Description
The MG PA Midget Supercharged was a competition-focused evolution of the standard PA Midget, introduced during the mid-1930s as MG continued to develop its small-capacity sports cars for enhanced performance. Building on the lightweight design and overhead-camshaft engine of the standard PA, the supercharged version delivered significantly improved output and reinforced MG’s reputation in club and international motorsport.
The standard PA Midget, launched in 1934, was powered by an 847 cc four-cylinder engine with overhead camshaft design. In supercharged form, this engine was fitted with a Roots-type blower, increasing power considerably over the naturally aspirated version. The added forced induction transformed the character of the car, providing stronger acceleration and higher top speeds while retaining the compact and lightweight chassis.
Externally, the PA Midget Supercharged typically retained the classic pre-war MG appearance. The two-seat open body featured cycle wings, a narrow upright radiator grille and exposed headlamps mounted on a crossbar. The supercharged versions often carried subtle competition-oriented details, but visually they remained close to the standard sporting roadster.
The chassis was a simple ladder-frame design with solid axles and semi-elliptic leaf springs. Despite its conventional layout, the low weight of the car combined with the boosted engine output produced lively performance and agile handling. A four-speed manual gearbox transmitted power to the rear wheels, allowing drivers to make full use of the supercharged engine’s enhanced capabilities.
Inside, the cockpit remained minimal and driver-focused. Instruments were centrally mounted, and the seating position was upright and close to the controls. Comfort was secondary to performance, especially in competition-prepared examples.
Supercharged PA Midgets were often used in trials, hill climbs and club racing events, where their favourable power-to-weight ratio made them competitive in small-capacity classes. MG’s long-standing expertise with supercharging, already proven in earlier M-type and K-type competition cars, ensured that the PA Supercharged variants continued the brand’s sporting tradition.
Production numbers were limited compared with standard PA Midgets, and surviving examples are rare today. As a result, the MG PA Midget Supercharged is highly regarded among vintage car enthusiasts and collectors.
Historically, the model represents MG’s continued commitment during the interwar period to extracting strong performance from small engines through lightweight construction and forced induction. It stands as an important link between MG’s early Midget models and the marque’s broader success in pre-war competition.