THE STAR CAR
The 2010 Star Car this time round is that most popular of
models, an MG Midget. Today, no different to when new, the Midget still
represents ‘the most fun on four wheels for the least money’,
and the car we have selected is a typically average 1972 MkIII £3,000
example, that can be found at almost any time of the year on the open market.
Advertised in Safety Fast!
by Club member, Robert Darke, from Southampton, the Blaze round-wheel-arch
car was collected and stored by Colin Pratt for a few weeks. Robert had
owned the car for five years undertaking the home restoration as he went
along. He’d taken part in many South East events during the time he
owned it, and had enjoyed both the car and Club membership immensely. On
a cold winter’s day, John Watson and Colin Grant collected the car
from Dorset, to arrive at Mike Authers, 80 miles later, without any problems.
Mike made all concerned very welcome and, following cups of tea and mince
pies, opened up his workshop, putting the car on the ramp, allowing all
the chance to have a good look around the new Star Car. It is typical of
a home-restored Midget, with a sound and solid body, tidy interior, a professionally
rebuilt engine
with just a few hundred miles on it, but not the best of paint jobs. It
came with seven months’ MOT and tax, is quite presentable and, as
mentioned, is a round-wheel-arch model, considered by many to be the most
desirable.
So what’s next? Well, Mike has offered to ‘shakedown’
the car and assess if anything needs attention from a mechanical perspective.
At the same time also checking it cosmetically. Once assessments have been
established, a call to Moss, one of the many companies anxious to get involved
with this fantastic project, will take place as they have offered to supply
parts. Then work can commence. The idea being to produce a car which any
enthusiast could develop, on a limited budget, to enjoy both on the road
and perhaps also in mild motorsport, track days, that sort of thing. To
that end, companies like British Heritage, Midland Classic Restorations
run by current Midget Challenge Champion Dominic Mooney, and Peter May Engineering
have very kindly offered to help. Likewise, Alan Goodwin at Aldon Engineering,
has offered to set the car up for us on the rollers after fitting one of
his Ignitor distributor systems. This level of commitment proving that Midgets
are seen as a true enthusiasts’ car, for which there is a strong following.
Other companies involved include PJM Trimmers and Midland Classic Trim.
As work progresses there will be full monthly reports, showing what is involved
and likely costs, invaluable information if you are considering a similar
project. Of course some lucky member is going to win the car, saving them
all the effort and cost! The car’s first public appearance will be
on the Club’s stand at Stoneleigh, before it sets out on a whole year
of publicity-raising events, during which the work will continue, again
shadowing and illustrating how the DIY enthusiast might go about things,
using the professionals, whilst also using the car. At this stage we have
to thank Colin Pratt, John Watson, Colin Grant, Mike Authers, Alan Goodwin,
Dominic Mooney, Peter May, Moss UK, and PJM for their support and backing.
This is truly a Club effort which is reflected in the enthusiasm shown so
far by all concerned.
Mike Authers (One of our Star Car Sponsors) ADVERTORIAL
Mike Authers was brought up in Abingdon and vividly remembers as a small
child watching new MGs being put through their road tests. He also recalls
seeing the export models being driven through the town to the railway station
and loaded onto the waiting trains bound for the docks. Although too young
to work at MG, Mike did belong to the MG factory sports club, as he shot
in their rifle team. Mike trained to be a Chartered Accountant in Abingdon,
but his love of cars finally took over and, in 1982, he gave up this reliable
and prosperous profession to focus on his hobby of restoring and selling
MG sports cars. For the last 15 years he has concentrated on MkI, II and
III Midgets and Sprites.
Safety Fast! Recently visited Mike Authers’ premises and managed to
ask the Midget expert a few questions.
Why specialise in the early Midgets? If you
believe in what you sell then you will be committed to selling a good product!
I’ve always liked Midgets, as they are fun little cars. If the car
is in good condition it is a delight to drive, with pin-sharp handling.
