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

23.12.03
Well, another year is going to an end. We already saw some celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the Magnette. And in 2004 we will continue to celebrate. As no car was delievered before February 1954 the Z-Register has choosen to wait until 2004 for the Golden Jubilee. I hope to meet some of you personally at these events.
I would also like to thank those Magnetters who provide me with Magnette-news over the year. This website has become such a huge project that I really need your help to keep it up to date. Thanks all for pictures, reports, emails, tech-reps, reprints etc. Again like in former years Paul Barrow in UK and Laurie Scott from Australia have been the most active reporters. Thank you all !

The
 Z & Farina Magnette Register
 wishs you all a peaceful 
Merry Christmas and a Happy NewYear!

The last door on our advents calendar should now open and I hope you enjoyed the last 24 days. What astonished me a bit was, that that a lot of people tried to open doors for the future - naughty boys! :-)
Günter

14.12.03
Three more entries for the gallerie. All cars were for sale on ebay this month:
# 21266, #22628 and #32868.
Also another reprint. Road & Track featured the Magnette in Dezember 1954 and kindly gave permission to reproduce the article here. The article was send in by Neal Yates from USA. In the same issue was an advert for the Magnette. Although it's one year after the launch of the ZA the advert still shows it without foglamps!

10.12.03
Today we have another technical report from our "outpost" in Australia. Laurie Scott this time tries to teach you (and me too) the function of flashers (pdf-file). 
There are also some more information of the anniversary celebration in summer in UK.
More News during the next days...

06.12.03
We have the 200th entry on the gallery. No one else than "Gobby" got the hit, when sending two new entries:
# 24152 and #33761 
But please keep sending in your pictures. We have a new target: 251 entries...
Next week I will present you another technic article. Until then enjoy the advent calendar.
Let me know whether you like it or not. This helps me to design pages for your enjoyment and helps to save wasted time...

For our Farina owners: I have an old Austin A55 Cambridge brochure and would like to sell it. Anybody interested?

03.12.03
The hunt goes on! 198 Magnettes on the  gallery now, just two missing...
We welcome
# 30520 Paul Donnington, UK and
# 15380  Per Malmros /Sweden
Per already registered #15384, so he owns two cars, that must avebeen built together on the line!
02.12.03
Fournew entries for the gallery. Just four to the 200!  Please welcome
# 15384 Per Malmros /Sweden
# 27406 Christian Schräder/Germany
# 28469 Ken Dutch/Australia
# 33755 Simon Beyerett/Germany
A warm welcome to you all whether you already enjoy driving or still enjoy troublesome restauration.

01.12.03
I was a bit lazy with updates during the last days, which does not mean I really was! I thought we all are all still boys who love their toys. So why  shouldn't we have our own Advent Calendar? I hope you enjoy it daily...
We also have a new Monthly Pic. This time a Farina Magnette made it. I had some input of Farina owners recently asking for a gallery and more Farina stuff. Well, no problem in general - as long as you send me input. So if you are a Farina lover start with sending a picture of your car including the chassis no. Also nice reports and technical stuff that hasn't been published elsewhere is welcome. Let's see what happens....
More updates during the next days!

19.11.03
Three more entries on the galley! 
An early ZA , chassis 2059 with a total  mileage of 219.497 of Michael Bacon, England! Who can beat this?
The second entry is chassis #28067, belonging to Willy Roomz from Belgium and last not least # 36439, belonging to Paul Gray, UK. We are now up to 192 on the gallery. It should be possible to catch the 200 this year, shouldn't it? 

It seems that our Picture of the Month brought back memories to some Magnetteers. So here we are with two more wedding pictures. If you send in more I'll create an extra page for it!

17.11.03
I recently saw this picture on the web. On the first sight it was just a contemporary b/w picture of a ZA, but on the second sight you might discover the so-named "airscoops" at the window. These were a factory-option before the quarterlight was introduced. I haven't seen them before and I'm sure not many of you haven't, too. 
Attention: The date for the European Z-Magnette Day in France may change! As Silverstone might be on the same weekend we perhaps change to the last weekend in June. We are awaiting confirmation on the Silverstone-date. 

13.11.03
Today, 50 years ago, chassis 507 was despatched. This was a works demo and photo car. Read here.
As we are thinking of winter tyres and snowy raods our collegues on the other side of the equator wake up from hibernation. Laurie Scott wrote another article about 1800 engines, this time bringing light into later B-series engines as used on FWD M.G.s.  
And we have several new entries on the gallerie. We are hunting the 200 mark! So send your pictures if you haven't done yet.
Please welcome:
#  7832 found on the web  
# 15901 Paddy Reardon, Calne, Wiltshire
# 20210 Aaron Spalding of Atlanta 
# 26751 A. Lauer, Germany
# 34535 Derek Pickering, Secretary, The Durham MG Club 

All welcome on board and troublefree Magnettic MotorinG in the aissmoothed style!

08.11.03
I'm a bit late with November's update, but I hope it was worth waiting. First I upload  another reprint. This time of Practical Classics 04/84. Also we have a pretty new Picture of the Month .

Finally a notice of a Dutch Concours, where John Kusters' Magnette did very well:

Concours d’Élegance Paleis het Loo 30 - 31 August 2003

To join the 7th Magnette Day in Roeselare we finished the restoration of the Magnette ZBV in the last week of june. The Magnette Register awarded John Kusters with the Ray Cain Trophy for the “spirit of the event”.

That evening Hans Lubberding explained to John that he was invited for the International Concours d’Élegance at the ground site of Palace Het Loo in Apeldoorn. And he wanted to give his invitation to us. To join the event was a great experience.


On saturday we competed the National Concours for sportsaloons and sportcoupés with 50 cars like a Rover P5, Ford Escort Mexico, Ford Cortina Lotus and Simca 1000 Rallye. And we met a lot of dutch editors in chief of several car magazines which joined the jury. Those men are professional car lovers. It was a big suprise for us to win the 3th price for best restored sportsaloon. 
Sportcoupés                 Sportsedans/saloons  
1. Opel GT                    1. Renault 8S  
2. Lancia Fulvia             2. NSU  
3. Volvo 1800 ES          3. MG Magnette ZBV  

On sunday the International Concours d’Élegance was held. About 200 cars like Ferrari, Jaguar and Mercedes competed. There was a special price for cars designed by Zagato. Which as Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Competizione and 1900 SS. The event was closed with an auction of Christie’s. 
We like to thank Hans Lubberding for the invitation.  
John Kusters & Jeroen van den Akker

16.10.03 & 21.10.03 & 31.10.03
October, 16thwas another important date during the development of the Magnette. See the link in the above red box.
Already included is the link for 21.10.03 and 31.10.03  but these will not work before that date! Have a try :-))
I say goodbuye for the next two weeks. Just looking for new motifs for my non-MG-related website. Next update is at the beginning of November...

10.10.03
It's getting rainy, cold and darkness comes early in the afternoon. Right time to take a book - or read about a Diesel Magnette!

08.10.03
Puh, I have some exciting days behind me: a lightning hit my phone cable and destroyed my modem and parts of my PC. So I was busy getting everything running again to be able for some more updates:
Please welcome Magnette # 15828 of Fred & Sue Baverstock, Uk on the Gallery. Hey, this is the first car with a number beginning with 15. Was this a "rusty" year? By the way: is your car already included? 

