Description

1980 MG Midget 1500

Only 19,750 miles indicated, believed correct; three owners; very smart indeed

As the original Passport to Service book confirms, this lovely Midget 1500 was supplied new in November 1980 by R Garwood & Sons of London N16 to a Mrs M Jeanes of Hertfordshire who was to keep it for the next 31 years. Before she took delivery, Mrs Jeanes had the car professionally rust-proofed by Car Preservation Ltd and she also took advantage of Leyland Cars’ Supercover warranty which guaranteed her new Midget against any mechanical defects for 12 months.
Although there is very little early history with the car bar a couple of stamps in the book and a 3,000 mile service invoice, it would appear that Mrs Jeanes barely used the car because by the time she sold it in 2011 it was only showing some 18,200 miles on the clock. The new owner kept it for one year and also barely used it before selling it to the current keeper in 2012.
Various invoices show routine servicing over the next few years while six old MOTs show the mileage gradually creeping up to today’s total of 19,750. Although there is insufficient documentation to warrant this for certain, the overall condition of the car gives one no reason to doubt it and it really does look very tidy indeed. The black soft top is in very good condition while the hood bag and the tonneau cover look virtually unused so we doubt it has been out in the rain much either. Starting promptly and running nicely as we moved it around for these photos, it has an MOT to September 2021 with no advisories recorded.
Supplied with an original owner’s handbook, original sales brochure, two sets of keys and some interesting BL aftersales literature, it all adds up to a most appealing package which is sure to be of interest to any MG collector.
For more information contact James on 07970 309907 or email james.dennison@brightwells.com
MODEL HISTORY
Launched in 1961 with a comparatively weedy 948cc A-Series engine, the MG Midget was constantly revised over the next two decades, going through MkI, II and III stages before finally becoming the Midget 1500 in 1974.
The main distinguishing features of the last model were Rostyle wheels, a more modern interior, a higher ride height and new rubber bumpers to improve crash performance for the all-important US market. To compensate for the car's added weight, a new 65bhp 1,500cc engine was now standard which gave the car a top speed of just over the magic ton (101mph and 0-60 in 12.3 seconds), although it was so compact and engaging to drive that you always felt you were going twice at least twice as fast as you really were!
Costing £1,599, it remained a strong seller right up until production ceased in December 1979, by which time 72,289 examples of this last-of-the-line 1500 had found happy customers.