23rd January 2013

Three more Magnettes for the gallery. They don't stop turning up (luckily):
# 2783 an early car owned by Brian Melville, England
# 23947 a restoration project in Australia
# 25642 Peter Yarham nice runner in New Zealand

20th January 2013

Brian Woolmer from the MGCC Sydney sent a nice report, on how they rescued 5 Magnettes from the scrapper...

14th January 2013

9th January 2013

Today we have 4 new Magnettes on the gallery. We nearly reach the 800 mark!
We start with
# 24234 owned by Ian Cox
# 27790 A restoration project for our well-known Loz Scott
# 32901 Adrian Tomlinson with another restoration project and
# 33597 David Wahl, USA

The events calendar 2013 has been updated. Please make your diary now and remember that Magnette60, the Diamond Jubilee of the Magnette, is the main event in August. WE WANT YOU THERE!

3rd January 2013

A happy new year to all Magneteers worldwide!
I'm sorry there haven't been any updates for some time, but as I said, I'm working on a relaunch. Bút there are information, that can't wait:
Stephen Tickell asked me to make the following note:

Magnette60 online booking coming soon !
We will be taking bookings for Magnette60 very soon. It was announced in Safety Fast! magazine that the online system would be available at the beginning of January, but as usual the technical side of things is taking a little longer than planned. Thanks for your patience, and please check back here shortly. If you register your interest by mailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. we'll make sure you're informed immediately when we're open for bookings. Please don't contact Wroxall Abbey hotel directly, as they won't be able to offer you the preferential pricing and package deals available through the Register.

9th December 2012

A big update on the wedding gallery with three new wedding cars and their passengers...

Please notice: this is the last update for the year as I'm working hard on a relaunch of thsi website and can't do both websites. I hope to have the new website running by the end of the year...
So pleaxse come back!

1st December 2012

Due to some circumstandes the last weeks seem to be quiet on the website. But there is a reason you will see some time, not this year...
Anyway: the work goes on. First I had a lot of pictures and registrations in my mailbox that need to be included in the gallery. here we go in ascending order by chassis numbers:

# 11492 these are the sad remains of a once glory car sitting in CA, USA and waiting for to be kissed by a prince. This prince shouls have some skills!
# 18026 was for sale in Sweden and needs some helping hands, too.
# 20223 is a nice example, that now belongs to David Rawlins from Australia
# 23083 This is quite intersting on how this website and the register brings people together: we had an enquiry of David Taylor, who's father owned this car in the '60s and he found some pictures and papers. Due to our database we could get him in touch with the current owner, who very much appriciated this file of history of his car.
# 30823 Kurt Nagl from the States is new proud owner of this ZB (not Varitone) and finally
# 36349 John Clark from Hampshire owns this car since 40 years now.

There is also an intersting comment from our register historian Peter Martin to the last picture of the month.

The next update will come soon with some nice wedding shots! And the new picture of the month!

9th November 2012

I missed the update on 1st of the month, but again there was so much to do. There was also a register meeting in Germany, which I organised. We had some lovely time around the meeting in Boppard on the Rhine. Well, bute here we go with another update:
The first dates for the 2013 events calendar are fixed...
And of course a new picture of the month...

23rd October 2012

Goodwood report with pictures of Rikke Urbansen Nissen and Dietrich Krahn added...

3rd October 2012

Already some weeks ago the register had it's annual AGM. After a five years period as chairman, Paul Batho stood down. New chairman of the register is David Halliday. It's the first time a Aussie takes over this role in the UK. So our register committee is well international now.
This is a good bridge to turn over to the Wagga Wagga event in NSWm Au´stralia. Loz Scott send a full report and pictures...

Also some news on thegallery which climbed to 783 cars! Is your car still missing? Please send a picture. So did Noel Willis from Ireland with  # 16404 , and  Rod Smith from Victoria, Australia with # 36082
 

Finally we have a new picture of the month

23rd September 2012

Grant Howlett's wonderful one-family-owned ZA again was the star in a report. This time it is compared with the new MG6 in Enjoying MG, which the author Jon Presssnell along with the MG Owners' Club made.

21st September 2012

Per Malmros found another car from Sweden for the gallery: # 14322.
And Mark Bunce sent some pictures from saturday in Norwich...
After a long period there are two new entries on the wedding gallery. Committee member Clive Webb married in style and our Mexican Magnette owner Luis Benito Ruiz Bogarin chauffeured his daughter to her wedding.

18th September 2012

Here's a report from Norwich...

6th September 2012

Two more cars for the gallery:
# 12681 and # 37085
And I found this picture in my folder and thought it's ok to congratulate HM for her Diamond Jubilee in 2012

which marks 60 years as queen.

And of course a new picture of the month....

26th August 2012

Here is the Silverstone MG LIVE report (with some delay)...

But plannings for Magnette60, our main event in 2013 to celebrate the diamond jubilee, are getting more detailed. Read more...

21st August 2012

Here's the report of our AGM at Middleton Hall last weekend.

Daniel Pope's Magnette # 28909, still under restoration, is new on the gallery.

And looking over the pond I heard that the 1957 MG Magnette saloon "Geraldine" of our Allen Bachelder, of Michigan, won class at the North American MG Register show in Dayton, Ohio!

 Congratulations!

2nd August 2012

I haven't done a lot of updates during the last weeks, but my ar kept me busy! So quite a lot of news wait to be spread around. Here we go:
Please note that the event on 8th/9th September in Norwich has been reinstated for 2012! Saturday, there will be a lunchtime barbeque, followed by a short petrol saving walk and an evening Dinner. Alternatively just sit and chat with John and Lou Shorten. Sunday will be held at Bressingham Steam Museum and Gardens. See events page...

Then we are very happy to announce our new regalia shop. You can now order clothings for men and ladies with the Magnette Register logo. Just follow this link or use the button on the left navigation (Regalia Shop).

The GP100 souvenir DVD compiled by John and Cynthia Harris features extensive extracts from the guest speaker sessions, as well as showing all the other events of the Gerald Palmer celebration. Copies will be available to buy at the AGM (Middleton Hall) for only £10, or alternatively John and Cynthia are prepared to send them by post. This will cost an extra £1.20 in the UK, or £3 outside the UK. Please contact us if you would like a copy"
A trailer can be seen on youtube.

There is also a new picture of the month. But it could be one of the last, if you don't look your archives and photobooks and send some interesting pictures  to me! It would be a pity if we have to stop with this as we had so many nice pictures over the years.

More during the next days with the Silverstone report...

 

1st July 2012

The Magnette Register day at the Kop Hill Climb is getting closer and spaces are filling fast. We would really like to have a good presence from the Magnette Register at this wonderful historic event, if we don't get a few more cars along, we may risk losing our space. That would be a real pity and it is a wonderful opportunity to show off our wonderful MG Magnettes to the classic car and classic motorsport world. It is a great day out for classic car enthusiasts of all ages.

As this is organised by the Kop Hill Climb committee, it is very important that you get on and book sooner rather than later. Like Goodwood, they will sell out and you cannot just turn up on the day to display your car. So please go to http://www.kophillclimb.info/ get your entry in and make sure that you say you are wanting to join the MGCC Magnette Register.

Just to reiterate the key point;
The Kop Hill Climb is one of the oldest motorsport events in the UK. It was revived in 2009 and 2012 is the fourth running since it was revived. There is a fantastic line up of prewar and postwar cars. Many of the cars at Kop Hill will have been at the Goodwood Revival the previous weekend. It is a wonderful opportunity to see some wonderful cars in a very relaxed and friendly environment.

Come along in your MG Magnette, join the classic car display or even apply for a chance to run up the hill. We would like to see a good turn out of Magnettes at this wonderful event. Bring a picnic lunch while watching some wonderful cars of enjoy the comprehensive catering.

It is important that you book early is there are a limited number of places and they fill fast. Information and bookings can be done at the website; http://www.kophillclimb.info/

Click on the "Classics and Clubs" link in the left hand side menu. Work your way through the registration and ensure that you choose the MG Car Club Magnette Register in the "Individual or Club" part of the registration page.

This is an official Magnette Register event for the Saturday only because many of us will want to attend the MGB 50th event at Blenheim Palace in Sunday the 23rd of September. Blenheim Palace is very close to Kop Hill, so why not make a weekend of it. It would be great to have a nice turn out of Magnettes to support the MGB Register in their principal event.

We look forward to seeing you there, but please, please book soon.

8th July 2012

Again I'm a bit late with the picture of the month, but here it is...
A note for those who wish to attend the Kop Hill Speed Hill Climb in September has been added to the events page. Early booking is necessary!

23.12.2000
Hello Magnettiers from all over the world!

The MGCC Z & Farina Magnette Register wishes you 
a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. 

I announced it several times and I hope I don't dissapoint you. Here's your free christmas gift. Download your own Magnette-screensaver now! (1,5 MB).  It's easy to install and even uninstall. I  hope you enjoy it.
But we have more. There are several updates:
Paul Barrow kindly sent me two new book reviews, which can be read at BOOKS and he also sent me the following  
latest News on Reproduction of Magnette ZA / ZB Tool roll:
Following recent enquiries, it will be possible for a limited production run of 30 only to be made of the tool roll. 
The biggest problem has been the sourcing of the bitumen backed hessian and this is now possibly over come. As to pricing, the likely outturn will be £40.00 including UK VAT (£34.04 export and VAT Exempted Sales). In order to secure the financing, I am now interested in receiving firm indications from people who are seriously interested in taking advantage of this limited run. If there is sufficient excess demand we may be able to extend the run, however, due to the supply of the raw material, a second run can not be guaranteed.  Please email your intentions to Paul Barrow as soon as possible please on the link below. Thanks.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

01.12.2000
I hope you all enjoyed this month's entry page with Santa Claus and some snowfall. 
In my last notes  I promised a christmas gift for our visitors. But it's still not christmas, so you still have to wait...and come back at christmas!
But to shorten time I created a test for you. Find out whether you are an Magnette-expert. Click here for the Magnette-expert-test.
Again it's necessary to activate JavaScript in your browser (most surfers already have).
See you again at christmas for the free christmas gift. 

17.11.2000
The price lists of our suppliers are much quicker to download now.  I'm just preparing a Christmas gift for you... Worth waiting for it !
Please sign our guestbook. Let's get it a "Who is who" or better "Who got one" (Magnette).

06.11.2000
We now have a site for Magnette suppliers, where you can download a price list! Should you order from them, please mention our website !
One of our regular visitors is going to look into the feasibilty of remanufacturing the M.G. Z Magnette Tool roll. Selling price may be £20-£25 (without tools, of course) but this is subject to confirmation depending upon if anyone is interested. If you are interested, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

01.11.2000
Whilethe season has ended in Europe, it should start in the southern hemisphere. So you people out there, where are your reports?
For those who couldn't manage to get the classic & sports car article in October, we have it here as a pdf-file:
"Grace but no heirs" (1MB)
Thanks to Paul Barrow for making this file.
If you do not have AcrobatReader yet, you can downlad for free here:


What else? My cry hor help for more pictures died away in the web's nirvana. The register would really like to have more input from you!  

Use the cold autumn's evenings to get your car greased!!
Bye 
Günter

01.10.2000
Here is a short reportwith some pictures of the Y-type & Z-Magnette tour to Luxembourg and the 4th German Z-Magnette-day. 
I also promised another special Magnette. Here it is:  It's No. 28 from the production line! One of the oldest known Magnettes. And it is for sale... Click here to see some pictures 

21.09.2000
A lot of news now. First we have to announce, that there are some nice articles on Magnettes in several magazines. September's issue of "The Automobile" has a three pages report on Magnettes. 
In October's issue of "Classic & Sportscar" is a article that is very well written and very favourable towards the car. So hurry to get your copy..
But that's not all. I received an interesting articel on Magnette models from Paul Barrow that you can find here.   
Nothing for you? Well if you are not only interested in Concours cars and like conversions look at this Hot Rod Magnette. I've often seen the letters H.R.M in the UK, now I know what they mean ;-). 
 