Many of you know Gobby. Hell knows what this name means, but those of you who need used parts may know him. Well, he recently sent me a picture, which unfortunetly never can make it to "Picture of the Month" on this website, because it's a totally wrong car. Not totally to be honest. So here's a nice pic of a wedding couple...
But wait until next month when I gonna show him how lovely a bride can look in front of a ZA :-))

Hello Gunter
Hope you and your Magnette are well - not forgetting your family too ! I have been out of circulation for a few weeks as Sara and I finally tied the knot on September 13th and have been away on Honeymoon in the Canary Islands. I was unable to finish our ZA Magnettein time for the big day - but as you might be aware - Sara had bought another car and we got it in time to use on our big day - Yes - Sara has been bitten by the MG bug - but wanted something a bit different to a Magnette - Some hints were dropped on the Magnette BBS and I have returned to find lots and lots of emails wanting to know what Sara had bought us (me!) to play with. I was wondering if you could kill 2 birds with 1 stone and put the picture attatched on the Magnette website to put them out of their misery! I know its not really Magnette related - but it would  be nice - we have made so many Magnette friends in different countries - it would be great to share our big day with them too! As for the car - its a fully restored 1938 MG VA Tickford Drophead Coupe. It does not mean the end of Magnettes for us - we cant wait to get the ZA finished - as soon as Lou gets the required parts for me it wont take long at all. We hope to attend some events next year to celebrate 50yrs of the Magnettes life.  
Cheers
Gobby

01.10.03
You might know that the Magnette Register is just a handful enthusiastic Magnette owners who try to help and share their knowledge with likeminded people.
A lot of them are doing this longer than I have a driver license! One of them stood down from the comittee after more than 25 years! Really 25. It' was our treasurer Malcolm Eades. 
I might tell you a short anecdote about Malcolm and me (and our cars of course):
When I was a brand-new magnette owner 10 years ago, Malcolm invited me to stay at his home. One evening while drinking some wine he showed me his photograph album from the seventies. At this time his Magnette was still awaiting restoration but he wanted to get married in a Magnette. So a friend offered his Magnette. Imagine what a surprise it was for both of us, when I recognized his wedding car as beeing my new toy! A small world, isn't it. 
Also our chairman wants to add a few words:

Did you ever get lost on this 90+ MB Magnette website? Our search box did not help? Well here's another help to get the information you need as quick as possible: our new sitemap. After this I may have a look on the code for our Netscape users, to get everything running for the few (except me) who use NN.
What else this month? 
Aside a new Picture of the Month, I added some more information on the 2004 event.
More will be added over the weekend!

26.09.03
More history at 50 years ago added. Read how the first mono-construction M.G. is put together
21.09.03
The links on the Norwich report are working now!
19.09.03
I couldn't update for a few days as our provider had some trouble. But just in time they managed it somehow and so here we are again with a large update!
I don't know what happened, but during the last two weeks I received many pictures for the gallery, which are added now. Please welcome:

# 5510 Micheal Allen, UK
#11184Sue Hanson,Essex,UK
#12031 Hans Lubberding, NL;
#13826 found on ebay
#14102 Roger Dockrey, UK,
#26631 Tyronne Hulton, Sweden
#32117 Barry King, Essex, UK
#33951 Joseph Iannacone, USA
#34652 Wray A. Lemke,Mt. Pleasant, USA and 
# 35486 fond on the web

Also a report and pictures of Norwich from Andy Dear. This was the last event in 2003 and we are already thinking of 2004, which marks the 50th anniversary of the Magnette. Plans are made and you find the first dates at events. Please notice that the date is clear but everything else could change slightly!

07.09.03
Another chapter of "50 years ago" has been added (See above) and Göran Jonsson from Sweden spotted two other Magnettes for our Gallery:
# 4930 and 29848.
01.09.03
Nextweekendthe biggest Magnette event will take part in Norwich. Can anyone please send me some digital pictures and a report?  
This month we have a nice article from Laurie Scott, Australia. He did a great research in labels and plates on our Magnettes. I for myself was very astonished what he found and I haven't found all of them on my car. So take some time to have a look here... 

Then we have another beautiful picture of the month with a nice story around and a new entry (after a long time) on the Gallery.

You may have seen the above new header. 
We are comming near the date of the Magnette launch in October 1953. So that's an ideal chance for a review titled "50 years ago". As far as I can research the dates, there will be a review exactly 50 years back. Any help appreciated! has anyone a picture of the BMC-stand in 1953?

28.08.03
You must be waiting for a new update, but I enjoy my holidays and the sun... So just a short update before 1st. of September update:
I added a new collectable. This time a bodyshell for radio controlled cars. And I found a nice picture in my archives. This ZB features a Ford V6 cylinder engine. Look also at the wheels and the rear wheel arch. The latest information say that this car is in a bad shape somewhere rusting away. 

14.08.03
You're sitting at work and waiting for the weekend? O.K. Here's something to shorten your time:
Paul Barrow sent another article reproduced from Practical Classics issue Spring 2003! 
What makes me wondering is that I received no picture of our competition "How many humans fit into a Magnette boot". Come on don't be too shy and let us all share some fun... 

01.08.03
Just a few weeks ago I was running out of good pictures and reports and thought I had to look thru my archives for material. But within a few days I was overwhelmed with so much different stories and pictures that I'm nearly loosing control! But keep on sending!!
So what's new this month? 
You all know the Guiness Book, which contains different records. Some of  them being amazing others just joking. We start a new record right here now! How many people fit into a Magnette boot?
I received this  picture from Japan with only one man inside. I'm sure our worldwide visitors can do better. Start the competition and let us see... :-))

From Japan we go over to Hawaii. Aloha! Another white point on the map has been marked with a Magnette. Look at the picture of the month.

From Hawaii we turn to England:  Paul Barrow has found another contemporary test from Motor 1957, that is not included in the Brookland Books! 
And we stay in the UK: Here's a report of the Sledmere event. The next event will be the Norwich gathering. Lou asked me therefore to include the following:
Norwich Gala Weekend 2003
John and Lou invite you to an open day at 44, The Street, Lenwade on Saturday 6th September 2003 to see the home of Magnette Surgery. There will be an opportunity to inspect and / or purchase parts.  John will be pleased to demonstrate various aspects of Magnette Body restorations too. Refreshments available of course.

More interesting stuff to follow this month.
26.07.03
Can you read Dutch? Then maybe the article from British Car may be of interest for you. They compare a Wolseley 4/44 and Hans Lubberdings Magnette. Hans is working for British car.
On the gallery we have # 33770 as a new entry. 

21.07.03
I show you a picture sent to me by Drew DeCaids of Florida. He writes: "The 1958 ZB is old english white. I also own a 1958 origional (unrestored) 55,000 mile MGA Roadster and have restored a 1964 pull handle MGB."
You already know that I do the MGA-Register website beside this Mgnette website. But this picture is the right point to announce my new MGB-Register Website. Those of you who share their Magnette with a MGB may like to visit www.mgb-register.org. 

17.07.03
I know I'm a bit slowly with updates at the moment, but we have a very nice and hot summer here in Germany at the moment. I also spend a lot of time watching the Tour de France. Have you seen the sponsor of the Team "Jean Dellatour"? They wear a MG and Rover sign on their backs!

Back to Magnettes: I have another pdf-file, created from the Australian Classic Car Magazine May 2003. reading the article I found out that Magnettes in Australia must be much faster than anywhere else! 85 mph for a ZA and 90 mph for a ZB. Seems it has to to with earth gravitation or so...
Also two new entries on the gallerie: # 1641 spotted by the Cornish Magnette Hunter Gobby and # 33973 of Kim Rocher.

09.07.03
Gobby from Cornwall sent me the following pictures:
"Its a scale model of the the Battleship Bismarck built from scratch by my Uncle Donald - its remote control. Its 1/128th scale and is over 6 foot 3 inches long. It has taken him many years to build. I bet you are wondering what the connection is. Well - did you know the Bismarck was Magnette powered ??!! This one is - its powered by 2 MG Magnette heater blower motors - you can just see one of them in the second picture with the superstructure removed."
Click on images for larger view

I also added two pictures of Silverstone, which our chairman Roy Smalldridge shot two weeks ago.

And #13540 is on the gallery after she found a new home thru' ebay...

05.07.03
Paul Barrow, webmaster of the Y-type register and also Z-owner, received a bottle of wine in Silverstone at the Z-register's contest. 
He found the best words for the picture showing Colin Pratt's Varitone with a trike on the roof.


The picture shows Paul with Lis Pratt, presenting the wine. The picture including the words are here...
Also a new Zb on the gallery #23975

02.07.03
I have added some more pictures of the Z-Magnette Day and another ZA to the gallery. Please welcome # 8062.

I also received the following mail from John & Lou Shorten:
We have been recently alarmed at the number of rumours that have come back to us to the effect that we are either “packing up” or “selling the business”.  We would like to assure all our customers that we have been in the business of supplying parts to the MG Z-Magnette fraternity since 1964, and have no intention currently to stop, at least not yet!  We would like to draw our customers attention to the new price lists that are available from this site and which are effective from 1 July 2003.  We would also respectfully ask that any items which are marked as “EXCHANGE”, that customers send their unit in together with their order: this will a) save a great deal of time and administration to us, and b) ensure that we have a plentiful supply of parts for refurbishment to meet future demand of other Magnetteers.  Unfortunately now, some parts are completely unobtainable as “new old stock” and unless the old unit is returned, we will not be able to supply a replacement to you.
Although we have now been joined on our team by Lillian, my eyesight continues to deteriorate so please ensure that you send in address labels with your orders and please continue to PRINT your order requirements in LARGE letters / font size and BLACK ink.  If you are sending an Email, please enlarge the size of the fonts BEFORE you send it.
We look forward to a long and continuous association with our customers and wish you all happy and safe Magnette motoring.
Regards,
John and Lou Shorten
Trading as MG Specialists.

