Midas (United Kingdom) - AllCarIndex

Midas was a British kit-car marque created in 1978 by Harold Dermott’s D&H Fibreglass Techniques as a modern, Mini-based successor to the Mini Marcos. The first Midas coupé debuted at the 1978 Performance Car Show with an all-composite monocoque using Mini running gear. In 1981 the design was refined with aerodynamic input from Brabham F1’s Gordon Murray, and production moved from Greenfield, Oldham to Corby under Midas Cars Ltd. In 1985 the Gold model adopted Austin/MG Metro components and the range expanded; a Gold Convertible followed in 1989, but a factory fire that year halted production. Rights then passed to Pastiche Cars (1990–1991) and to GTM Cars (from 1991), which developed the line and later introduced a K-series-based 2+2. A Redditch-based Midas Cars Ltd briefly revived the marque in 2001, renaming the 2+2 models Cortez (coupé) and Excelsior (convertible), before ceasing in 2003. Alternative Cars Ltd acquired the marque in 2003 and, from 2004, resumed low-volume kit production and parts support in Oxfordshire. Notable features included the glassfibre monocoque construction and, in 1985, a 30-mph ECE R12 crash test undertaken to enable sale of complete cars. Principal designers were Richard Oakes, with Murray’s consultancy input. Models included the original coupé, Midas Gold/Gold Convertible, and later Cortez and Excelsior.