P.S. I'm running out of good pictures for our "Monthly Picture". So help! 
Well for the next time I can announce another special Magnette. No conversion, no racer but was built for a motorshow. Watch this space....
Bye and enjoy the site.

Günter

08.09.2000
During the last few days I have found some interesting links, so I have updatd again. Look at "Other links" at the bottom to see  what has been added. 
A few weeks ago I wrote about our Historian Warren Marsh and our Registrar David Johnson, who both took part in a rally through East-Europe and Scandinavia. Follow this link to the organiser's homepage with some nice videos and pictures (unfortunalety only in Dutch), or click here to see the "Magnette team".

01.09.2000
The summer (or what it is called) in Europe is passing now and the last Magnette event in the UK is already over. Lou and John Shorten managed to get 53 (!!) Magnettes to their event in Norwich. It's nearly imposssible to get so many cars on a picture, but our new chairman, Roy Smalldridge, took a picture to give you an impression of this big event. 
Well the feedback from YOU , our visitors, is very very low. Maybe nobody visits this site? Or everybody is bored? Or just happy to surf on? Anyway, the Register makes this site for you, so we would like to know what you think about it and what you like to see in the future. Feel free to send me an This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and/or scripe our guestbook. Thanks! 
For the next time I have a really special Magnette for you. So watch this space...

Bye
Günter

29.08.2000
Not too many news for now. I managed to get the dia show of my Scandinavia tour ready for you.  This is more or less an experiment for further shows. Tell me what you think about it! Also tell me what you like to see, what you miss or just what you don't like
Scandinavia tour 2000:
The Varitone was packed with two children, two adults and all the camping equipment four people need during a 14 day trip in a cold climate! The journey took us from Germany to Denmark, further north to Bergen in Norway. Then we crossed Norway eastwards, visited the MGA & Magnette representative, before we headed home via Sweden and again Denmark. The beginning and end of the tour was marked with M.G. events and in between a lot of driving in beautiful scenerie. 
The whole journey was about 2,500 miles during 14 days. The Magnette did all without problems. I only had to tighten the fanbelt once. And later at home the brake master cylinder needed new rubber bushes, because it didn't held the pressure.
Why I write this? Just to encourage you to use your cars whenever possible. 
Remember:You can do it in an M.G.! 

Magnettic MotorinG
Günter

25.07.2000
Another event has gone by now! Many of you missed the annual event at Old Warden. We were lucky to have flying conditions on the saturday evening and see a Spitfire and a Hurricane flying beside, amoung a lot of Vintage Doubledeckers. I would have preferred to see a Messerschmitt, but after seeing the Spitfire I understand, that not many survived the airfights.
Anyway. It was a cold and wet week. But the stay with the Shorten's was worth getting cold in the tent! John found some of his spare time to show me how he builds repair panels. Really impressing.
I plan to progam a little photo show for you. But as this site is run by enthusiasts for enthusiasts it will take some time. So have a look from time to time. Normally we have every 14 days something  new. 
This time I'm happy to announce the completion of our Regala-site with brand new register regalia!
I also added some new "Other links" and a new "tip".
Bye for now
Günter

01.07.2000
The season is in full swing now with a lot of M.G. events to choose. I hope you all have your Magnettes on the road now and enjoy driving in the new airsmoothed style. My family and I returned after a 2,500 miles through Germany, Denmark, Norway and Sweden, which we all enjoyed. The Magnette ran without problems and seemed to enjoy the lonely roads in Norway.
But this seems to be nothing against Warren Marsh's trip. He did nearly 5,000 miles in his ZA on a rally through Poland, some of the new states formerly belonging to Russia, and Sweden! Anybody out there, who can beat this?

I added a report of a Ford Sierra 5 speed gearbox conversion at "Hints & Tips". All other things still have to wait, as my diary announces the European Event in the Netherlands on 8./9. July. From there I will travel directly to England, "waste" one week in beautiful landscape with long and winding roads, just to arrive at the Register's Summer event in Biggleswade just in time.

For those who have already registered their Magnettes online - a big thank you. All cars were unknown on our file. Please also register your Magnettes, which are scrapped or you want to sell. Let's find out, how many survived!
Magnettic MotorinG
Günter

08.06.2000
Just two days before I'm gonna leave for the MGCC Germany's Whitsunday event, I managed to get my car ready after a half years rebuilt. It all started with the idea to do some necessary welding and replace some rubbers and ended in a nearly total restoration.
Anyway. I just want to tell you, that there will be no update during the next 14 days (except the classifieds), as I will drive via Norway, Sweden and Denmark to the next MG event, which  is held on the island Als in Denmark.
After this we have some interesting reports for you: I received an interesting report on a Ford Sierra gearbox conversion and also a report of the season's opening at Magnettes & Steam is in preparation.
If you go to Silverstone, have a look at our stand and park your Magnette in the Register Parking Area!    
Magnettic MotorinG
Günter 

07.05.2000
The season has started now with the Register's first event "Magenettes and steam". Weather conditions were fairly wet as you could see at the Silverstone Grand Prix, but a dozen Magnettes ignored the weather and attended.
I received the information from Malcom Eades, that a conversion kit for Ford Sierra gearboxes is under development. Many MGA owners already converted their cars with this gearbox. These boxes are very small and 1st to 4th gear are nearly the same as the original , with the advantage of a 5th gear with a ratio of 0.82. The kit will include a cast aluminium bell-housing, clutch release mechanism, special prop shaft and all bolts & fasteners. Not included is the gearbox, which can be found easily and cheap at scrapyards. Futher informations will appear.  This conversion is surely a good thing for long distance runners.
Also new is our "tips & hints" section, which should become the buyers and restores First Aid in the future. If you have tips that could help others send them to me.

13.04.2000
Welcome, Willkommen, G'day, Bonjour, Sawasdee,

although we care for old cars, the Z & Farina Magnette Register now uses new technlogies to inform and help Magnette owners on all continents.
Beside the fnished sites of history and books etc. we will inform you frequently about the Magnette sZene. The section "Regalia" is still under construction, but I think there's enough to surf around in the beginning.
Please use our classifieds at "market" if you want to sell or buy Magnette parts or cars.
At the moment there is not too much about the Farinas, but that will change in the future. At the moment I can only recommend the Farina website. You'll find a link at "Other Links".
We also plan to include a section with technical tips etc. More informations will arise over the year. But your webmaster has to get his own Varitone back on the road for this years events. Hopefully I meet o lot of you!
As this site is YOUR site, comments are very welcome. Write what you like, what you missed and what you don't like to see. Please use our guestbook for your comments or send an This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
For historical reasons we like to know about all Magnettes, whether they are owned by members or not, so anyone is welcome to send in their car details. You can do this on our "Register your MAGNETTE" . To prevent you of spamming, your dates will be coded!

Bye for now and enjoy our site.
Magnettic MotorinG
Günter Graskamp

29.06.01
Back from Silverstone! Here are the first pictures. More to follow next week. I have to hurry as the next Magnette event takes place  this weekend in Minden/Germany and the Magnette awaits it's 1,000 miles service.
Here you'll see the California Cup team (Paul Batho, Günter Graskamp and John Hale).
Here is the Le Mans MG
On the MGCC homepage are more impressions of Silverstone.
Excuse this telegram style but I'm really in a hurry! More on the beginning of July.
Günter

08.06.01
We have just noticed that the email address for John and Lou Shorten has been mis-stated. Please update your address books as follows: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . If you wish to make a manual change please put a dot (.) between mg and specs, there should also be one between virgin and net. We apologies to you, and to John and Lou, for this mistake and in the length of time it has taken to correct our error. You should now have no difficulty in reaching them by email. 

01.06.01
This month will bring us two big MaGnette events:  Silverstone and the German Z-Magnette-Day with a lot of European friends. I will attend both events and hope to show some pictures as soon as possible. 

During the last weeks I had to inspect some Magnettes for a friend who is looking for a classic family transport. It's always interesting to find out how often the describtion "rustfree" is used for cars that show rust at the first sight. Why aren't sellers not honest enough to describe a car what it really looks? This saves time and money for both. One of those cars was offered on the net and has an "interesting" colour scheme. Look here what I mean. 

People show great interest at Magnettes nowadays. This surely is also a result of the active owners and representatives in the clubs. The Netherland MGCC vote their Z & Farina Magnette Register for the most active Register. Our congratulations to Henk Kroese, who does a good job in the Netherlands. Here's Henk with his new trophy.

Our Safety Fast scribe Paul Batho sent me a preview of July's issue with some some very interesting articles:   
- 'Gerald Palmer's independent front supension' - an article by Neil Cairns on the design of the Z-type front suspension and how to deal  with maintainance when it is over 40 years old

- 'KAC33/528 - an historic discovery' - Our historian Warren Marsh's article on the discovery of the Danish motor show car, one of the earliest known to exist. Here's a picture of her after 20 years in a shed. 

- 'The Magnette Connection - an interview with Don Hayter' - Don is best known as the designer of the MGB, but what is less well known is his involvement with the development of the Magnette (including a 6-cylinder prototype!). Paul Batho has interviewed him to discover what he did in the 1950s
We hope this whets your appetite!

20.05.01
The Register’s season opener saw several Magnettes (and other M.G.s) at the "Magnette and Steam" event at Quorn and Woodhouse. Click here for a photo.
The next big Magnette event will be held in Silverstone, the home of British Racing sports. As I wrote before you can participate without 
a racing license. Navigate your Magnette around a few (hundred) cones. It’s not a race and you will not destroy your car. But you have to hurry up: entries must be done until 4^th June! Remember it's a sport-saloon [1o% sports - 90% saloon :-) ]

Also the 5^th German Z-Magnette Day has a good turnout yet. About 10 cars from four countries already booked. If you haven’t sent your entry form yet do it now. Early booking helps to organize!!

Now we leave the European area and have a look overseas:

Paul Casarona from USA was asking for a list of Magnette owners offering help in their areas in case of a breakdown. As the Register does not give the addresses of owners registered with us to anybody, all we can do is compile a new list of owners willing to give assistance to owners travelling in their area. (Perhaps the M.G. clubs overseas already offer something like this?). 
If you live in the USA and are willing to help and contact other Magnette owners either by e-mail, phone or snail mail, send me an This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. I will compile a list of all owners and distribute the list to them. 
I think that’s all the Register can offer by now. Now it depends on our American friends...

Now I have to turn my computer off – my Magnettes awaits it’s 3,000 miles service. You know: drain the sump, refresh oil in air filter and so on...
See you on the road!
Günter

01.05.01
Hi all !
This monththe Register has a very small jubilee to celebrate: This website has it's first birthday! Well this is not much in relation to our Magnette's age (and sometimes owners too) but on the net it's ages.
Anyway. We got in touch with enthusiastic owners all over the world, who we wouldn't have met without this modern  media. 
I hope we have enough good ideas and infos in the future to keep you surfin' in! 
During the last weeks was a discussion on diffs. on the Magnette BBS. Because of this I publish an extract from the Register's Modification Manual on our "Hints and tips" page. It's called "Choice of rear axle ratio". Perhaps this helps a little.
At least I want to encourage our visitors to subscripe our guestbook. It will be removed next month and put to archives. 
Magnettic MotorinG
Günter
 
15.04.01
If you missed the Magnettes and Steam event this weekand think about Silverstone in June. This is the biggets M.G. event worldwide with M.G.s from the very early 18/80 to the MGF. Of course there are also Z-Magnettes and a few Farinas (were are they?).
Those of you who still have competition in their blood and wish to handle their Magnette around a few cones, may take part in the California Cup. It's a lot of fun and we look forward to seeing a lot of you there! Please contact our Competition Secretary Peter Martin at ++(0)1959 572573 if you want to take part.
The winner will receive the "Gerald Palmer Trophy". Click here for  a picture of Gerald Palmer, the designer of the Z-Magnette, with this trophy. This picture was taken in 1993 by Warren Marsh.
I also added some impressions of Silverstone 2000 here taken by Mark Bunce. 