01.07.03
Last weekend we had the European Z-Magnette Day, which this time was held in Belgium. The event was a great success with nearly 20 cars from six different countries. See pictures. 
More pictures will follow during the next days. My Magnette ran perfect on the motorway doing a smooth 65 - 70 mile cruise for hours. I hope all others also had a good journey!
See also new Picture of the Month.
Should you not only be interested in old cars you may have a look at my other new website: www.asiacycling.de.vu  which is a pictured report of Mountainbiking in Thailand. Maybe some of you are interested...
More Magnette stuff to follow these days.

June, 20th, 2004

Please welcome Nick Williams and his Magnette # 26607. They are the 250th entry on the gallery!

June, 16th, 2004

A few days ago everybody was talking about the D-Day. Hey, what's the D-Day? We talk about Z-Day! This will be at the end of the month and it looks as we will have a good turnout from all over Europe again. So don't miss it! Who knows if we still celebrate this 60 years later (surely not we but maybe our cars). More details at events.
Talking 'bout events: Neal Yates managed to get three Magnettes together for a little but therefore nice birthday party to celebrate the Golden Jubilee in the US. Well done Neal, enthusisats like you are needed. 

Please also welcome Mr. Ron Cunningham, California, USA and his Magnette #29266 in Magnette world and on the gallery.

Now there are also some pictures of the cars mentioned in the news of July,12th available (see below). Nobody there to save or scrapp? Notice the ZA still has the hockey-trim. 

Hey, still have so much interesting material that I don't have to spread over the month. So here's another  reprinted article I received from Harry Harskamp in the Netherlands, a Wolseley  4/44 owner but regular visitor to our site. Here's the article originally printed in the MGOC yearbook some years ago. 

I think that's enough for the moment....

June, 12th, 2004

You live in AZ and can't get enough Magnettes? Here's a chance:
"The city of Tempe is making me get rid of my British Collection and they desperately need new (loving) homes.  All cars and parts have been sitting 20 years in the AZ desert.  List of cars:
4 1956-1959 MG Magnettes
1 1966 Austin America
1 1967? MG 1100 (twin to the above)
1 1969 MGCGT tub--no rust, no motor, no trans
3 MGB core overdrive transmissions
And miscellaneous other items

Perhaps someone out there can save the cars or use them to keep his own car on the road? Let me know...

June, 9nd, 2004

Today my Magnette passed it's MOT without any faults. As I'm very happy abot this (although I expected this result) I give you a big update:
First we have three new entries from all over the world on the gallery:
#  6628 proud new owner Tony Oliver, Gloucester, NSW, Australia
# 35539 Phil White's new project, Arizona, USA
# 35770 a single-coloured Varitone owned by Ingela and Ulf Edström from Gotenburg.Sweden
Now we'e only three cars away from the magic "251"

I also added a nice reprinted article and finally repaired the link for the advert!
And at least here's an article of Loz Scott from Australia about an interesting brake gear lever...
Many more intersting stuff still in my postbox.... :-)
Thanks all for your input!!

June, 2nd, 2004

There were two mistakes in yesterdays update. First the advert did not enlarge and secondly the Magnette # 29886 wasn't for sale on ebay. It belongs to Henry Marcus, the first entry from Ireland! Sorry for this and welcome Henry!! 
From Eire to Australia: Laurie Scott sent some pictures of a scenic tour they had with some Magnettes last weekend. Look here...   

June, 1st, 2004

So here we are for another monthly update. We start with a new Picture of the Month, followed by a contemporary American advert. New on the gallery is # 29886, which was for sale on ebay recently.
As we will see the Z-Magnette-Day at the end of this month, I contributed a small pdf-file how this event started as a private BBQ party a few years ago. Maybe this can be copied overseas, where owners normally not meet?! 
More updates soon.

May, 25th, 2004
Well I was a bit lazy during the last weeks. Not really - but teh website ad to stand behind house, garden, children and bicycle. The last I have in common with the former Register president Dixon Morris and even Lord Nuffield ! But you might not be interested in this. So here is what you are looking for:
# 29321 new on the gallery and another nice example of a Magnette wedding car, this tim from Ian Hendry, UK.
I have more stuff on my compurter, but it has to be prepared for the website. I will upload moe on 1st of June.

May, 13th, 2004
You may have noticed that a few links of the last update were not working. My appologice for this, please try again. 
It took four years to get the first Magnette from South Africa on the gallery! Please welcome Maria Lederer an Magnette # 26026 on the gallery!

You still think about going to the 50th anniversary party in Somerset? Hurry-up. Warren Marsh told me that there are only few places for the dinner left (which does not mean you can't particpate in all other activities). 

What elese in Magnette world? One owner managed to get his brand new wiring harness melted while working under the dashboard. He still doesn't know how. But a new one is ordered. 
And some more nice pictures of the barn find of # 589 in France!

May, 6th, 2004  
A totally different report this time: Steve Hanegan took some photos on a scenic tour round the area where he lives. Beautiful landscape with a beautiful car! If you think you live in a nice area too, why don't you follow his exampel and take some piictures for the website? But first you might like to see his pictures. 
And there's another entry on the gallery: # 30297 of Mr. Van  Hecke from Belgium. Discovered by Eddy Lepez.
And the entry form for the Z-Magnette-Day in Hamburg...

May, 1st, 2004
Already May! Everyone should have his Magnette on the road now or should have opened his garage to finish the restoration at least. Many owners already attended the season opener on Easter at the traditional "Magnette & Steam" event. 
John Barringer did a great job with some pictures of he event and 6 (!) new entries on the gallery! Thanks for your work, as well as Mike Chell, who also send pictures and a report. That's the way this site is living! Look here for some more event pictures.
So please welcome on the Gallery:
# 19768 of John Burton, # 24005 of Alan Slack, #  25745 of Peter Martin, # 31164 of janet & Jo, # 31971 Richard Smales and # 35891 of Lawrence and Val Miller. Please browse the gallery to see these fine examples!
Of course there's also a new picture of the month.. 

April, 28nd, 2004
Pictures and report of Magnettes & Steam added.

April, 22nd, 2004
Jörn Rasmussen from denmark recently was lucky enough to visit Australia and to see Ken Mc Kimmie. You don't know Ken? Well, he travelled a few years ago in his Magnette from Westaustralia to Eastaustralia. But he did not use tarmac roads, he used so called "highways" which are not more than rough Outback roads, normally only used by 4x4 cars. He wrote a nice book about this adventure (see books page). Well now his car is standing in his garage. Maybe I should ask for permission for soem of his outback pictures to wet your appetite...

April, 22nd, 2004
The 90th ZA Magnette and 235th overall on the gallery: #17758 of Eric Wilson,Vancouver, BC,Canada.
And the first comment on the hot rod from Gobby: 

I agree in most points with Gobby. But what made me thinking was the rear wheel arch (perhaps it looks different because of the welded door) and the complete front. It would be interesting if we could find ou more...

April, 19th, 2004
Four new entries on the gallery:
# 4660, #4742, #8727 and #36145 Maybe you think I'm joking, but the picture below was arked on the internet as a Magnette. I looked very long at it and could find some pieces that indicate it as a Magnette. But I'm not very sure. What do the experts say? Any clues for YES or NO? Please help.

April, 13th, 2004
New entry on the gallery is #389and there's a new picture on the Wedding- Magnettes-page . Still no comments on the hot-rod!

April, 6th, 2004 
Finally I managed to create the new gallery called Wedding Magnettes. More input welcome! I have no response yet about the Hot Rod Magnette. This was NO April fool!
Can you find details that identify this as a Magnette (see below)

Over the last weekend the German Oldtimer Show "Techno Classica", the largest show worldwide, took place. Both M.G. Clubs in Germany celebrated the 50th anniversary of our old lady: the MGCC Germany had four nice contempory sales brochures as posters on their stand and a special edition about Magnettes in their quarterly magazine. The M.G. Drivers Club showed a fresh restored twilight grey ZB.

