Big money, low-mileage MG smashes records
An unregistered MG Midget with just 35 miles on the clock smashed both of its pre-sale estimates and model records at Bonhams’ Goodwood Festival of Speed sale on 30 June.
The 1979 Midget 1500 sold for £28,750, nearly tripling its £10k pre-sale lower estimate.
A former MG dealer bought the rare black-on-black anniversary model – which commemorated the end of Midget production – before storing it for 39 years. It had never once been on the road.
Bonhams’ auctioneer, Sholto Gilbertson, says: ‘For a piece to exceed estimate at auction is always great for the vendor, but to set a world record is even more exciting. It just goes to show that there are buyers prepared to spend great sums of money on the very best examples of popular marques.
‘This Midget was almost factory fresh – it was beautiful, a truly time-warp example of a limited-edition model.’
No doubt, the Midget benefitted from the grass-roots audience at the Festival of Speed. CCW markets editor, Richard Barnett, reckons that this was the perfect venue for the MG and that it could have fetched far less had the vendor not chosen so wisely.
He says: ‘It’s was a big sale with exactly the right sort of enthusiasts in the crowd. It’s clear just how much people love MGs when you consider what else you could get for £28,000.
‘I’m sure it’s not the only deliverymileage Midget out there, though.’