Faults:

It's an old car so the usual things have needed doing: brakes, shocks, etc.

Had a gold seal recon engine just before I got it, but in the 30000 miles I've done in it over the last few years, its never broken down or so much as misfired.

Bodywork needed some work though, new sills, front wings (VERY Expensive!), and some work on rear arches.

Fitted new mohair hood as well, as original plastice one was worn out, which was cheap and not too tricky to fit.

Also use a hard top in the winter, which helps (a little) with the Midgets main problem of letting in water from just about everywhere.

General Comments:

Drives like a dodgem car, steering is so direct that to begin with you feel as though you are going to drive into a field on the next turn.

Once you get used to it though, its great fun. You're so low to the ground, you feel as though you're doing 100mph when the Lada just behind reminds you that you're only doing 30.

Heaters are phenomenal.

Perfect for sunny days with the top down on a windy country lane. Although I've driven mine to Scotland and back on motorways - I'm the first to admit that its not ideal for that!!

Faults:

Probably easier to list what didn't go wrong. This one had been professionally bodged by an alleged restoration company "Enigma Restorations" in Lancashire. Repairs included a rolled up copy of the Sun (Newspaper) in one A pillar and lots of filler with iron filings (so you can't tell that it's filler with a magnet).

Knew the 1500 engine well since I had a couple of Triumphs. Engine is no problem as long as the radiator and water pump are clean and working. This one also had an oil cooler.

The only problem with the engine was blowing a piston ring at 80,000 miles - a fairly common problem and not that difficult to fix. It always got me home which is more than I can say for my Golf!

Did a lot of welding underneath including floor pan and an inner sill.

Replaced the front dampers for uprated ones and a thicker anti-roll bar. This improved matteres drastically. Also lowered the suspension by 1/2 inch. It already had telescopic shock on the rear and I put slightly larger tyres on.

Also replaced all the flexible brake lines and one cylinder.

The hood leaked as did the drivers footwell until I welded up the hole under the front wing!

Replaced most of the small suspension parts including bushes and bearings.

General Comments:

It was good fun and actually not too unreliable really. Never had too many problems getting it through the MOT.

It went quite well with some K&N filters and a gas flowed exhaust & manifold plus the suspension mods.

Could frighten an XR3 up to 40 mph, but a bit low geared for the motorway really.

It was good fun at the time, but I wouldn't want to do it again.

You have to bear in mind that it was built at a time when BL employees spent more time holding placards outside the gates than they did building cars. I now have an MX5 which is utterly reliable.