Highlights
- Desirable and stylish 1950’s saloon
- Lovely interior patina
- Reliable and mechanically well maintained
The Appeal
Designed by Gerald Palmer (of Jowett Javelin and Riley Pathfinder fame), the Magnette ZA and ZB were considered sporty luxury saloons in the 1950’s and were the fastest 1.5-litre cars in their class with a top speed of 87mph.
This practical and elegant four-door MG was the first Monocoque body to come out of the Abingdon factory. It offers comfortable seating and adequate leg room, and considering it’s age, the handling and steering is reportedly predictable and satisfying.
The History and Paperwork
- Late production ZB Magnette
- Low recent mileage
- Original manuals and recent parts invoices
This Magnette was one of the last to be registered (20th August 1959). Early history has been lost, but it appears to have resided in the Nottingham area and attended local classic car shows for a number of years. Due to failing health the previous owner sold it to the current owner on the 12th February 2022.
According to online records, the last MOT was carried out in June 2016 at 20,697 miles, and a paper MOT from 2001 indicates just 19,104 miles. So clearly this MG has been dormant on and off for quite some time. The current owner has undertaken some re-commissioning work to make this car a reliable proposition. The exempt tax runs until the 1st February 2023.
In addition to the V5, an original BMC ‘Operation manual’ and workshop manual come with this Magnette along with a couple of older MOT’s, some recent parts invoices, catalogues and two sets of keys.
The Interior
- Fantastic 1950’s patina
- Electrical equipment said to function correctly
- New door cards and carpeting in 2019
The opulent interior of the Magnette is pure ’50’s. From the stylish steering wheel to the wood trim and leather upholstery, it is indeed a very pleasant place to be and is generally presentable with a ‘lived in’ patina.
The wooden dashboard has some cracks to the varnish but the door capping’s look good. The lovely leather seats are fine if worn in one or two places (see photos).
Jaeger instrumentation features and is said to operate correctly along with the switchgear and choke which is ably assisted by the optional clothes peg!
The roof lining, fixtures and fittings are all in good condition and new door cards and carpeting were fitted in 2019.
The Exterior
- Presentable paintwork
- Sound body
- Modern indicators
Painted in period black, the smooth design of this saloon is embellished with just enough chrome.
Whilst not perfect, the body work is pretty straight and free of any major dings or scratches other than a dent on the drivers door (see photos). There is some signs of bubbling in the usual places but on the whole this Magnette appears solid.
Fresh paint has probably been applied in the past and the current owner had the roof professionally re-painted in April 2022. A new windscreen rubber and plastic chrome trim and a rear screen rubber were fitted at the same time.
The chrome and Mazak fittings are acceptable, although a little tarnished, and the glass, Lucas lighting, etc. are generally good. You will notice that four indicators have been sympathetically installed.
The boot is tidy and lined with carpet and houses a usable spare, jack, wheel brace and starter handle along with a fire extinguisher. The floor has some surface rust but seems solid and from what we can see underneath, the structure and suspension appears sound.
Lastly, the original steel wheels come with their chrome hub caps and beauty rings, and although not perfect, are presentable. Older Federal Super Steel 715 tyres complete the picture.
The Mechanics
- Trusty B-series engine
- Electronic ignition
- Numerous new parts
The trusty and durable 1489cc B-series engine fitted to the later Magnette had a slightly higher compression ratio of 8.3:1 and twin H4 S.U. carburettors from 1956 which offered around 68bhp and a top speed of 87mph. The standard 4-speed gearbox is installed in this example.
This engine sits in a tidy engine bay and outwardly looks well maintained other than some evidence of past oil leakage. Having gone through all the mechanicals and servicing, the owner assures us that this ‘B’ starts and runs well with no obvious rattles or smoke and the engine is said to have a good oil pressure of 40-45psi. We are guessing that the mileage is probably 120,954.
The steering, suspension and 10” drum brakes should be effective and upgrades include an
Accuspark ignition system (July 2021), an alternator, and a comprehensive list of other parts which have been fitted since 2019 (see photo). These include:
- New wheel cylinders and shoes
- Track rod ends and steering gaiters
- Clutch slave cylinder hose and repair kit
- New engine and gearbox mounts
- New gearbox oil seals, gaskets and thrust carbon
- New radiator hoses
- New o/s front hub bearing and oil seal
- New rear axle pinion and oil seal
- New o/s rear hub oil seal and new half shaft gaskets
- New battery
Summary
With a touch of luxury, excellent handling and reasonable performance, this classic MG represents the ideal sporting saloon and should comfortably keep up with modern traffic.
The owner concludes that this Magnette is ready to enjoy and the driving experience is “A1”.
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