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Question about a 61 Midget I am looking at.

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drumbeater

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I'm looking at a 1961 or 62 Midget. It started up with little effort, but does not run smoothly. I suspect needs carbs rebuilt. The owner has not driven the car in 6 years. The brake/clutch master cylinder will need to be rebuilt or replaced.

The body is straight along the top sides with some rust evident on the passenger side rocker panel behind the front door. The only scary thing is some sort of floor pan repair that has been done with some flat pieces of something non-magnetic. Couldnt' tell but I suspect it was aluminum. Its pop-rivited in place and sealed.

The interior is clean, but the door panels are not original. They are flat panels covered with vinyl and some sort of wooden knob on the latch. All of the electrical items on the car seem to operate. The seats are bolted in, and are out of some other MG, not this one.

The guy is selling it with a later model parts car, mostly body parts, interior, engine, front fenders are gone. He is asking $900 and I'm looking for advice from anyone with an opionion. I want to know if there is any special value in an early model (serial number under 600) Oh yeah, the car is orange if you can believe that. Not a popular color in 61 I would think.
 
It should be a bugeye if it's a 61. I dont think there were any mark2 sprite/mk1 midgets until 62. Although if it's a real early one Then its possible it was registered as a 61. I would look real close at the area in the rear bulkhead where the quarter eleptic springs mount in to the body. If there is sreious rust there then the car would need some serious work done before I would drive it.In that case its only worth abouit half that. The floor pans themselvs are a minor issue on a 900$car.Rockers are more serious,as they are the main structure. If it can be driven with only the hydraulic work and other minor "freshening up" then go for it.
 
61 was the first year Midget. Let me guess, it even has the Ace Mercury wheel covers? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
A friend of mine had car # 4??, very early like yours.
First MK Midgets are gaining in popularity, I say go for it!

Frank
 
1961 was the first year of the MkI MG Midget. I have one
myself. They are great little cars, and if you don't mind
doing some work on it, I'd go for it. $900 is a decent
price for a running car.

I'd suggest taking a closer look at the engine. There are
many reasons why it may be running poorly. The gas in the tank is
old, and may have gummed up the carbs. If I were you I'd
do a compression check to verify that it doesn't have a
bad head, burned valves, etc. Figure that you'll have to
replace/rebuild the hydraulics. Chances are you'll have to
re-sleeve the master cyl ($100-$150).

The body sounds like it has the typical problems, and are
probably worse than they appear on the surface. If you are
planning a full restoration, look for a rust free car.
If you want an inexpensive toy Britmobile, this sounds
like the car for you.

Steve
 
Should have double checked my book before I posted my guess on the Year break. Its been a few years since I got rid of my 62 Sprite. I was probably thinking of Austin healey.(and still wrong) Thanks for the correction. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
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