The MG Midget is a classic British small two-seater, lightweight sports car produced by MG from 1961 to 1979. It revived a name that had been used on earlier models such as the MG M-type, MG D-type, MG J-type and MG T-type. It was a lightweight, two-seater roadster with a fiberglass body and a rear-mounted engine. The MG Midget had several versions, each with different features and specifications. Some of the most popular models are the MkI, MkII, MkIII, and MkIV.

The MG Midget is known for its distinctive design, agile handling, and fun-to-drive character. It was also featured in several movies and TV shows, such as The Italian Job, The Saint, and The Persuaders. The MG Midget is still admired by many enthusiasts today, who appreciate its charm and simplicity.

MG Midget MkIII (1966–74)

The engine 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 bhp (57 kW) at 5800 rpm Cooper ‘S’ engine, giving only 65 hp (48 kW) at 6000 rpm and 72 lb⋅ft (98 N⋅m) at 3000 rpm. A reduced compression ratio of 8.8:1 was used instead of the 9.75:1 employed on the Cooper S engine.

The Midget used the 12G940 cylinder head casting that was common to other BMC 1300 cars, whereas the Cooper ‘S’ had a special head with not only larger inlet, but also larger exhaust valves; however, these exhaust valves caused many ‘S’ heads to fail through cracking between the valve seats.

The detuned engine was used for reasons of model range placement – with the Cooper ‘S’ spec engine, the Midget could have been faster than the more expensive MGB. The hydraulic system gained a separate master cylinder for the clutch. The hood was now permanently attached to the car, with an improved mechanism making it much easier to use.