KAA21/35576

Now owned by Andrew Williams in Australia

KA T 21 35594
Davis Halidays'  ZB in Australia

  KA J 41 35644
Ebay 02/2008: Some history and clarification after talking with my sister-in-law. She bought it when she lived in Southern California from her boss in 1967. The engine is original and has been rebuilt when she had it (she remembered it was a 'valve job' but couldn't remember what else was done). Was reupholstered, restored and repainted close to 17 years ago and has been sitting in their garage til I bought it because the idiot painter "lost" alot of the chrome he took off. All receipts come with it including all the stuff she bought on her two trips to England to replace what had gone missing and receipts for stuff ordered from England. All the stuff was there and never put together. That's what I thought I would do but didn't get it finished. Now my house is on the market as of two weeks ago so that's why I decided to let it go…

KA CC 33 35770
Single-coloured Varitone owend by Ingela and Ulf Edström from Gotenburg.

KA A 11 35796
A former black Magnette freshly restored in winter 2010. Herre visiting the youngest known Magnette and second last that left the factory.

KA TA 13 35891
Island/Cedar Green Varitone owned and extensively restored by Lawrence & Val Miller from Plymouth.

KA UU 13 35895
Seen on ebay in 5/2009

KA LL 43 35906
A picture of Phil White's 59 ZBV from Arizona that he acquired in California. The PO had an accident and had been unable to care for her (like many, I call her Maggie). I do all my own work (half the fun of being an owner) and there has been a lot of it. She's back on the road now and running nicely. Originally blue, then racing green -- her PO painted her the varitone grey. I also have a '62 MGA MKll that she shares time with. Magnettes are wonderful personable autos!

KA J 13 35923
Tony Brinsden

KA BJ 13 35929
Imported from England to Portugal in March 2005 by Alberto Cruz, who restored her to a high standard and converted her to LHD.

KA BJ 13 35934
This Maggie was offered to Gobby of Cornwall to buy, but the car is too badly corroded to save and will ,he's sure, be broken for spares. Supplied by Mumfords garage in Plymouth ,Devon. Owned by Mr John Ashton who lives in Landrake, Cornwall. Spookey that it is supplied by the same dealer as my Wolseley 4/44 and is only a few cars from my 'unusual varitone' ! being either 35963 or 35863 ! Purchased in July 2005 by Mike Hearn. Now the  car is a real jem. What happened?

KA BJ 13 35947
John Weston-Smith sent me this picture from 1987 some time ago. He found the car in London, parked on the street. The owner had not used it for some time and the clutch was seized. They managed to free it though and it was a really nice driving car as he said. It's was fitted with wire wheels, MGB engine and Jaguar Mk2 rear lights. It was sold around 1989 to someone living on the south coast of England. Is it still around?

KA FC 13 35963
A Mystery! An ordinary ZB with Varitone chassis no. This is an old picture. Meanwhile the car needs a restoration which she will get in Cornwall.

KA PA 13 35976

KA AA 33 35983
First registrated in Sweden March 10, 1959. Since then 8 Swedish owners. Imported to Denmark 2008.
Now in the hands of Rikke Nissen, Denmark

KA _ 11 36078
This is when I got it after spending the last 6years in a garage now under restoration
Christopher Sharpe, UK

KA C 11 36079
I have owned it since Sept 2000, and have completed a few cosmetic jobs - recarpeted, rechromed, resealed underneath, added correct headlamps, renewed boot lining, added brake servo, added flashing indicators with hazard warning, had leather repaired and recoloured. Now in very nice condition to original spec (it had been structurally and mechanically rebuilt and resprayed damask red in late 1990s by previous owner). It won 2nd prize Pride of Ownership at Norwich 2001.
Bob Hough, Dorset, England

KA C 21 36082
Rod Smith's ZB

KA __ 15 36145
First reg. 02.12.1958. Identification number says it was delievred "primed".