A good Midget should be light and responsive and corner precisely at virtually
any speed! The problem is most Midgets have, over time, lost this ‘magic’
as suspension bushes and shockers have deteriorated. It’s fairly simple
to replace all these parts and restore its handling again. Although I used
to sell lots of rubber-bumpered Midgets back in the 1980s, the demand has
completely changed around and now buyers want chrome-bumpered Midgets for
the styling and classic appeal. Also historic class for the road tax makes
a big difference for most of my customers. It’s much more difficult
to sell a 1973 or 1974 Midget. Midgets are simple and cheap to repair, making
them an ideal starter classic that can be run on a tight budget. The biggest
and most expensive restoration cost is the body-shell, therefore it’s
imperative to find a good shell. So many have been patched and bodged over
the years just to get them through MOTs. For this reason I like to have
Heritage-shelled Midgets in stock, sometimes the panel fit isn’t the
best but at least you have eliminated any rust problems, and a new shell
should last 20 to 30 years plus with regular waxoiling.
Over the years, which has been your most favourite
car that’s passed through your hands? Several Midgets come
to mind that I do regret selling; the good news is that I have bought them
back again when the owners’ circumstances have changed so I have had
the pleasure of them once again. We are all only custodians of a little
piece of history!
With the current climate do you find many cars heading
overseas? Yes, unfortunately. I think Europeans have always valued
MGs more than the British. What I mean is that they are quite willing to
pay good money for quality cars. This year, due to the weak pound, an awful
lot of MGs have gone abroad. I am not keen for this to happen as I would
rather they stay in the UK not only from a business point of view as I will
then get service work and maybe even the chance to re-buy the car in a few
years, but also because we are losing so many to Europe at the moment, which
will leave a shortage for UK buyers and push the prices up, which isn’t
good for genuine enthusiasts. I would like to see MGs stay affordable as
they always were.
Do you do ground up restorations or prepare race/track
day or rally cars, is all the work carried out in-house? I used to
do major restorations but they are extremely time-consuming and not
financially viable on cars I sell. I used to build several on Heritage shells
but would only break even on the parts costs! We generally only work on
my sales cars and existing customers’ cars. I don’t do any race
or track mods as there are people more knowledgeable than me in this area
who specialise in it. We all have our own expertise and I would rather recommend
them. We are quite busy enough preparing sales cars as I sell 40 to 50 a
year.
Have you developed any modifications for the Midgets?
I prefer Midgets that are in standard trim as they left the factory. I’m
not keen on five-speed gearboxes, etc. The limit of modifications I would
do to my own cars is perhaps add the later 3.7 diff to improve motorway
cruising. I do stock cars with fast road engines and suspension mods as
there is demand for these and some can be amazing to drive.
How many people are employed by Mike Authers?
It’s just me and a couple of part-time mechanics. Just dealing in
Midgets was never going to be a big business, but it’s nicer like
this and I can see to everything personally.
Do you do general servicing? Due to time restraints
I only offer this to my existing customers.
You are well regarded in the MG world as supplying
high-quality cars, what do you look for when buying a Midget? A good,
sound body-shell; it’s the crucial point with these cars. Mechanical
parts are quite simple to replace. We go through every car in the workshop
before it is sold and end up replacing so many parts that the previous owner
would not even have noticed. We sometimes have to repaint cars, replace
engines, gearboxes, etc. Suspension and brake rebuilds are very common even
on cars that look excellent. On average I spend over £1,000 on little
jobs to get the car in what I call ‘retail’ condition. My biggest
disappointment is the quality of many of the new parts available. Most are
not made to the same standard of quality as the original; they don’t
fit as per an original item and won’t last anywhere near as long.
They are built to a low price, which has dropped the quality. I’m
sure we would all prefer better quality at a higher price but this seems
difficult to get across to parts buyers. I’m always keen to buy properly
restored Midgets and Sprites and go all over the UK searching
for the best examples. So, if anyone is thinking of selling their car, please
get in touch.
Do you find people come back to you when looking for
a different Midget? Yes, a lot of customers might trade up to a better
Midget or fast road modified Midget or Sprite. I also buy back my cars from
owners who might stray to an MGB, etc! It’s nice to get back a car
I sold several years ago and see that they haven’t changed in condition
at all.
What do you think is the average age of your customers?
I would say 80% are in their sixties and seventies. They either had a Midget
when they were young and want to relive the fond memories they had or they
always wanted one when they were young but couldn’t afford one or
had young children at the time. Some buyers are buying for their 18-year-old
children off to university, lucky children! The parents had one when they
were students and they want their children to have similar experiences.
Mike Authers Classics
Bramble Grange, Hanney Road
Steventon, Abingdon
OX13 6AP
01235 834664
07703 465224
www.mgmidgets.com
