Rubber bumper 73?

[Baz]

Saw this on ebay with a VIN number that leaves some question as to its age...
https://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MG-Midget...1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[Trevor Jessie]

I'm wondering why anyone would bid on such a poor listing from a seller with bad feedback.

 

[GB1]

Seems like a scam, first year for rubber bumpers was '75 and they had a 1275 in them.

Patrick

 

[zimmy]

its a 75 GAN6....first run ,looks like..zziimmmmy

 

[RobSelina]

[ QUOTE ]
Seems like a scam, first year for rubber bumpers was '75 and they had a 1275 in them.

Patrick

[/ QUOTE ]

I can tell you with certainty that the 75 RB is a 1500. Believe me, I wish it was a 1275 /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[GB1]

Rob:

I owned a 75 RB that had a 1275, maybe just the early ones were 1275's.

Patrick

 

[Morris]

I know of at least one RB that was converted to a 1275 by a local brit mechanic. Maybe someone else did the same. I am pretty sure no RB's came from the factory with 1275s. But I am wrong a lot.

 

[RobSelina]

yea, probably a conversion....

 

[tony barnhill]

No rubber bumpers came from the factory with a 1275 - that's a fact! & rubber bumpers didn't start until 1975 - that's another fact!

 

[GB1]

Tony,

Are you sure that none squeaked out as a MKIII/IV during the end of '74. I had the car in the late 70's and she sure looked original (probably only 3 yrs old - to young to swapped). Odd thing that I remember was the engine was painted the 1500 color.

I recall it having a '74 production date. I also have seen a few other web links with people having these cars.

Guess if it was true I should be sorry I sold it.

Patrick

 

[Baz]

Not only did the amount of bidders surprise me, but the number of Midgets for sale on ebay (29) most of which had quirks related to their 'age'.

 

[tony barnhill]

Nope, none "sneaked out"...that's not a '73

That VIN, "GanGuF159670" is fictitious! The last RWA Midget built in 1974 was GAN5-153920....the first rubber bumper Midget built in 1975 was GAN6UF-154101.....if he read the VIN incorrectly & it really is GAN6UF-159670 then the car was built between Aug 1975 & Aug 1976.

Its a 1975 Midget! & it should have a 1500 engine!

That's the reason they were called "Midget 1500"

I'm not doubting what any previous or current owner thinks - but what I'd guess has happened is real simple - somebody changed the engine to a 1275 & somehow got the car retirled as a '73 to dodge emissions rules that took effect in 1975...or, the 1975 title was lost & somebody took it to a non-title state (some states don't require titles for cars 1974 & older - Alabama is one of them & he's right on the border of AL & FL) & registered it as a '73 to get it back on the road.

That said, I'd bid up to $1,000 on it were it closer...there's lots of money to be made parting it out!

However, that's a bogus auction run up by a buddy of his (buffylusk) so I wouldn't enter that auction.

 

[GB1]

So I guess mine was retro fitted. Hmmm, I never had any problem passing emissions with it either. I think back then I would just lean it out a bit.

But, tests now are alot more detailed then back then, when they would stick a snifer up the pipe.

Tony, I am going to have to agree with you on this one.

Patrick

 

[GB1]

Just looking above even my signature ties with the retrofit. That is strange, plain strange.

 

[regularman]

[ QUOTE ]
yea, probably a conversion....

[/ QUOTE ]cause the 1500s ran like spit /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif