2013-11-05

For sale: Midas Mark 3 Convertible.

Reluctantly, the time has now come to sell my Midas Mark 3 convertible. Whilst a much beloved car, unfortunately I now have too many treasured models and I need to make some space! This is a very reluctant sale!
When I purchased the car in 2005, I had long been scouring EBay for that rarity of a Midas in cracking condition, and with this one I hit the jackpot. The body then was near perfect and is still in the same condition today. It’s a beautiful, full fat, Devonshire clotted cream colour. To top it off, the car comes complete with both a good hood and a hard top. (The hard top has only had minimal use and needs trimmed with a headlining, which it has never had fitted.)
Over the eight years I have owned the car I have enjoyed tinkering with her and in the process every one of the mechanical components has been renewed. These include new wheel bearings all round, the entire front ball joints, track rod ends, new front callipers, disks and pads, a new correct for the car, mild steel exhaust from Maniflow. She’s had a new starter motor, a brand new up rated alternator, which was fitted in anticipation of fitting a heated front screen. Last year, she also had a new battery. I’ve definitely treated her to all of life’s luxuries!
Despite all her upgrades, the engine is the original 998cc unit which came from the original 1987 Metro from which the car was constructed. For added authenticity, the car also retained its original registration number rather than a ‘Q’ plate and this registration number starts with an ‘E’. The engine itself runs exceptionally well and does not even dirty the oil. However, if you fancy an upgrade, I am including with the car an MG Metro 1275cc engine and gearbox. If that wasn’t enough, you also get a complete front subframe assembly, complete with driveshaft’s, brakes etc. (Now you see why I was running out of space!). I’ll also throw in a brand new steering rack. So her lucky new owner will have a choice of engines, (the performance of the 1275 or the economy of the 998 engine) and an (almost) complete set of spares. The rear subframe was changed, a good rear subframe was obtained, and it was the modified by me, as detailed in the Midas magazine in my article ‘Necessity: The Mother of Invention’ contained within The Golden Touch magazine found here:
http://midasownersclub.co.uk/archive/mcf01magazine.pdf
. The subframe as you will see in the magazine article was shot blasted and powder coated in black. I changed the suspension from ‘Hydrogas’ to coilovers, making special stub axles to accommodate the suspension adding new coilovers and springs. I also purchased new radius arms, so the whole rear subframe has been refurbished as well. The wheels have been refurbished and have been fitted with new tyres. I’ve also fitted an MGF fuel filler cap, to tidy up that area.
Having updated the mechanics of the car, my next project was her interior – something which could be finished off by her new owner to put their own individual stamp on the car. I’ve fitted Mazda MX 5 seats into the car, details on the forum:

viewtopic.php?f=54&t=1145&hilit=mx5+seats

These seats have speakers in the headrests, which I’ve not yet got round to wiring up. To complement these speakers I’ve fitted a modern “Bluetooth “radio, which is also has CD player and has the benefit of being able to play your own selection of music via a USB stick or SD card. You can actually hold a conversation on the hands free system up to speeds of about 60MPH! I must admit that the interior of the car in need of a little tlc, but this is probably the only area which the new owner would need to spend some money. Oh, and a confession - the window winders aren’t at their best, but this happens to us all with age! These few jobs on the interior are well within the capabilities of most would-be ‘Kit Car’ owners, giving you an exciting opportunity to personalise the car to your individual tastes. There is a vast range of new seat covers available for the MX 5 seats which I’m sure you’ll have great fun investigating, and you could probably get the door cards, etc, covered to match the seats.
The car has a current M.O.T., but is declared S.O.R.N. at the moment and the car is stored in a garage, as it has been all of its life and is located in the Newcastle upon Tyne area. The car could be taxed and you could drive it home, but you would need a van for the spare engine and subframe.
The asking price is £2750. As every component has been renewed, in the long term, this will be a cheap car. Following in the original Midas ethos that you may be paying a little more, but you’ll have less work to do and more time spent enjoying the car, as detailed in the original 1983 advert below:
If anyone is interested in the vehicle, or has any questions about the car, I’d be delighted to speak to you. Please PM me for a telephone number, or an email address. I’d love the car to go to a Midas enthusiast like myself, so am offering the car on the Midas Cars Forum first, and will then advertise the car nationally. I’m sure she has plenty more adventures left in her yet.







And just some nice photos, with hills for our Dutch friends.

Regards Alan D.

Statistics: Posted by Alan D. — Tue Nov 05, 2013 9:30 am

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