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the longest restoration ever #1
penguininn Evelyn F Dorchester, NH, USA 1973 MG Midget MkIII	Posted: May 15, 2012 11:40AM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 58

has got to be mine-I have had my 73 midget since 83, and it has been off the road & in the process since 93! Lost a few parts in a move & have been slowly working on it. Always on the back burner since we have a 79 on the road to have some fun with. The car has had all metal replaced where bad, been primed & jams painted since 97-needs finish paint & reassembly mostly. Since the ,motor & tranny are out we are going to replace the clutch-already had the flywheel resurfaced & replaced the ring gear last week. I'd really like to drive this car again! it wasn't a basket case when I started it all those years ago-life just kind of got in the way.

But my question is this-the car is orange, and has navy blue panels with black carpet. Our 79 has the autumn leaf interior ( that I refreshed with SEM vinyl dye palomino) with black carpet & I really like the look. Was that color interior offered with the orange exterior? Not that it really matters as I do not intend to ever sell the car, but just curious is all.
The car needs new carpet & seat covers anyway, so a good time to change. Thanks-you guys are always helpful!

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Re: the longest restoration ever #2
AmishIndy Seth Jones Wheaton, IL, USA 1971 MG Midget MkIII "Guenevire" 2007 Mazda 3 "Porco Rosso"	Posted: May 15, 2012 02:43PM Registered: 2 years ago Posts: 3,069

In reply to # 2068312 by penguininn has got to be mine-I have had my 73 midget since 83, and it has been off the road & in the process since 93! Lost a few parts in a move & have been slowly working on it. Always on the back burner since we have a 79 on the road to have some fun with. The car has had all metal replaced where bad, been primed & jams painted since 97-needs finish paint & reassembly mostly. Since the ,motor & tranny are out we are going to replace the clutch-already had the flywheel resurfaced & replaced the ring gear last week. I'd really like to drive this car again! it wasn't a basket case when I started it all those years ago-life just kind of got in the way.

But my question is this-the car is orange, and has navy blue panels with black carpet. Our 79 has the autumn leaf interior ( that I refreshed with SEM vinyl dye palomino) with black carpet & I really like the look. Was that color interior offered with the orange exterior? Not that it really matters as I do not intend to ever sell the car, but just curious is all.
The car needs new carpet & seat covers anyway, so a good time to change. Thanks-you guys are always helpful!

I seem to recall that terry horler says that color combo would have been availible with "orange" I am not sure if you mean blaze or bronze yellow.
first the bronze yellow

Next some blaze examples. Its a orangish red that fades to a reddish orange

Now lets look at the 1973 US sales brochure. Look at the bottom of page 6. A navy interior would have been standard with either blaze or bronze yellow. The pictures on pages 2 and 3 look pretty black but it says navy in the description. I don't know if that means that the vynyl faded a bit more than the carpet or if the carpet was always a black color.

http://www.spridgetguru.com/MGhaSalesLit_files/MG_Mdgt1072.pdf

Seth Jones

1971 MG Midget

www.SpridgetGuru.com

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Re: the longest restoration ever #3
bluemij Neil Janota No. IL, USA	Posted: May 15, 2012 04:22PM Registered: 3 years ago Posts: 150

A little one upsmanship: I garaged my '72 spridget in 1983, with a broken gearbox. Got back on the road in 2010, after a "while I have it apart, I might as well..." rebuild.

Basically, I ended up with a bare tub, and reassembled everything fresh, a little at a time, including cutting out and welding in rocker panels, A pillars, etc.

Lots of mods, and a hot 100+ HP motor! It's a blast!! Finally!!

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Re: the longest restoration ever #4
penguininn Evelyn F Dorchester, NH, USA 1973 MG Midget MkIII	Posted: May 15, 2012 04:27PM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 58

sorry-I guess my question may have been confusing-I know that my navy(yes, it does almost look black)interior is original. Black carpet was the offering too. But I would like to change to something more like the autumn leaf or biscuit panels & seat covers. I have the blaze color. The darker seats do get hot, and the other colors are more appealing to me.

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Re: the longest restoration ever #5
200mph Mike J Lake Norman, NC, USA 1965 Ford Ranchero 1967 Austin-Healey Sprite 1967 MG MGB 1969 Austin-Healey Sprite 1974 MG MGB → more	Posted: May 15, 2012 04:35PM Registered: 7 years ago Posts: 3,974

Regretfully, I'm a member of the same club. Started disassembling my '67 Spridget in the early 90's up in Conn. (I'm afraid to start combing through the receipts for the exact date).

A ground-up restoration, its yet to move under its own power again. All the bodywork and the engine are done, time to start reassembly. Someday soon, I hope.

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Re: the longest restoration ever #6
NOHOME Peter Plouf London, Canada 1961 Austin-Healey Sprite Bugeye "Lil" 1967 MG MGB GT "Maggie (GT From Hell)"	Posted: May 15, 2012 05:56PM Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 11,882

Evelyn:

I am going to do everythng in my power to make sure you keep the tittle for longest restoration. The bugeye has been off the road since 1971, but only in my hands for 8 years. I will do everything in my powers to get it done this calendar year so you can keep the tittle!

