midget vs MGB

Hey all. Long time since I have been on the site since I am currently selling and buying a home. During my visits I discovered a Midget in a guy's garage that looks to be in pretty good shape. He is moving and wants to sell. I didn't like the house too much, but the car is interesting.

What I am wondering is if what little experience I have working on the mechanics of my MGB will translate over to the midget. Are the engines the same or similar? Carboration? ETC?

Very similar cars. The A series engines are pretty close to the B series, a couple of differences in the oil pump placement, but for the average mechanic very similar.
The 1500 is a little different beast, but still an inline 4, cam in block. The same goes for a lot of the electrical as well as a lot of lamps, certainly the tail lamps are identical year for year with the B. Suspension is similar, some difference in the lower trunion mounting, but again nothing you can't figure out with the help of a good manual and the Spridget board. Try it, you'll love it! See you on the Spridget board. ;-)

Many Many moons ago I had a 62 bug eye sprite....similar to the midgets...I remember the car was loads of fun to drive and real easy to work on...wish I still had it...But alas, I was young and fooling when I sold it and now i'm just foolish !

Talk about minute differences, Midgets came with four different motors, three different trannies, two different rear axle set-ups, I don't know how many carb set-ups, rubber bumpers, chrome bumpers, round wheel arch, square wheel arch, side curtains.............
What year is it?
What color is it?
How rusty is it?
How much is it?
When do I come and get it?
We'd love to help, but need more info, and opinions will get some of us in trouble (see gold seal post)
Have fun

As noted above but I would council you to avoid the car if it is a 1500.

With all due respect to those here on the board that have 1500 Midgets IMHO they are the result of hasty corporate decisions that did not turn out as well as they should have. The Spitfire engines are not as serviceable as the 1275 units and the same can be said for the transmissions. If it is a chrome bumper 1275 go for it though.

Just do a test drive and listen for excessive first gear transmission noises. If you hear much, be prepared to do a transmission overhaul. That isn't difficult at all but you might end up putting some money into the parts. Also look at the front suspension, especially the inner control arm bushings and the outer lower trunnion. Lots of times they are either damaged from impact or worn out due to lube neglect.

The rest is just the usual LBC pre-purchase checking.

I LOVE 1275 Spridgets!

Jack

I recently aquired a '61 Bugeye with a 1275. It's very similar to working on the B but much more simpler if you can imagine. It's been alot of fun! Kinda like a BIG go kart!

Similar enough that you won't feel like you're in uncharted territory. Maybe near the edge of the map with the engine and gearbox of a 1500. But neither are space shuttles, so you won't need to be a rocket scientist. Just make sure you fit in the Midget.

I lust for an early Mark 1...

the midget is a SMALL car. If you are close to 6' tall, you will have a hellova time getting in and getting comfortable.

5'6" and 135#. That's what these things are designed for,

My first MG was a '62 Midget. I'm 6'-2" and weighed 170lbs. But that was 35 years ago and I'm 185lbs now and don't bend the way I used to. So I'm in 'Bs and 'As now.

The spridgets are more fun to drive in that they are darn near go-carts. I never found that the B likes to be tossed around. Hard to think of the B as a luxo barge, but compared to the Midget it is.

Pete