Why a register

Why is there an MG Midget Register? 

When the original registers were set up, the first more than forty years ago, they were done so for three main reasons.  Firstly to help owners source those parts no longer available from MG or any other supplier, and thereby enabling existing cars to remain on the road.  Secondly, to help owners with information on how to maintain those cars, and finally to keep information on, and the known whereabouts of, all existing models of a certain type.  With these objectives the first register (triple-M) was formed in the early nineteen sixties, followed later by the Vintage,T-type, SVW, MGA and Z types.  By the late seventies however certain parts for the earliest MGB's and Midget's were becoming scarce also and so registers for both these types were originated too, although there was some strong resistance at the time, for many felt there simply was no point in having registers for what were then, current models.   Over time the supply of parts of course improved dramatically for all MG models, and so the sourcing of parts largely became unnecessary, although there are still certain triple-M & Vintage parts that are still very hard to find or get made.   So the often asked question, "what purpose is actually served by the Registers" is a very good one, given that largely the first and main reason for their very existence, is no longer relevant.  

The members of the MG Midget Register Committee do their very best however to hold fast to those original intentions, with some excellent individuals holding the important posts.  We have the very knowledgeable Mark Boldry as technical rep for example, to uphold our trouble shooting obligations, he can give sound advise on just about any aspect of maintenance, and where to find genuine parts at good prices.  Nigel Pratt  keeps detailed records of those cars registered and monitor's their movements extremely well, although with nigh on 360,000 Spridgets made, we are unlikely to ever know the whereabouts or fate of them all.  We also keep much in the way of historical documentation on the model. Furthermore along with other Registers we organise social gatherings for like minded owners, and offer a small amount of regalia.  

We intend starting in 2007 the running of an annual "Car Of The Year"  (COTY) award, which will be open to any member with a Spridget, who uses his car in any form of MGCC club activity.  A full list of qualifying events and the point scoring details will be listed in the January edition of Safety Fast.  We send to members a membership certificate in return for an SAE, just inform Nigel Pratt, and ensure that the details we have for your car are accurate if you would like one, and we are going to launch a new method of communication by contacting those members with e-mail of coming events by this method, if they would like us to do so.  The web site, which was re-launched in early 2006, is improving all the time and members will soon be able to look into the history of their car via the site.

To sum up then, the Register is in essence really nothing more than that, a list of the surviving MG Midgets (and a good few AH Sprites), produced between 1958 and 1979.  The aims are to maintain a record of ownership so that future owners can trace a cars history, and also to preserve and maintain those cars for future generations.  That is why the register exists.    Abingdon provided these superb little cars for our enjoyment and it is the Registers intention to help ensure that their owners can continue to use them, unhindered, as they were originally intended.

Dennis Wharf
MGCC MG Midget Register Chairman