Possible Midget purchase - advice needed

[Robby]

I am considering adding a Midget project to my MG garage. I have found a 74 arched wheel Midget that runs good but still needs quite a bit of work. It most likely needs a driver's side floor pan and a hood as well as a new top, carpet and of course paint after repairing everything. Body is pretty good otherwise. It is drivable car as it sits but would need some stuff before putting it on the road such as fixing blinkers, speedometer cable and gas gauge rewired.

Any thoughts on a rough order estimate of value? I know you can't get specific but just an idea of value. I think I can get it for around $700-750 but not sure.

Tha

 

[Robby]

BTW, how hard are floor pans to replace?

 

[bgbassplyr]

If that's all it needs, has no hidden rust in the usual places, hasn't been wrecked, drives and stops, GO FOR IT!

 

[jlaird]

Floor pans by them self are easy. In fact can be glued in. Yea I know but that is how new cars are assembled.

 

[Guest]

Check for bondo in the rocker and the cowl (b/w door and front fender). I've seen them ate up by the rear spring perches. Look it over well, then do it again. Check for crumpled or cut/welded panels in the trunk and under the hood. is there another car that's clean you can look at to see what it's supposed to look like?

If the car is good ~ $700 isn't bad at all.

 

[v8mgbal]

Hello,you said it runs and if you can drive it around the neighborhood some to give you an idea of the tranny condition and brakes.

 

[Jimflorida]

Not to be a wet blanket, but there is one thing to think about: If you buy a cheap runner for $700 that needs a number of things, you can easily end up spending more than you would if you bought a $3,000 runner to start with that is already in better shape. I have done this a number of times. Don't know why I have never learned... Jim

 

[JPSmit]

Not to be a wet blanket, but there is one thing to think about: If you buy a cheap runner for $700 that needs a number of things, you can easily end up spending more than you would if you bought a $3,000 runner to start with that is already in better shape. I have done this a number of times. Don't know why I have never learned... Jim

+1 - if you want a runner, there should be any number of decent cars that far south.

 

[aeronca65t]

If it runs, the price is not too bad. If you're handy, you can make it into a decent "driver" for modest money (make sure brakes and front end are decent).
I also see nothing wrong with spending a lot of money to make it real nice......if that's your thing and you can afford it.
There's worse ways to spend your time.
You may not make a profit on it (to me, the "profit" is the pleasurable time working on it and driving it and is not measured by return on investment)

Anyway, here's a similar example from me.

I bought this RWA Midget last August for $250. I had been informally looking in craigslist for a while before I found it in a small ad with no pictures or price.
I was actually looking for a parts car to donate a spare 1275 engine for my Austin A35 racer project. This '73 was 100% complete and would probably have run with a decent battery, but I never even tried. I've already pulled the 1275 engine from this car and begun the rebuild to race specs, but the car itself is really solid and it's a shame to chop it up.
So, I am cleaning it up and have just finished (mostly) doing a quick re-paint (same colour red). I have a spare, stock 948 that will go in it.
I have tons of other spares including tires, a new top and so forth, so this will be a "cheapy" car that I will slap together (the most expensive part will be new brake parts). I'll put "classic" plates on it and I doubt it will travel more than 500 miles a year, but it's sort of fun to have an "accidental" car. Eventually, I'll probably pass it off to one of my kids or my brothers.

 

[racingenglishcars]

The 950 gives very good mileage.

 

[Robby]

I appreciate the input but after talking with the owner some more and giving it more thought, I decided to pass on this one. He later told me that the transmission was making some noise (more than usual in a Midget) so decided it wasn't worth what I could buy it for.

Robby

 

[JPSmit]

I appreciate the input but after talking with the owner some more and giving it more thought, I decided to pass on this one. He later told me that the transmission was making some noise (more than usual in a Midget) so decided it wasn't worth what I could buy it for.

Robby

Midgets are like buses - another one will always come by. (good call IMHO)