the vast majority destined for export to North America. It was Britain's great automotive ambassador, flying the flag for fun, affordable motoring at a time when the country was particularly good at making it.
The Design
The Midget's styling is pure 1960s British sports car. Low, compact, and with a short bonnet that hints at the modest four-cylinder engine beneath, it looks like something from a boyhood sketch. The round front headlamps, wire wheels, and folding hood give it an air of uncomplicated joy. This is a car designed to be driven with the roof down and the wind in your hair.
The Mk1 and Mk2 cars are widely considered the purest in appearance, with their chrome bumpers and simple, uncluttered lines. The later rubber-bumpered cars lost some of the elegance, the front and rear ends looking slightly awkward by comparison. But even those later cars have a warmth to their design that modern sports cars rarely manage.
Inside, the cockpit is intimate to the point of comedy. The wooden dashboard, chrome switches, and thin-rimmed steering wheel transport you straight back to a gentler era of motoring.
Performance and Driving
Nobody bought a Midget for outright speed. The early cars made around 46 brake horsepower from a 948cc engine, enough to reach 87 miles per hour with sufficient road ahead. Later cars grew to 1275cc and then 1500cc units, the final Triumph-sourced engine producing 65 brake horsepower. Those are modest figures by any measure.
But performance in a Midget is not about the numbers. It is about feel. The car weighs barely 700 kilograms, so even modest power translates into genuine urgency. The steering is direct and communicative, the chassis balanced and playful. You can thread a Midget through a set of bends at speeds that feel genuinely exciting, even if a modern hot hatch would leave you standing on a straight.
Driving a Midget is an event. The engine buzzes, the gearbox requires a firm hand, and every bump in the road is transmitted directly through the seat of your trousers. It demands your attention and rewards you for giving it.
Cultural Impact
The Midget arrived at exactly the right moment. The 1960s were a time of optimism in Britain, and the car became part of the fabric of young life. It appeared in films, on television, and in the dreams of a generation of drivers who wanted a sports car without taking out a second mortgage.
In America, it helped build the image of the British sports car as something romantic and characterful. Thousands of examples survive there to this day, lovingly maintained by enthusiasts who appreciate what the Midget stood for. Back home, the car found a place in the hearts of drivers who learned in one, raced one, or simply drove one on a summer evening with nowhere particular to be.
The Midget also had a genuine competition career, with privateer racers campaigning them in club motorsport throughout the 1960s and 1970s. The low weight and nimble handling made them formidable in the right hands, and the tradition continues today in dedicated Midget racing series.
Buying an MG Midget Today
The good news for prospective buyers is that Midgets remain genuinely affordable. Honest driving examples can be found for between three and six thousand pounds, while properly restored cars in the best colours fetch ten to fifteen thousand. Even exceptional, concours-condition examples rarely exceed twenty thousand pounds, making them remarkable value in the current classic market.
The key things to check are rust, and then more rust. The sills, floor, and wheel arches are all susceptible, and a car that looks presentable from a distance can conceal serious structural problems. Get a thorough inspection before committing. Running gear is generally robust and parts are plentiful and cheap, with a strong club network and specialist suppliers ensuring the Midget will never be difficult to keep on the road.
Chrome-bumper cars from 1961 to 1974 are the most sought-after, but the later 1500cc cars offer more torque and can be a better choice for regular use. Whichever you choose, budget for some sorting work and you will be rewarded with one of the most characterful driving experiences in the classic car world.
Shop MG Midget Art at KK Automotive Art
We are passionate about British classics at KK Automotive Art, and that passion shows in our range of British-designed artwork. While you are here, take a look at our MG TF phone case, which captures the spirit of the MG sports car tradition in a beautifully crafted design. You will also find a wonderful selection of classic car artwork in our classic car collection, featuring some of the greatest British and European classics ever made.
Explore more British classics in our classic cars blog.