Found a 74 Midget - may buy it - advice? [oops]

[RickB]

(Sorry - wrong area - moving along to Spridget area now...)

I've been looking for a white Midget.

This would eventually be to give to my daughter after graduation, she's the type that will appreciate and care for something like this.

Here it is on Craigslist:

https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/car/297567652.html

Please share your thoughts / warnings / encouragement, I've never owned a Midget before.

(Sorry - wrong area - moving along to Spridget area now...)

 

[Baz]

That's not too bad of a price.
Round Wheel Arch and Chrome bumpers are desireable for the early '70's.
Under the hood looks stock pretty much.
The inside of the driver door, bottom looks like it needs very close attention, ask for a couple more pics of the rust spots.
It's LOT less than what I paid for mine.
There is a 'Spridgets' forum here, with people a lot more knowledgable than I than can guide you through.
Good luck!

 

[vping]

Looks good. Nice find.

 

[Camshaft]

That car looks like it could be nearly perfect for under $10k. If nothing else, it's a good investment. Go for it.

 

[Ed Kaler]

Rick:

That just plain a STEAL!!!! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/winner1.gif

GRAB IT !!! I would!!! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/winner1.gif

/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cheers.gif

Ed

 

[mattmacklind3]

Nice car. For the money, looks like a great car!

 

[RickB]

Re: Found a 74 Midget - may buy it - advice? [oops

I posted this in Spridgets, but for you all who don't venture in there...
_____________________________________

I have additional pictures, since it's on Whidbey Island I can't just hop in my van & go see it without a 3 to 5 hour commitment. So I asked for more pics, from other angles.

(I'm pleased by what I see, some wear on the hood & trunk tho...)

 

[Scott_Hower]

Re: Found a 74 Midget - may buy it - advice? [oops

Looks like a nice car to start with. As mentioned, have a look at the floors and the front lower sill area.

Offer the seller $1500 cash and see if he/she bites. Midget parts are really reasonable, but a B will always be worth more (even though the parts are generaally not more expensive).

 

[vping]

Re: Found a 74 Midget - may buy it - advice? [oops

Car does not look that bad. How the close up spots of the "typical" rust areas look. Hope the price was right.

 

[RickB]

Re: Found a 74 Midget - may buy it - advice? [oops

From the Spridget area:

We tried out the white one. Originality score, very high.
Drivability score, very low.

Much oil burning, not much power going up the slight hills around the owners house, & can we say "bondo"? Creased boot, bondo bonnet? The top doesn't fasten at all around the corners & part of the back. Heater / Defroster hardly worked too.

Ouch!!

So we went & gave the brown one a chance, and bought it (for $1200).
I drove it home on the freeways, 65 - 70mph. Power to spare. Gotta do something about the wart on the hood though.

The guy got it from the old owner who did the engine swap, it was his baby. Almost no rust anywhere. I also checked with a magnet & couldn't find any bondo or fiberglass. It has a couple rough spots, but nothing too bad.
Other than the wart, it's a good powerful car that almost looks right.

The problem is the carb sticks up and then the air filter protrudes through the bonnet. If I could put on a very low profile air filter that might do the trick, then either repair the hole or put on a different hood.