MG Midget MKIII 1275cc.

The MG Midget is a small two-seater sports car which was produced by MG from 1961 to 1979. They revived a name that had been used in the previous models, such as the MG M-type , MG D-type , MG J-type and MG T-type .

MG Midget Mk I (1961-1964)

The first version was essentially a slightly more expensive badge engineered version of the MkII Austin-Healey Sprite . The original 'Frogeye' Sprite was introduced specifically to fill the gap in the market left by the end of the production of the T-type MG Midget as its replacement, the MGA had been a car significantly bigger and more expensive with higher performance. Many existing fan of MG and the buyers returned to the Sprite in order to provide a modern, low-cost sports car, and what a version MG badge engineering to reuse the name dwarf made sense. The new Dwarf differed from the Sprite only in their design of the grille, badges, color options, and has two leather seats and trim, chrome outer most of the series to justify its high purchase price.

Mechanically the car was identical to his counterpart, Austin-Healey, while retaining the rear suspension with leaf springs quarter elliptical arms and drag of the 'Frogeye'. The engine was a 948 cc A-Series with two carburettors THEIR produce 46 HP (34 kW) at 5500 rpm and 53 lb * ft (72 Nm) at 3000 rpm. Brakes were 7-inch (178 mm) drums all around. A rack hard-top, radio, heating, and suitcases were available as optional extras installed at the factory.

In October 1962 the engine was increased to 1098 cc, raising the output to 56 HP (42 kW) at 5500 rpm and 62 lb * ft (84 N · m) at 3250 rpm and disc brakes replaced the battery in the front. spoke wheels wire became available.

The doors had no handles or locks to the exterior and the windows slid perspex side screens. A heater was an optional extra.

The production was 16.080 version small displacements and 9601 of the 1098.

A car with the engine of 948 cc was tested by the british magazine The Motor in 1962 and had a top speed of 87,9 mph (141,5 km / h) and could accelerate from 0-60 mph (97 km / h) in 18.3 seconds. A fuel consumption of 40.2 miles per imperial gallon (7,03 l / 100 km; 33,5 mpg _-US) was recorded. The test car cost 689 £ including taxes on the Uk market.

MG Midget MkII (1964-1966)

Externally the main changes are to the doors, which gained window crank rotate on an axis, lights of quarters (also known as windows of the wings), outside door handles and locks separate. The windscreen also gained a slight curvature and was retained in a frame, more substantial. The hood (Us - top), though modified, continued to have a rack removable and had to be lifted before the cover was put on. The springs in the rear were replaced by more types of semi-elliptical conventional that gave a better ride. The engine block was strengthened and fit larger main bearings, increasing the power to 59 HP (44 kW) at 5750 rpm and a maximum torque of 65 lb · ft (88 N · m) at 3500 rpm.

It conducted a total of 26.601.

MG Midget MkIII (1966-1974)

The engine now grew to 1275 cc using the development seen on the Mini-Cooper 'S'. Enthusiasts were disappointed that this was a detuned version of the 76 HP (57 kW) motor 5800 rpm Cooper 'S', giving only 65 HP (48 kW) at 6000 rpm and 72 lb * ft (98 N · m) at 3000 rpm. A ratio of the reduced compression of 8.8: 1 was used in place of 9,75: 1 employee engine in the Cooper S. The dwarf uses the head molded 12G940 cylinder that was common to other cars BMC 1300, while the Cooper S 'had a special head with the entry of not only large, but also the exhaust valves larger; however, these valves caused many heads to 'S' to fail, with cracks between the valve seats. The engine is out of tune, was used by reason of the placement of the range model - with the motor specification Cooper "S", the Dwarf would have been faster than the more expensive MGB. The hydraulic system gained a master cylinder apart for the clutch. The hood was now permanently attached to the car, with an improved mechanism making it much more easy to use.

At the end of 1967 (model year 1968), the cars are US-spec received several additions of security: a padded strip (dashboard) with gauges, smaller main, steering column, collapsible, scissor hinges of the bonnet, a third windshield wiper, position lights additional side, and anti-explosion is closed. The transmission ratio of the rear axle, increased of 4.22: 1 to 3.9: 1, giving up to 16.5 mph (26.6 per / h) per 1,000 rpm. This increased final drive ratio gave the 1275 model slightly better fuel economy than the model 1098.

Minor changes were made to the cosmetic surgery of the frieze of the door at the end of 1969 (model year 1970), with the frames painted black, grille black recessed revised, and faced the rear lights as in the MGB. The wheels 13 at Rubery Owen "Rostyle" were standardized, but the radio wire remained an option.

In August 1971 the compression ratio on engines in North America was reduced to 8.0: 1. the engine power output fell to 54.5 BHP (40,6 kW) at 5500 rpm and 67 lb * ft (91 N · m) at 3250 rpm.

The arches of the rear wheels of a square shape is rounded in January 1972. Also in this year, a steering rack, triumph was fitted, giving a gearing that was somewhat lower than the dwarf above. Also added a second exhaust muffler in 1972. The alternators were fitted instead of dynamos (generators) from 1973.

At seven months of 1974, the year of the model, the blocks of rubber bumper large size, nicknamed "Sabrina" after the british actress well endowed, were added to the chrome bumpers to meet the first regulations of the bumper of the impact of the united States.

Many consider the dwarves back and bow with chrome bumpers produced for model years 1972-1974 to be the most desirable. These cars back and bow started to come out of the factory in Abingdon at the end of 1971. Between 1966 and 1969 the lift face, 22.415 were made, and other 77.831 until 1974.