KA T 11 36219
Seen on ebay in 11/2007

KA T 11 36224

Imported from USA in 1997 Keeper Then a John Richardson then aMr. Derek Shaw. Supercharged Original colour was Island green. Build Date Nov./ Dec 1958 Unable to find any other history from USA

KA T 11 36225
Finished in rare and very attractive 'Island Green' this example retains its carefully refurbished original bottle green leather interior and dark green wheels. The interior wooden dash and headlining are also in good condition. According to the vendor, the car has been the subject of a sympathetic restoration by the last two owners, using new parts from world-renowned ZB specialists John and Lou Shorten. It is understood (but not warranted that) over £10,000 has been spent returning this car to it's prime - money well spent judging by it's crisp handling. The vendor also states that “a complete doors off, windows out re-spray, new screen rubbers and Waxoyling making this the ideal car for classic rallying - Nancy Mitchell was very successful in a ZB back in the 1950s – or continental touring.

KA J 21 36278
The last ZB to be imported to Sri Lanka.  Dr.Vickum Senanayake is going to restore her to her former glory. 
Here are more pictures

KA BJ 13 36349
This picture is from 1964 when I acquired the car. 100,000 miles and 40 years storage later I still own her and start to restore now.
John Clark

KA BJ 33 36364
Your webmaster with his Varitone. I bought this car when we started as a family and the MGA was too small. Since then it's in daily use and we all enjoy driving in the airsmoothed style!

KA __ 43 36374
Belonged to Jim Arps, Texas, now to John Shoemaker ,Pennsylvania, USA

KA A 11 36420

KA T 11 36439
Paul Gray's future project.

KA E 33 3644
Very good original in all details. Belonging to Kalle Meischner from Stockholm, Sweden

KAA21 36444

Now owned by Brian Braithwaite in Australia

KA L 41 36447

Purchased thru Gateway Classic Cars, Ft. Lauderdale, FL in June, 2017
John Botts

KA TU 13 36517
Dutch  ZBV of John Kusters. A lovely example in green/green.

KA LL 43 36534
ebay 01/2008: all original, garage kept, not running, Motor disassembled

 KABJ13/36553

Bought in 2018 by David in Suffolk, having been restored by the previous owner about 20 years earlier but used very little since then. Interestingly it appears to be a factory Varitone model, but with the small rear window 

 KABB13 36587

Restored by Richard Willis in 2013, and now owned by David Wass in Yorkshire

KA JJ 13 36588
For sale on ebay in June 2010

KA PC 13 36601
John Murphy's '58 Varitone 

KA CC 33 36622

This car was first regitered in Sweden on 11.03.1959. Photo taken during Skandinaviskt MG Meeting in Lundsbrunn 1998. Ingrid and Anders Bäcklund with family.

KA T 11 36658
I believe it was first registered Jan 59.  Original colour island green, original owner had it for 26 years, lived in Charlton, London. I'm using it as my daily driver at present and loving every mile. 
Mark Gray, Kent, UK

KA J 33 3666

KA TT 43 36735
Ebay 1/2012: This one still has its original singular 'Island green' cellulose paint ..This is a 'project'..unused for many decades ..and will consequentlky need fiull restoration..The car is very sound and solid with the exception of the floors ..all of which are thin (and have some holes) due to beinmg left outside for decades with the carpets and jute underlay in place ..the trunk floor also needs some metal work ..The lower front fenders and doors like rest for car have original paint and are free of corrosion ..the chromework is bright and solid..the interior is original and in very poor condition..all the leather cracked and dry..no attempt has been made to start the car, but the engine turns freely  ..recorded mileage (under 100,000) believed original

KA LL 43 36756
California Veritone last registered 1993. Lee Brannen was looking for an engine for his ZB when heI came accross this car.He restored it and it's now in the hands of Ray Andruk of Hanson MA U.S.A.
The car was shipped accross the US on an open 18 wheel truck and the driver said she got more attention than any other car he has ever shipped. Ray and his father are old MGB guys and this will be Ray's first 'family' MG.

