The battery location in front of the axel is a carry over from early the
early OHC MGs such as the M, C, D, F, L, J, etc. A look at the cowl
(firewall) construction of these cars will show why that location was
chosen. Also, batteries for American cars haven't always been inside
the engine compartment. Ford placed them under the front floor boards
in the 30's. Also remember that battery technology has increased
allowing more power from less space until it became feasible to
construct a 12 volt battery of the same amperage capacity as one single
6 volt of the same dimentions.
As far as the Midgets battery being inaccesible, that can probably be
laid at Donald Healey's feet. The Midget's floor pan was derived from
the Austin Healey (Bugeye) Sprite.
Blake
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