Gotta be PC 
. Learn me MG midgets.
i see they are affordable. What's the website to restore them? How difficult is a "Miata swap" for them?
Most importantly, are they fun? Go ahead and compare one to a early NA Miata.
Gotta be PC . Learn me MG midgets.
i see they are affordable. What's the website to restore them? How difficult is a "Miata swap" for them?
Most importantly, are they fun? Go ahead and compare one to a early NA Miata.
Gonna throw an MGB out there too.
https://portland.craigslist.org/clk/cto/d/battle-ground-mgb/6992997071.html
What I have found with Spridgets is that I fit in the early 1275 cars but the later 1500cc cars are uncomfortably tight inside. The larger tunnel in the later cars is the likely culprit. I can hop into a Sprite and drive away without issue but in a rubber bumper midget I am claustrophobic and feel wedged in place.
Bs are a whole different size class. I’ve worked on a Spridget and it’s like a 5/8” scale car.
And I own a Mini!
Stay as far from a rubber bumper midget as you can get. MGB is a very different animal, although the rubber bumper cars are worse in every way than a chrome car, but at least with the B you can mostly back date into a fun car. The chrome bumper "Spridget" is a fine car when properly fettled. Like all old sheet metal structures they rust, but repair parts are available and reasonably priced. A lot of the reproduction parts, especially electrical and trim, are much worse than the original quality. I won't complain about Lucas after dealing with the repros
. Engine swaps are doable, but a properly set up early Spridget with a 1275 A series is pleasantly quick. The real negative is the non synchro 1st gear with the rolling reverse idler. NO double clutch into 1st, EVER. Gearbox conversions to the little Datsun (or maybe Toyota) 5 speed exist and must be wonderful, I haven't driven one yet. The MGB begs for an engine swap, and the factory made a few GTs with the Rover 3.5 V8. Lots of support from the aftermarket for either car, see Moss Motors website for inspiration. Comparing to a Miata, the Mazda fits right between the B and the Spridget. A frog eye Sprite with a 1275 is the most fun combo because you can get the weight down to 1400 lbs, which makes performance close to a 1.6 NA. The Mazda will run rings around a B unless the B has a monster engine, as their weight is equal and the Mazda has a better torque curve and much better rear suspension, and lower CG. If you are tall the B is huge inside, and the newer the Spridget gets the less room it has. Frog eyes and MK1 Midget/MK2 Sprite are able to hold real tall folks as well. Seats got thicker and the instrument panel moved back in several stages over the long production life. 1958-1979 a lot happened! If you want functional weather protection you need windup windows, so MK3 Sprite, MK2 Midget or a B. All Bs with a folding (not take off) top seal up pretty well, and all have windups. Round Wheel Arch Midgets (1972-mid 74) are starting to gain value
As I recall, the addition of roll-up windows reduced elbow room. When I test-drove a roll-up window Sprite, I felt it was too small for me (6-feet tall). Radio (aftermarket?) was installed into the truck, reducing available truck space.
If you prefer the frog-eye look, you can replace the wide headlight front, but only if you can find one cheap enough.
Like a Spitfire, shifting through the gears somehow made you fell faster than you were actually accelerating.
Rubber bumper MGBs aren't all doom and gloom. :)
MGB GT with an LS/T56 swap and big flares. Sorry, just over here dreaming out loud.
I've had a number of Spridgets over the years and currently have two Bugeyes and two Midgets. I sold a fully restored Midget a few months ago for $4000. It cost $3000 to restore. Moss and Victoria British have everything you need to fix one. They're fun cars, but pretty small. There would be no appreciable interior difference between a 1275 car and a RB. The MKI and early MkII cars do feel roomier inside though with the smaller seats and side curtains. I'm 6'3" and my wife is 6'2" and a '73 Midget was my only car for a few years.
Here's a Spridget/Miata swap. Looks like a lot of fab work: http://www.britishv8.org/Other/BobChartier.htm
infinitenexus said:MGB GT with an LS/T56 swap and big flares. Sorry, just over here dreaming out loud.
You called?
In reply to Keith Tanner :
I actually just googled it and found that car. Really a gorgeous build. I would love to do something like that one day.
Midgets are more go-cart than car.
Engine swaps are not needed to have fun.
I have owned a fewl Last one had a Fiat 124 DOHC and 5 speed box fitted by an 18 year old with no tools, skills or budget. It was awesome. Sukuki Swift is another option.
Refreshing the COMPLETE suspension transforms the car. Refreshing the front suspension is expensive.
As easy and cheap of a car to work on as you are going to get. No lack of parts. Not hard to work on.
Loads bigger people than you would expect.
A MGB is a much larger car that a Midget or Spitfire. Closer to a TR6 than either of the smaller cars. More solid feeling as well, being a uni-body. At the same time, a Spitfire feels a bit larger than a Midget to me.
Easily one of my favorite electronic artists.
327 powered midget
Heres something to get your head around how small they are. The Miata is lowered on coilovers (STS autox, it just has snow tires on it)
Heres my Bugeye that I am just getting on the road. I have a 1275cc A series out of a 73 Midget in it with the ribcase trans. Stock would have been a 998cc A series. Havent had it outside of my neighborhood or over 40mph yet (been chasing tune issues and just figured it out.)
I am about 6'2, the seats in the picture were replaced with a fresh set and I realized that I need to make other bases to drop me lower (not hard to do) if I want to run the hardtop. With lower bases (like those pictured) I actually have more headroom than my 95 Miata. With the only tradeoff being the big origional steering wheel.
The rear ends wont take much abuse. Strong race parts exist for supporting around 100hp, but you will sink $1000 into it. Plus double bearings. Then you start looking into just narrowing something stronger.
As far as bugeye vs spridget: the bugeyes cost almost 2x as much. To that, if I was going to engine swap/etc one, I would go spridget (and do think about doing one. motorcycle power or V8 is a back and forth flipflop).
In fact: heres a spridget with a bugeye nose and a turbo hayabusa... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jgGg8-oWxA
It hasnt been hard to work on. Aftermarket parts quality sucks. If there are 3 choices for a part, the cheapest one is usually not a real option. You end up working a little more finely on just making parts work rather than just replacing them. Its rewarding though. Parts arent prohibitively expensive at all. I picked up a spare engine/trans/rear for $250. You can knock down the Moss Motors prices by going through a reseller (I use https://www.lbcarco.com/ )
Even with the 1275, fast is not something that will be describing this car. If you really want fast, you don't want to go vintage anyway. If you want character, that's why you go vintage. Keep in mind, on a stock 998cc bugeye the top speed on level ground was 81mph flat out. Cruizing down the freeway isnt what this car is for.
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