The Midget's exterior brightwork changed significantly between chrome-bumper (1967 to 1974) and rubber-bumper (1974 to 1979) models, with further changes within the chrome-bumper era as grille designs, badge styles, and body mouldings evolved across production. Identifying the correct specification by chassis number is essential, as the visual detail of the Midget changed more frequently than many owners realise.
Chrome Bumpers
Pre-1970 cars had a one-piece rear bumper with overriders; from 1970, a split two-piece rear bumper was fitted. The front bumper was a single-piece blade throughout the chrome-bumper era, mounted on a spring bar. All bumper blades, spring bars, overriders, overrider rubber inlay seals, mounting brackets, and fixings are available. A replacement spring bar is recommended if the bumper blade no longer sits to its correct curvature, a tired spring bar allows the blade to droop.
Towing eyes bolt to the front chassis brackets.
Rubber Bumpers
The 1500 (GAN6) rubber bumpers are polyurethane mouldings bonded to steel armatures with rivets. The front bumper incorporates integral indicator mounting brackets at each end, with the side lights relocated to the headlamp unit.
Replacement mouldings, armatures, clamping plates, rivets, and all mounting hardware are available.
Grille Variants
Three grille designs were used. The 1967 to 1969 grille uses individual vertical slats mounted on a frame, with a badge plinth fitted centrally, this is the most intricate and visually distinctive of the three designs. The 1970 to 1974 grille is an aluminium mesh finished in satin black, with moulding trims and a central badge plinth. The 1500 rubber-bumper car has a simpler black mesh grille fitted within the front valance aperture, primarily a stone guard for the radiator, since the rubber bumper arrangement made a cosmetic grille unnecessary.
Stainless steel mesh replacement grilles are available as an alternative for all three types.
Badges and Decals
MG boot badges changed across production. Early cars used a metal MG badge with spire-nut fixings, while later cars used a plastic badge in silver on black. The 1500 carried a metal gold-on-black octagonal MG badge. A separate "Midget" boot badge was also fitted.
Sill letter sets spelling "MIDGET" were introduced from the 1970 model year, using push-fix clips. British Leyland badges were fitted to both front wings up to GAN5-118598; from GAN5-118599 onward and on GAN6 models up to 1976, only one was fitted, on the passenger's wing. Complete decal sets matching each production period are available for owners restoring the full original badge and lettering complement.
Side Mouldings
Body side mouldings changed at the 1970 model year. Pre-1970 Midgets used upper side mouldings (waist mouldings) running along the mid-body line, plus a bonnet centre moulding (theoretically deleted from 1969 production). From the 1970 model year, all Sprites and Midgets switched to long one-piece lower mouldings separating the satin-black sills from the body colour above. The 1500 added short rear quarter mouldings connecting the sill moulding line to the black profile of the rear rubber bumper.
All moulding types are water traps, the panels behind them should be treated with rust preventative whenever the mouldings are removed.
Mirrors
Door-mounted mirrors are available in chrome, black, and torpedo styles. Wing-mounted mirrors in round, oval, and rectangular designs suit different production periods and personal preference. Mirror plinth kits are available for door mounting on cars where the original mounting holes have corroded. An overtaking mirror improves rearward visibility with the hood raised, where the standard interior mirror view is restricted.
Badge Bars, Boot Racks, and Accessories
Chrome badge bars and lamp bars provide mounting points for period driving lamps, fog lamps, and enamel badges. Boot racks in chrome and stainless offer additional luggage capacity for touring, a practical and period-correct accessory that suits the Midget's character particularly well on longer trips where the boot space is limited by the spare wheel and soft-top mechanism.