LOT 476

1979 MG Midget 1500 Roadster Registration no. not registered Chassis no. GAN6 229 488 9

Estimate: £25,000 - £30,000

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Lot 476

Only 38 Miles from new
1979 MG Midget 1500 Roadster

The Beaulieu Sale: Collectors' Motor Cars & Automobilia|6 September 2025, 13:00 BST|Beaulieu, National Motor Museum

1979 MG Midget 1500 Roadster
Registration no. not registered
Chassis no. GAN6 229 488 9

• Limited edition model from the final year of production
• Never registered
• Circa 38 miles from new

An MG with its origins in the 'frog-eyed' Austin-Healey Sprite, the final version of the Midget first appeared in July 1961, one month after the launch of its restyled progenitor, sharing the same bodyshell and mechanical underpinnings with only badges, trim details and price differentiating the two.

Introduced in 1974, the new Midget 1500 was readily distinguishable from its predecessor by the impact-resistant '5mph' bumpers required for the USA, while beneath the skin there was a Morris Marina all-synchromesh gearbox. The adoption of head restraints, inertia-reel seatbelts, and dual-circuit braking were among improvements made before production ceased in November 1979. When British Leyland decided that the Midget was to be no more, they made a limited-edition run of 'black on black' cars to commemorate the 'death' of the model. These cars displayed a '1929-1979' badge on the dashboard.

This limited-edition Midget was purchased new directly from the factory by the former owners, who were MG dealers at the time, and was kept in storage as part of their private collection for 39 years before being acquired by the present owner in 2017, when the car was fitted with new/original brake discs, brake master cylinder, clutch master cylinder, oil filter, points, condenser, rotor arm and all new fuel pipes, completed with an oil, brake and fluids change. Never registered, this Midget has never been on the road and has covered only 38 miles from new. It comes complete with spare wheel, tool kit, jack, tonneau cover, and radio fitting kit, just as it was delivered to the dealer by the factory.

Saleroom notices

Please be advised that the correct chassis number for this should read GAN6/218113-G. In addition, while the car remains unregistered and with 45 miles showing on the odometer, the final paragraph of our description is incorrect. The car is offered with its original Bill of Sale and period correspondence to corroborate the un-registered status and consequently the mileage.

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