1972 MG Midget MkIII
British Leyland made a significant visual change to their compact roadster in 1972, replacing the previous squared-off rear wheel openings with more attractive rounded arches.
This styling update, unique to the 1972–1974 “chrome bumper” Midgets (note: this example had its bumpers removed), gave the car a softer, more refined appearance before the design reverted to squared-off arches in 1975 with the introduction of rubber bumpers.
MG marketed the car as “the smallest real sports car,” priced at $2,520. The roadster featured black rocker panels with “Midget” spelled out in block letters, while 13-inch Rostyle mag wheels became standard equipment. The convertible top was finally a proper folding design rather than requiring complete removal and storage.
Power came from a 1275cc A-Series four-cylinder engine, essentially a detuned version of the Mini Cooper S powerplant. Output measured 55 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 67 lb-ft of torque at 3,250 rpm, delivering a top speed of 92 mph.
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