In the pre-war era, few manufacturers were as synonymous with the traditional British sports car as MG—and few models represented the freedom they offered better than the Midget.

Lightweight and nimble, these basic yet engaging machines opened the door of sports car ownership to the average enthusiast from 1929 until the last-of-the-line TF in 1955
Launched in 1936 as successor to the PB Midget, the TA Midget was an altogether larger and roomier car.

Longer in the wheelbase at 94", the simple chassis 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
 The TA was introduced after Nuffield's takeover of MG and utilised the 10hp 1,292cc four-cylinder Wolseley engine, itself derived from that of the Morris Ten, which produced around 53bhp at 4,500rpm.

Though MG purists complained about the adoption of a pushrod engine and synchromesh gearbox, the T...