MG Magnette ZB

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The first monocoque car to bear the MG badge, the Magnette was designed by the great Gerald Palmer (of Jowett Javelin and Riley Pathfinder fame) and featured swooping Italian inspired styling.

Launched in 1953 at the London Motor Show with deliveries starting in March 1954, the ZA was powered by the new four cylinder 1,489 cc B-Series engine with twin SU carburettors delivering 60bhp (the very similar Wolseley 4/44 making do with the old 1,250cc MG TF engine). Driving the rear wheels through a four-speed manual gearbox with synchromesh on the top three ratios, performance was brisk for its day with a top speed of 82mph and 25mpg economy.

Suspension was independent at the front using coil springs and had a live axle with half elliptic leaf springs at the rear. The steering was by rack and pinion. Hydraulically operated Lockheed 10-inch drum brakes were fitted to front and rear wheels. Lavishly trimmed in the best MG tradition, the car had leather upholstery while the dashboard and door cappings were in polished wood. The heater was standard but the radio still an optional extra.

The ZB came out in 1956, now with bigger 1.5-in carbs, a higher compression ratio and a revised manifold which boosted power to 64bhp and increased the top speed to 86mph. It was replaced by the more angular Pinin Farina-designed Magnette MkIII at the end of 1958 after 18,524 ZBs had been sold.

First registered in September 1956, this ZB has had just three owners from new, according to the V5C, and has been in the current ownership for the last five years. In 2016/17 the car was treated to a major bout of expenditure documented by photos and invoices on file, the latter amounting to over £2,100 in parts and £1,950 for professional service work.

This included some bodywork repairs (new inner and outer sills and two floor panels) plus numerous new parts including: core plugs; fuel pump; wiring loom; headlamp bowls; alternator conversion; electronic ignition; carbs rebuilt; brake system overhauled; front coil springs; all new shock absorbers; front wheel bearings; windscreen; headlining etc.

Running and driving nicely as we moved it around for the photos, the last MOT expired in July 2018 with no advisories recorded. With so much work recently done the car is now ready for a new owner to enjoy and also comes with its original (and transferable) Surrey-issued number plate, 981 BPG, which no doubt has a value of its own.