Midas Bronze PNV 617Y

[Citizen]

Hi guys!

I'm new to the forum but Ive always been a bit of a classic car nut - coming out from playing pool with some friends today I spotted this behind a fence in the yard of an old garage:

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I had no idea what it was so took a photo, with some research I found that it was a midas bronze, dvla info below:

Dvla info

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The dvla also said that it was untaxed at the moment, having last been taxes in 2010. I did a little bit more and found a photo of the car online (http://www.classic-kitcars.com/classic- ... ils.php?64) can anyone tell me anything else about this car at all? Never see one before, never even heard of midas before today! All the best guys!

[Stuart]

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That particular car is quite famous. Check out the Motor magazine articles that can be downloaded here

http://midas.orba-design.com/index.php? ... nze+mk2%2F

[Citizen]

Wow so this was Russell Bulgin's former car? That's quite surprising to say the least! Looks like its had a rough time since 1983 though and looks very sad in its current condition - the jury-rigged, two-tone light stalks on the front really spoil the look of the car. Is it the Gold model or is it a Bronze by the way? I've seen it listed under both.

I never said either, but the car was found in Hucknall, Nottinghamshire. I can't say for certain but I believe the photo I found on the kit-car website was taken at the 2008 Stoneleigh kit-car show, which if I'm right is a bit of a distance away from its current resting place. If I've got time before work tomorrow I might pop back up and ask a little about it, there's definitely history here and I'm pretty interested to say the least!

[Stuart]

At the time the Midas MK 2 was available they were marketed as Silver and Gold, the latter being an almost complete car like the one Russell built for the Motor magazine article.
The later mk 3 Metro based Midas then became known as the Midas Gold, at the same time the mk 2 gained the Bronze name along with face-lifted bumpers.

Adrian Dodd owned the car when it was photographed at Stoneleigh.

I have no idea why the photos are showing upside down.

[Citizen]

Thanks for the clarification!

I took the photo and posted it here on my iPhone, I'm guessing that's got something to do with it! I've corrected it now I think

[Stuart]

Yes it's the right way now. That car and magazine articles were the main inspiration for me to go onto buying my first Midas, I still own it 25 years later. Rather sadly it is in an even worse state than the Bulgin car.

Good luck if you fancy buying it and returning it to its former glory.

[mikeeskriett]

Good to see the old girl again and also good to see it still has the "Thompsons Super Shed" badge on the nose

The odd thing with the car is that mechanically it was possibly the best maintained Midas out there when Adrian had it despite never having been washed in his ownership. I did feel sorry for it one year while he was on holiday and washed it and painted the bumpers and wheels. I'm trying to remember the exact figure but when it had the new 1380 eco motor he built in it he got something like 63mpg out of it.

From memory it was only sold because lifting engine blocks an gearboxes into the boot was giving Adrian back trouble. It was one of my favourite of Adrians nippy sheds only pipped at the post by the MG powered Metro 310 van.