MG Midget - Retro Cars

[GT]

On page 18 of February's Retro Cars magazine, there is a picture and breif caption in the bottom left corner of a rather nice looking MG Midget!

Its finished in a colour not disimilar to Trophy Blue, big modern alloys, funky looking wide arches a rear spoiler, twin oval exhausts (ZT260-esque), an alloy fuel filler cap, brushed aluminium side sill finishers and a lush leather interior!

But thats not the best thing about this Midget... that would be the neatly fitted Rover V8 mounted up front :D

I dont know if anyone recalls the Rover V8 fitted to a black MG-Midget on ebay a few years ago, but that had quite a significant and unsightly fireglass bonnet 'buldge' (read, large plastic 'heap' slapped in front of the windscreen to obstruct the view), but this is done rather tastefully with an MGC style buldge.

This, coupled with the hardtop thread raised by Zamo and I find myself steering well away from the BGT and going the Midget route as a future classic!

Does anyone know any more or have any better pictures of this particular MG Midget?

[MartinW]

Whoa, must dash out and get my copy! Yup, I recall the monstrosity in black in North Wales that was for sale, actually monstrosity is a poor way to describe it as in fairness it was really only the bonnet that let it down.

[GT]

Its not a full article, just 2 small-ish pictures a few inches big on a double page photo-spread about the Classic Car Show at the NEC last november.

There are 2 Rover V8 powered beasts in there though, a mk1 Ford Escort and a VX Chevette!

[zamo]

it looks great.have you seen what is in nexts months? t/b mgb gt with a 4.0 up front:yikes:

[MartinW]

Just had a quick scan - nice Midget, and that BGT 4.0 looks nice!

Hmm...still tempted by a BGT V6 :)

[zamo]

ive got an offer for a ford essex v6 to put in the gt but not sure how much work would be involved

[MartinW]

Andrew
The V6 into MGB is fairly common in the US using Chev engines, IIRC. I am not on broadband (GPRS at the minute) but I will look up a few sites for you. The problem is the width of the block, is it a narrow angle Vee or a 90° Vee. If a wide angle the heads may foul the inner wings. However, being only three cylinders, and not an inline 4 or 6, you should be able to mount the engine quite a bit further back to improve weight distribution. Also, the Type 9 Ford gearbox is a common 5-spd conversion on the B already.

[zamo]

not sure if there is a gear box with it,a friend of mine bought a landrover pickup which has the same engine in it i think its a 2.8 v6 from a capri and it came with a spear engine in the back of the pick up.also came with lpg convertion but that has been disconnected and i think the tank is for sale if anyone is after one

[The Outlaw]

a V6 would require considerable work. Assuming you have a rubber bumpered MGB then the Rover V8 (which is a lot lighter than the V6 essex or cologne engine) will slot straight in