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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Keeping a Midget outside

What are peoples experiences of indoors and outdoors storage?

My car is pretty much complete, there are a few jobs planned but not enough to keep me occupied so I'm considering restoring another car. The problem i have is somewhere to put it.

I either rent a garage for the restored car, which is going to be inconvenient and expensive, or store it outside on the drive. I intend to use my (restored) car during the winter on dry salt free days, and I have a hard top for it which might be better at keeping out the elements.

I also need to keep my wife happy, she doesn't want oily tarpaulins or rusty cars on the drive.

Chris Madge

These cars survive perfectly well parked outside all year round. Especially if regularly used through the winter months. Occasional washing helps to remove bird droppings and other dirt. If you value a shine on your paintwork I would be cautious about using a car cover which may flap in the wind and chafe the paint, though I think you can get them with a soft lining.

I quite liked the idea of using a small 2x 4m polytunnel that someone here tried. But maybe Madge Madge wouldn't like that?
GuyW

I have a little experience in this subject never having had a garage but a few cars over 43 years.

Car covers will put you off using the car. You really need to clean the car before fitting the cover to avoid the cover rubbing any debris over your paintwork. Getting home around 3pm in winter doesn't leave enough time to get the car cleaned and cover on (unless you use wash'n'wax perhaps).

If you look around you will see millions of vehicles that survive well for years and decades parked outside uncovered.

If you're into the polished appearance then you will need a cover/garage otherwise a car you clean in the morning is dusty at least by the afternoon.

Cover Systems are doing their folding garage again next year - http://www.cover-systems.co.uk/car-covers/carfoldinggarages.htm

You don't need a hardtop to keep the elements out a soft top is fine (possibly better for condensation?).

Red paint isn't good for keeping outside that I do know.
Nigel Atkins

How about one of those half covers that just cover over the hood and screen? Easy to fit and remove and should stop any interior leaks.
John Payne

If hood/half/top covers are used long term and the car is parked in the same position and orientation so the sun tracks across it on the same path each time then it can leave it's mark and it'll be noticable where the cover and straps, er, cover.

Same with GB stickers and the like when removed.

http://www.cover-systems.co.uk/car-covers/toponlycarcover.htm

Condensation on and inside the car should be taken into account, unless you have an outdoor Carcoon often I'd expect some condensation no matter what the cover manufacturer states. Cover Systems give a more honest account, details here - http://www.cover-systems.co.uk/car-covers/outdoorfullsizecar.htm

Another thing to consider with a full cover is the weight and security of the cover especially in winter or when wet. The heavy-duty cover cover can get well heavy and be awkward to handle whereas the very light ones like the ones from Cover Systems can be difficult to handle in a breeze as they act like a kite. With both if the car is somewhere that catches the breeze then extra straps or netting may also be require to secure the cover properly.

If you have a lot of shade where the car is parked then the cover, particularly the heavy ones can get the green stuff on them.

The folding garage anchored to the ground is a good solution I think as it's well ventilated and easy to get the car in and out without the need for drying or cleaning before covering so will not discourage use of the car.
Nigel Atkins

No garage for me. I decided to manage with a cover rather than rent a council garage which is somewhat out of sight and costs a fortune.

My midget has lived outside since I bought it around 9 years ago, the chap I bought it from assured me that it would survive OK outside; sadly with the first good rainstorm the footwells were converted into swiming pools.

I use a Tybond fabric cover which is waterproof, breathable and has a soft inner surface.

I too saw the post regarding a polytunnel solution for the winter months, the first photo shows the frame having been put up at changeover time.

Experience with the polytunnel meant that I have now cut around 12" off the height so as not to upset the local council and I use some polythene inside the polytunnel since I cannot stop the seams leaking. A wooden batten at the highest point prevents sagging.
Finally, it will suffer from condensation.






Richard Saxton

My 79-B was stored outdoors for years. Make sure your parking surface is concrete or tarmac. As you don't want water to "pool" underneath, preferably park on a slightly downward pitched area.