Also two new entries on the gallery:
# 31016 of Udo Scheidemantel, Germany (this is the above show car)
# 32954 of  Neal Yates, USA, a car to be stripped down

April, 1st, 2004 eve
have you seen Gobby's classified with the brand new body shell? I'm sure this is one  of the reproduction shells that were available exactly two years ago! ;-) 

April, 1st, 2004 
Welcome to another update. I only have one story, but it's a special one: exactly  50 years after a Magnette  left Abingdon she was recovered by French enthusiasts. 
Read more...
Even our Monthly Pic shows that Magnette owners are funny on every part of the world!
And now a third Magnette (?) to think about. I found this picture on www.hotrodphotos.co.uk and unfortunalety could not get any more information other than it should have been a Magnette. What do you think? Can you recognize a Magnette?

March, 22nd, 2004
Attention to our US-Magneteers: Neal Yates from Connecticut,USA is trying to get some Magnettes together to celebrate the 50th anniversary. He wrote:"I was trying to get something together in CT to celebrate Magnette's 50th. So far, I have arranged for Magnetteers to have a free tent in Hospitality Row at the annual British-By-The-Sea show, Sunday, June 6, 2004 in Waterford, CT. Sponsored by the CT MG Club, BBTS attracts 300-400 fabulous British cars, but Magnettes are almost never seen. I and the only other known Magnette owner in CT will be there this year , but to celebrate the 50th, I would like to have at least two more Magnettes join us to make four, the minimum for Magnettes to have its own judging class and trophies -- for the first time! Waterford is on the southeast coast of Connecticut, less than 3 hours from New York City and Boston, a short ride from Foxwoods, the world's largest casino. Anyone interested can contact me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - but they should do it by the end of March as the CTMG club -- and we -- have to make arrangements for the hospitality tent display, etc."  

Also I cannot believe, but again I have two more cars for the gallery! Stan Ball of theGeelong MG Car club in Australia has provided some information on # 9451 and # 10468. Should we rally touch the magic 251 mark during the jubilee year? Looks good at the moment!

March, 22nd, 2004
Five new entries on the gallery! My thanks go to Ton Matthuis of Luxembourg, who sent the details and pictures of:
# 11793, # 23046, #28601 and 
# 32982.
The fifth entrie is # 8533 of John Weston-Smith, Stafford, UK
Also another wedding Magnette (still had no time to create an extra gallery). This time it shows Peter & Daniala Holzigels beside their ZB. He asked me to tell you that it wasn't his wedding, as you can see on their clothes.! He only loan his car, which you may recognize as our entry-picture at the moment.

March, 17th, 2004
More information about the Z-Magnette Day added.
March, 14th, 2004
Only a few hours after I uploaded the Magnette with the fly screen I received the answer from Andy Brock:
"I think the Magnette with the perspex fly screen belongs to Anthony Pearson from Adelaide, South Australia. As I recall he fitted it for a long journey (3 days)to an MG event in Western Australia a few years ago where he won the concours and driving tests (or sprint). It was quite effective for keeping the flies off but didn't do too much for the aerodynamics."
Thanks for this information Andy.
Also our "wedding-competion" is going on. Chuck from the USA (one of the guys who reproduce the steering centre piece) sent this picture:
"Well, I finally decided to send you my MG Magnette wedding picture from September 1, 2002. My lovely new wife, Bettye, is gently entering the car, and my three (most of the time) wonderful children, Cameron, Morgan, and Rhiannon are already in the back seat, ready to zoom off the the reception!"
Well, I think we now have enough cars to open a new gallery. I will try to create something special...

Please welcome Gert Jakobsen from Denmark with # 6175 on the gallery.

March, 11th, 2004
The information on the events page are available now!
March, 10th, 2004
Someinformation about the Z-Day 2004 are added on the events page.
Good news for American Magnette owners, who always wanted to have an original tool roll: Paul Barrow, who got a small batch of these reproduced a while ago has moved to the US, so p&p are much less now. If you are interested look on the supplier page for more details. Only few left... 
And finally I question to you. Below are two pictures of a Magnette mounted with something that looks like a giant fly screen. Can anyone tell the Register the story of this effort? 
       

March, 5th, 2004
As promised with the last update here are more nice pictures:
Lets. start with an intersting old picture. 
Rutger Booy from the Netherlands wrote: 
"Hi Gunter;  I just found this picture of the opening of a new Dutch BMC-dealership in Helmond in Holland. It was taken in august 1957. Although the picture is of  a very poor quality, you mightbe able to spot a ZA-Magnette and a Varitone. As we still have the complete records of all Magnette's sold in Holland, this Varitone must be KACD33-21687. Unfortunately I haven't been able to trace the ZA."
Is 21687 still alive?
Two other Dutch cars are, although one will die soon: # 24817 and #28878 both belonging to Roland van den Eijnden in the Netherlands.
And thirdly we have another wedding Magnette. This time Dieter Otten's fresh retored ZB in Germany.
Thanks you all for your input!

March, 1st, 2004
The Magnette world seems to be restless. Over the last weeks I received many interesting emails and some nice pictures from all over the world. I will show them over the month starting today: 
Paul Bray and Peter Daley used their Magnettes recently as wedding cars for a wedding held at the historic 'Lanyon' tation near Canberra, Australia. The cars generated a great deal of interest as they are not sure two Magnettes have ever been used in a wedding procession in Canberra before.

More picures have been added to the gallery:
# 12321 of Thomas Glaze, US.
# 19129 was for sale on ebay
# 33691 of Graham.Springthorpe, UK

Nice pictures (including Alan Fosters racing Magnette) can also be found on http://www.carnote.co.uk/ . This link was discovered by Brian Pollard, Spain. 

21.02.2004
Still winter north of the ecquator, but on  the other side they present their shiny cars under autumn sun. See pictures of Melbourne 2004...
16.02.2004
For those of you who are interested in the early history of the Magnettes I continued the "50 years ago" series.
13.02.2004
Added a link to the report of Japan (see below).
Repaired the link to the Swedish bulletin.
11.02.2004
Another entry on the gallery. This time from Belgium: #21959
And I've added another contemporary advert to our reorganised advert-page.
The MGCC of Sweden had a nice article of the Magnette. Although this bulletin is written in Swedish you might like the pictures (3,5Mb).
And a Z made it to the overall winner at the 25th MG Day in Karuizawa/Japan. This Magnette is also shown in Clausager's book and several magazines. Well done Mr. Tomihiro Hibino! Here's a report..

05.02.04
I have some more nice pictures, which I will show you:
First there are two new entries on the gallery: #23864 , Mr. Eberhardt from the USA and #23955 belongongin to Mr Robinson from Australia. Both a warm welcome!
Then I received a picture from Clive Shelley, UK on the subject on models: "Picking up on the Paul Barrow 1/42 model holy grail quest, here's a John Roberts model of mine - 2 years ago." 
And at least I received another picture from the Bremen Classic Car Show from Peter Jenniches, Germany
That's all for now...

01.02.2004
Well, we had a calm January on this website. But your input was very low and I'm very busy in writing articles for our club magazine to give the Magnette a birthday present. So all I can say once more: it's YOUR website so please give some input!!  
Over the weekend there was a classic car show in Bremen in North Germany. The MGCC stand was decorated with a maroon ZA and several contempory wallpapers. Look here... 
But we have two new entries on the gallery: # 12003 and # 17449 both from Australia. So "G'day mates" and enjoy this website.
Also another pic of the month.
During the next days I will upload some more news on the Z-history. 

25.01.2004
Laurie Scott from Australia compiled a report about removing rust and paint. 

15.01.2004
There are not too many news at the moment. But those of you who are a member of the MGCC may enjoy this month Safety Fast!, which contains a four page centrespread with Magnettism.
For the others I added two more old adverts, which Paul Barrow kindly sent to me.

05.01.2004
Press release!
For some reasons the Z-Magnette Day will not be held in France! It will be organised on the "traditional" date - last weekend in June - in Germany. More details will follow soon.
If you think of going to England from the continent I advise to look for ferry prices now. I found out that all of them have "early booking sales". 

01.01.2004
Happy NewYear to all Magnetteers!
Welcome to the first update in 2004, the year with some more Golden Jubilee celebrations. Please make your diary now and visit the events. Surely all events in Europe will be something special this year! 
Are there any birthday events in the US, too? Please let me know.
So what's new in the Magnette world:
Talking on events there are some more information of the main event in Somerset, UK. 
Lou & John Shorten have some special offers for the new year.
We have two new entries on the gallery: #25779 and #26823 and at least another interesting article from "Automobil Engineer" May 1955. Very technical, but interesting.

To continue our "50 years ago" it must be said, that at the end of 1953 Abingdon had begun to assemble 36 chassis, but only 8 were fiished in that year!