01.04.2001
Finally the winter is over. Hopefully the weather knows that too! The first event of 2001 starts on 14th April and the Register hopes to see YOU at "Magnettes and Steam". More updated information are on the "Event page".
Committee member Peter Bonthrone updated the Calendar of Events. This is a small leaflet with dates and other useful informations. You can get this for free at events or download it here!(530 kB). 

15.03.01
Again we have permission to reproduce an article that appeared last year in Autocar. Download "Magnetic attraction" as pdf-file (300Kb). It's not the same article that appeared in MG World as Magnettic Attraction (with double t)! Thanks for this to Paul Barrow (again).
And to whet your appetite we have several photos of last years event in Norwich. Thanks go to Mark Bunce (UK) for these great photos! 

I also received the information that John and Lou Shorten have moved (email address only):
Following a degree of difficulty in both sending and receiving emails, John and Lou Shorten announce that they have moved their email address. Please download the revised price lists from the Suppliers page and update your address book accordingly. Please note the old address should not be used from now on. If you have previously sent an email and have not received a reply, please accept their apologies and resend the email to the new address. Thank you. 

01.03.2001
Now you can buy your brandnew MG Z! It's not a Magnette, but it continues the tradition of sport saloons as the advert says. Look here.
But now more on real MGZs:
This time we have wonderful pictures from the roaring sixties. They are from Japan again and unpublished yet! Enjoy the report Magnettes in Japan II.
Did you already download our free screensaver, but found the yellow writing in the left corner bothersome? You can download it now without it plus a bonus picture.
If you are interested to see the who is behind the Register, look at "Join us", where I added a picture.
And finally some news from Paul Barrow: 
Progress on the reproduction tool roll continues. We are currently just below break-even and if I get one or two more orders, we shall be in the clear. (Any profits on the deal will be going to the MG Car Club funds and will not be retained for any personal gain.) It is hoped that we shall be able to proceed soon and achieving break-even will be important for securing funding of this "once in a life-time" opportunity. Please bear with us during this time and keep looking here for updates or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. me for any news. Thanks, Paul Barrow 

01.02.2001
This month we (finally) have a picture from America with several Magnettes beside (look at Monthly Picture). I can't believe that we have most visitors from the States but only a few pictures! What are you doing with your Magnettes? No pictures of a tour over the Rocky Mountains or on Route 66? I believe you have a lot of photos. So show it to the others (contemporary photos from the 50's and 60's preferred, but not essential). 
This month we also have a report of Magnettes in Thailand. Not only do they have smiling girls and delicious food, they still have two (or more?) Magnettes. This will be the continuation of our series "Magnettes abroad". Be sure I can top this article next month with superb pictures. Watch out!
And last but not least I can offer a video! 
By kind permisson of the MGCC Germany we have a scene from their last Whitsunday event. We were in different groups with different road books, what explains the different directions... Switch on your speakers!!! It's called:
 The tricky crossing!
If you wish to see more videos visit the MGCC Germany.
Now enjoy our site and look through your private photo album for pictures and stories! This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. everything to me.
In Varitone
Günter

17.01.2001
Last weekendI enjoyed a wonderful scenic winter drive with snow beside the roads, temperature near 0 degrees and a blue sunny sky. The Magnette ran beautiful with a winter waterthermostat of 82°C. But the winter will last too long. To shorten this time read January's Safety Fast!. It contains the Register's 4 page centrespread with a fascinating article of the 2000 Mile Trial and the second part of Bob Pulleyblank's report "Twin Cam Magnette - Or how to become a pauper".
While I enjoyed my scenic drive Paul Barrow was sitting in his office to create a new pdf-file for you! This time it's called "Magnetic Attraction"(300Kb). This article was originally published in MG World magazine June/July 2000 and is reproduced here by kind permission. 
Also updated is the events page.
Magnettic Motoring
Günter

01.01.2001
It's the beginning of a new year and time to think about holidays. Over the last years I planned my holidays around M.G. events and it was great fun. I visited places I had never heard before and where I wouldn't have been without the magic of M.G. 
For those of you who like to do the same have a look at the updated events diary for 2001 and meet likeminded people!
This month we also have a short report and some pictures titled "Magnettes in Japan" from our Japanese friend Hideo Obah.
This could be a new contest: write about your life with Magnettes! What do you think about it?
I think it's also time to say a big thank you to all our visitors. It's you that keep this site alive! Also thank you for registering your cars. The Register's file is growing and growing and we had a lot of new registrations of cars unknown to still excist: For example chassis no. 18578. This is the second real ZB. Real because some hybrids (ZA's with one or more ZB specifications) were built before.
The Register also is delighted that the oldest excisting Magnette (chassis no. 528) has found a new owner, who is willing to restore it to it's former glory. You can see here some pictures of this Magnette stored in a barn.

24.12.01

Merry Christmas
 and a 
Happy New Year
 to you all !

I wish you always a handful tar under your wheels and a lucky 2002 to you and your families! 
As a small present the Register has a brand new screensaver for you. This time it features 12 different pictures from contemporary sales brochures. Again it is easy to install and even uninstall if you wish. Download here and enjoy it ! (1,5Mb) 

For those who can't get enough of Magnettes on their screen we also offer this picture for your desktop. Here's a description how to save the picture as wallpaper on your desktop. Please select  for 17" screen or 19" screen.  
At this time I would like to say thank you to everybody who helped to keep this site interersting with pictures, reports or just a note. Mainly I have to thank Paul Barrow,UK, for his enormous work creating the old articles from various magazines as pdf-files. 
Don't get tired sending pictures i.e. for the owners gallery.
That's all for the moment. Next month will see a bigger update...
Magnettic MotorinG
Günter

21.12.01

If you like to repair your windscreen washers to original  standard or just like to understand how it works with the vacuum pipe from the manifold you may find the windscreen washer article at "Hints & Tips" of interest (pdf-file 500 kb). 
I also received an hint on repairing tie-bars from Carsten Wivel, Denmark. Read it here.
And also another poll. Let's see what's the favourite colour nowadays and I will compare it with the sales figures 40 years ago.
And don't forget to visit us at christmas, a gift is waiting for you!
Günter

17.11.01

A few weeks ago we had our first poll. The question was: What is your favourite Magnette model? Here is the result:


This mirrors the figure sales of the 50's. Personaly I'm astonished that ZB's are the loosers. Although I own a Varitone I love the straight line of the ordinary ZB.   

We also have another nice article to download. It's a brand new article from Practicle Classic covering MG saloons from Z to Z! Look at Articles "Practical Classic 11/2001" . Thanks to Practical
Classics, who supplied us with some of the pictures!

Finally I have a request from our Register Historian Warren Marsh. He's looking for a representative in Australia. This person should act as co-ordinator in collecting information about all known Z's in Australia. Warren would like to be able to write (no e-mail) to one person over there rather than several people in different states. Please contact me at my e-mail address for more information if you're interested in this job and I will make contact to Warren.
Günter

07.11.01
I remember my first visit to the MGCC event in Silverstone in 1994. Amoung thousands of cars and spares I saw a couple who attracted my attention. They had a ZA and the dashboard was full of brass labels from car shows and MG events. 
Later I found out he was the President of the MGCC Z-Register. During the following years I saw him at different shows and found out that we not only had the love for Magnettes in common. He also was a racing cyclist like I was (when I was young).
With great sadness I heard of the death of Dixon Morris. Read Paul Batho's obituary here.

01.11.01
After two years with a leaking frontscreen it really was time to get it repaired. This time I thought it's better to get it done by a specialist. So I drove 100 km only to find out, that there was too much rust under the rubber, which had to removed first. But we managed to fix the frontscreen with tape so that I could drive home again. Hopefully during the next week I get the frame resprayed and then it's time for another try. 
This month we have some technical articles for you: 
First we have another article (pdf) about the very sensible Temperature Sender unit at our "Hints & Tips" corner.
The other is a "Safety Fast"-Tip from myself looking at the tie bars. 
Then we have another re-creation of an Magnette article as pdf-file. This time it's from a German Classic Car magazine (English translation will follow).
We also have some more cars on the owners gallery (where is YOURS??).
And finally we have another report from our East Correspondent Hideo Ohba from Tokyo: Japan III
Günter 

27.10.01
This year we had a lot of fantastic meetings with a lot of cars. One car surely was outstanding: it was Pat Gedney's blue ZB. Those of you who saw the car will agree. The result was a collection of trophies in Silverstone and also Norwich. Perhaps Pat fears to fill his loft with trophies if he doesn't get rid of it right now. I don't know, if  he really wants to sell it! Read "To sell or not to sell..." if you're interested in buying a lovely ZB. 

09.10.01
I just added a few more contemporary adverts, which Peter Bonthrone kindly sent to me and we have a few more pictures on the owners gallery.

01.10.01
Onlya few month ago I was happy to announce the beginning of a new season and suddenly it's over again! It seems times flies by at the moment.
You may have recognized that there's a new navigation bar. I hope you like it. There are some new buttons, but "Collectibles_site" has to wait until winter. At the moment your input is very low, so keep this site running with reports and pictures. May I remind you to send a picture for the owners gallery!
I hope to find some time to do more during this month. So far enjoy our new "Adverts-site", which contains contemporary adverts.
Günter

20.09.01
The latest Register newsletter from Safety Fast can be read here. 
Paul Barrow doesn't get tired to create pdf's from old magazines. This time it's an article from Practical Classic 1997. Look at Articles.
And at least I received the following mail:
Hi Günter
I know you're in favour of using Z types. Here's one of me and Wendy Tomlinson doing the ghymkhana at MGCC East Yorkshire's Sledmere show this year. We didn't trouble the awards (though Wendy did it later with her dad in his MGB GT and won the "closed" class).
Cheers Greg Thornton
Here is the picture.

01.09.01
Again time for an update. My hands are still dirty as I had to stop working in the garage to get you punctually informed. So wat's new?
Well, we have an short article about a restoration. But there's a difference to a "normal" restoration. Look here what I mean.
I also added the winners of the Norwich event. So look here if you're interested.
Also visit the Articles and Owners gallery pages. They are under permanent work and change often. I still have to create a button for quick and easy access, but time is limited at the moment.

Finally I received some news of another trophy win:
As you may recall, I'm a fairly new Magnette owner (though not new to MGCC), having bought my 1958 ZBV, VRU 976, in April this year. Since then, I've renewed the carpets, spruced up the interior trim & leather, and detailed and cleaned the engine bay. 
I'm pleased to tell you that I won the Y&Z Concours class at MGOC's Northern National, held at Pateley Bridge in the Yorkshire Dales on 12th August, particularly as cars have to achieve a minimum 72.5% of the available marks to be eligable for an award. This fact had concerned me a bit, it was my first entry at Concours, I'd only entered Pride previously.
I'm really pleased with the car, and have used it a lot since I bought it, but I did find out they're not really suited to doing gymkhanas on sloping fields of wet grass at MGCC's Yorkshire Centre show at Sledmere House this July!
Jill Thornton
Here's a picture of the car

Congratulation Jill !  But Magnettes are not to bad for ghymkhanas and driving tests. You just need a bit more space...

I think that's enough for the moment. I will update in a few days again, as there are some interesting articles and pictures in my postbox.

Please notice that there are also new price lists on the suppliers page. 
Günter

22.08.01
The biggest Magnette event of the year has gone by now. 56 Magnettes attented Lou Shorten's event in Norwich. They came from all over England and also Scotland (and myself from Germany). I met a lot of people who congratulated for the website which encourages me to carry on. It was nice to meet you all and I hope to see you again next year.
My Magnette did the 1,200 mile journey without any problems. The engine ran beautiful at an average speed of 65 to 70 miles for hours!  Water temperature was o.k. all the time and oil consumption was 1,5 litre. Now it's again time for the 6,000 m service.
Click here for report and pictures of Norwich.
The owner's gallery is growing slowly. There are some new Magnettes. Have YOU already send your car details and a picture?
Much more next month!

