1969 JC Midge "The Whippet"

[Sophers]

Yet another car to add to the 'fleet'!


I wasn't looking for another project but this was too cool/good to pass up.

I went to a local furniture/tat auction, been going for the last few weeks. Just because I wish I was David Dickinson (tan n all) ;D

So I turned up for the viewing day last Tuesday and took a shine to a couple of cars in the sale. Although to be sold without reserve I was certain they would soar up over anything I could afford.



AUCTION DAY: Up bright n early as the cars were going through first...


The one I really fancied was Lot number 1.


Yep, now in my possession ;D


So bidding started at £2000 auctioneers were stunned no-one bit. Down to £1500, surely its worth £1000 he said.

Now down to £500...I bit. Someone then pipped in and I got it for £900. Which in my opinion is a real bobby dazzler! (sorry)


So what did I win?

[Sophers]

So I got on the phone to try to arrange a trailer.

Luckily my gramp was chatting to a farmer mate of his who knew someone with a trailer and could do it for £60 that afternoon, winner!


So with that arranged I could relax. Popped back over to the auction house to take off anything that was or could come loose in transit.




Brand new seats were the pirched inside some I popped them in dads Volvo, along with several boxes of parts.






Now ready for the trailer.







The chap with the trailer wasn't on time. He said he'd ring up before he left and it was now half an hour after he said he'd be there.

I tried ringing him a few times and his phone was busy. Damn!



As I was running out of credit I rang my gran to keep trying him. She eventually got though and bollocked him. Good ol' gran. ;D

Auction house was about to close and the trailer chap said he'd be there at 5.45pm.


So we pushed 'The Whippet' out of the compound and waited for him to arrive.

[Sophers]

20mins after we pushed it out he arrived! Thank god he didn't let me down ;D


Now all loaded up it was time to go home.





and home.


Just before it really started to rain.




After having a good look through all the parts it seems 90% of it is all there to complete the car.

I even found the original patented plans for the car, which will come in handy at some point I'm sure! ;D



The plan is to keep the aluminium body, no paint.
I also hope to have this at the gathering this year.

I would love for my Morris to be there but as its got stupid rare parts, I feel it will take longer to get it reliable enough for the 60odd mile trip.
Time will tell.


Thanks for looking ;D

[chrisdcapri]

Wow, that's all kinds of awesome-ness, what engine is it running?
That'd be proper fun to take up the hill at Prescott

[Sophers]

Truimph Herald ;D

[MrSpeedy]

Herald chassis to

Who's body is it, or is it a 'special'?

[Sophers]

Indeed it is ;D


The body is called a Midge.


From 1985

All made from scratch. I have a folder full of diagrams for making/designing the panels ect.


Wiki: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JC_Midge


Whoever built this car has done it to a great standard, no expense spared by the looks of the receipts/history.


Forgot to mention the two cars were put into the auction by bailiffs.

[ettorebugatti]

Looks like a lot of fun!

Is it possible to put 16" wire wheels on these?

[mylittletony]

Now that is a flipping barg!! Looking forward to seeing in August!

[MrSpeedy]

Ah, a Midge. I've heard of them, but that's all.

Might I suggest some lighter springs, cos she's sitting awefully high with that Ali body.
A set of Spitfire front springs and rear leaf should bring it back somewhere near ballance and height

[Sophers]

Thanks guys ;D


MrSpeedy - Yeah definitely needs to be lower. Thanks for the spitfire suggestion, I'll have to look into it. ;D

[luckygti]

Brilliant, what a cool bit of kit. Agreed it needs to come down a bit, make it look a bit more like a TC. Look forward to seeing how it turns out

[mdh]

Maybe drop a 6 pot in...that'll squash the springs a bit! 😃

[qwerty]

Bigger steels for a more 'proper' vintage look. Fantastic little project though.

[75nut]

Great buy!

[craig1010cc]

Mar 21, 2013 13:23:40 GMT Sophers said:

Forgot to mention the two cars were put into the auction by bailiffs.

and............................ ;D

That does look fun, I love this type of kit car where a lot of it was made by the builder.
some taller wheels would look good, but would raise it further

[craig1010cc]

And it looks like they have started remaking them too (not surprising as they are BIVA exempt)

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/STOP-PRESS-The-JC-Midge-is-BACK-in-all-its-glory-/121082747731?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item1c31181b53

[ettorebugatti]

Mar 22, 2013 17:43:11 GMT craig1010cc said:

some taller wheels would look good, but would raise it further

Maybe a channeling job of the body to fix the looks? ;D

[darrenh]

what's even more bizarre is that they were made by white rose vehicles ten mins from me, and yet i've still never seen one or heard of them lol

[Mynydd-Graig]

This is awesome! Love it! Will be watching this with interest as I know where I may be able to get my mits on a spitfire chassis.