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- Midas Bronze and Gold: Plastic Fantastic!
- Between Nova and Rover
- When You Can’T Afford Mira…
- Testing, Testing, One-Two-Three
- Midas Launch: A Very Positive Reaction
- Motor Racing in Its Blood
- Gordon Murray’s Improved Midas Mk2
- Stuttgart, Maranello Or Corby?
- From Bronze to Gold…
- Midas: Leading The Way in (Aero) Dynamics
Sometimes it seems that every last success or failure in the British motor industry is linked with British Leyland – and it’s no less true with Harold Dermott, the creator of the Midas car. As an ambitious 22-year old with a BSc in Mechanical Engineering from Southampton University, Harold joined the company as a graduate engineer. However, belongi...
British designer Richard Oakes is quite possibly the only student to have submitted a complete car as an end of year project; that he did owes some credit to journalist called Peter Filby. Filby, champion of the component car, had arranged to interview Harold and invited Oakes along for the ride. Oakes was a kitcar veteran; having previously styled...
By December 1978, with 27 months’ of development completed, it was time for a public unveiling. The venue chose itself – the Performance Car Show at Alexandra Palace. Given the logistical constraints, this was a Herculean effort, considering the Mini Marcos was in continual production alongside sub-contracted work for ERF trucks. Its debut led Moto...
For two weeks, lap after lap of Flemish granite pavé was endured by the first Midas prototype, a red example. And although the dampers boiled themselves the glassfibre monocoque took everything in its stride. For its next round of punishment, Harold took to the track; with his wife and children in tow. A quick sprint to Spa Francorchamps was all th...
To begin with, the Midas was supplied as very comprehensive kit of parts – even instructions on a cassette tape to listen along too while you thumbed the build manual! Ultimately, this included everything bar the customer’s choice of engine and gearbox. The reasons for the Midas being presented as a kit car were twofold – to remain exempt from the ...
As expected, the specialist press was favourable in its praise, but the old stumbling block of money just wouldn’t go away. Priced at £3250 for the Superkit (requiring engine and gearbox), it was a bespoke coupe to rival the Alfasud1.5 Ti at £4025. However, compared to a Mini 1275GT at £3191, it seemed over-priced. But despite that, 57 were built i...
However, Murray came up with the Midas Mk2. Changes above the original car included a lipped front edge of the (broadened) air intake and a matching undertray to smooth airflow under the car. This aerodynamic appendage was developed by Murray in the Brabham wind tunnel during his time as Technical Director – so, the Formula 1 connection was much mo...
A brave strap line indeed – but it was proudly printed on Midas brochure. Indeed, to quote, ‘An imaginative concept for imaginative people. You can get something like it from Stuttgart, or Maranello, or even Newport Pagnell. But the best concepts come from Corby.’ Launched at the 1985 Earls Court Motorfair, the new Midas Gold won many plaudits and ...
Apart from the obvious styling changes, and the increase track gained by using the Metro subframe and running gear, there was a raft of smaller modifications that went unnoticed. For instance, by utilising a broader B-pillar on the monocoque, the seat belts could be mounted in a more user friendly position. The scuttle became structurally stiffer, ...
In the early 1980s, it was de-rigueurfor a sporting model to have aggressive scoops, skirts, spoilers – it’s what defined the breed. The Midas Gold on the other hand was far more subtle than that – it was smooth and sculptured above and below its bodyshell. Harold’s theory was that as it was impossible to isolate under body airflow, why not create ...
Get prices, comps, alerts and more on this 1989 Midas Gold last available at Catawiki Classic Cars . FIND Search Listings 700,970 Follow Markets 8,711 Explore Makes 645 Auctions 1,112 Dealers 266
- Microplas Mistral. The ‘specials era’ of the 1950s saw a wide variety of bodyshells reach the marketplace, some being conspicuously better-looking than others.
- Mini Marcos. Endearingly ugly, and huge fun to drive, the Mini Marcos is a kit car that refuses to play dead. Introduced at the 1966 Racing Car Show at Olympia, it remains available still via Marcos Heritage (if you ask nicely).
- Midas. One of few kit cars ever to receive mainstream acceptance, the Midas (later Midas Bronze) was the brainchild of ex-Jaguar man, Harold Dermott. He acquired the rights to the Mini Marcos in July 1975 and engaged designer Richard Oakes to give it a facelift.
- Kougar Sports. The Kougar Sports remains something of an anomaly among kit cars of yesteryear in that it was created by individuals steeped in the restoration of historic racing cars.
Jul 5, 2024 · Vehicle history and comps for 1989 Midas Gold - including sale prices, photos, and more. FIND Search Listings 704,733 Follow Markets 8,741 Explore Makes 647 Auctions 1,119 Dealers 269
Midas Gold (1985 – 1989) At A Glance. Nice development of the Bronze, using Metro running gear, and featuring updated styling. Sadly just as hard to find as the Bronze. In 1985, the Midas was updated to incorporate Austin or MG Metro components - this included the improved brakes and MG Metro-spec engine, which endowed the Gold with a superb ...
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Midas Bronze- 1980. In 1965, Marcos Cars Ltd. produced a Mini-Marcos coupe with Mini running gear and a fiberglass body and monocoque. It was based on a design by Paul Emery and was sold as a kit. Although they shipped cars to the United States, they could not be sold for street use due to new emission laws. Marcos folded in 1971 but former ...
