The Midget is one of those classics which can offer something for everyone. In standard form it’s an ideal first classic with budget insurance for the younger driver and a size small enough to squeeze into the most cluttered garages. In modified form though, it can be everything from a fast road weekend plaything to a Caterham-baiting lightweight rocket: specialist Frontline Developments has completed road cars for customers packing over 240 bhp thanks to a K-Series engine transplant.

It’s sensible to start with the basics though and in the case of the Midget, just like its bigger brother the MGB, this means updating the suspension. There’s nothing fundamentally wrong with the basic set-up, which is just that: basic, using a live rear axle and leaf springs. It’s more the details which let it down, specifically the lever-arm dampers and the raised ride height on the rubber-bumpered 1500 cars.

Converting to telescopic dampers makes a big difference and will create a car far more confidence-inspiring and ultimately faster than asking a standard car to cope with  more power.

There are several telescopic conversions on the market and the Frontline kit allows the job to be done without any chassis or body mods: a replacement upper arm is installed which forms the top mount of the telescopic damper. Going telescopic at the rear can then be achieved in a number of ways but the ideal approach is to position the damper vertically and again, Frontline can supply a kit.

PRODUCED:     1961-1979
ENGINE:     1275cc 4 cyl
PRICES:     £500 (tatty) to £5000
UPSIDE:     Back to basics fun
DOWNSIDE:     It really is pretty small
WHY YOU WANT ONE:
It’s a DIY tinkerer’s dream
CLUBS:
MG Car Club   
www.mgcc.co.uk
MG Owners’ Club   
www.mgownersclub.co.uk
SPECIALISTS:
Frontline Developments    
01235 832632
www.frontlinedevelopments.com
Moss Europe    
020 8867 2020
www.moss-europe.co.uk

PARTS PRICES:
Telescopic damper conversion (rear)    £225
Telescopic damper conversion (front)    £540
Uprated front brake kit    £460
Lowered springs (front)    £62
Lowered springs (rear)    £100
Prices inclusive of VAT

Read the full article in the March 2012 issue of Classic Car Mart - available to buy here.