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MG MAGNETTE ZA CLASSIC SPORTS SALOON - THE OLDEST KNOWN REMAINING EXAMPLE !!!
THE SEVENTH OF THE FIRST SEVEN MG MAGNETTE'S TO ENTER PRODUCTION AND ONLY SURVIVOR OF THE FIRST SEVEN-UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO ACQUIRE A CAR OF TRUE HISTORICAL PROVENANCE AND SIGNIFICANCE.
THE MG MAGNETTE IS A CAR THAT WAS PRODUCED BY MG BETWEEN 1953 AND 1968. THE MAGNETTE WAS MANUFACTURED IN TWO BUILD SERIES, THE ZA FROM 1953 AND THE ZB FROM 1958. MG CARS HAD PREVIOUSLY USED THE "MAGNETTE" NAME ON THEIR K-TYPE AND N-TYPE MODELS OF THE 1930'S. THE MAGNETTE ZA WAS ANNOUNCED ON 15 OCTOBER 1953 AND DEBUTED AT THE 1953 LONDON MOTOR SHOW. DELIVERIES STARTED IN MARCH 1954 WITH PRODUCTION CONTINUING UNTIL 1956.
THE MAGNETTE WAS DESIGNED BY GERALD PALMER, DESIGNER OF THE JOWETTE JAVELIN. IT WAS THE FIRST APPEARANCE OF THE NEW FOUR CYLINDER 1, 489cc (90. 9 CU IN) B-SERIES 14 ENGINE WITH A PAIR OF 1 1/ 4 IN (32MM) - BORE TWIN-CHOKE SU CARBURETORS, DELIVERING 60 BHP (45KW), DRIVING THE REAR WHEELS THROUGH BMC's NEW FOUR-SPEED MANUAL GEAR BOX WITH CYNCROMESH ON THE TOP THREE RATIOS. SUSPENSION WAS INDEPENDENT AT THE FRONT USING COIL SPRINGS AND HAD A LIVE AXEL WITH HALF ELLIPTICE LEAF SPRINGS AT THE REAR. THE STEERING WAS BY RACK AND PINION. HYDRAULICALLY OPERATED LOCKHED 10 IN (254 MM) DRUM BRAKES WERE FITTED TO FRONT AND REAR WHEELS WHEN LEAVING THE FACTORY THE MAGNETTE ZA OPTIONALLY FITTED THE THEN RECENTLY DEVELOPED BELTED TEXTILE-BRACED, RADIEL-PLY PIRELLI CINTURATO 145 HR 15 TIRES.
THE MG MAGNETTE ZA WAS ONE OF THE FINEST BRITISH SPORTS SALOONS OF THE 1950's, ONE THAT BELONGED IN A REALM OF CLUB BLAZERS, FLAT HATS AND THE GOOD WOOD MOTOR CIRCUIT PADDOCK.
IN 2020 THERE WAS SAID TO BE 55 MG MAGNETTE's LEFT ON THE UK ROADS. THE VAST MAJORITY OF WHICH ARE NATURALLY MOST LIKELY TO BE THE LATTER ZB MODEL AND OF COURSE A NUMBER OF CARS WILL HAVE NATURALLY GONE TO MG HEAVEN SINCE. ACCORDINGLY, THE CAR OFFERED, BEING A ZA IS NOW A VERY RARE CAR INDEED, WITH THIS CAR BEING OF PARTICULAR HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE ! THE CAR OFFERED IS THE SEVENTH (CHASSIS NO KAA-13-507) OF THE FIRST SEVEN MAGNETTE'S TO ENTER PRODUCTION AND THE ONLY KNOWN SURVIVOR. THEREFORE, THE OLDEST KNOW MG MAGNETTE IN EXISTENCE. CONFORMATION OF THE FOREGOING CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE MG CAR CLUB REGISTER.