December, 30th, 2004

The last update in 2004 brings a review of Loz Scott in Australia about his trip to Europe to visit the 50 years celebration. 
I wish you all a good start into 2005!

December, 22nd, 2004

Well another Magnette year is going to an end. It was a wonderful year with the Golden Jublilee on several continents. I received many many friendly mails and met many enthusiasts. I'm really looking forward to the next year. Looking back 50 years will bring us into 1955, the year the Magnette had their Rally debut at Monte Carlo. I hope I will find the time to bring some interesting stuff just in time. But time is more than limited at the moment especially after I crashed my fathers Mercedes yesterday, which I use as a replacement for my crashed Magnette. Slowly I'm running out of cars ;-)
Anyway. Thanks everybody for the support on the website either by sending pictures and/or reports or just by visiting regulary!
Enough talking here's another pictue on the wedding gallery...

December, 18th, 2004

Another magazine reprint has been added on the articles page. It is from July 1954 and could be the first road test in the USA. This reprint is again from Paul Barrow. Thanks a lot for sharing it with us!

December, 14th, 2004

Too much work around so there was no time for an update. But I assume you visit the advent calendar regulary, so there's something new every day.
Last Saturday I removed engine and gearbox from my car. It was a sunny day, the garage wide open - but only 3 degrees! Some of my readers on the other side of the world surely can't imagine this. Anyway.
Someone (sorry lost mail and name!) sent me link, where I found this picture: 

When I looked closer at the picture, especially the rear view I recognized a fram I had seen before.
Quite a long time ago we had an article about a conversion. I assume this is the result.
read the older article and the rear view here...

We also reached 290 cars on the gallery with two cars found on ebay! I don't believe that we will reach 300 but who knows?

December, 2nd, 2004

The sale of regalia is in full swing now. But I recognized that I converted some prices intoUS $ wrong. This has been corrected by now. 
Please note: if you order more than 1 item I can calculate the net-prices and add the charge for p&p once! Up to 2 kg this is about 12 € or 17 $. In that case it's easy to send mugs as well! Just send me your enquiry before I run out of stock... 

December, 1st, 2004

A wonderful year with some nice events is going to an end. But I'm sure the next year will bring some nice events, too. No Golden Anniversary events, but places to meet like-minded. 
More dates for 2005 have been confirmed and I also added more information on the Z-Magnette Day on the events-page.
While you read this you already should have recognized the advents calendar. Not? Here it is. Many new pictures, not only Magnettes, have been added and I hope you enjoy it from day to day!
Also another sad example of survived Magnettes has been added the gallery: # 33342.
And of course a new picture of the month...

November, 23rd, 2004

Please note: 
Normally all emails are answered immediatly! But more and more people use "blacklists" to stop spam. Unfortunalety these blacklists do not work absolutly correct. Several times I could not answer because my mail was blocked! This happens because I use a freemail servce to save the register costs. So should you not receive an answer within 3 or 4 days  this is what might have happened! You might try again with another email address. 

But here's another good news:

We again sell regalia via the website. And that's not all. We sell them at self-cost price to clear our stock!. This is the chance before christmas. These prices really are worth looking...

November, 22nd, 2004

The collectibles page has been updated. Browse around...
And an old newspaper article from the late 50's I assume.

November, 18th, 2004

Two new entries on the gallery. We welcome Norman and Rose Pethybridge, UK with # 20014  and  Gene deRuelle, Reno, Nevada, USA with # 23479. 
After the last AGM I took over the job as Registrar from David Johnson, who became our chairman after the sudden death of Roy Smalldridge. So my ask is not only to keep this website alive. I also keep the register database with all known cars beiing scrapped or alive.  So if you think you shouild update your information or haven't even registered with us please send me an mail or use the registration form. Help to keep as much history of our cars as possible. After 50 years it's getting less and less.
Well, we also have a new face on the committee. Janet Craiger has taken over the role as treasurer and will keep an eye on our finances. 

And at least Paul Barrow recognized the origin of the KIGASS choke on Magnette # 589. It is from a Spitfire. Not that littleTriumph two seater... Look here...
 
Help needed: I would like to update the advents calendar before I go online next week. If you have any pictures that would fit please send. I not only need Magnette pictures! 

November, 17th, 2004

Today Malcolm Robertson from Australia continues his restauration report  called "Underneath the Grease and Grime" 

November, 7th, 2004

# 31058 recently on ebay found a new home with Bruce McHardy in Scotland. We welcome both! 
Neal Yates sent the rest of a 54' brochure of Hambro, New York, the MG represent in the US then.
The early birds amoug you may be interested in the 2005 diary. Some dates have to be confirmed but you may start your planning right now.

November, 1st, 2004

I just returned this afternoon from a Register committee meeting oin Abingdon, where we had some good discussion. I will report a bit later and also add the dates for 2005 during the next dates. But before this here is the update I prepared before  left. (Sorry Alan that I didn't manage to upload for Monday morning 7 o'clock, but I still was in UK at that time!).

Winter is comming nearer and nearer, while our friends on the southern hemisspere are starting their season. This means technical articles and other stuff to read for us and hopefully reports and pictures from events in Australia and elsewhere!
We start with a technical article fron Alan Bacheldor, USA who did a proper shop wih a MGB 5 brg engine and a Datsun 5speed gearbox. More...  

Beside the Picture of Month I found some other pictures. First a Dunlop tyres advert, and then I added an advert about "KIGASS" to the MG #589-page, as this car was fitted with this at some time.

October, 26th, 2004

+++Motif production stopped+++
My apologies for not broadcasting this earlier: I have been transferred from the corporate office to the power generating station, and must now commute to work. As such, I cannot devote adequate time to my wife and family without ceasing production of the MG Magnette steering wheel motif. Thus, I will not be making any more motif on a regular basis. My apologies for this. Thanks for your understanding. Chuck Reece

With the update on 1st of October I announced more information on the temp sender unit. Unfortunalety it showed only the old page missing the updated information. So here's a new try...

Also we have a few more entries on the gallery. I wonder whether we can reach the 300:
First we have # 4552, which is for sale in Stockholm, Sweden, and was spotted by Lars Tersmeden.
# 10277 seems to be first entry from NZ and belongs to Ray Green, who has big plans. But I wonder why there are not more entries from NZ!
# 17271 belongs to Alan Grace from UK and
# 22809 was spotted on ebay

October, 18th, 2004

I scanned another old article for you. It appeared in Enjoying MG November 1987 and tells the story of ownership of 619 EPP. Does this car still excist? If the current owner reads this, please contact me if you're interested in the original magazine.

October, 11th, 2004

France. Well known for good wine, good cuisine, B.B. and Le Tour de France. But that's not all: Les Francais also have Magnettes. And if they not have a very early barnfind (like we reported a few month ago) they make it special. More...  

October, 7th, 2004

You may onder why I update the website frequently instead of repairing my own car. Well the progress is much slower than I hoped. I'm still waiting for prices from our suppliers to show the insurence and to get their OK. 
My delay is your fortune: I have two nice new pictues. First a new picture on the Wedding Gallery and
another old article from 1954 which Paul Barrow found in his large archives.

October, 6th, 2004

Thank you all who sent me emails after the latest news. Well, luckily I wasn't injured and even the other lady can be happy that my Magnette hit her car at the front wheel. I suppose she would have been hurt when I hit the drivers door. Anyway. At the moment I' wating for prices from our suppliers in England. The next problem seems to transport a bonnet to Germany. It looks as there is enough stuff for the news-section during the next weeks.
As time is limited at the moment I only have another advert. It was in a  horse show catalog in New York '56, spotted by Paul Barrow.

October, 1st, 2004

I don't like mondays!

Youmay wonder what this means and why I write this. The answer is here...

Just in time John and Lou Shorten have a new price list. Probably I'm the first who is in need for some parts ;-(

What else?
Of course a new picture of the month, and another tech tip: This time on the never ending story "temp gauge" by Arch Boston, USA.
Some more pictures and information of the oldest excisting Magnette (so far) # 507  of Prof. Francis A. Dalrymple-Hamilton and please also welcome Graham Gittins, Australia with  # 7732

I had more reports etc. but since monday I have to sort out a few oher things to get her back on the road!

September, 22nd, 2004

Since months I have a lot of small articles and pictures, which I have to make ready for uploading. As especially these small things make a lot of work I only saved them in my folder "unpublished". But it seems I'm loosing control, so during the next days I will try to publish many small things (if time allows... MGA waiting for new MOT...) even if during the winter period I may again call for some input. Enough intro, here we start:
New on the Magnette wedding gallery are Andy and Jo Brock with their ZA.
Rutger Booys sent the following mail after reading the 62' article about the H.R.G derrington crossflow head:
 "I just saw the article on the Derrington conversion on your website and I remembered this picture in the book "M.G. Cars" by David Palmer, printed by C.ArthusrPearson Ltd. London 1958."

