Launched in 1936 as successor to the PB Midget, the first of the T-Series Midgets - the TA - was an altogether larger and roomier car.

The simple chassis design followed established Midget practice with semi-elliptic springing all-round, though the use of hydraulic dampers at the front and the adoption of Lockheed hydraulic brakes were new departures.

Although styled in a manner MG enthusiasts had come to expect, the new two-seater broke with tradition by employing an overhead-valve engine instead of the previous overhead-cam type.

Although outwardly all but indistinguishable from the TA, the successor TB Midget, introduced in May 1939, boasted an entirely new 'XPAG' engine that would serve the company well for the next 15 years.

Derived from that of the Morris Ten, the highly tuneable 1,250cc XPAG engine boasted a shorter stroke than its predecessor, resulting in a higher rev ceiling and an increased maximum power output of 54.4bhp at 5,200rpm.

A Borg & Beck dry-plate clutch (rep...