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'63 Midget research

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jvandyke

jvandyke

Luke Skywalker
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Hi all.
I'm considering the purchase of a '63 Midget.
trying to do some research. I think this was the first year of the 1098 and that that isn't the strongest motor?
I'd love to see some pictures of '63s to compare to this one too. I'd like some idea of how stock she still is. Interior looks "different" to me.
Doesn't have the chrome stip across the "bonnet" (hood).
I owned a '75 for a while and recently lost my Crashed Opel '70 Opel GT to a bad driver.
So, need a new toy. I realize this is a whole different experience, sunny afternoon country side cruises is about all I plan for it. No more exposing my precious babies to morons.
Thanks in advance for advice.
Jeff
 
Hi, Jeff - welcome to the Forum!

Sorry about your Opel - I've always like them, and yours looked like a nice one.

While I don't have much experience with Spridget, there should be lots of help coming online shortly to answer your questions.

Mickey
 
Midgets had 948cc engines until October 1962. So it depends on whether the car in question is a true 1963 or a mid to late 1962 registered as a 1963. Do you have photos, VIN number, etc. for the car you're considering? The MK I Midget did have the chrome moulding strip across the bonnet. It also had a vertical-slat grille
 
I have some photos, not of engine bay though. Have since learned she has been "customized" a bit. Wood dash, Sprite wheel, different carb (probably a Weber?). I'm not such a purist that these things bother me. Anything that improves appearance, drivability, safety and such, is fine as long as it was done well.
Photos
 
Looks very nice. Dash would be easy to change back if you chose to. Wire wheels were an option on both Sprite and Midgets. Looks as if you have and exhust upgrade, probably a Monza free flow system.
 
Not a bad little example from those photos...a few things changed from original, but like you said..........
 
63, I believe had the 10CG engine (smaller main journals), yes said to be not as strong as the 10CC but if you’re not racing it there should be no issues at all. Some of the early ribcase gearboxes mated to the early 1098's had some different gears than the later ribcase gearboxes as well.
"dug"
 
Yep, '63 had the 10CG engine.
 
Whitephrog said:
Midgets had 948cc engines until October 1962. So it depends on whether the car in question is a true 1963 or a mid to late 1962 registered as a 1963.
Click to expand...

And, if it were a '62 titled as a '63, it should have drum brakes on all four corners.
I put a ton of miles on the original 1098 in my '63, and never had any major problems. For a normal cruiser, the 10CG version is just fine.
Jeff
 
I spent some time poking around but didn't see a definitive answer. Wondering if all '63 Midgets had the chrome "door" molding AND the bonnet molding when new? I'm already thinking of ways to dress it up a bit and I don't own it yet!
I don't really like the door molding but the sill molding looks good and the "Midget" sill emblem also looks nice (I know, neither would be correct on a '63).
Maybe bullet style wing mirrors?
Nice flame paint job......I'M KIDDING.
 
Side and bonnet moldings were all original for '63. I took mine off and changed to a Sprite grille.(Much cheaper than a slat type.)
Jeff
 
Bugeye58 said:
Side and bonnet moldings were all original for '63. I took mine off and changed to a Sprite grille.(Much cheaper than a slat type.)
Jeff
Click to expand...
You're correct about the 'cheaper' statement that's for sure...holy cow!! Even with my discounts that thing costs more than the rechroming of both my bumpers!
 
heheheh...

grill_slattedfr_sm.jpg


real big picture: https://www.bastedo.net/midget/grill_slattedfrnt.jpg

Have you seen how much people charge for the plinth alone?

I've also got 4 of these bought from some outfit in England:

grill_slats_sml.jpg
 
Mine is all disassembled for cleaning, repair/replacing as needed...if you have any extra pieces, lemme know.
 
More questions:
At what point did the gearboxes get synchros for first?
Which year did they transition to negative earth?
Will likely wish to add seatbelts as those recently proved valuable in keeping me alive. Will eventually need help there no doubt.
Still no word on the current powerplant/tranny.
I'm secretly hoping she's got a 1275 but I'll take whatever's there!
Memorial Day I'll go see it and hopefully return with it.
Thanks again!
Jeff
 
Sycro's where not on first gear until they switched to the spitfire drive train in '75. Non syncro 1st is no big deal. You only need first when you come to a dead stop.
 
VIN is GAN2L19251, not sure what's up with the L.
Puts it at a fairly early '63 I guess, 3076th of the 9108 '63s.
Still a bit hung up on the "drivability" of a car with no roll up windows, no attached top and no locks.
Not sure how big a deal those will be to me.
 
They look cool. Forget about practicality!
 
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