P.S. Rutger also has a nice website with MGA and Magnette specials and provided me with a lot of old pictures which you will see later...

Ton Matthuis from Luxembourg wrote a tech tip about weak Magnette wheels. This seems to happen more often than you think as I already heard this story from other owners! So keep the M.G. slogan "safety Fast!" in mind and check your wheels carefully!

Another tech tip comes from Clive Shelley, UK. He converted his Jaeger clock to quartz. Surely a good idea as most clocks don't work. But if they do it's nice to hear the tick-tack. Clocks without this noise are no clocks!
You want more pictures to browse? No problem! Here are some more pictures of the Magnettes that took part in the Somerset event. I wonder whether Eddy Lepez, who took these photographs, did see anything during the trip without a lense in front of his eye :-)

Well, it seems my folder "unpublished" is a bit smaller now. But still so many picturesto prepare... So it seems this page will not get boring soon. But don't hesitate to send me your reports and pictures as this is what keeps this site alive!

O.K. just to finish: another advert... and # 12866 that was on ebay recently.

Magnettic MotorinG
Günter

September, 14th, 2004

Four new Magnettes on the gallery! And for the second time we have a following number. It's # 31017 . Welcome Roger Vandy-Smith, UK. Also a warm welcome to Alexander McCraw frm Scotland with # 8780 and Clive Shelley with # 23993.
Laurie Scott wrote an interesting article (pdf 1 Mb) about mass production during the 50's, camparing the Nuffield products.

September, 10th, 2004

Some more pictures to shorten your time 'till weekend (hopefully in your Magnette):
Laurie Scott from Australia sent some more impressions of  the Silverstone race track and of the Hambridge event.
On the gallery we welcome Lars Tersmeden from Sweden with # 2519 and Udo Barthelsfrom Germany with # 8628. Udo is also our 275th entry! I suppose he will send some pictures for another gallery soon...

And have you read the rebuild article on the MG owners club website?

September, 5th, 2004

Just returning from a nice M.G. event in the middle of Germany. Only one Magnette, so no pictures for you. Needless to say that my Magnette ran smooth except a bit pinking on hilly roads. But still fast enough to show the modern cars the large chrome grille....
But I know that some of you will switch on their computers on monday morning and expect some news. So I don't want to dissapoint you!
Here is an article, which Mike Chew found in an old magazine. It's from 1962 and is about the H.R.G. Derrington cross-flow head. 

And an early brochue kindly sent in from Neal Yates, USA. 

September, 1st, 2004

Because of the many reports and pictures that had to be uploaded first to be actual, I missed to update the gallery. Some of you may have noticed on the board that Magnette # 507 was (or still is?) for sale in London. Although it's probably the oldest excisting Magnette and surely is a historically important car, the price of over 6,000 GBP seems a bit high. Anyway. The register would love to see this car in enthusiastic hands. 
Already in good hands is # 628 which we could see in Hambridge. To be honest I noticed the car just before leaving on the Sunday!. Before I just recognized an old rusty (but driving) Maggie until I had a closer look and noticed the missing quarter lights...
Also new are #11555,  # 33041 and # 37017. 
Big thanks to John Barringer for the work and pushing up the numbers on the gallery!
Please also welcome:
# 2304 of  Barry Alexander, UK
# 34572 of Jim & Sharon Jans, USA
# 34784 of Steve Giannoni, USA and
# 5684 I think I saw it on ebay, not sure anymore

Well, and before we end we have the obituary for our register chairman, Roy Smalldridge, who is missed by all of us.

And... yes of course the Picture of the Month. readers of Safety Fast might have enjoyed the article about Gregor Grant during the Mille Miglia 1955. Here a picture taken a year later...

And at least the reminder for the Norwich event this weekend. Please don't forget to give Lou a ring in advance if you plan to attend! Will anyone send a report nd pictures, please? 

August, 28th, 2004

Here's another update. Seems some of you try to keep me busy! 
John Barringer send some pictues and report of an event in Dorset, which seems to be a nice place. Look here...

August, 26th, 2004

Added some more pictures of Silverstone. Marion Arnhold made some nice shots on the race track during the parade laps.

August, 25th, 2004
During the last weeks we were talking about the golden anniversary of the Magnette a lot. And it seems there's no end: exactly 50 years ago the Magnette made it's debut in Australia on the Sydney Motor Show. Laurie Scott (whose holidays must go to an end now...) prepared a nice article about this.

August, 19th, 2004

I received the following mail, which I thought might be of general interest:
Thanks to Jorn Rasmussen for kindly giving me a lift around the Silverstone circuit in his Magnette on the Sunday parade laps. While sliding around on the back seat (no belts of course!) I managed to take some snaps of the two leading MGs "giving some welly" down the straights and round some of the corners. I particularly like the (attached) one taken through the side (yes) window at Luffield - a perfect illustration of the "proper racing line". The whole experience set me up well for the Thornley race in my B. They told me in the tent that putting MGB engines in Magnettes is quite acceptable. Now I see why! 
Best wishes, Ronald Watt, MGB #15

Here's the picture

We have also two other pictures:
First a nice wedding picture, which is also our first entry from Norway on the gallery! Welcome Trygve Sandberg! The second car is # 17696 and was recently on ebay, spotted by Mike Chaw. Thanks.

August, 17th, 2004

Eddy Lepez from Belgium also took "some" pictures. I had the choice amoung 297 (!) pictures. The work is done and after selecting, renaming, resizing and many hours later the result is here... 

August, 12th, 2004

What a lot of work but I finally managed to get a report & pictures of the Hambridge event online. Enjoy! More to come. 
And the Picture of the Month. Attention! I'm running out of pictures for the monthly pic. Please search your archives or maybe you find a good spot tomorrow! 
August, 11th, 2004

Slowly I'm getting sorted again. The Magnette has done the 2,000 miles trip well and so I already gave her a good service. Now I'm sitting here with oily fingers as some are already looking for reports. So here we start with the Silverstone report... 
and Lou Shorten asked me to inform you that during the last four weeks she had big trouble with her emails. Should you have sent an email and did not receive an answer yet, please contact her again.

August, 10th, 2004

Three weeks without update! I hope you now know what you missed? As you may guess I took my Magnette to Silverstone and the official Golden Anniversary event in Somerset. Full reports will follow during the week.
The week before I left I showed a bit of my country to Laurie Scott from Australia, who sends a lot of articles and reports for the website. Here's a picture of us in front of my car.   

I also have a very sad news, but I didn't want to start with that:
The week before Silverstone Roy Smalldridge, our chairman suddenly passed away. A full obituary will also follow. 

July, 17th, 2004

We have two new entries on the gallery:
Please welcome Mikeal Falk from Belgium with #22523 fresh imported from Sweden and #10502 belonging to Keith Frazer in UK. Both a warm welcome in the Magnette family!

July, 15th, 2004

Don't want to keep this picture that I received from Japan for myself. It shows an interesting speedometer...

Are your Magnettes already ready for Silverstone and Hambridge? I hope to meet many of you there! Bring your Magnette to Silverstone and park at the signed Register parking. As far as I know some Magnettes will be on display in the main marquee to celebrate their 50th anniversary, too. So let's ave a good time. Looking forward to seeing old faces as well as seeing  new faces of which I only knew email adresses before!

A week later Hambridge will start, but the entry list is closed now. Pictures of both events will of course appear here mid-August. 

July, 14th, 2004

You may know that when the Magnette was launched it nearly took a year until factory cars were available for magazine for roadtests. The first roadtest from end of July was based on the private owned Magnette of the tester! This makes the following article moe interesting as it is dated Oct. 1954 and seems to be the first roadtest in the USA! Neal Yates kindly send us the Mechanics Illustrated Magnette road test from Oct. 1954.

July, 11th, 2004

Today we start with a new series called:
"Living with Alison - Malcolm Robertson reports from Australia about his Varitone". 
And I "tuned" the report of the Z-Day a bit. The pictures might open larger and better now.
And please welcome the 260th entry: Wayne Hardy from Texas, USA with # 33170 on the gallery.

