Living in an age where every new car seems to require headline-making power figures to even get a look-in – an electric Kia SUV now has over 200bhp – it’s refreshing to look back on cars that didn’t need to make claims of supercar-troubling performance. We’re not talking about models that aren’t performance-orientated per se, but cars that punched above their weight in terms of pace, handling, smiles and even motorsport results, shaming cars that cost many times more and produced far more power on paper.
We’ve picked out eight cars from across the eras that sum up the giant-killing philosophy. As they demonstrate, you don’t always need to worry about headline figures to exceed expectations.
MG MIDGET (1929-1955)
It was the M-Type Midget that arguably set the template for affordable lightweight sports cars, providing considerable thrills without hurting the pocket. Based on a Morris Minor chassis and powered by the Wolseley-derived 847cc OHC engine, it featured a simple lightweight two-seat body with a pointed tail. Nothing could touch it for performance at the price, and when full-scale production started early in 1929, it helped create a new public perception for the MG marque, which until that point had produced much bigger, heavier cars.
Remarkably, the M-Type could reach 65mph and return 40mph. A supercharged version could be ordered from 1932 too, raising the top speed to a hugely impressive 80mph. The M-Type also enjoyed considerable sporting success, with official teams winning gold medals in the 1929 Land’s End Trial and taking class wins in the 1930 ‘Double Twelve’ race at Brooklands.
Taking the place of the M-Type was the J-Type, introduced at the 1932 Motor Show in J1 (four-seat open or closed) and J2 (two-seat sports) guises. These in turn were replaced by the P-Type in February 1934. It still had an 847cc engine, but now with three main bearings instead of two. A four-speed gearbox was standard, brakes were up from 8-inch diameter drums to 12-inch and the chassis was sturdier than
