MG Midget 1500 (1980)
1980 MG Midget 1500
CarHunch analysed 1,142 real MOT records for the 1980 MG Midget 1500. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 1980 MG Midget 1500 is a significant reliability concern, with just 31% passing their MOT first time versus the UK average of 80%—this is a car that needs serious mechanical attention before test day. Dangerous defects show up in 11.2% of examples, which is above normal, so structural and safety issues are worth factoring into your inspection.
At nearly 54,000 miles average for a 44-year-old car, these Midgets have been treated reasonably well, but they average 1.14 failures and 3.1 advisories per test, pointing to wear across multiple systems rather than one critical weakness. If you're serious about buying one, budget for a pre-purchase inspection by a classic car specialist—the raw MOT data suggests most examples need sorting before they're safe and legal.
What to check before buying a 1980 MG Midget 1500
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
Before you buy a MG Midget 1500
MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (99%) | 1,130 | 30.5% | 1.15 |
| Other (1%) | 12 | 77.8% | 0.58 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 1980 MG Midget 1500 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 1980 MG Midget 1500 vehicles fall between 30,508 and 76,991 miles.
1980 MG Midget 1500 — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 34 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (19% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
MOT History Averages
Found a specific MG Midget 1500?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.