Günter

01.08.01
Some of you may have found out that the Magnette's temperature gauge often reads wrong. The fault is quite often the sensor which is one of the parts that are unobtainable. We have a report from David DuBois about the operation, and for the more electric-experienced a manual how to calibrate the MGB-units for your Magnette on our "Hints and tips" page.  

I also started with the Owners Galley. Please help to make this the largest collection of all Magnettes! Your pictures are needed!! Please send a picture and some details if you like. If you don't want to see your name or location on the gallery for any reason please give me a note. Those of you who already sent pictures to me please give me permission (and car details) to include them!

While surfin' around the net I found some new sites that contain Magnette stuff. They are marked at "Other Links".

There are good news for our European friends. The Z-Magnette-Day 2002 will be organised by our Dutch friend Henk Kroese near the Dutch/German border (what really is a nice place). So mark the the last weekend in June 2002! Thanks Henk for your offer! Perhaps this time we can say hello to Belgian and some Dutch cars? More information to follow.

And finally there are two more pdf-files of older Magnette-reports on our brand new "Articles"-site. 

I think that's enough for August at the moment. I hope to see many of you in Norwich. Can Lou top her last year record with 54 Magnettes ? I gonna tell you next month!

Now it's up to you with owner'spictures ! Im waiting.

Günter

11.07.01
Good news for those of you who wanted to read Ken McKimmie's book, but didn't want to order it from Australia. The book is now available in UK from the Register via Andy Brock (for contact details look on the Regalia site). Also Lou Shorten has some too. However, there are only a few copies left. So hurry to get yours.
If you don't know about this book look at the Books site.  It is a very good non-technical, adventure book and is extremely well written and an easy read as well as a"must have".
 

10.07.01
There's a new price list from John & Lou Shorten on the supplier page. I also added somemorepictures of Silverstone. 

02.07.01
Another Magnette weekend has gone by. The German Z-Magnette-Day was a big success with 12 cars from four countries! It was good to see so many of you and talk to. Hope to see many of you next year in Germany! Look here for a photo gallery and a short report.
More pictures of this event and Silverstone to follow this month. So watch the updates.

Again we offer a reprint of an old article as a pdf-file. We don't know where it's from and when it was first printed. Should anyone know more about this article, please send us an e-mail. Here is "Magnette.pdf" (498 kB). Credits for creating the file go again to Paul Barrow. Many thanks! 

A few weeks ago we asked our American friends, who were interested in a "get-you-home-service" and who were able to help other Magnette owners. The result was depressing. No answer at all arrived in my postbox !

24.06.02
Just returned from a MG event in Belgium with 250 MGs! But only one Magnette. Where have you been? But it seems everybody wants to come to the Netherlands. Henk Kroese told me that there are over 20 teams at the moment. 
Therefore the next update may be a bit later but hopefully with a lot of pictures.
We have two new entries on the gallery #10965 and #14688.
See you next weekend!
Günter

18.06.02
My Varitone today received it's new MOT (TÜV we say in Germany). You all know I use my car daily and therefore it's technical o.k. - normally. 
When checking my flashers the right side refused (it was working well when I drove to the Garage for the MOT). But luckily I found the fault immediatly as it was only a connection in the engine bay. So I got my MOT  and the flashers are still working. 
Oh yes, there was one fault: the tester found oil under my engine. I told him that you can be sure if there's no oil dripping from a LBC it's empty...
So what's new? We have three new entries on the Gallerie: car  #24836, #31631, #31714 and #32213.
And finally something unMagnettic:
At the moment I receive several mails per day with virus. The virus "Klez" is something like the "I love you" virus you may have heard of. To keep my system clean I delete all mails from people I don't know or that seem to have nothing to do with Magnettes. Should any of you wait for an answer from me, please write again and make that mail noticable to be "Magnettic" ! Thank you very much. 
On the other side I strongly recommend to update to Internet Explorer SP2, update your Anti-Virus program regulary and delete suspect mails directly.  
12.06.02
It's again Paul Barrow who found some interesting pages in an old magazine from 1977. It contains an interesting article about the designer of the Magnette, Gerald Palmer. Look at "Articles" marked  .
Also welcome car no. 25827, 25896, 31106 and 32637 on the Gallery. 
While surfin' around I found some nice new websites including one interesting story of a man shipping his car to and from Canada. The added links are marked .
Finally there's a new price list from Lou Shorten for download. Lou now has the original black batteries with one year's guarantee £85.00, and reconditioned SU Fuel pumps (exchange) from £75.00.

04.06.02
June just begun and we already think of July, because in July "Safety Fast" ,the magazine of the MGCC, contains the Z & Farina Register's centrespread.
We have a preview here to wet your appetite:
For concours competitors, Andy Brock’s article this month tells you how to achieve that ‘fresh from the showroom’ look. Two of the three rounds in this year’s Register concours championship take place in July and it’s perhaps no surprise to learn that many of today’s top award winning cars would have to be a little ‘distressed’ (as antique dealers put it) to bring them down to showroom standard!

Quite what a true concours man would make of John and Shirley Gibson’s ZB Varitone Tourer I don’t know, but they tell me that when they parked it next to an immaculate TD at a show recently there was no doubt which car attracted most interest! I reckon that there are proportionally more modified Magnettes than any other MG – 1800 engines and overdrive or 5-speed gearboxes are common, illustrating that they are still a very useable classic, readily adaptable to modern conditions. The Gibson’s car is a stage further on than most, and it is good to hear that they are planning to put it to good, and regular, use. We look forward to seeing it around.

The fascinating tale by Jim Mackaness from the early post war years at Cowley has a particular poignancy since the announcement in June’s Safety Fast of Jim’s death aged 77. He wrote this piece nearly two years ago and, as he was a stalwart of the Y-Type Register in Australia he originally sent it to Neil Cairns. Because it was more about the Magnette/Pathfinder era Neil passed it to me, and it is a fortunate coincidence that it was due to appear in these pages this month. As well as being a fascinating insight into how cars were created half a century ago, the piece is now a tribute to all Jim did for the marque back in those days and in his very active retirement in Australia. And I’m pleased to say there is more – Jim’s notes contained further insights into the early development of a Riley-engined Magnette prototype, and I plan to include these in the January 2003 newsletter.

Finally, to return to the theme of modifications, this month’s editorial picture, taken by Piers Hubbard in New Zealand, shows perhaps the most customised Magnette ever. Or is it just a nightmare vision of what might have been had British Leyland have fallen into the hands of Toyota?
Paul Batho (Safety Fast scribe)

More information about the MGCC's magazine can be found at "Join us". 
01.06.02
Wow! This month we really have a lot of new pictures, reports, a tech tip and a new poll:
We have five new cars on the Gallery (13688, 21924,33180,34652 and 37044). If I'm not wrong 21924 is the first Scottish car.
Then we have great pictures from Warren Marsh & David Johnson who did a long "journey" in their ZA Magnette.
And Laurie Scott from Australia sent a Tech Tip to improve the rattle of the bonnet stay.
Attention!!!  Z-Magnette-Day in Maastricht
Henk Kroese from the Netherlands informed me yesterday that there are no more rooms available at the guest house! There are 12 Magnettes and two Y-types from 6! different countries subscribed so far. If you decide to come you need to go to a hotel nearby or you camp on a campsite just 250 meters away (Your webmaster will be there, too).

22.05.02
70 cars on the Gallery now and a new Advert kindly sent by Paul Barrow (again).

21.05.02
Just coming back from a wonderful MGCC event. The Magnette ran well until she stopped without warning on a German autobahn. I managed to roll off the autobahn and checked fuel pump, carbs and ignition. Again it was the coil that suddenly refused without any warnings. Luckily I had a spare one with me and after half an hour my family and I were on the way again.
A few weeks ago our poll asked you how long you enjoy ownership. It's interesting that nearly 50% own their car less than five years. Perhaps this is because young owners use the internet more than 90 years old first owner. :-)


Again there are new entries on the Gallery (69 cars so far). 

14.05.02
Time for another update! We have five new cars on the Owners gallery. Especially no.'s 1341 and 4994 should be worth a look. Perhaps somebody wants to save them?
We also had a nice ZB with Minilites as Monthly picture a few month ago. Meanwhile I received some more pictures of this car, which I want to show you. Look here.
And a short report with a few pitures from Australia
More in a few days. I have to prepare my car for the first M.G. event in 2002 in Germany next weekend. 
Günter

07.05.02
Trial to the Nile - report no. 3:

Congratulationto you all. I think we all can't really imagine what you've done with the Magnette. Here's a picture of Osterbann's ZBV somewhere in the desert taken from the official website at www.thetrial.nl. They have some nice pictures!
Günter

01.05.02
Again another month is over and it's time for another monthly update (albeit we have several during the month).
This month is under the flag of Sri Lanka! I received several pictures of a restoration project and we all should send our sympathy to the new owner! He will have a lot of  work in the future. The report also covers the situation of Magnettes in Sri Lanka. Read here.

More cars are on the owners gallery (64 now!). And now it happend what I was waiting for. For the first time we have a following chassis no.on the gallery! Once standing in Abingdon in line the one being now in Thailand and the other in Denmark. And to my surprise I've already sat in both cars!

Another fax from Luxor/Egypt:
Trial to the Nile/report no.2:
Both Hans Pernet (ZBV) and Warren Marsh (ZA) have successfully completed the second section of the rally from Istanbul in Turkey to Nuweiba on the Red Sea. The total distance covered by the cars now exceeds 6000 km and much of this has been over badly surfaced roads. Each day the organisers, Hero Holland, have arranged timed regularity sections and many of these have been lengthy mountain climbs, the highest of which was over 2000 m. One section took the 75 competitors into the desert in Syria where navigation was only possible by the Global Positioning System. Many cars have suffered problems with their brakes, tyres and suspension components as well as difficulties with poor quality fuel. Hans Pernet and Herman Oosterbaan have had no trouble at all with their well prepared 1957 Magnette but Warren Marsh and David Johnson had to change a head gasket after a 100 km tow to Damascus. This caused them to miss some vital time controls. The unexpected night drive from Damascus to Amman via the Syrian/Jordanian border proved to be a testing time for both driver and navigator. On entering Egypt all cars had to be scrutineered and issued with temporary number plates. This process took six hours so dinner started at 00.15! The final section of the rally finishes at the pyramids on 4 May.

And finally this website celebrates it's second birthday! Ages on the Internet. If you want to congratulate please send a picture of your Magnette with chassis no. and some words for the steady growing owners gallery. I'll celebrate it with a beer now. Luckily I still have an "Old Speckled Hen"...
Günter

27.04.02
Below is an extraction of the daily reports of the Trial to the Nile which can be read at www.thetrial.nl:
Day 11 
Latakia - Palmyra , 355,5 km 
Today we saw a steep regularity, turning out to be a hillclimb. It started in the "viewpoint café " on top of the mountain just
after Slunfeh and the competitors had to find the start of this regularity looking at their GPS which for some people turned
out to be very difficult. Just after the start Hans Pernet and Herman Oosterbaan who had started as fast as they could in
their MG Magnette came to a complete standstill halfway up the mountain, the hill was too steep for the Magnette and they
had to let themselves drop back down in reverse, because their little car could not do it.