THIS EXQUISITELY STYLED MG MAGNETTE SPORTS SALOON REMAINS IN NEAR EXCELLENT CONDITION HAVING BEEN APPARENTLY CARED FOR THROUGHOUT IT'S LIFETIME. THE EXTENSIVE HISTORY FILE CONTAINS INVOICES WHICH TOTAL IN EXCESS OF £19, 000. 00. THERE IS ALSO A CERTIFIED AND SEALED BRITISH MOTOR INDUSTRY HERITAGE TRUST CERTIFICATE. PRIOR MOT CERTIFICATES, TAX DISCS INCLUDING THE VERY FIRST, DATED 31 DECEMBER 1953. MAINTENANCE SERVICE VOUCHER BOOK, NUMEROUS PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE CAR THROUGH THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS. ILLUSTRATED MANUALS AND EXTENSIVE ILLUSTRATED PARTS LIST CATALOGUES, MAGAZINES & ARTICLES AND OF COURSE THE PRESENT AND FORMER REGISTRATION DOCUMENTS CONFIRMING THE CAR AS HAVING MERELY 2 KEEPERS, THE SECOND SINCE 2004. THE CAR ALSO COMES WITH A LARGE SELECTION OF PARTS AS LAID OUT IN THE FINAL PHOTOGRAPH.
THE GLEAMING PAINT WORK IN CERTAIN LIGHT PRESENTS AS A SHADE OF DARK GREY AND IN OTHER LIGHT AS BLACK PER THE V5C ETC. THE CAR STARTS, DRIVES AND STOPS AS IT WOULD HAVE ON LEAVING THE ABINGDON -ON - THAMES FACTORY BACK IN 1953. THERE ARE NO DENTS, SCRATCHES, OR SCUFFS TO BE FOUND AND NO EVIDENCE OF RUST/ ROT. THE CHROME WORK REMAINS VERY PRESENTABLE INDEED. THE CAR ALSO REMAINS WIND AND WATERTIGHT. THE EXCELLENT WHEELS SIT ON MATCHING TYRES WITH PLENTY TREAD. THE CAR HAS COVERED VERY FEW MILES OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS WHICH IS EVIDENCED WITHIN IT'S EXTENSIVE HISTORY FILE. THE MAGNETTE IS PART OF A COLLECTION OF CLASSICS KEPT AND MAINTAINED IN A HEATED & FULLY ENCLOSED WATER TIGHT ENVIRONMENT.
THIS HISTORICALLY UNIQUE SPORTS SALOON IS IN SUPER ALL ROUND ORIGINAL CONDITION. THE LITTLE (BY TODAY'S STANDARDS) SPORTS SALOON SEATS 4 IN COMFORT AND WITH AMPLE SPACE, DRIVES AND STOPS GREAT, AND SO MUCH FUN, TURNING HEADS WHEREVER IT TRAVELS AND NO WONDER GIVEN THE VERY FEW EXAMPLES EXAMPLES OUT THERE AND THE CAR HAVING RETAINED IT'S ORIGINAL BEAUTIFUL APPEARANCE/ CONDITION. ALL BODY PANELS ARE STRAIGHT AND TRUE. THERE ARE NO DENTS ETC. THE GLEAMING PAINTWORK IS IN GOOD ORDER PROVIDING A DEEP SHINE. THERE ARE NO SCRATCHES, SCUFFS OR MARKS. IN ESSENCE, THIS IS A TRULY STUNNING AND RARE EXAMPLE OF THE CLASSIC BRITISH SPORTS SALOON, THE SEVENTH OF THE FIRST SEVEN OF THE MODEL TO ENTER PRODUCTION IN OCTOBER 1953 AND MOREOVER UNIQUELY THE OLDEST KNOWN REMAINING EXAMPLE.
THE INTERIOR IS ALSO IN VERY GOOD ORDER, ORIGINAL, CLEAN AND UNCLUTTERED. THERE ARE NO TEARS, UNSIGHTLY SCUFFS OR MARKS, SIGNS OF WEAR OR DISCOLORATION. ALL IS IN TACT, FUNCTIONING AS INTENDED, COMFORTABLE AND PLEASANT TO THE EYE.
