Lot Ended
Description
Rare and sporting MG with a luxury interior; 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 has very little history but a green
continuation 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