22.04.02
Over the weekend I received a fax from Istanbul, where the Nile-competitors had a rest. They wrote:
"Hans Perret(ZBV) in the Club category and Warren Marsh (ZA) in the Trials section have arrived safely in Istanbul having driven nearly 3,000 km from during the first six days. The route, which comprises a mixture of main and secondary roads, has led them so far through the Czech & Sloval republiks, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey. There are still 76 cars competing, ranging from open Vinage Spors car to a 1960's Rolls Royce. The event, organised by Bart Riettbergen of HERO Holland, is very competitive for Trials entrants and includes many regularity tests. David Johnson, who is navigating for Warren, has had to cope with finding the correct rout along poorly signed country roads where frequent references to the compass are essential because the maps provided are unreliable. The ZA has been subjected to a terrible pounding on the pot-holed roads but apart from one electrical problem now resolved the car has gone well.
The next leg finishe in Jordan in a weeks time."

20.04.02
Trial to the Nile report:
Today the drivers and navigators have a rest day in Insanbul/Turkey after 3,000 km in 6 days. The teams have managed high speed driving on German Autobahn as well as snow in the Tatra Mountains. On Thursday the rangking was completly turned as the road signs were in Cyrillic letters and the navigators had an alphabeth to translate it! All teams lost many time - up to three hours! 
Magnette-team Marsh/Johnson are on place 52 overall/39 in class with a penalty of 00:41:36.
Next week will bring them to Ankara, Jordan, Amman. For full reports visit the official website at www.thetrial.nl  .

16.04.02
Warren Marsh and David Johnson fiished the first stage from Mainz/Germany to Prague/CZ (56 km) with a 50 second penalty on place 7 in class (34 overall). 
The next stages bring them to Stary Smokovec (632 km), Baia Mare (448 km) and on Wednesday to Bucarest.
Then  hope to update with new infomation.
I also added some more new pictures of the "Magnettes & Steam" event which Roy Smalldridge kindly sent me.

13.04.02
You can do it in an M.G.! You all propoply know this slogan. Warren Marsh and David Johnson (both UK) are going to try this out once more. They take part in a Rally called "Trial to the Nile" which will lead them across Europe to the Middle East and ending at the Pyramids in Egypt!
You can read more here over the next days. So far I have some pictures of the Scrutineering and Parc fermeé for you as it wasn't too far away from my home. So I could escort both in my Magnette. Have a look here for Classics in Dersert Trim.
Günter

07.04.02
You may have guessed it. The introduction of new Magnette body shells was a April's Fool Joke! So go on and finish your restoration.
(But I received some mails of owners interested in it...).

01.04.02
Our cars often have unoriginal engines from various other BMC cars. Neil Cairn's list of engine codes (pdf) may help to identify what engine you've got.
Please notice full program and entry form for the European Z-Magnette-Day in the Netherlands on our events page. Also an entry form for Lou Shorten's event is added.
And again a few more pics on the owners gallery. Thanks everybody who sent pictures by mail or post. Those who did not already should do it now!
Finally I received an information from the British Motor Industrie Heritage Trust. After their great success with new body shells for the MGB and Midget they think about a reborn for the Magnette body shell! The old moulds from Pressed Steel are still in a good condition and they expect not too many problems. Before they start they want to know how many owners would be interested to buy a new body shell.
The prive will be around 2,000 GBP without bonnets and doors. Doors will be available at an extra price. 
If you want to shorten your restoration send me an This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and I will forward them. I think this opportunity is worth thinking about when you consider the cost of a complete Magnette-restoration.
More about this next week.

Stop press:
Pictures of the traditional season opener "Magnettes & Steam" are on the events page.

Günter
27.03.02
Andy Brock our Farina Rep. took a picture of the "Alexandra Palace Classic Car Show" in London a few weeks ago. The MGCC had a stand in the entrance hall with a K3 and Andy's Farina Magnette. He reports there was a great interest in the Farina and people walked around to spot every angle.
Click here for a picture [I don't know why the nice girl was roped away :-)  ] 

13.03.02
Paul Barrow from UK has sent some more Collectables and we have a new poll:  

08.03.02
As promised we have another update:
This time we have a batch of new contemporary adverts. Thanks go again to Rutger Booy from the Netherlands!
I added another event mainly for Farina lovers but Z's are also welcome.
There are also more Magnettes on the owners gallery.
And finally John & Lou Shorten have a new price list which you can download on the suppliers page.
Next week we have a bit more again!
Have a nice weekend! (I hope to get my Magnette back with front and rear screens fitted. It seems this is a difficult job and the rubbers you can obtain are not easy to fit.)
Günter

01.03.02

Although it's winter the Magnette sZene isn't sleeping ! 
The input from was very good during the last weeks so I can offer several news for you:
Let's start with an old newspaper article on the "Articles" site, which was sent by Thomas Cockburns from UK. 
Peter Bonthrone from UK sent some information on colour codes for our  "Hints & Tips".
And finally a very big Thank You go to the Netherlands to Rutger Booy the former Dutch Z-Register chairman and Henk Kroese the current Dutch Register chairman. Rutger sent a lot of old photographs for the owners gallery (including an ex-Motor Show car of 1954) and Henk found out the chassis numbers and whereabouts. 
Some of the pictures are so brilliant that you will see them in the future as "Picture of the month". 
Watch up this space I have some more updates for you next week! 
Günter
P.S. Have you seen? We've hit the 20,000 visitors mark! Seems some people are visiting us regulary... Thanx to them!!

22.02.02

We have a new President!
I know you will all think the unanimous choice of the Magnette register committee in selecting Lou Shorten as our new President is perfect.  
So many of us have had spares from Lou over the years, and Lou has supplied spares and advice all over the world. Her interest in the MG marque and specializing in Z Magnettes has been lifelong, she has served on our committee in the past organizing events, and I’m sure Lou will keep us on our toes (the committee that is). 
Her organized event at Norwich has now become our main event of the year.
We are very pleased and delighted to welcome Lou as our President. 
Roy Smalldridge
(Chairman)

20.02.02
Just added a few comments of satiesfied customers who bought the new tool rolls.

12.02.02
Here am I back again! Just had a two weeks break in Thailand enjoying the sun and heat and the wonderful looking girls (ooops my wife gonna read this...).
Anyway.
Peter Bonthrone made a new Calendar of events which contains all dates and usefull addresses for Magnette owners. You can download it here (620 kb). Also all dates of events have now been confirmed. Have a look at our events page.

22.01.02

This is the last update this month!
Please enjoy part three and four of the MG TF Z story.
I also received news from Paul Barrow on the reproduction tool rolls.
And finally Norm Wyndham from Ontario Canada informed me about a Magnette for sale he can be found on the web at: http://www.green-garage.com/index.html

The next update will be mid February!
Günter 

16.01.02

As promised some more updates this week:
Firstly we have the second part of the MGTFZ-story. 
Secondly we have a short article at our Hints & Tips section about wire wheel conversion. A conversion a lot of people like to do (poor man's Jaguar?).
Third I added more pictures on the owners gallery. 
And at least a new poll:

10.01.02

During the last weeks I received a lot of mails and pictures. One saying he has a diesel engine in his Magnette, the other having steel sunshine sliding roof very similar to those on the YA, the third has an EX-stock-car Magnette. Another saying he owns the '57 Motor Show Car etc. I hope to receive more information on these interesting cars...

So here we go again: 
First let's start with something different: A few weeks ago I read about a special Magnette on the Bulletin booard. I contacted the man to find out more and the result is a story of an Aussie guy who built his own TF using a Magnette! 
Read part one (of four) of the MG TF Z  .

Also the second poll is closed. I asked what your favourite colour for Magnettes is. Here's the result:

I checked the Register file of surviving Magnettes to see which originals colours survived (these are the original colours read from the chassis no., the cars may be resprayed differnt nowadays).
61 %    Black, Grey 
15 %    Green
10.5 % Blue
9.5 %   Red
3.5 %   Ivory (Only Varitones with diff. bottom colours) 
You see. Fifty years ago people liked other colours most!

I also have a surf-tip for you: Go to www.mg-sportcars.co.uk and click on Boys Dreams !! Something different than the ladies on our old brochures... 

And finally we have again some more pictures on the owners gallery. It's growing  :-))

Next week I'll upload the second part of the MG TF Z-story.

Günter

06.01.2002

As promised the updates go on!
I thought you waited long enough for the "Collectables". So here is our brand new site with things you probably never have seen before?!
I also have a short article with some pictures from Morry Cohen in America . Which I hope is just the beginning of stories of Magnettes overseas.
And there are a few new pictures in the owners gallery. 

01.01.2002

A happy New Year to you all! I'm a bit late with this month's update but this isn't the result of the New Years party. We had a lot of snow over christmas and a tree fell on my telephone line. So I was cut from everything for a while. Anyway, here we go again:
Malcolm Eades was kind enough to translate the German Article "Breitensport" for you into English! So the few not speaking German can anjoy it too ;-))
I have more updates prepared but I have to spread them over the month. I hope to load up more during the next days.
See you.

Günter

22.12.02

************************
The MGCC Z & Farina Magnette Register wishes you all a 
Merry Christmas and a 
Happy New Year!
***********************

I want to thank those who kept this site alive with reports, pictures and ideas. Especially Paul Barrow, UK, who never get's tired to create pdf-files from various magazines (see below) and Laurie Scott from Australia, who writes down his experience in Magnette-ownership and helps others. 
Let''s finish this years updates with four new entries on the gallery:
#6538 , # 14816 # 20804 on a junkyard in Canada and  #30080.
And something to read over Christmas: The Laycock overdrive (pdf).
Have a Magnettic Christmas!
Günter

15.12.02
Christmas is coming closer and closer. So why not send a christmas card to your friends? 
You may use our free e-card service to send special Magnette Christmas greetings to your friends.
I also added another "Paul - Barrow - work": an article from Popular Classics 02/91. And we have the first French entry on the gallery. Welcome #9600. 

12.12.01
The link for Practical Classics May '95 now works. Please try again.
Then I received a nice drawing from Warren Marsh of Zedparts. It was sent to him by one of his customers Magnette owner Jenny White Cooper from Kirkby Stephen in Cumbria. 
I found this cartoon so nice I thought I have to show it to you! Look here for Santa's Magnette .
The never getting tired Paul Barrow sent anvery early advert from 16.10.53 for the Magnette. It's a real nice one. Look at adverts at the bottom.
More articles to come this month...

10.12.02
You may remember Richard Axe's report about the Z Magnette he found near his home last month. He sent another mail I include here:
"I finally met the owners this morning to talk about it. They were unhappy about me telling other people about the car because they are afraid that they would be disturbed by visitors wanting to buy it or take parts off it. They are a man and his wife who are about 80 years old. The wife is not well now and her husband looks after her, so they want to be left in peace. However, she owns the Magnette and rallied it when she was younger. I think she had a stroke a long time ago and had to stop driving, but wanted to keep her rally car to remind her of happier times. I know that I asked people who wanted spares to contact me, but I now know that it was wrong to do so without asking the car owner first. The owner does not want to sell the car or let people take parts from it. " 
Richard Axe,,Ledbury,England,MGCC MGB Register 

06.12.02
Most dates for next years events have been confirmed. So look at events 2003 and make your diary now before you miss them!
Paul Barrow sent another nice article from Practical Classics May '95 and Pete Wilson found three Magnettes on a junk yard in New Jersey, USA, which are added to the Gallery (# 14303, #19082 and # 19640).

01.12.02
Last week my Varitone entered the catwalk for the second time after 24 years! Not too many models do that! My Magnette will be featured in a buyers guide in the German magazine "OLDTIMER MARKT". I'm sure we'll feature this article here later. 
Well, the year is coming to it's end. But still your input is quite good to keep this site fresh. Let's start with the latest news on the center steering wheel motif:
" British Motor Heritage has referred us to LMI Licensing for permission to sell motifs. We await their response. Phil & my dad made a big discovery last night. Gotta mix the two resins together very well prior to degassing and pouring in the mold to get rid of the last few bubbles in the motif. Phil also bought an airbrush to help ensure a smooth paint finish in the salmon and black areas. That's all for now. Chuck" 

Loz Scott from Australia sent an article for those of you who want to (or need to) refurbish the interior wood.(pdf-file).

