For seventeen years the long-winded battle between the MG Midget and Triumph Spitfire raged on. Battling for that lucrative share of the American car market and ruling Britannia in their swathes, the frosty atmosphere between MG and Triumph owners continues to lash the classic car world with smug glorying and biased flippancy. Time to put this fight to bed.
If you are looking to win this ever-running war with sales figures, think again. The Spitfire may have outsold the Midget, but if you throw the Midget figures into the numbers of identical Austin-Healey Sprites then the pendulum swings back the other way. Reviewers don’t help matters with one appraisal favouring the Triumph and another in favour of the Midget. Time to roll the sleeves up and get to work…
The Looks
The MG carries its diminutive size well, with no extra curves or flair than required. It’s a clean shape with tight shutlines and, in the correct guise, decorated with chrome complimenting the petite togetherness. Rubber bumpered examples have the grace stripped from them and often look ungainly and gawping. Rounder wheel-arches were introduced as time went on, with the contrasting aluminium screen sealing the package - and taking your attention away from the rather high waistline.
The Spitfire is certainly curvier and strikes the viewer as being more modern, with raised bumpers working their way in for post-1967 models. The soft top on the Triumph appears to sit with more ease, but it is seriously let down by the insane panel gaps that make themselves apparent anywhere they can. That said, the Spitfire is hardly a travesty on the eyes and even after nearly half a century, can still leave you gasping for ownership on looks alone.
The Power
The Midget offers up 65bhp alongside a top speed of 93mph, with 60mph topped in 13.8 seconds. The Spitfire can hit 60mph in 14 seconds paired with a top speed of 95mph from 75bhp. Neither are what you would call ‘fast’, but these cars aren’t about straight line speed - it’s all about smoothness. And they definably are, but in a drag race it’s the Midget that clinches the race. For top speed and more power, however we have to give this round to the Spitfire.
The Handling
There are no fancy tricks here. The Midget uses a simple wishbone set up at the front with a live axle on leaf springs at the back. This may sound dated, and we guess it is, but by this point the MG boffins had the technology perfected and the Midget therefore corners predictably and with gusto. Providing excellent feedback and lively chuckability, you can place the MG exactly where you want it and repeatedly take it to the edge of its ability without spinning backwards through the pearly gates on fire.
The Spitfire is infamous for cocking a leg when thrown about in a brutal fashion. The suspension on pre-MK4 models with their tucked in rear wheels could often lead to skittish situations to make your heart stop, but driven properly and without lead feet the Spitfire transforms into an elegant cruiser going where you want it to without fuss in an easy going manner.
The Spitfire’s all-independent suspension should offer advancement over the Midgets live rear axle, but except for a smoother ride there is little other benefit on the road.
The Interior
The Spitfire is clearly styled to a higher specification, symmetry being the order of the day. The Midget harks back to an earlier time and offers more for the driving enthusiast, with the steering wheel close to your chest and a lack of clutter to distract your from the road.
The Midgets pedals are offset to the right, but not as far as they are in the Spitfire. The Spitfire holds the extra benefit of a clutch-foot rest and the ability to offer more space to those over 5ft 8in.
Both are exciting places to sit and offer the same level of comfort, leaving this round firmly stalemate.
Living With Them
Parts are cheap, running costs aren’t expensive and there are great owners clubs to join. They are also strangely practical for two people with a useable boot and a soft-top unlikely to cause a brain meltdown when fitting.
They will both require TLC and storage over the winter with everyday use or overly long journeys likely to lead into overheating issues, but if you treat them fairly, you will have a traveling companion for life.
Summary
Both provide a full sensory driving experience without pushing your licence into points territory or plummeting your bank balance into negative figures. Few cars are able to survive a thrashing like these two can, with pedigree and excitement bred into the frame to offer machines destined to spread that grin ear-to-ear. Any petrol head would gladly home both, but if we have to pick a winner then there is a sly champion to be found between the pair.
Each car provides ideal low-cost classic car ownership, but the bright and breezy Midget edges it ever-so-slightly further to claim the top spot.