TR4/4A Looking at a TR4A and Midget

[Hegg]

Alright, I know I'm asking a favor, but I want some good opinions. My dad and I are looking at purchasing the following 2 cars as project cars. We aren't intending to drive them anytime soon; we just wanna fix 'em up and get 'em nice.

https://unabled.com/show/cars/new/

Firstly, I know pics don't always show a lot, so here are my additional notes.

Both cars do run. There's obviously visible rust on the outside in parts. However, checking the undersides of fenders and the trunks both seem solid to me. The top on the Midget is decent, the top on the TR4 looks ok, but somewhat shabby. The tonneau cover looks good on the TR4.

You can see they obviously both need work. What is anyone's opinion as to the value of both? To me they both seemed very restorable and -- since they drive -- actually drivable without too much effort (although that's not the immediate goal).

Thoughts? What are they worth restored, and what are they worth in the condition they are in?

 

[Geo Hahn]

[ QUOTE ]
...We aren't intending to drive them anytime soon; we just wanna fix 'em up and get 'em nice... Thoughts? What are they worth restored, and what are they worth in the condition they are in?

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, I've certainly seen much worse restored & enjoyed. The first one on this page is a Midget... now a daily driver.

https://tbcr.net/mambo/index.php?option=displaypage&Itemid=79&op=file&SubMenu=

I can't say what they are worth now, anyway your real investment/cost will be the $$$$ and time you put into it after you lug it home. Ever see an ad that says "196x Xxxxxx for sale - $20,000 invested, asking $8,000"? If you are prepared to do most of the work yourself and are prepared to weld, etc. then a project can be a great thing, though not a road to riches.

As for what they will be worth when done -- will depend on the quality of the end result... though I think it is safe to say that all other things being equal the TR4A will probably be worth more than the Midget.

BTW (someone correct if this is wrong) but that looks like a solid axle TR4A. Doesn't have a big impact on the value but may mean a somewhat easier and less expensive restoration.

 

[Mickey Richaud]

[ QUOTE ]
BTW (someone correct if this is wrong) but that looks like a solid axle TR4A. Doesn't have a big impact on the value but may mean a somewhat easier and less expensive restoration.

[/ QUOTE ]

Not sure about solid axle vs. IRS, but somewhere I read that it didn't make too much difference, pricewise. I agree that the TR4 will be the pricier one when finished.

One thing to consider is the relative difficulty of restoration. Having finished a TR3, and now in the middle of an MGB restoration, I can say that any separate body/frame configuration is easier to do than a unibody, especially when dealing with items like brake lines and fuel lines. Same thing goes with the structural members. The TR4's frame is separate from the body, and once the body is off the frame, it's amazingly simple to replace all that stuff. I'm assuming here that the Midget is a unibody, like the MGB. Also, there are lots of other trim pieces with the later model cars - more vinyl, plastic, molding, etc. to deal with.

But they do look pretty good.....

 

[Hegg]

Thanks for the replies. Although I think we would probably enjoy it, there's the chance that there's a lot more work than meets the eye on these. My dad and I decided to pass on these and maybe someday find something else.

The plan was actually to get 'em both, fix the Midget up enough to sell it for a profit, then fix up the TR4A for my dad (since I have a TR7). We'll keep looking and hopefully find something better. He's particularly interested in a TR6 and I think he'd just be wishing he had a TR6 if he got that TR4.

Thanks for everyone's feedback. It's sad to think what might happen to these two cars, but oh well.

Hope everyone had a good weekend! We had mudslides here!

 

[sammyb]

Hegg,
Good decision to pass. You wouldn't have made any $$ on the Midget. There just isn't a huge market for those cars...only the best sell.

That TR4 needed way too much. You would have had to replace so much sheet metal and probably every nut and bolt on that thing was seized.

 

[Guest]

Hegg,
Great idea to take good pictures and post them on the forum for otherwise hard-to-get opinions. Glad you passed on the TR4. I would have charged the guy to take it off his hands. What I saw was a basket case because of the EXTENSIVE rust. What you can't see is the other 90 percent rustout. I seached for two years for my TR6 (as I have stated on this forum ad nauseum) and basically bought a rust free body and frame. I paid $3500. To get a rusted body into that condition, fixed and rust-free again, certainly more than $3500. ALWAYS go for a solid body when shopping for a LBC.

Bill

 

[Bugeye58]

And that looked like a good $200.00 Midget.
Jeff

 

[Hegg]

Haha, thanks again for the replies. I wish someone had made those last few earlier!

We actually thought about calling tomorrow and offering significantly lower and see if they'd jump. Although after these comments, maybe we won't do that, either!

Hegg

 

[aeronca65t]

Neither of those cars is worth a ton of money and there is a pretty good chance that you would not make any money after restoration on either......but I would just like to point out that the Midget is a 1275 RWA car (Round Wheel Arch). Many folks consider these the most desirable box-Spridgets. Jeff says $200. I'd say maybe $250.
The TR4 is a live axle car (easier to restore).