And Anthony C. Robinson sent a nice advert from 01.11.54 showing the Magnette and a TF.

And of course a new picture of the month. Unusual (again)! Also new cars on the gallery : #16142  #31929 and #32023.
Enjoy!

Günter

25.11.02

18.11.02
Anothernice article from an old Car Magazine was sent in by Paul Barrow (who else?). Look on the Articles page marked
Also two new entries on the Gallery:
 #9147  #29734
Then I received the following mail:
I am sending this e-mail to report some details of an abandoned MG Magnette which I found while out walking this morning. The car is in a field near the village of Castlemorton in Worcestershire, England and looks as if it has been there a long time. The registration is PFX 500. Unfortunately I did not find the chassis number as I did not know where to look for the identification plate. In my opinion, the car is beyond repair, as the driver's door fell off bringing the front offside wing with it when I tried to open it. The floor and footwell bulkheads appear to have rotted away, but the driver's seat and steering wheel look original. The dashboard instruments have been replaced with those from an MGB, so it is possible that the engine is not original either. Having seen the state of the driver's door, I did not try to open the bonnet to find out. The radiator grille, headlights and door handles are all intact. Most of the paint has come off, so I could not see whether it had been a Varitone model. 
Regards
Richard Axe
,Ledbury,England
MGCC MGB Register

Stop press news:
Due to a large backlog of orders and holidays, John and Lou Shorten will not be taking in any new work now until the middle of January at the earliest. If your request is really urgent please telephone them (at a sensible UK time please) or write to them (in BLOCK CAPITALS PLEASE TOO!).

12.11.02
Mike Lafflin, he of the the supercharged, disc-braked, 1800cc ZB has been spending some more time tinkering and has passed on a number of useful tips for those who may be contemplating similar activities.
His first suggestion relates to the fitting of an overdrive to ZA and ZB Magnettes. Many have an MGB box and overdrive fitted, and an increasingly popular modification is the installation of a Ford 5-speed gearbox, but if it's originalityyou're after it's worth knowing that the aftermarket option when the cars were new was a Laycock unit that was also used on a number of contemporary Rootes products. Mike has such an installation in his own car and reports that very little tunnel modification is required. The overdrive unit mounts on the back of the excisting gearbox using a purpose-built bell housing and is linked to a Sunbeam Rapeir prop shaft.
The verdrive unit is appearently fairly easily obtainable, having been used on the Humber Sceptre until the mid-70s, and the prop shaft can also be sourced though it requires a small modification to the input flangeto the diff. The bell housing is, however, unobtainable and Mike has suggested that, if there is enough interest, he can get a small batch of these made up. He estimates that the total cost of the job, including the overdrive unitand prop shaft, would be in the range GBP 500 - 600, which compares favourably with a 5-speed conversion.
If you're interested in this, please send an e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.">(This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

10.11.02
Thankfully YOUR input is good at the moment so I can allow myself to spread it over the month. Let's start with good news on the reproduction of the center steering wheel from Chuck Reece, USA:
Hi, Gunter, well, here we are. Here's the latest replica motif update for the Magnette web. Phil, Charlie, and I have finally succeeded. No more bubbles in the plastic, paints colors are matching up, and the high gloss buff on the outside really looks trick. Phil and I both have one of these on our ZBV's. I have contacted the legal department at MG-Rover, and we await permission to use the MG logo to sell the motif replicas to the general public. A short bio on each of us is listed below: 
Charlie Reece started machinist work in the US Navy in 1955. He has 45 years of machine tool experience. He owned Reece Manufacturing Co. for 33 years. Charlie supplied the mold technology to enable us to minimize development costs, made the first mold, and continues to support the molding process. 
Phil is an old submariner steam mechanic, chemist and long-time MG Enthusiast. Phil's first car was a 1959 MGA. He does all his own mechanic work and drives them fast enough so as they need frequent attention. Phil has worked on every aspect of this project, including painting and supplying a big, nasty vacuum pump to degas the plastic prior to the motif pours. Phil's niece, Jessie, provided artistic consultation for MG motif color matching.
Chuck Reece is a Registered Professional Mechanical Engineer and short-time MG enthusiast. Phil has provided an immense amount of support and help to Chuck in bringing his MG's up to snuff. Charlie, his Dad, taught Chuck a lot about machining, molding, and tool production prior to Chuck attending University. Chuck has been working with MG-Rover legal to obtain permission to sell the motifs, and assisting Phil and Charlie in the molding process. 
We have not yet established a price for these motif reproductions. We estimate that each one takes 3-4 hours labor to hand mold, 150 F post-heat cure, clean, hand paint, and hand buff prior to being ready for sale. Labor is the most significant cost, and will determine the final sale price.
Please contact me, Chuck Reece; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Phil White; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if anyone would like a reproduction motif. Thanks,
 Chuck

(See attached file: close motif.JPG)(See attached file: motif.JPG)

Some more articles to come over the month.Watch this space! 


01.11.02
Can you tell me where the time is running? It's just that the season began and now we already have winter. But I hope our friends from the southern hemisphere will provide us with articles and pictures over this time.
So what's new this month? 

Paul Barrow found this subscribe form and I  thought some of you might be interested? (Click on image for larger picture) Surely some will. Thanks Paul.
On the articles-site I added a short report about the Z-Day from the Dutch magazine "British Car". 
We have a nice new (animated) Monthly Pic and some more close-ups.
Seems the ZA owners want to beat theZBs: two new ZA-entries on the gallery #13502 and #14846.

There are also more news on the motif reproduction from Phil White: "Hi Gunter,
Just a quick update. Chuck Reece and his new wife Bettye, have been on thier honeymoon, so his Dad (Charlie) and I have been continuing the work. Go figure - skipping out on such a great project for a honeymoon? We're having a little trouble getting all the air out of the plastic because the mold's so thin and the plastic so viscous. This weekend I'm building a good vacuum chamber to degass the clear urethane before it's poured and hopefully solve the tiny bubble problem. Otherwise, the new pieces come out beautiful. Better news is that we've succeeded in mixing the correct salmon, and translucent red over gold colors (had a little help from an artistic niece on the salmon - tough color). Duplicating the high chrome luster perfectly, with paint, is impossible. Alternatives like real plating or leafing are either very expensive or difficult (unless someone knows of something we don't). I have come up with some chrome paint that is a very presentable second. Despite the minor setbacks, progress is good. We've had enough experience with it now, to be reasonably sure we can produce a satisfactory replication. We've decided that when we get going, we'll provide prepainted ones or clear "do it yourself"ones and provide paint recipes for those who want to get theirs chromed for real. I'm a bit of a stickler, but the chrome paint is good enough to satisfy my sense of "right". I can hardly wait to see a pretty motif in Maggie. As soon as we get one poured clear and painted, I'll provide a good digital photo. We'll keep you posted. Phil White"

24.10.02
Please find some pictures from the Victorian Magnette Register in Australia. They are planning a big Magnette birthday party at Easter 2003. (see events diary).
Have you heard of the Cornish Magnette Hunter? I haven't yet. But he's hunting, be aware! Latest victim is # 22005 on the Gallery. No there are 120Magnettes on the Gallery with exactly 1/3 ZAs and 2/3 ZBs. So were are you ZA owners??
20.10.02
News on the center steering wheel motif from Chuck Reece:
First half of the mold came out very well. My Dad and I molded the second half ( back side of the motif & most detailed
part) tonight. It will be ready for inspection Thursday evening. My dad and I engineered some changes to the mounting tabs underneath the motif. We're adding additional plastic to one side of each tab to strenghten them, in hopes the tabs won't break off as time goes by. 
My Dad and Phil White will cast the first clear plastic motif sometime next week. Phil is hunting down the correct paint colors right now. We will forward you digital pictures of the finished product as soon as possible.
There's also another entry on the gallery: # 22519. This car is for sale. Information were on the bulletin board or can be obtained from me.

16.10.02
Just a small Update to keep you surfing:
I finished another category on the close-ups. This time it's the engine bay. We also have a new entry on the Gallery from Sweden: #22519.
There are also news about the steering wheel motif, one of the unobtainable Magnette parts: One of the American Magnette owners is trying to make new ones.He has molded the first half of the production mold for the motif and will know the results of this work later today when they take the mold out and inspect it. I'll keep you informed about the progress. 

09.10.02
Some really good news: 
You may remember the Magnette with the Trike on the roof. Colin Pratt now  informed me that "the once bent and mounted Magnette from the 30th June incident in Belgium is now back home, at last, and looking (and feeling) a lot better."

There was a misspelling in the Northern Representative's e-mail. I changed it below. 

There are also new entries on the gallery. This time very early ZA's which Marty Cutler in New South Wales, Australia brought to light after sleeping in a shed near Sydney. Look at the Gallerie at  #1297 , #2048 and # 2480. These pictures are a good (or bad?) example to see how Magnettes survive beside the road.

01.10.02
You might wonder why I put this picture on the left. Well I thought I should personalize this site a bit and change it to a kind of "Günter's column". So people know to whom they are writing and who's writing all this stuff here. 
Already October, but Magnettiers all over the world  are very active! Some even find time to send reports and pictures. So enough material to keep you visiting over the next days (I hope).
Let's start with a nice short report from America:  Phil White & Chuck Reece appearently had some fun when they caught up a Maggie as parts car 1,200 miles away! Here are some pictures and words.

The other article comes from the other side of the world: Laurie Scott from Geelong MGCC in Australia should be known to you all. This time he sent an article about the Lucas headlamps (pdf).

And three new entries on the Gallery: #27252, #27577, #30223.

For the Uk residents in Northern England the Register now has a representative: Greg Thornton from the East Yorkshire is your man to contact. You reach him at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Jill is planning to do some events for those living a bit far north of London.

Have some nice days out in your Magnettes! 
Günter

22.09.02
Just a short notice for our American and canadian visitors:
There's an article about Magnettes in the October issue of Collectible Automobile (it shows a Lincoln Convertible Coupe on the cover). There will be a pdf file to download on this site, but this may take a while. So hurry up. 

19.09.02
Here we are again! As I said some days ago I have a lot of material to show you and it doesn't stop! Laurie Scott from Geelong MGCC in Australia is very hard-working at the moment. His first result is a report about the B Series Engine Oilpump (pdf).

Tom Webb from USA sent some interesting statistics:
"Unlike most MGs - the vast majority of Z Magnettes never came to the USA. Whereas almost 80% of the sports cars came here (some years even more than 80%), fewer than 10% of all Magnettes built were ever imported to the USA - although the total for all of North America is perhaps slightly higher - 10 or 11% maybe!  Jeff Powell, who has a sort of "unofficial" register of cars in the USA, says that perhaps fewer than 125 of them are in road-worthy condition over here. Now that's 2.5 cars for every state in the union. The average state size is 70,748.82 square miles. So, over here, on average, there is one Magnette every 28,299.53 square miles! The are roughly 285 million people in the United States, or about one Magnette for every 2,280,000 people!!!  As you can imagine - seeing a MGB on the road over here, isn't that unusual - but I can guarantee you that seeing three Magnettes at a British car show is quite an event! "

Thanks Tom. I will try to find out how many Magnettes per square mile we have here in Germany or perhaps Europe. But the result is the same. Normally I'm alone at an event and you never meet another on the road (except on the Z-Day).
And a short note that I had contact to an owner in Malaysia. Hope to get more information and pictures.
Ah, I also split the Gallery into ZAs and ZBs.

Enough for today!
Bye.