THE CHASSIS AND UNDERCARRIAGE IS CLEAN AND SOLID IN ALL AREAS, AS ARE THE FLOOR PANS ETC. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF ROT/ RUST ANYWHERE. DURING OCTOBER 2014 THE CARS UNDERCARRIAGE RECEIVED EXTENSIVE PROFESSIONAL ATTENTION EXTENDING TO A NEW FRONT CROSS MEMBER, FLOOR PANS, BOOT FLOOR AND A FULL STAINLESS STEEL EXHAUST, SINCE WHICH TIME THE CAR HAS COVERED A MERE CIRCA 250 MILES.
THE BOOT - AGAIN VERY CLEAN, SOLID AND UN-CLUTTERED.
ENGINE BAY - AMAZING ! VERY CLEAN, UNCLUTTERED ORIGINALITY AND NO LEAKS TO BE SEEN.
ENGINE - THE ENGINE IS RELIABLE, AGILE AND RESPONSIVE, STARTS FIRST TIME OF ASKING EVERY TIME. IT SOUNDS VERY QUIET ON IDLE AND WHEN DRIVING THROUGH THE GEARS.
TRANSMISSION - THE 4 SPEED MANUAL GEAR BOX IS LIKE THE ENGINE, AGILE, RESPONSIVE AND SMOOTH TO THE CHANGE.
BRAKES - SPOT ON !
FULL SERVICE AND OIL CHANGE UNDERTAKEN LATE MARCH 2024.
ALL IN ALL, THIS IS A FANTASTIC BRITISH SPORTS SALOON WHICH IS MUCH ADMIRED AND PROVIDES SO MUCH DRIVING PLEASURE. THE CAR ALWAYS BRINGS AN INSTANT AND ENDURING SMILE OF PRIDE AND SATISFACTION. IT ALSO REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT PIECE OF MG AND BRITISH MOTORING HISTORY.
THE HISTORIC CLASSIC VEHICLE IS OF COURSE MOT, ULEZ, CONGESTION AND TAX EXEMPT.
THE PRIOR AND PRESENT V5C'S RECORD MERELY 2 KEEPERS. THE FIRST WAS, REVEREND, FRANCIS ALEXANDER GOSLING OF SOUTHAMPTON AND THE SECOND PROFESSOR FRANCIS ALEXANDER OF PEEBLES. AS CONFIRMED THE CAR IS PART OF A PRIVATE COLLECTION AND ONLY USED VERY SPARINGLY IN DRY/ WARM WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE MG MAGNETTE IS, AS IT PRESENTS TODAY, A CREDIT TO IT'S MERE 2 KEEPERS AND THE MG MARQUE. IT IS ALSO A CLEAR INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY ALIGNED TO UNIQUE CLASSIC CAR OWNERSHIP, ENJOYMENT WITH NATURAL PRIDE OF OWNERSHIP AND AS STATED, A PIECE OF UNDOUBTED MOTORING HISTORY.
PX POSSIBILITY
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION SIMPLY CALL ME ON - the details below. TELEPHONY IS MY PREFERRED MEANS OF COMMUNICATION. IT'S NICE TO TALK ! I AM A WELCOMING, COURTEOUS AND POLITE INDIVIDUAL. UNFORTUNATELY, I HAVE LEARNED FROM EXPERIENCE, THE VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE WHO SEND EMAILS AND TEXTS ARE MERELY FILLING THEIR TIME AT THE COST OF MINE.
I HAVE VIDEOS WHICH I AM HAPPY TO SEND UPON REQUEST FROM GENUINELY INTERESTED PARTIES WITH "WHATTSAPP."
DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND AREAS CAN BE ARRANGED SUBJECT TO AGREEMENT ON COST AND FULL ADVANCE PAYMENT. PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO CHECK ON THE OTHER LOVELY CARS FROM MY PRIVATE/ PERSONAL COLLECTION.
THANK YOU.