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Re: the longest restoration ever #7
refisk Rick Fisk Frankenmuth, Michigan, USA 1959 Austin-Healey Sprite 1961 Austin-Healey Sprite 1979 MG Midget 1500 "Party Midget"	Posted: May 15, 2012 08:22PM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 2,239

I've got all of you beat. I have a Bugeye that I stripped bare in January of 1970. I'm not done putting it back together yet. It's been moved 5 times, including one from California to Michigan. Life keeps getting in the way. eye popping smiley

Rick

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Re: the longest restoration ever #8
purpleGT Bud Osbourne Pittsburgh, PA., USA 1974 MG MGB GT "The Grape" 1977 MG MGB	Posted: May 15, 2012 08:40PM Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 2,207

In reply to # 2068820 by refisk I've got all of you beat. I have a Bugeye that I stripped bare in January of 1970. I'm not done putting it back together yet. It's been moved 5 times, including one from California to Michigan. Life keeps getting in the way. eye popping smiley

Rick

And I thought NO ONE was going to be able to top me winking smiley

I acquired my MkI Midget in 1980 and have never had it on the road (it was a complete, unmolested original, but badly rusted). There is a chance I'll have it finished and on the road sometime next year. But I don't think I'll even come close to Rick's record unless I die before it gets done.

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Re: the longest restoration ever #9
refisk Rick Fisk Frankenmuth, Michigan, USA 1959 Austin-Healey Sprite 1961 Austin-Healey Sprite 1979 MG Midget 1500 "Party Midget"	Posted: May 15, 2012 08:53PM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 2,239

In reply to # 2068833 by purpleGT

In reply to # 2068820 by refisk I've got all of you beat. I have a Bugeye that I stripped bare in January of 1970. I'm not done putting it back together yet. It's been moved 5 times, including one from California to Michigan. Life keeps getting in the way. eye popping smiley

Rick

And I thought NO ONE was going to be able to top me winking smiley

I acquired my MkI Midget in 1980 and have never had it on the road (it was a complete, unmolested original, but badly rusted). There is a chance I'll have it finished and on the road sometime next year. But I don't think I'll even come close to Rick's record unless I die before it gets done.

You want to know the really stupid thing about my 40 year odyessy? It's a California car with zero rust.

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Re: the longest restoration ever #10
purpleGT Bud Osbourne Pittsburgh, PA., USA 1974 MG MGB GT "The Grape" 1977 MG MGB	Posted: May 15, 2012 08:59PM Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 2,207

In reply to # 2068853 by refisk

In reply to # 2068833 by purpleGT

In reply to # 2068820 by refisk I've got all of you beat. I have a Bugeye that I stripped bare in January of 1970. I'm not done putting it back together yet. It's been moved 5 times, including one from California to Michigan. Life keeps getting in the way. eye popping smiley

Rick

And I thought NO ONE was going to be able to top me winking smiley

I acquired my MkI Midget in 1980 and have never had it on the road (it was a complete, unmolested original, but badly rusted). There is a chance I'll have it finished and on the road sometime next year. But I don't think I'll even come close to Rick's record unless I die before it gets done.

You want to know the really stupid thing about my 40 year odyessy? It's a California car with zero rust.

UHHHHH! Well, I have to applaud your honesty, Rick. Not too many of us would admit to that. I look forward to buying you a beer, one of these days, and hearing the whole, gory saga.

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Re: the longest restoration ever #11
penguininn Evelyn F Dorchester, NH, USA 1973 MG Midget MkIII	Posted: May 15, 2012 10:29PM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 58

well then-looks like I'm in good company! I used to take my niece to kindergarten in it-she turned 30 last year! I don't feel so bad now after hearing from all of you and I guess I won't be in last place if I get this done by next year. Of course now while the engine is still out we'll have a look at the oil pan & parts there-THEN it's time to put it back in the car. It is going in for paint sometime this summer, so we'd better get a move on! I have boxes & totes of new parts I've been collecting since '90-and 3 more midgets that came with plenty of extra parts, so I should be good to go.

but we digress-I'm still wondering if the blaze orange ever came with a biscuit or autumn leaf interior?

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Re: the longest restoration ever #12
midget73 Dwayne M knoxville, Tennessee, USA 1972 MG Midget MkIII "The Little Turd"	Posted: May 16, 2012 08:21AM Registered: 3 years ago Posts: 272

not me don't want a full blown restoration....fixing whats wrong,putting on a 40 ft paint job and gonna drive it......

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Re: the longest restoration ever #13
penguininn Evelyn F Dorchester, NH, USA 1973 MG Midget MkIII	Posted: May 16, 2012 08:45AM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 58

looks like navy blue or black were the interior color options with the blaze orange exterior for the 73 midget. Thanks to info from University Motors in MI, & Ken for sending me there!
Since the interior is going to be custom anyway, I'm going with bicuit.

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