July, 6th, 2004

It's done! The 251st entry on the gallery!  It was sent by......... Gobby. And it looks as it could be a special Magnette:

I'm sure most of you know about the spirit around the number 251. Not? Well, for many years it was Abingdon's telephone number and the first car of a new line always carried this number. After the foundation of BMC in 1952 they used the phone number of the drawing office in Cowley, which was 501. Well, I suppose the Magnette was the first car to start with this number (or was it the TF?).Anyway, we have a new target! Help to double the numbers. We will start here right now:
 #  6836, # 16772, # 27811, #33557 are Magnettes on the scrapyard in Arizona, numbers located by Buckey (BIG Thanks!)
# 35035 is for sale in USA
#35479 is for sale in UK
# 36658 of Mark Gray, Kent, UK
# 37037 of Stephen Tickell, Surrey, UK

A warm welcome in the Magnette family to the new owners. 

July, 3rd, 2004

Well a bit late for the monthly update, but an illness forced me to bed a few days. Luckily it happened after the Z-Magnette Day. What again was a wonderful weekend. Read more...
And of course a new Pic of the Month. Another example for true enthusiasm!

1st June2005

First of all I have to add another name to the long "I thank.."-list. I forgot Colin Pratt, who rebuilt a gearbox simultan just to explain me how to go on! That was a great help as I couldn't understand all the terms of the american tech-guide I found on the web (will appear here later).
After months without a Magnette it is quite interesting to see people turning their head or hear them saying "Oh look what a car". I didn't recognize that before anymore but after 6 months anonymous in traffic it's different again!
So, here we are with the news:
- Of course there's a new picture of the month.
Then I added a lot of cars to the gallery:
Let's start with # 7760, the remains of a Magnette on Hawaii. Read Ali Bairos' report...
Eric Wilson sent me details and pictures of three Magnettes in Canada: # 5327,  #19181 and # 21707.
Another Magnette-free place on earth has gone: Johann Emil Björnsson imported # 27973 to - ICELAND!
Opposite Iceland on the other side of the globe is # 16011 located in Tasmania, Australia
And a picture from homeland UK: # 30954.
All owners a warm (where necessary a very warm) welcome and enjoy this site!

22nd May 2005

Qiete a long time without an update! But I prefered to finish my Magnette rebuild. It's always the little things that take more time than expected. An leaking gearbox when everything has been rebuilt, to convert a ZA bonnet to Varitone and so on. The last one was the front bumper: It took me the last saturday until midnight to get the bumper horizontal,  in the right high and in the middle. These brackets are not easy to bring in the right shape! When I returned into the garage on sunday morning I wasn't very pleased with last nights result so started again... But now it seems to be fine. 
But there have been also lucky moments: the engine refused to run last weekend. I checked the ignition and fuel again and again and had at least  the drivegear of the dizzy in suspect. 
This was when I received  a call from Carsten Wivel from Denmark who was comming along for a night. Carsten has experience of more than 20 years and found the fault within minutes (it was the drivegear) as well as a not working 2nd carburettor. Really a welcome visitor at the right moment! Thanks Carsten.
Thanks also go to David for storing my ebay-buys, Martin for the missing bits, Lou for the parts and everybody else who gave me good wishes and was interested in my progress. At the moment it looks quiete good with only some oil still dripping off the engine. Hope to get this sorted out without removing it again.
Enough boring stuff. here are two new entries on the gallery:
# 28126 seen on ebay and 
# 36997 of Jesse Bregman, Santa Cruz, USA

6th May2005

Lately we had many new ZB's on the gallery. Today I add two '55 ZA's, both belonging to Nick Baker in Australia:
# 4678 and # 9472

2nd May2005

Here we arte for another update:
First see the new Picture of the Month. Another example what British steel can do after 50 years! 
Also the gallery is still growing. Please welcome 
# 19975 of Eg Geissler, USA
# 23938 of George Diggle in Australia, who is also Pic of the Month, #28134 sold on ebay for only 450 EUR,  
#31119 of Richard Comfort, Virginia, USA and
# 32557 found on ebay.

And finally a nice picture of Paul Vermont {MG Car Club Victoria; Magnette and Y type register captain} standing with the Magnette to show the chauffeur/car match he recently wore at the wedding.
Picture Loz Scott.


Personal note to Loz: I can't reach you by email. All my mails are refused (old and new address)?! 

24th April 2005

Normally I had planned to spent the whole weekend in the garage to assemble my car. But what happened: I received a call that the panels will only be finished on monday. So there's enough time for an update:
After a long time we can add some other  collectibles: Paul Barrow found these postcard. and also this model of a Magnette stockcar. 
Steve Giannoni, USA, had another solution for broken temp gauges...
Loz Scott, Austarlia, made a report about radiator caps (pdf) and the correct pressure. 
Also #24361 as seen on ebay has been added.
And finally a hint that tickets for Silverstone can be ordered online now. Save money with pre-booked tickets...

20th April 2005

From time to time I receive emails of persons who owned Magnettes when they were young. All have good memeories! The following mail is one of them:
Hello, while living in New York City at around l960, my first husband and iI bought a MG Magnette second hand. It was a left hand drive vehicle. Within several years we had to give the car away to a auto mechanic because we were unable to afford the maintance. However, I have excellent memories of standing outside of my Greenwich Village apartment (downtown new york city) with the crank handle waiting for someone to come along and offer to crank start the car for me. Someone always did. I have no idea what happened to that gorgeous vehicle. Any hints on tracing it? The car was registered in New York State under the name of Tony B. at 41 Greenwich Avenue, New York City. Yours, Joyce B.S. (names known to webmaster)

19th April 2005

For a while I had this report from Laurie Scott lying around. He writes about distributors in general and about "light tuning". More... (pdf)
And Robert Schmitz spotted this car on ebay which changed hands for only 450€.

14th April 2005

Many reports, articles and information are on my computers and lying around on my desk. Time to sort them and prepare for upload. Here we go:
Piet.D. Toxopeus from the Netherlands made a list of wiring colors (pdf)  to help him during his restoration. He hopes that this is useful to others too. I'm sure it will! Thanks Piet. !
I also added another event in the UK where Magnettes are most welcome. Please see our diary...
And two more Magnettes on the gallery:
Robert Schmitz spotted #3528 on ebay, while #33044 is for auction at Bonham's currently. Spotted by Rutger Booy.

I nearly missed the small jubilee: the website is 5 years old now! Presents and donations welcome :-)

11th April 2005

Finally I received some pictures of the season-opener (in Europe) Magnettes & Steam. For years now has this been the first event after a long winter and Stephen Tickell and Peter Martin report that it again was a nice event. More.... 

9th April 2005

Malcolm Robertson fro Australia wrote the 3rd part of his painful restoration...

5th April 2005

Time to add a few cars to the gallery:
# 16376 spotted on ebay
# 24798 newly acquired from Jacques Querton in Belgium, # 27973 spotted in a magazine in Sweden by Lars Tersmeden,  # 29566 picture updated by Ron Cunningham, USA and # 36820 Jim Barcley's new toy (USA). All new owners a magnettic welcome!

3rd April 2005

Here I am again! Hope you missed the missed the updates ;-)
Let's start slowly as I have to check a lot of emails and have to get sorted a few things at home as well. 
So the easiest and quickest thing I could do so far is the Pic of the month.

16th March 2005

Important notice for the Z Magnette Day:
There are no rooms left anymore in the farmhouse without sharing rooms. So please book either book at the hotel or send me an enquiry and we'll see who is able  and willing to share a room. But be quick as even in the hotel not many rooms are left!  

Those living in the UK may be reminded that on 26th March the seasonal opener magnettes & Steam will take place!

Well that's it for the next two weeks....

13th March 2005

There is a good turnout of new registrations at the time. So please welcome on the gallery: 
# 23891 of Mathew French in Australia
# 26695 of Ludo Smolderen in Belgium,  # 35929 of Alberto Cruz in Portugal and two Magnettes that were on ebay: # 13435 and # 25603. 

The "Magneteer of the year" award has been presented to Warren Marsh. More...

8th March 2005

They survive everywhere! Even if most Magnettes on ebay are located in the States and are very often in a very bad shape you may sometimes find interesting examples of our Magnettes. An example for the first said is # 22413 . The interesting example is  # 33134 located in Bangkok, Thailand. 
My update should have ended here, when I recognized that today is International Women's Day. What have our Magnettes to do with it? Quite easy: in the 50's the world looked ok with a clear role for men and woman. This advert is my contribution to the International Women's Day... ;-)


2nd March 2005

Well Iknow I'm a bit late with the monthly update, but my own car reserves first priority. I hope to get my panels to the painter this week and start reassembling soon...
But what's on in Magnette world? Mainly I received some interesting mails and registrations. So let's start with new entries on the gallery:
# 22356 a nice example of Jean Marie Kohler, Switzerland and # 23472 the new parts car of Gene deRuelle, USA.
I also received another picture of the Manette-Hot Rod which I showed a few months ago. It seems it's now painted and looks great, doesn't it? 
I would have left some more original stylish especially at the front/grille but overall it looks what I had in my mind but refused to do because of the time and costs.  

