The MG Magnette was the marque’s sporting saloon between 1953 and 1968, produced in two build series: the ZA and ZB from 1953 to 1958, and the Mark III and Mark IV from 1959 to 1968. Both used a modified Wolseley body and an Austin-designed engine, and the name revived a Magnette badge last seen on the K-type and N-type of the 1930s.
MG Magnette at a glance
| Maker | MG, Abingdon |
|---|---|
| Production | 1953–1968 |
| ZA announced | 15 October 1953, at the London Motor Show |
| ZA engine | 1,489 cc B-Series four, twin SU carburettors, 60 bhp |
| ZB (1956) | 64 hp, top speed 86 mph |
| Mark III (1959) | Pinin Farina body, twin SU H.D.4 carburettors |
| Mark IV (1961) | 1,622 cc engine, longer wheelbase, anti-roll bars |
| ZA built | 18,076 |
| ZB built | 18,524 |
| Mark III built | 16,676 |
| Mark IV built | 14,320 |
| Designer | Gerald Palmer, designer of the Jowett Javelin |
History of the MG Magnette
Magnette ZA
The Magnette ZA was announced on 15 October 1953 and shown at the London Motor Show, with deliveries beginning in March 1954. It was the first unibody car to carry the MG badge, and it was designed by Gerald Palmer, who had also designed the Jowett Javelin. The car introduced the new 1,489 cc B-Series four-cylinder engine with a pair of twin-choke SU carburettors, giving 60 bhp through BMC’s new four-speed gearbox with synchromesh on the top three ratios.
Suspension was independent at the front on coil springs, with a live axle and half-elliptic springs at the rear, and steering was by rack and pinion. Lockheed hydraulic 10-inch drum brakes were fitted all round. Inside there were leather-trimmed individual front seats and a rear bench, with a polished wood dashboard and door cappings. The similar Wolseley 4/44, sold a year earlier, used the 1,250 cc engine of the MG TF: the two cars look alike, but the MG sits lower and shares only the front doors, boot lid and roof panels. The Motor tested a Magnette in 1955 and recorded 79.7 mph, 0–60 mph in 23.1 seconds and a price of £914 including taxes. Production of the ZA reached 18,076 cars.
Magnette ZB
The ZA was replaced by the ZB, announced on 12 October 1956. Power rose to 64 hp through larger carburettors, a compression ratio raised from 7.5 to 8.3 and a revised manifold, taking the top speed to 86 mph and the 0–60 mph time down to 18.5 seconds. A semi-automatic transmission marketed as Manumatic was fitted to 496 cars in 1957, and a Varitone model offered a larger rear window and optional two-tone paintwork. 18,524 ZBs were built.
Mark III and Mark IV
The Mark III, announced on 2 February 1959, was almost identical to the Riley 4/68 version of BMC’s new Pininfarina-designed mid-size saloon, sharing its truncated tail fins with the Austin A55 Cambridge Mark II, Morris Oxford V and Wolseley 15/60. The 1,489 cc B-Series engine was enhanced with twin SU H.D.4 carburettors, and the interior had a walnut veneer fascia, leather upholstery and safety glass. The Motor recorded 85.5 mph and 19.7 seconds to 60 mph in 1959; 16,676 Mark IIIs were built.
The Mark III became the Mark IV in 1961 with a larger 1,622 cc engine, a longer wheelbase and wider track, and anti-roll bars front and rear. Outside it was almost identical apart from slightly less sharply pointed tail fins, and automatic transmission became an option. The model stayed in the lists until May 1968, when production ended with no immediate replacement contemplated; 14,320 Mark IVs were built. In 2011 MG Motor revived the name for the saloon version of the MG6, the MG6 Magnette, shown at Goodwood alongside examples of the ZA and ZB.
Design and features
- Unibody construction: the ZA was the first MG with a unitary body.
- B-Series engine: the 1,489 cc unit made its first appearance in the ZA.
- Wood and leather interior: polished wood fascia and door cappings, leather seats.
- Pininfarina body: the Mark III and IV came from BMC’s Italian-styled mid-size range.
MG Magnette versions
- ZA (1953–1956): 60 bhp, 18,076 built.
- ZB (1956–1958): 64 bhp, Manumatic option, Varitone two-tone model, 18,524 built.
- Mark III (1959–1961): Pininfarina body with tail fins, 16,676 built.
- Mark IV (1961–1968): 1,622 cc, longer wheelbase, anti-roll bars, 14,320 built.
- MG6 Magnette (2011): the name revived for the MG6 saloon.
The Magnette took its name from the 1930s K3 Magnette and was a stablemate of the MGA; more cars are in the MG collection.
Video: 1954 MG Magnette ZA
Video by Michael Boxwell on YouTube.
Sources
- MG Magnette, English Wikipedia: ZA, ZB, Mark III and IV specifications and production
