"Wacko" (wacko--)
04/09/2015 at 12:00 • Filed to: None
1
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"Wacko" (wacko--)
04/09/2015 at 12:00 • Filed to: None | 1
| 15 |
My mom's boyfriend wants to give me his 1973 MG Midget. Yes give it.
It's been stripped down, is on primer. Just waiting to be assembled. Engine runs. The thing is yes he would give me the car, but he has over 4000.00 in new parts (new wire wheels, seats, top...)that he would sell me. So do I take it, and deal the parts, and start a new project. thing is, I'm still working on my house that I added a story to.
I would be able to get to work on this Midget like in 2 years. and would take me a few years to finish.
Is it worth it, are Midgets going up in price. I think he said it's a 1100 cc engine, is the engine easy to work on? Easy to get parts...
not actual car, but I would paint it white or cream.
no not red or british racing green, they are all that color.
Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif
> Wacko
04/09/2015 at 12:04 |
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I work on it and drive until you are ready?
RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
> Wacko
04/09/2015 at 12:08 |
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A friend of my dad recently bought one, actually white. My impression is that they *are* easy to work on - there's loads of space in the engine bay. $4k might be a steal for what you're getting, but that's kind of a Wheeler Dealer type thing... cheap only if you don't consider your labor as worth much. The paint job is a pretty big expanse comparatively, I should note - even if the current primer coat etc. is good, it could be a couple grand.
SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
> Wacko
04/09/2015 at 12:11 |
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MGs are still some of the cheapest cars to build on the planet. Even good ones never seem to go for more than a few grand at the moment. Look at it this way. As recently as a few months ago, I had the opportunity to buy three (yes, three) complete but in various states of disrepair/decay with titles for $350 obo. I didn't, obviously, but your local craigslist is probably crawling with similar projects. They're practically unsellable it seems.
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Wacko
> RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
04/09/2015 at 12:13 |
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I would do everything myself, but the paint. I pay myself in beer in the garage.
I need an excuse to drink.....(I hardly drink anymore)
Paint would be done cheap by a guy that lives close to me, once he rebuilds his garage(burnt down last year)
Tohru
> Wacko
04/09/2015 at 12:17 |
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Project inspiration: http://northernwi.craigslist.org/cto/4954831409…
Jedidiah
> Wacko
04/09/2015 at 12:25 |
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They are simple cars and have a good following so you should be able to find parts.
However, I don't think I'd spend 4k on a project Midget.
A good paint job will be expensive, even if it requires no body work at all. Good thing that white paint hides mistakes.
I'd buy parts as you need them from him, not all at once if you wanted to do this without spending a lot of money and time.
Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
> Wacko
04/09/2015 at 12:28 |
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I think this is a project you only take on for the love of the car, I can't see it being something that will be easy to make your money back/ a profit on. That is unless their value suddenly jumps in the next couple years.
RallyWrench
> Wacko
04/09/2015 at 13:05 |
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How tall are you?
desertdog5051
> Wacko
04/09/2015 at 13:19 |
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As the owner of a 78 B, they are not rare or particularly valuable. But cheap to fix and fun to drive and easy to work on. Nice thing is all MG's sold in the US are SAE thread so you can work on them with your existing tools. First thing to look at are the floors. All convertible MG's are notorious for leaking water through the center air vent but even more so where the windshield pillars meet the body. Floor repair panels are inexpensive but a lot of work to put in. Be ready to have electrical gremlins.
Kevin Barrett
> Wacko
04/09/2015 at 13:24 |
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Guys, I got this free razor in the mail. I know I'm working on a magnificent beard right now, but I might start shaving this summer or next. The thing is, the replacement blades are like $60 each. Should I start shaving or what?
Needmoargarage
> Wacko
04/09/2015 at 13:29 |
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My first restoration project was a 1971 MGB. I don't think there is a better (classic) car to learn on as they are so incredibly simple and parts are readily available. (The engine is about as basic as it gets.) Financially...don't plan on making any money. I was a full-time student and scrounged for used parts in online forums, junkyards, etc. I also decided to paint the car myself. I restored it the best I could being extremely budget-minded and only just broke even when I sold her last year.
If the sills and rockers are solid, you don't mind spending money on it, and want to practice working on a classic I would say go for it!
Here's mine!
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Wacko
> RallyWrench
04/09/2015 at 13:41 |
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5'10"
Slave2anMG
> Wacko
04/09/2015 at 13:45 |
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Well, maybe you should hear from a Midget owner - me :) I've had mine for 25 years...
Street legal go kart. Absurdly tiny by today's standards. I'm 6' and 225 lbs and fit pretty well...lots of leg room. Very simple cars with some esoteric old mechanicals...like kingpin front suspension. Level shocks. My '72 is very similar to that '73 - four fuses in the fusebox.
First thing you'd need to look for - rust. Rocker panels, floor and where the doors/fenders/A post come together. If serious rot exists, run away. The car you've pictures is a late 72/73/early 74 because the rear wheel arches are round, not squared off on top.
If he's selling you those parts at $4000 he's not exactly doing you any favors. A really perfectly restored Midget of that vintage is maybe a $5000 car. Maybe. The only really valuable Midgets are the Mk 1 cars from the early 1960s...and those are $10,000 cars. So no, I don't ever expect Midgets to be truly collectible but rather a pretty cheap way to get a little British car that's a hoot to drive.
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RallyWrench
> Wacko
04/09/2015 at 13:48 |
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Might work then. I'm 6' 1" and do not fit Midgets at all.
CaptDale - is secretly British
> Wacko
04/09/2015 at 14:31 |
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You need to do this, period!