Midas Bronze (1978 – 1988) Review
Midas Bronze (1978 – 1988) At A Glance
Fun to drive, capable of out-cornering hot-hatches, Mini mechanicals, easy to maintain
Hard to get hold of
The Midas Bronze is one of the most ingenious sports cars produced in the UK at the time. It was inspired by the Mini-Marcos GT, and like that car, was based on BMC's finest - but much more modern design and construction methods meant that it was considerably more capable. It was available with a variety of Mini engines, and was nearly unbeatable on the right road - but it was also very affordable being offered in kit form.
The glass fibre bodywork was supremely well-made, and strong too, as MIRA test crashes proved, and unlike the car it was based upon, the Midas was underpinned by wax-filled glavanised subframes, that proved most resistant to rust. Front suspension was the Mini's set-up, but the rear was a new trailing arm set-up, that was a huge improvement over the donor car's. Updated in 1981 with improvements suggested by Gordon Murray (below) of the Brabham Formula 1. The car was available in three versions called Gold, Silver and Bronze depending on completeness. Overall impressions were that this Richard Oakes-styled car with significant input from Gordon Murray was leagues ahead of its kit car rivals at the time. A healthy number survive today, but rarely do they come up for sale.