My car was also covered with a breathable car tarp since the soft top only keeps the "heavy" rain out of the interior.

Today, the car is living well in its totally dry enclosed garage. But alas... the rust has found its way into the lower front wings (fenders).

Cheers

Gary
79 MGB
gary hansen

Mine just lives outside as is. Though at nearly 30 years and 100k miles since I restored it, it is now ready to be the subject of my next project.

I have in the past put a lightweight nylon cover over it but mainly to keep the frost off to make it quicker getting going in the morning when it was my daily work car. I also made a cap to fit over just the cockpit and windscreen because when it just had the tonneau on, heavy rain would pond on the top and drain over the front corners and down into the footwells.
GuyW

I don't understand Richard's polytunnel, are the green material parts breathable, if not I'd install at least four vents and have a 2"-4" clearance all round from the frame base to start of the of the plastic covering.

I could well be wrong but that polytunnel, with added plastic to compensate for leaks, looks like create more issues than it solves.

There can be many reasons for leaks on the car and pools in the footwells but they should all be able to be resolved.
Nigel Atkins

I guess one could replace the polytunnel plastic with a modern slater's breathable membrane underlay. Totally waterproof from the outside, but breathable to water vapour from beneath so you don't get condensation.

Either that, or create good air vents at opposite ends near the top so as to create air movement along the length to ventilate it close to the surface where condensation will form. This is better than vents along at ground level which will just draw in more moist air.
GuyW

I was thinking of four vents, more may be better, along the length and width plus air gap all along the bottom for circulation of air. I'd have thought a gap along the bottom would also help with any damp/water/condensation on the ground.

Powered moving air and smaller vents may be better as in an exterior Carcoon. A framed exterior Carcoon with door would be better as you could drive in and out like with a garage. I link to the originator as George used to help our club. I still use a 20+ year-old Carcoon (Accumate) Power and Charge Unit as a very, very occasional battery conditioner - http://www.carcoon.com/carcoon-double-skin-outdoor
Nigel Atkins

My green polytunnel is a bit of a compromise. The green material is not breathable.

It's only in use for a few months during the worst of the winter. There are 3 air vents on each side which provides some air circulation. Condensation only builds up at the top during weather conditions when you find your daily driver wet or frozen in the morning. I use a window vac to remove the moisture.

Overall I am now able to use the Midget during winter without having to manhandle a wet cover out to the washing line to dry off before I can use the car.

Richard Saxton

If it enables you to use the Midget more over the winter then that's a good thing.

Those thicker car covers are a bit of a pain to handle especially as they get older, a mate has three of them and I had one I can't remember the name of now but I didn't have it longer enough for it to age too much.

I also at one time had a very light full cover from Cover Systems as I thought it'd be easier to handle by myself than the heavier cover and I remember after just polishing the car throwing the full cover on to the car from one end like a duvet cover and it just sliding straight over the car and off the other end. Often I'd still need help to fit the full light cover as we live at the top of a hill so catch the wind and the light cover wanted to fly away.
Nigel Atkins

As stated before I vote for
No full cover (they chafe the paint and are a drag to put up)
No half cover (they keep water in and promote mold)
Make sure the top is in good nick so the interior stays dry.
Use it frequently through the whole year (preferably several times a week)
Wash it more in winter than in summer
Do not lock the car
Make sure it is in perfect nick to begin with and rust proof liberally

I forgot to do the last one and now need to restore it fully after 15 years.

I did have the most amazing time and enjoyed the midget making normal things special.
And she started from -15 to +35 degreed, got me through the worst storms, got me to job interviews wedding using wedding cars tunbridge wellss and funerals, through most of Europe many rallies racetracks and so much more.
Just because she was standing outside anyway and it was the easiest car in the fleet to take.
O K

This thread was discussed between 20/07/2020 and 22/07/2020

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