Lot Ended
Description
Rare and sporting MG with a luxury interior; early 'tin-top' dash; few
owners, the last for 49 years; recent major service; current MOT; original
number plate; one of only around 600 still on the road; lots of fun for little
outlay
Launched at the
1953 London Motor Show, the Magnette was the first MG to feature a monocoque
bodyshell rather than a separate chassis, marking the brand’s transition into
the modern automotive era.
Designed by the great
Gerald Palmer, the ZA was a luxurious four-door saloon that aimed to blend MG's
sporting DNA with the practical needs of a post-war family. Although it was
developed alongside the Wolseley 4/44, Palmer went to great lengths to ensure
the MG felt distinct. To give it a more sporting stance, the body was lowered by
two inches compared to its Wolseley sibling, and while the roof, front doors and
boot lid were shared, most other body panels were unique to the
Magnette.
The first car to use the now legendary
1.5-litre BMC B-Series engine, it had twin SU carbs and BMC’s new four-speed
manual gearbox with synchro on the top three ratios. Producing 60bhp, it gave
the ZA a top speed of 80mph with excellent handling for its era. This was
largely due to its rack-and-pinion steering and independent front suspension,
features that made it a proper driver’s car in true MG
tradition.
The interior was equally impressive
with leather upholstery, walnut dash and door cappings, plush carpets and a West
of England cloth headlining with a clock between the sun visors. A heater was
standard, as was the trademark octagonal speedo, with a radio available as an
option.
The ZA was replaced by the more powerful
ZB in 1956, by which time 18,076 had been sold, of which only around 600
are still on the road today.
First registered in
Glasgow in November 1954, this ZA is an early model with the 'tin-top' dash -
while the main fascia is wooden, the top section of the dash is metal painted
with a scumbled effect to mimic wood grain, a feature that was dropped in early
1955 in favour of an all-wood dash.
There is very little
history with the car, but a green logbook shows that by 1960 it was owned by a
Mr G Hopgood of Reading who kept it for 15 years before selling it to another
local gent in 1975. In 1977 it was acquired by a Mr L David, also of Reading,
and it was to remain in the family for the next 49 years, ownership transferring
to his widow when he passed away in 2020.
In
July/August 2021 it went to Thatcham MOT Centre for a thorough service and
check-over which cost just over £1,100, but it was then put into storage for a
few years before being submitted for an MOT in May 2025 which it passed with
just one advisory for a cracked n/s/r tyre.
Our
vendor acquired the MG in February this year and tells us that it drives
amazingly well for a 72-year-old, although he did point out that the
trafficators aren’t currently working – no big deal as the flashing indicators
work fine.
As you can see in the photos and the
video, it looks to be in generally good shape both above and below, with a
nicely mellowed interior, although the finish on the paintwork won’t win any
prizes.
Starting promptly and running nicely as
we have driven it around on site, with healthy 50psi oil pressure and a lively
turn of speed, it retains its original (transferable) NGE 143 number plate which
doubtless has a value of its own.
On offer here
at a modest guide price, this luxury sporting saloon seems eminently usable as
it is and could be spoodled up over time as desired.
Consigned by James Dennison – 07970 309907 – james.dennison@brightwells.com