About Willy Cave and his Winter Trial I was told that the reason they did not finish was dirt in the fuel tank. I'm still trying to get more information. Nevertheless I found this picture on the Dutch website wvvw.thetrial.nl. :

And as we have a new month, enjoy our Picture of the Month as well...

At least I changed Lou questionaire a bit. Lou informed me tat some people couldn't download it. I found out that it was created with Adobe Acrabat 7.0 and could not be open with a lower version. You might now try again. 

24th February 2005

I just return from my damned cold garage where I had to convert my new bonnet to a Varitone bonnet. Right the difference are only 18 holes to hold the chrome trim but these have to be drilled accurate on the right place! 
But I still have time for a little update:  
Two new Magnettes on the gallery: # 1783 found by Robert Schmitz and # 9245 which was for sale on ebay.

21st February 2005

Lou Shorten has a new price list. She also asked me to publish the following:
"John and Lou Shorten would appreciate their many and faithful customers from around the world taking about 5 minutes of their time to complete a short questionnaire on the standard of their restorations and panels, as someone is currently contesting the quality of a restoration job they have done. You may either post your return or email your return to us. 
Thank you  in advance for your help
John and Lou"

17th February 2005

Another small update:
Loz Scott updated his article about the locking handbake (pdf) and someone sent me a copy of an article from Enjoying MG from 1980. Sorry I lost the mail that came with the article. And on ebay was # 16142. A car we already had on the gallery in another condition...

Those who enjoyed the 50 years celebration last year may have noticed the cameraman who was always everywhere but you didn't recognise him. Well the result is out now: "Golden Magnettes" is the DVD (or video) called and gives over 40 min an impression of Silverstone (including parade laps), Hambridge and Norwich. The quality is superb and the price is as well. A DVD cost about 3 GBP, the video slightly more. They say: "The object is to remind people of last years celebrations and is a service to members not a profit making exercise."  I would say it's a must for those who attended at one of these events and for those who couldn't be there! Please notice that the telephone number written in Safety Fast! is wrong! You can contact John and Cynthia Harris at "ceharris(at)mgownersclub.net" . I think payment with paypal is possible.

16th February 2005

Just a small update on the gallery:
Please welcome Olav Ross Sorensen from Denmark with # 14141, Bill Durst, USA and # 21271. 
Also added: # 14192, # 32776 and # 37061.

13th February 2005

I tried to get some information about Willi Cave in the Winter Trial over the week. All I know by now is that Cornwell/Cave retired on the second last lap. 
Meanwhile we have some more Tech stuff:

Do you remember the article about cracked wheels? Warren Marsh sent me another picture that might be the worst example of what might happen!  
Another topic is Loz Scott's article about reoairing the windscreen jet washers

9th February 2005

As announced before: here's the beginning of the story of Willi Cave and his Magnette in the Winter Trial....

6th February  2005

So many things happening at the moment. I could stop working and do a 24 hour Magnette job. While I was checking the scenic tour for the Magnette Day, passing ski lifts in action, the Australians enjoined another concours in Melbourne with fine weather. Loz Scott reports...
The combination of winter and Magnette is (hopefully) enjoyed by Willy Cave and his driver Mike Cornwell. Both started yesterday from Maastricht to a winter rally finishing on friday in Monte Carlo.  Henk Kroese, the Dutch Magnette registrar and I went there on saturday to see him. An interview and report will follow this week. Here's just an apettizer:

Attention: I was told that the entry form for the Magnette Day is not readable. I will create another pdf soon and will inform you. Sorry for that. I suppose it depends on the version of Acrobat reader you use as some others can read it. But I will fix it anyway!

  
1st February 2005

Well it's late in the evening on the 1st of the month so still in time for those in the Western part of the world but too late for Japan, Australia and New Zealand. But repairing my own Magnette is more relevant at the moment! I'm sure you understand. Because of this the update isn't too big, but a lot of tuff is waiting for you during the next weeks if time allows. So here we start:
Firts welcome Piet Toxopeus from the Netherlands and his Magnette 
# 17007. 
For the technical advised Tom Matthuis from Luxenbourg wrote an interesting article about gearboxes and the sympton "Jumping out of gear". Not only of interest for the racers amoung us!
And of course there is a new Picture of the Month .
At least please notice that entry form and program for the Z Magnette Day in Germany are ready for download! (Auch in Deutsch)
Well that's it for the moment

January, 26th, 2005

Time for another update on the gallery:
please welcome
Charles Griffith with  # 8986 and Franky den Abt from Belgium with  # 13670. Both cars are very original examples.

January, 22th, 2005

Quite a lot news are commuing over from the Netherlands. So this update is especialley for the "Oranjes":
The most important notice might be that Willy Cave, navigator in the 1955 Monte Carlo Rally on a works Magnette (see also pic of the month) is doing the same 50 years later! He will start for the Winter Trial from Maastricht/NL to Monte Carlo in a  - yes - MAGNETTE !  The start is on Sunday 6th February and srutineering on the saturday. I hope to meet Mr. Cave the saturday and get some more information for you. Anyone else going there to see the starton sunday might send me a picture please!! 
Talking about the Netherlands can't be done without mention the Dutch registrar Henk Kroese. Currently he makes the Magnettes more famous in TV! He and his car are shown in a local TV-series driving through picturesque landscape as well as a small river. He says his doors were draining water for a week! Anybody out there who can transform an ordinary DVD into a mpeg or so to show here? 
And more from my neighborcountry: The teapot that is listed on "collectibles" is available again. It was seen on a motorshow and is sold by the shop of the T-type Owmers Club @ 75 Euros. Here's a picture...

January, 18th, 2005

300 !

Well, you probably know what this means. It's the next mark we reached on the gallery. Please welcome Mr. John Murphy and # 36601 . Isn't that chassis number great as well? Exactly the number of cars built, but as they started at 501 there are some more younger cars after this one. Before you bomb me with emails: the number of Magnettes built differs between 36,600 and 36,601 depending on whether a prepoduction car is counted or not!
Well and no. 301 is as special as well! A car still in first hands: not sure whether the 80 y/o owner will see this website, but give her and # 34407 a welcome as well.

January, 13th, 2005

One of the weak points on our Magnettes is the 2nd gear synchromesh ring on the gearbox. I suppose nearly everybody around knows of this. So was mine gearbox too and an overhaul was necessary. Some people told me that it can be done DIY, while most others (like me so far) are a bit afraid of the gears, spacers and anything else that can be found inside the box. Especially Colin Pratt and our chairman David Johnson encouraged me to do it myself. (Propably an extra article when done...) 
But this weak ring brought back some memories from last summer: My friend and I where on our way from Silverstone to the Hambridge event and stayed on a campsite in Exmoor. There we were looking under the bonnet because my friends ZA wasn't accelerating very well. Then an elderly man came along, had a look under the bonnet as well and said: "Ah, it still has the original gearbox. Is it still working fine? I told John Thornley at that time that the 2nd gear was to weak." During the following conversation it turned out that he was employed in Abingdon (or where the gerboxes were built) and had a very good knowledge of gearboxes and diffs in general. If only Mr. Thornley had heard of this engineer...

January, 12th, 2005

Exactly 50 years ago on 12 January 1955 the following article released: Motor Trader Service Data No. 223 (3,5 MB)

January, 3rd, 2005

If  I counted correct we now have 299 (!) Magnettes on the gallery. That's fantastic isn't it? And new cars in every state of condition are still found from time to time. So here we are:

# 11469 is the joy of Brian Woolmer from Australia
# 12304 is the second car from NZ but what a car...!
# 12936 a bad  example how they can look nowadays  
# 26561 rescued by Wray Lemke, USA

January, 1st, 2005

Welcome to 2005! I hope you had a good start despite whats going on in Asia at the moment. 
What's going on here? So far the only change is the owners gallery which was changed slightly. Due to the total entries of nearly 300 Magnettes I had to split the gallery for faster download into years of production. Incorporated are now the production changes and I added a few early cars that could be identified by chassis numbers.
And of course there's a new Pic of the Month...