Günter

16.09.02
Andy Dear, UK sent a technical article about the temperature gauge. This may be useful to you, as this is one of the items that cannot be replaced with original items. I included this article to an older one of the same topic. So please sroll to the bottom.
Andy also sent some pictures which I included on the Interior close-up
I have more technial instructions to come during the next days! Watch out.
And two new entries on the gallery: # 21251 and 33951. Also #14464 that I spotted on ebay recently has found a new owner!
Günter

12.09.02
There were some problems with the new close-up site, which should be resolved now. Pictures you sent to me will be included later.
05.09.02
I'm a bit late with the update this month, but I just came back from the Norwich event.  It was nice to meet so many people and to hear you love this website. Special Greetings go to Sweden and East Yorkshire!  
My Magnette did over 1,000 miles without any trouble. At relaxing 4,000 revs we travelled with 65 miles for hours and hours only stopping for petrol. It really was and still is nowadays "motoring in luxury".
Find a short report and many pictures here and also the new Pic of the Month including a nice biography on a ZA.
I have more material for other updates this month. So watch this space!
Günter

28.08.02
Some bad news for Magnette owners in America:
John and Lou Shorten deeply regret to announce that due to a) the changes imposed by US customs post 9/11/01 and b) trade embargo sanctions placed on US imports of products, they are no longer able to sustain selling into the US. If there are any customers wanting goods in the US, all goods will only be supplied, henceforth, on an ex-works basis i.e. US customers will have to arrange and pay for all their own shipping and packaging and collection from John and Lou's premises. Costs, and inconvenience have now all become far too burdensome for them to continue as previously. 
Very sorry, John & Lou 

26.08.02
Just a few days until the Norwich event. I still have to check my car, but my mailbox was full of pictures and enquiries, so a short update makes sense:
We have some pictures from Silverstone 2002 and 
a new entry on the Gallery: # 2211 a very early car
Also I managed to get the first part of the Magnette close-ups online. This is for the majority of our visitors, who are still restoring their cars. This gallery will live from your input. So everybody might help other owners by sending detailed pictures. Let me know what you think about this new gallery!
Another technical tip comes from Buckey in Arizona. He shows how to repair the reverse lamp cover lenses.

And finally I was informed that John and Lou Shorten are suspended there email account and will also no longer be accepting orders by fax until further notice.  In future would anyone wishing to place an order on MG Specialists please either write to Lou (using a large FONT SIZE), or telephone her (address and phone no can be found on the suppliers page).
 
08.08.02
After I published the postcard I received the following mail:
"Günter,
Thanks for the Spanish postcard. As I might have told you, I'm a general practicioner (family doctor). So many young children visit my practice every day, and the things I have to do aren't always that nice. But the children start smiling afterwards, when they obtain a nice "drawing-picture". So today I enlarged the postcard, made it black-and-white and now it's beautiful for the children. They can give it the color they like (of course they prefer the two-tone green option !!!!)(Look here what he means-Webmaster). Soon my office will be full of nice colourful Magnettes !
Yours, Radboud

I found this a nice message and thought you all might like it, too. 
Before I leave for a holiday I added two more cars on the Gallery: #19988 and #33819.
Please keep in mind that THE Magnette event will start in a few days on 31.08.! I hope to see many of you in Norwich. Hopefully we have better weather than last year!!! See you!

Günter

05.08.02
Our first entry on the Gallery from Spain! Welcome Brian Pollard with # 26898. he also sent me a nice postcard you all will like.
 
I also received an e-mail from Pat Gadney that he sold his all award-winning steelblue ZB. Normally it's not worth to be mentioned here when a Magnette is sold, but those who have seen this car know why it was outstanding. It has been bought by Lord Harris who has a private collection of some 40 -50 classic cars of all makes and sizes but only those which he considers to be the best examples available to him of any one type. 
All other owners now again have the chance of winning the MGCC Z Register Concours Championship Trophy, after Pat having won the first
two rounds at Stanford Hall and Silverstone. 

01.08.02
Since three weeks the Magnett-e-shop is open. And the best selling item is -who wonders- the Modification Manual! I hope you all enjoy it and you like the shop. (I received no comment so far).  

You really kept me busy. Since the last update I received several mails with pictures to show. Let's start in alphabetical order:

Peter Bonthrone, UK, sent a nice contempory advert. One of the few with a bit colour! (marked )

Andy Dear, UK, sent a picture of his current ZA, which was entry no. 100 on the gallery! He also sent some pictures of his first ZA which was scrapped in the '70s. And there are two more entries from Gobby (Cornwall, UK) and Marty Ray (USA). 
Please welcome Magnettes no's #23916, #25173, #30862 and #35934.

Dieter Otten from Düsseldorf in Germany sent some pictures of other collectibles and another contempory advert (both are marked ).

And of course a "Picture of the Month". Very unusual this time...

I think that's enough for the moment. During this month I hope to bring some Magnette close-ups to light. If you have pictures from your restoration that show areas which are normally hidden, or pictures that might help reassembling, please send them to me! 
Enjoy driving in the airsmoothed syle 
Günter

21.07.02
99 cars on the gallery! Please welcome #5650,  #14464 and #18582. Who'll be entry no. 100 ? Come on send your pictures!
While a lot of you will have been in Silverstone over the weekend, it's still winter in Australia.What means enough time to write an article. This time about fitting Magnette gearbox to 5 bearing B-series engine. Thanks go again down under to Laurie Scott!
I also uploaded some videos of the Z-Magnette-Day. I hope you like 'em.
And finally Paul Barrow asked me to make a notice that just a few reproduced tool rolls are available. 
10.07.02
Eddy Lepez from Belgium sentmore pictues from Z-Magnette-Day 2002. 
09.07.02
Your input is quite good at the moment. I have several pictures, reports and stories in the background for the near future. Seems the Register needs a full-time webmaster.
So what's new?
I think the headline is:

The Magnett-e-shop is open now!

I created a small shop that allows you to order the Register Regalia online. It's very easy to order and the prices include p&p worldwide! For your safety we use a secure server and we now accept credit cards.
I hope you like the shop (and buy a lot) so that it was worth my work  Don't hesitate with comments and suggestions or questions.
Then the last poll is finished. The question was: How many miles do you use your Magnette per year? Here are the results:


This shows Magnettes are used regulary if not under restoration. It also shows that 29% of our visitors are restoring their Magnette and surely are looking help. For those I'm creating a new section with pictures of original cars to help you assembling your Zed. This will still take a few days, so watch this space.

We also have no. 95 on the gallery. It's # 22319. Come let's get the 100 soon!!

Lou Shorten has a new price list and she asked me to publish the following:
"Would all customers please note that all exchange units will carry a surcharge until old units have been returned. Please return items as soon as possible as many parts can no longer be replaced. If parts are not available for reconditioning they will soon run out. If you have any old unit that should have been returned, please return them now as certain items have run very low because of the failure of some to return their old unit."
Lou Shorten 

05.07.02
Hello again! 
During the next days I have to repair the damages from last weekend. First I lost one of my Ace Mercury wheelcovers on the motorway, which was badly damaged (Anybody has one in spare?). Then I again had trouble with my new(!) coil. And finally the wind flushed  my door which was stopped by a big flowerpot. You may think I was the most unlucky person over the weekend. But all this is nothing against Colin Pratt's accident. A trike (one of these bastards between Beetle and motorbike) drove up Collin's car and the front wheel landed on his roof! I hope I can show a picture in the near future.

We are also hunting the 100-mark on the Gallery! Over the last days I received seven new entries so that the 100's car should be seen in a few weeks (or days?).
Please welcome # 9337, #13072, #22988, #23266, #26866, #31962 and # 36756.
Günter

01.07.02
The Magnette engine is still hot from my return from the Z-Magnette-Day in the Netherlands and the pictures are just uploaded! Enjoy the first impressions of the Z-Magnette-Day and our Monthly Picture.
More to follow the next days.

24.06.03
Silverstone has just gone and there's already the next event. This weekend we have the Z-Magnette-Day. I will bring some used parts for sale, which don't fit my car. Should you need anything (especially ZA parts) let me know. Anybody who needs a ZA rear screen or steering rack? See you in Brügge!

18.06.03
I supppose some of you are already preparing their Magnettes for the pilgrimage to Silverstone, the biggest M.G. event worldwide! The Z & Farina Register will be there, so please visit us at the Register stand in the main marquee. Perfect Magnettes should enter the Concours or POO, while those with sports in their blood should enter the California Cup. You see, there's something for everybody. So come along and say hello!
Also a last reminder for Brügge at the end of June. We now have 22 entries and I'm looking forward to seeing some you.

For now I only add some more cars to the Gallery: #951, #14077, #27116 and #32652. Not only that #951 is a very early car, but it's the first time we have moe UK cars than US! Now folks where are your Magnettes? Please send a picture with some text to let the gallery grow even more.

11.06.03
I just returned from  wonderful M.G. weekend. The weather was fine, the landscape beautiful and the people nice. The Magnette ran perfect - until I was 50 km near to my home, when there was no pressure on the clutch anymore. But I managed the way home without stopping  in third gear. And can you imagine that still in 3rd gear you have slow cars in front of you? Well here are some impressions of the weekend (text in German as it is for the German MGCC -  sorry no time for translation). 

04.06.03
ItseemsZ-Magnette-Day in Brügge on the last weekend in June will be another great event: 19 entries from seven different countries until today! If you still think about it, don't hesitate to register now! Eddy Lepez, the organizer, will be very happy to receive the 20th entry.

Also with this update: four new cars on the gallerie: #22287; #24596, #30983 and #37093, which I found on the net, while surfin' around.

01.06.03
What do our Magnettes have to do with fairytales? Nothing you would say, but that's wrong! After longlasting researchs in worldwide archives I discovered the secret of Snow White and the seven midgets! All were in involved with M.G. Magnettes. 
June's Monthly Picture will show you Snow White and David Johnson was lucky enough to get one of the seven midgets in front of his camera. Look here. I'm sure the other six  midgets own Magnettes, too...

A few weeks ago I asked you to sent your automobile biography. I received - you guess - none. So why don't you write a few words, add some pictures and tell us, how you got involved with M.G.s and Magnettes?
Unfortunetly I have not more news at the moment. Your input is very low and I'm also running out of good pictures! So please look in your archives or take some special pics. This site lives from your input!
 
21.05.03
John and Lou Shorten will be attending this year’s MG Car Club Silverstone event. They will not be bringing very much stock with them though. If you are attending the show and require anything from them, PLEASE CONTACT THEM AT LEAST TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE SHOW WITH YOUR ORDER. They will then box up your requirements and bring your box to the show with them.

16.05.03
Eddy Lepez, the organizer of the Z-Magnette Day 2003, asked me to make a reminder that there are only 14 days left to enter the Z-Day! If you wish to come please send the entry form asap to him. All information on our Events page. You may also send him a short e-mail in advance. This akes organising a bit easier and everybody who has ever organised an event knows what I'm talking about. So please hurry up.
To wet your appetite I enclose a picture of Eddy's Magnette in Brugge:

07.05.03
Finally we hit the 150 mark on the gallery. It's a Swedish car # 3644. Also added #11832, 22696 and # 23704. 
I need your help! From my stats I can see that very often the error page (the one with the broken Magnette) appears, because the page you're looking for does not excist. Would you please be so kind and write me when this page appears. I will then fix it. Thanks!

01.05.03
Well it's already May and we missed the 3rd birthday of this website! Meanwhile we have more than 90 MB(!) Magnette stuff. I never thought this when I began with this website, because it was just only to learn a bit about the web. Anyway. It's YOU that still keep me doing this job, as I have a lot of fun and many nice e-mails nearly every day. Keep on sending reports and pictures!
A nice example is this month's event report from Laurie Scott, Australia.  
I couldn't resist to "work" on a photo. The open bonnet of a Magnette reminded me on this...
Also a new nice picture of the month.
We plan to open a new series: "How I got involved with Magnettes". Please write your stories/biographies how and when you got infected with the M.G.-virus (not less complicated than S.A.R.S.). Enclose some nice pictures and I'll do the rest. 

That's enough for the moment, now it's up to you!

