Bill and Kirk’s search for an MG began by looking through classified ads. They went to look at some vehicles that were supposedly “rust free” but Bill discovered that rust had just been covered up with paint or body filler.

Bill, who is a welder by trade, began working on cars while still in his teens. His first car was an Austin America, which he put together using parts from two old cars. Eventually, he restored the second vehicle. The sale of that car covered the expenses he’d incurred for both so he knew he’d be able to restore a Midget.

The Midget Bill and Kirk eventually found was in reasonably good condition since it had been parked for fourteen years. The engine was good. It started right away but the floor on the driver’s side was rusted out and so were the rocker panels -- the sections of metal beneath the doors.

“The gas tank was full of holes,” adds Kirk, “and the roof was torn.” Bill and Kirk also replaced the quarter panels which are the pieces of metal above the fenders.
“You look at a car to determine how much work you think it will need to restore it. Then you take that amount and multiply it by three and that’s closer to how much work you’ll have to do,” says Bill with a laugh. “But you need to focus on what the car will be like when you’re finished.”

Once the structural repair was complete, the body work needed to be done. Bill finds this the most painstaking portion of restoration.
“We put on three coats of primer,” he explains. “And we sanded out the imperfections after each coat.” Bill’s wife, Edith, and daughter, Nicole, helped with the sanding although Kirk did most of the finishing work. Once they were satisfied the vehicle was a close to perfect as they could get it, they painted it.