The Austin-Healey Sprite in a different grille — until July 1971, when the Sprite stopped and the Midget carried on alone.
The trap on this car is that October 1962 and early 1964 are two different change points, and people conflate them. In October 1962 the engine went from 948cc to 1,098cc and front disc brakes replaced the drums — so a 948cc Midget is a four-drum car, and a 1963 car has discs. Then at the Mk II in early 1964 the rear springs changed from quarter-elliptic to semi-elliptic, and with the same change came wind-up windows, opening quarter-lights, exterior door handles and separate locks, and a curved windscreen in place of the flat one. So a 1963 Midget has front discs and quarter-elliptic rear springs at the same time. Door glass, door seals, quarter-light seals and windscreen glass all split at the Mk II, chassis prefix GAN3.
After that it is straightforward. 1,275cc from October 1966 with the Mk III, which also changed the hood from fully removable to folding. Round wheel arches from May 1971 to October 1974. Then the 1500 of late 1974, which is the odd one out of the whole line: a 1,493cc Triumph Standard SC engine, an all-synchromesh four-speed box, large black rubber bumpers and a raised ride height. Production ended on 7 December 1979. On the Sprite question: Midget Mk I, II and III are the Austin-Healey Sprite Mk II, III and IV, differing only in grille, badges, trim and instruments. The Healey royalty expired at the end of 1970, the last 1,022 Sprites were badged Austin Sprite, and from July 1971 there is no Sprite equivalent at all.
MG Midget — specification & changes within the model
- Chassis prefixes
-
GAN1 Mk I, Mar 1961–Oct 1962 · GAN2 Mk I, Oct 1962–Mar 1964 · GAN3 Mk II, Jan 1964–Sep 1966 · GAN4 Mk III, Oct 1966–Oct 1969 · GAN5 Mk III, Sep 1969–Nov 1974 · GAN6 1500, Nov 1974–Dec 1979.
- Engines
-
948cc from 1961 · 1,098cc from October 1962 · 1,275cc from October 1966 · 1,493cc Triumph from late 1974.
- Front discs
-
October 1962, with the 1,098cc engine, at the GAN1 to GAN2 change. A 948cc Midget is a four-drum car. Rear drums stay 7in throughout.
- Rear springs
-
Quarter-elliptic to semi-elliptic at the Mk II, GAN3, early 1964 — NOT at the 1962 brake change. Mk I cars run quarter-elliptic with trailing arms.
- Doors and glass
-
Mk II, 1964: wind-up windows, opening quarter-lights, exterior door handles and separate locks, curved windscreen. Mk I doors have no external handles or locks. Door glass, door seals, quarter-light seals and screen glass all split here.
- Later changes
- Mk III 1966: hood becomes folding rather than fully removable. Round wheel arches May 1971 to October 1974.
- The 1500
- From late 1974 (1975 model year) to 7 December 1979. 1,493cc Triumph Standard SC engine, 66bhp, all-synchromesh four-speed. Rubber bumpers and raised ride height. 72,289 built. Sources disagree on whether the gearbox is Spitfire or a modified Marina unit — identify the box on the car before ordering internals.
- Sprite crossover
-
Midget Mk I = Sprite Mk II · Midget Mk II = Sprite Mk III · Midget Mk III = Sprite Mk IV. Grille, badges, trim and instruments differ; everything mechanical matches. July 1971 is the split — nothing after that has a Sprite application.
- Electrics
- Alternators are reported from 1973, on a single source and with no chassis number — treat it as a guide, not a fact. Polarity: check your own car.