27.04.03
Just a small update before the next monthly update:
We have a short report of Magnettes & Steam. Also two new entries on the Gallery: #23540 and 30977. It seems endless until we hit the 150 marque..
Last week I had a picture of Magnette Close, a street we all would like to live. But what happens after our live on earth? I can show you some pictures how heaven could be. You only will ever see it, when you restored and saved at least one Magnette... Look here and here.
Maybe this purpose is more attractive than the 26 virgins waiting for Muslims. But I'm not sure, 26 (!) virgins...   Hmmmh.....

23.04.03
John Watson of the MGB Register sent me a nice picture. It shows a street we all would love to have as our address...
Why? Look here. Magnette Close is in Abingdon, the building in the background is Abingdon Council offices.

14.04.03
Some of you surely are waiting fo another update. But instead of updating I walked over Europes biggest Oldtimer faire, the Techno Classica. As I expected I didn't find anything to buy except an old (and not Jaguar-priced) Trico washer bottle. 
And today my Magnette forced me for some attention again. This morning the clutch didn't work as usual. I got worser and worser on my way to work and ended with pumping before changing gear! I dismanted the brake master cylinder this afternoon (without finding anything), replaced everything and - it worked. I hope it still will do tomorrow morning. I'm not sure but I assume it has to do something with the vibrations (not mine). The day before I was running at 65 mph, and my engine vibrates a lot. I will observe this...
While I put my head into the engine bay, you may read another older article, called Magnettic Attraction. Hey how many articles are called this? 

09.04.03
A new technical tip has been added. This time we cover the stator tube. Thanks to David DuBois, USA!
Also I received a comment about the Monthly pic from Rutger Booy, Netherlands.
01.04.03
My intention wasto conceive another April fool joke over the weekend. Instead of this I spent my time in my garage for "just fixing the brakes".
All started when I recognized that braking was a bit bad and I had to push the pedal very hard. Adjusting the brake shoes didn't help. So I decided to get the drums off to have a closer look. But releasing the brake shoes didn't work either! Anyway. I managed to get the drums off and everything looked fine until I recognized that one brake cylinder wasn't closed. You guess it, the cylinder was fixed. So this "just fixing" ended in replacing the brake cylinders.
Now I sit here with black fingerails on my computer to announce this months update. Well, we have a nice mixture:

1. Picture of the Month

2. Some more collectibles added

3. A nice Article from the US magazin Collectible Automobile

4. Warren Marsh of Zedparts asked me to publish a list of spare parts, he wishes to sell, as he has to clear his barn. -Sold-

5. A short report of the Mid Week run to Ballarat by the Geelong MGCCfrom Laurie Scott/Australia 

6. A new entrie on the gallery #21130. Seems we never will reach the 150, as your input is very very low at the moment! So please send a picture of your car if you haven't yet.

I also repaired a few links, especially on the report of reproducing the motifs. You now may open larger pictures. Sorry for this!
More news over the month. I have to clean my fingers now...

24.03.03
We have permission to show you the latest MG World article showing the supercharged Magnette of Brian Reeve(marked ).

15.03.03
Regular readers may recall that some enthusiasts in the USA reproduced the center steering wheel motif. We proudly announce a report how these motifs are made. 
And for a third time I have to recall Melbourne. Not only do they have the season opener of the Formula 1 and a great Concours with more than a dozend Magnettes. They also have a great Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, who played with my favourite Roch Band KISS! Well this is in no way a M.G. related news, but I'm longer a KISS-Fan  than I own M.G.s...

10.03.03 
Have you seen Melbourne? Eh, not the
 Formula 1. I mean the pictures of the first Magnette event in 2003! It looks as if they really have concours cars. Couldn`t see any used cars (or they were hidden).
For you pleasure Paul Barrow made a new pdf-file. From Classic & Sports Car 1983.

04.03.03
Just a few hours after my last update I received a nice comment from Carsten Wivel from Denmark:
In according to your newly statement about Mondeo brakes on a Magnette - I tell you: The Danish police use Mondeos and they didn't dare to use them... They were awful brakers! 
So it's up to Don Lord, UK to show us that these brakes were made for the Magnette and then we buy the Danish police cars very cheap to scrap them....  (The Mondeo brake pictures are added now. See link in previous notes).
Also I found a picture of a nice solution for missing steering wheel motifs if you don't want to buy one of these newly reproduced motifs. Look here.  This was done in the USA! " If I were a carpenter..." :-)) 
And to make this news really worldwide I'm happy to show you 
the report and pictures from Melbourne, Australia! 

01.03.2003
A lot NEWS for the Magnette community this month.
Let's start with the reproduction of the motif for the center steering wheel: 
Last week I received an example of the newly produced motifs from the USA. My first impression was that they sent me an old one! In fact you can't see a difference to an original one! For me it's unbelievable how to reproduce such a complicated thing. But we all will see it in a future report on this website. Also I hope to show you a picture comparing old and new ones next week.
On the technical side I had the information from Don Lord, UK of a disc brake conversion: This uses Ford Mondeo ventilated discs.He is running these brakes and is in the process of completing final modifications. He is pleased to answer any questions by e-mail that members may have. Perhaps we do this via the bulletin board, so we all can (read and learn)? Click here and here for picture!
Henk Kroese from the Netherlands reports of a show held by the MGCC Hollandin January! Amoung all Registers of the Car Club and other MG clubs the Z-Register presented a (Varitone-painted) ZA to celebrate 50 years Magnettes. You may wonder why there are no official celebrations from the Register in UK/Europe. It's true that the Magnette was shown to the public in October 1953, but all cars built in 1953 returned to Abingdon for modification. So no Magnette was despatched before 1954. Because of this the celebrations in UK and Europe will start in 2004. 
But nevertheless also our friends in Down Under couldn't wait and already celebrated 50 years of Magnettism (report & pictures to follow soon).
For our American visitors I added a new supplier. 
And finally look at the new Picture of the Month and at the Gallery, 

23.02.2003
We are comming close to the 150 Magnettes on the gallery! Please welcome #3004 from Japan, #12466 from Uk and #22720 from Sweden (with homepage)
Also another pdf-file has been added. It's from Practical Classics August, 1993. 
There was a discussion about fitting an oil cooler on the Magnette bulletin web recently. Don Lord, UK sent some photos which show how you can fit an oil cooler to your Magnette.

17.02.2003
Well it's quite a long time since my last news. But your input is quite low at the moment! 
So I only can show you some more Magnettes on the Gallery: #5307, #8495, #25555, #34330 and #36079. This increases the number of cars  to 143. If you haven't sent a picture yet, please do so and help to hit the 150 soon!!
If you live in the Northern part of the UK have a look at the events calendar. Our Northern rep. Greg Thornton organises two more Magnette events

01.02.2003
Hello, here am I back again from a warm holiday in Thailand. I did not see any MGs. That wasn't too surprising, as I was offroad with a Mountain Bike most of the time. Well since I have been back for a
few hours now, I know what you are waiting for. So I will start with a little update. More may appear over the month, when I have everything running again.
Let's start with another pdf from Paul Barrow. He comments: "Here is an article from the same Modern Motor as the earlier advert. Of high amusement value are the comments that it is "completely rust-proof" and that the ZA sported "an extremely large curved rear window". I am not sure just how many XXXXs the journalist had before writing the article!" Paul. Read yourself...
Also we have a new picture of the month and a new entry on the gallery: # 35361.
And to wet your appetite for the comming season we have more information about the Z-Magnette-Day in Belgium.

Some weeks ago I received an e-mail from a former Magnette owner:
Sirs,
I am delighted to have found your excellent web site while wandering the web  for photos of some of the cars I have owned. They have included such  oddities as a 1954 English Ford Consul sedan; ‘55 Hillman Minx with a  convertible top that tied back Cabriolet style; a Borgward 4 door station  wagon of mid 50’s vintage; and a Fiat Multipla also probably from the mid  50’s.
In about 1965 I acquired a used red MG Magnette ZB with tan leather seats  and the manumatic shift. The leather and body were in good condition and I never had a problem with the shift.
But the wood dash was warped. I remember it as the color of oak though you  mention walnut. With no experience in such things I decided to fix it. I detached the dash and set it in a tub of water to soak and soften. After several days I removed it from the water and clamped it to a flat surface to straighten it. The wood dried perfectly straight though the grain raised a bit.
So I sanded it a little and then oiled it with several coats of linseed oil until it glowed. Against much advice I applied two or three layers of varnish over the oiled wood which brought up an even deeper luster. When reattached I remember it looking even better than it could have on leaving the factory. Pure luck.
Within a year or so some engine problem occured and I, without the funds to repair it, let it sit undriven until a buyer appeared. I have kicked myself ever since and even harder recently having found photos on the internet to stir my memory. Your historical article says the electric shift was only installed between September 1957 and October 1958 so that must have been the model year I owned. I couldn’t remember and wouldn’t have known without your story.
Thanks for providing an enjoyable and informative web site. Gee I wish I had kept that car.
Philip Aives

11.01.2003
Again I forgot to upload the pictures! So here we are now with the new close-ups. As I will have a two weeks holiday I give you two more old articles from 1989 to read. 
The next update will be on 1st of February. So enough time for you to make nice pictures and write stories! But please do not send large files to my e-mail during the next two weeks. Thank you all !
Günter

10.01.03
Lou Shorten has a new price list which can be downloaded from the supplier page. She also advices the following:
"New Lines from Lou Shorten are Radiator Grille Centre Bar - as original - £90.00 each, Passenger and Rear Exterior Door Handle backing plates (Chrome on Brass) - only £8.50 each, Vertical Window Channels in Stainless Steel (Front and Rear) - £25.00 each, Front Curved Window Channel - £53.00 each, Rear Curved Window Channel - £60.00 each. These have been previously unobtainable and represent valued additions to the excellent service already offered to  Magnetteers by John and Lou Shorten.".

09.01.2003
Uuups! Yesterdays update didn't work. So here's a new try. The advert surely is worth a look!
I also added some pictues of the heater box unit to the close-up section. Wray Lemke from the USA kindly sent these to me.
08.01.2003
Here is something more to see! This time it's a wonderful contemporary advert from an Australian magazine from 1954. Needless to say that it was Paul barrow who sent it. 

He also provided me with lots of pdf-files from various magazines. So here's another: In at the deep end from1995.
I'm very happy that Paul does this lot of work for us, but what are YOU doing to keep this site alive? Have you sent a picture of your car for the galley at least? Or a nice story or something else you think it might be of interest to all?
 
02.01.2003
Happy New Year to all Magnetteers all over the world!
Just returning from a trip to Belgium , where I visited this years organiser of the European Z-Day. I can tell you that it looks as if we again will see a superb event! Eddy Lepez is a Magnette-nut like we all are and is doing a great job! More over the next months...
Well let's start with a new (sweet) Picture of the month. 
The following mail may be of interest for somebody in the USA. If you recognize your car, contact me:
"I didn't know where to put this information, but maybe someone "out
there" would be interested. 
In 1958, my husband and I bought a new 59 MG Magnette in Lincoln, Nebraska. It was maroon with tan leather interior. We kept the car for about 10 years and ended up selling it in Kansas City, Missouri. Unfortunately we do not have any registration numbers. What we do have is the original Purchaser's Invoice (new price of the car was $2,891.00 - a lot of money in those days!!) We also have a tag from Lykes Lines Agency, Inc. - Dock Department from Houston - the location where the car was driven from to the Lincoln, Nebraska dealer. 
The car was repainted (due to an accident) to the blue-gray color which was a stock color then. The maroon had faded miserably. 
Although the Purchaser's Invoice says it is a 59, it may have been a 58. 
If anyone out there feels they know anything about this car and would
like the items mentioned, please E-Mail the webmaster.
Connie.Stockmyer"

I will upload more stuff over the net days. If you still have time to surf around and you are the proud owner of an MGA visit my new website at www.mga-register.org. But don't panic. I still will keep this site alive as long as you provide me with pctures and stories! 
Günter