British Cars
 

I've never been a british car guy and aside from looking at ones I can now never afford (xk120, e type, etc) I don't really pay them much attention. A neighbor of mine stopped by my fence about two months ago and asked if I was interested in an old MG they had gotten from the local high school, it was donated there but the car is essentially too old for them to teach kids anything useful on so since they got it for free they were willing to just give it to me for free. Being a car guy I said sure!

To my astonishment this MG, a 79 midget, had somehow survived being under a tarp for who knows how long. Save for a few very small rust holes about the size of a pen here and there the body is straight, still wearing its original paint and is very solid. I even got a title and a rebuilt 1500 engine in some tattered plastic wrap.

Long story short I have put some time into cleaning up the tub, got a decent dash, windscreen and various hardware here and there from a parts car but can't get motivated or inspired to work on the thing so I listed it for $800. Crickets. Literally not a single person in weeks. Are these things just generally worthless? I know next to nothing about them but I figured someone would be interested in such a nice straight car with a title but so far nothing! Have british car values just tanked that much? Were they ever worth anything? MGBs? Midgets? MGAs? Anyone mess with these things on here that want/ need a nice 79 Midget tub? Ha!

THat seems surprising. It looks like it's in great shape (for a 45 year old project).

Most of the folks that would be most interested are probably in their 60s/70s, and projects needing that much work may be less desirable.

I assume it's a niche market, and in those markets, you probably do have to wait a while for the right buyer to find you if you aren't plugged into some group. Maybe find some MG forums or clubs and get the word out. Visit a car show or two and look for guys that are driving similar cars and ask them if they know anyone looking for a project.

And so it begins. lol

I like the old MGs . I have worked on them a bit but never owned one. Around here there is no market for them. Espesially the rubber bumper cars. There was a chrome bumper Sprite on Marketplace this week but I passed because I know I'd not make any money on it.

My first car was a 1960 MGA, had a blast with it! Followed by 4 more MGB's then Triumph TR3 and a Spitfire and final ones were 3 Austin Healy's, the best one a 1958 100-6. They grow on you:<) Not to mention all the British bikes!!

I didn't consider the appeal to mostly older guys that's a good point. You hardly ever see a young(ish) guy at a show with something like that.

I may keep fiddling with it the longer it sticks around but I think aside from some modern drivetrain and wiring (yikes) I just can't seem to get motivated to mess with it. It is in good company right now though in its foster home!

During some parts searching I came across a pretty nice original 69 Sprite, it's been off the road for quite a while but looks like it's all there. The price wasn't bad either. The MGAs and Healy 3000s are solidly in the British cars I can't afford column!

This midget has grown on me though you are right.

We have an annual car show near here called "MG's on the Green" that we went to a few times when we had our TR6. I swear that there was no one attending, owners or spectators under 60 years old. It's an old group of interest for sure.

Unfortunately that's the case with a lot of these car shows these days.

It’s the least desirable MG. It has - expensive - issues in the rust holes. And you don’t say that it runs.

It’s essentially parts and scrap.

Also as has been mentioned - the owners are aging out so the pool of potential owners is shrinking.
You’ll lose $ fixing it vs buying one that’s already done.

Do people still race them? You may be better off getting it all together and running and then sell it. Is everything there to put it all back together? Drive train, interior, top, trim pieces?
Chrome bumper swaps really make those cars look a lot better also.

This one is on "Bring A Trailer", just showing an example of what the car can be.

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Interesting subject Ryan. Do you know if the 79 Midget has an overdrive? If not then it would be a noisy, buzzy cruiser at sixty miles an hour on the highway. If I remember right my 1979 MGB had an overdrive and so did my 1958 Triumph TR3A. Both were comfortable cruisers and were quiet with low rpm.

It is not surprising that there is little demand for old MG's. The Miata N series seemed to take over where the British sports cars left off. The Miata reliability is amazing and there are many 1990 NA's still on the road.

In Edmonton in the summer a British car show is held. There is really good attendance with different car makes. Typically many MG's, Triumphs, Jaguars, Land Rovers, Austin Minis and Lotus.

Cheers, Guy.

Unfortunately that is one of the least desirable MG models produced. A rubber bumper Midget. Sometimes free, isn't free. I've said that about a few dogs I've rescued.

How come the cars I like are terrible investments ?

I've sort of come to that realization! The car guy in me can at least appreciate such a nice shell though despite the market price on these things. No it doesn't run, in fact most of the parts I got are in boxes.

Im sure there's a pretty strong following in the vintage racer groups, VRG or HSR etc. Would be a good racecar but so would an E36!

As a former Miata owner I concur. Such great cars, I miss my 92.

Haha you nailed it. Just like dogs though there are no bad cars just bad owners.

As an ex-Brit car guy, I look at this photo and see:
1 - Some suspicious rust-like stains/bubbles on the lower doors and rockers
2 - No interior
3 - Missing exterior trim & no top
4 - A very undesirable model year - literally the last year of production when this model was finally put to a mercifully death.

The first one puts virtually everyone off. If you can readily see evidence of rust, you can be sure there is a LOT more unseen.

The second and third means that more $$$ would have to be put into it than it would be worth, by a large margin. It used to be relatively straightforward to get parts for the lower-end Brit sports cars from companies like Moss Motors and The Roadster Factory, but that was some time ago.

The fourth means the market would be extremely limited. The early model year MG midgets (and MGB's) have some value, but not the emission-choked (and thus VERY under powered) raised suspension (which destroyed the handling) rubber bumper (which destroyed the looks compared to the original chrome grille & bumpers) cars.

My considered opinion is to offer it as a parts car. Or just junk it.

My brother gave me a dog that cost more in maintanence than all the cars I ever owned put together

I appreciate the input!

You're welcome.

Sorry my message listing the faults with this car was so blunt, but being a car guy you probably recognize that when you get something for $0... maybe it's because that's what it's worth.