MG Midget

[Renrut]

So now I need to hurry up and get the rest of the car fixed up.

Still no nearer getting its registration sorted out, all of my leads with the MGOC have come up blank, no word back from British Heritage, although I've been told in both cases I'm better off phoning than trying to do things by email as they can be a bit old fashioned.

Need to chase them tomorrow I think.

[Renrut]

Spoke to British Heritage about getting a proof of date and any possibility of the reg number. The incredibly formal yet helpful chap on the other end of the phone told me there was almost no chance of the reg number being recorded by MG unless it had been registered in the UK and then sold abroad as perhaps an ex-demo car.

I can get a dating letter containing the original engine and chassis numbers though which will be my last resort.

I got the rostyles back today from the chap at work whose son was sandblasting them. They're 90% rust and paint free, and I've just spent this evening sanding down the lips with wet and dry then giving them a coat of Prep&Ready to keep any further rust from developing. I'll keep these on tick over in the background while I'm doing other things. I'll give them a few good coats of high build primer to fill in all the little rust pock marks, then I'll paint them silver. Once thats done I'll hand paint the inner bits black like they were originally. Once thats done they'll get a few coats of laquer and be put in storage ready for tyres.

[Renrut]

Todays update focuses on the wheels. I gave them a prep and ready earlier in the week and tonight they got a coat of high build primer and the backs then got a coat of gloss black as it was the only black I had to hand. They look quite smart like that IMO but beige and green really don't go together so I'll carry on with the plan of painting the front side silver. Then they'll get a few coats of laquer to toughen them up and they'll be ready to stash away for when they're needed.

Now photos before anyone asks.

[Relentless Rob]

If the identification process is open to human error (bribery) you could get the OC representative to say she's a 71 so you don't have to rent the car from the DVLA.

[Renrut]

Not really open to human error as the proof would come from British Heritage Museum not the MGOC. If you've ever talked to them on the phone they're rather 'proper'. I suspect the guy I spoke to would never even consider doing anything 'improper', like leaving the house without his tie done up in a full windsor...

[OilyFingers]

You could always find a very rusty ringing kit (ahem) I mean donor from the bay.

This one is even the right colour

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MG-MIDGET-PRO ... 20c5c9628e

[Relentless Rob]

Not really open to human error as the proof would come from British Heritage Museum not the MGOC. If you've ever talked to them on the phone they're rather 'proper'. I suspect the guy I spoke to would never even consider doing anything 'improper', like leaving the house without his tie done up in a full windsor...

Ahh the flat cappers.

Kind of make you fell guilty that they're willing to help now but what you have planned for the car will make them choke on their pipes.

Silly suggestion, have you Googled the chassis number? If the car was owned by a member of the owners club the number plate chassis and spec' would be on their profile.

[Relentless Rob]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MG-MIDGET-PROJECT-/140757262990?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item20c5c9628e

That's looks salvageable and an original 1098 (with the correct rear arches retrofitted) would be worth a few grand if she was restored. Too rare to mess about with in my opinion.

[Renrut]

I've already been in contact with several of the owners clubs inc all the main ones, none have any record of it. Its a very late model 1500 so its not the obvious choice for an enthusiast so it was only a slight chance.

That ebay midget won't go for less than I paid for mine, I suspect it'll hit about £1k or that'll be the reserve at least. It would be cheaper to go the DVLA route than that one. And its a LOT more work than mine...

[Renrut]

I have been plundering!



Who says S-types have small bootys?

I got a free gearbox with it that will be going on Ebay tomorrow unless anyone on here wants a K series manual gearbox?

[Relentless Rob]

Oooh twin engine'd Jag'.

Can you harvest the bell housing from the gearbox and mount it to the one you're using in the car?

As far as paperwork issue. Does the car need to be road registered for track and hillclimb use?

[Renrut]

Would be easier with a 4wd X-type but might not be too hard as most of the bits should be there already

I'll have a look at the bellhousing in the morning but I don't think its a separate item.

And I don't want it *just* for hillclimb and track use, I want it as a road car too.

[Jaffa]

You could always find a very rusty ringing kit (ahem) I mean donor from the bay.

This one is even the right colour

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MG-MIDGET-PRO ... 20c5c9628e

He's already got a very rusty ringing kit, that why there is no ID, and plenty to throw a welder at.

[Renrut]

Why do people only want to talk about my rusty ring?

I suppose its possible its had its ID stolen in the past for something else BUT wouldn't they have taken the chassis plate too as that is still very much attached and still very much original looking?

Anyway worst case as I can prove I bought it in good faith from a reputable company I should be able to keep the car and only need to get a new registration from the DVLA after proof of age, MOT and a quick inspection etc. This might tot up to about £100 though which I'd rather put towards a big brake kit

[OilyFingers]

You've done it now! How many times: You can't mention rusty rings while Owelly is about. He's going to read that, get all excited and that will be that. No amount of Badger milk and Jaffa Cakes can help him come back down from orbit.

Does anyone know where I put the tranquiliser gun?