KA L 33 36773

Original car found in Sweden. First registered in '58

KA BB 43 36791

Recently bought this car in Pennsylvania, originally registered in Washington State. Last on the road in 2002, suffered from poor storage since. Will bring it back to its original monotone grey. Fifth Magnette I have owned, including #23463 in this Gallery.
JIm Basque

KA AA 43 36820
Purchased in 6/02 after 21 years of non use, it now runs and drives. Hope to have total restoration complete by sometime in 2007.
Jim Barcley, Oregon, USA

KA AA 43 36830

Now owned by Frank Kennedy in Maryland (was previously in California for many years)

KA TT 43 36918
This restoration project belongs to John Swyers from USA. He wrotes:
The current (original?) motor is rusting in the trunk.  I will put a different motor in it until I make some headway on the restoration.

KA LL 43 36939
This much loved 1958 Red on Maroon Varitone is cared for and driven by Sue and Pockets Knipe of Camano Island, WA, USA.  Our Magnette was originally a monotone Varitone painted a pale blue-grey.  The previous owners include Mickey Harnett (SD) who restored her engine and electronics and G. W. Hardy (TX).  Sue & Pockets bought her in June 2009 and now enjoy taking her on the back roads of the Pacific Northwest.
Sue & Pockets Knipe

KA JJ 13 36970
90% complete and running, but the restoration will presumably take some time.
Trevor Panter from Gloucestershire

KA AA 43 36997
The previous owner inherited the car from his father-in-law  who was a professor of American Studies at the University of California in Santa Cruz and bought the car in 1962.
Now in the hands of Mark Hoyer, CA, USA

KA A 33 37002
This car was delievers to Sweden originally in black, repainted brown/beige by Björn-Eric Lindh in the early 7o's. It was his everyday car for many years, named "MariGold". This picture was taken in 1976!
Now owned by a man in Skane who will restore it and repaint it black.

KA AA 33 37004

Tomas Jaksch from Sweden owns this one.

KA TU 13 37017
Geof Hartland's ZBV YEL 411  fitted with brake servo and disc brakes. Has overcome heater problems by fitting a Rover 216 heater

KA LD 13 37037
Blue Varitone first registered 2 Jan 1959, and still with original interior and period-accessory 'Ace Mercury' wheel trims. It was repainted in 2006, but has never required full restoration due to the care lavished by its second owner, Tony Sanger. He kept the car for 32 years until I bought it in 2003, after it appeared as the main photo subject in a Practical Classics article.  Stephen Tickell, Surrey UK

KA LD 13 37044
A late Varitone imported from England to Germany in 2000, where she had several owners. She's now staying in Northern Germany with Jens and Helga Evers in the outskirts of Hamburg. Jens is going to bring her back to her former glory.

 KA BJ 13 37055

One of the last Z Magnettes produced, acquired in 2019 by John Tudgay in Monmouth

  KA BJ 13 37061
Owned by David Watson

KA FC 13 37085
A nice ZB Varitone

KA FC 33 37093
Picture found somewhere on the web. If you recognize your car, please contact the webmaster.

KA A 13 37098
Lancashire Police car black/maroon prop. scrapped
picture taken from M.G.'s on patrol by Andrea Green, photo: Laurence McNally

KA A 13 37099
Lancashire Police car black/maroon prop. scrapped
picture taken from M.G.'s on patrol by Andrea Green, photo: Laurence McNally

KA CC 13 37100
This is proboably the youngest excisting Magnette, built during the week 18th-24th December 1958. It left the factory on 1st January 1959.
Last chassis no. build was 37101.

KA A 23 3713
Car delegated to use as a tractor on a farm after some years. Then restored bodywise for a daughters wedding. Very poor mechanical condition when purchased from estate some 5 years ago. Now fitted with 1800  B motor 5 speed gearbox 4.3 diff. Disc brake conversion to front. Wonerfull touring car. I'm the second owner!
Robert Mason ,Victoria, Australia

KA J 23 3766
This ZA has been a paddock car; with damage from hitting a stump. Body is distorted at engine support bearer, driver door opening and transmission tunnel. Corrosion is not excessive ‘for a Magnette’. Its future is bleak.
Information by Loz Scott

KA A 43 37667

Restored 1980 by Carroll Davis for daughter Peggy; won NAMGAR Premier 1983; purchased 2014 Roger and Lib Riggles; purchased Dan and John Suter Apr 2016.

KA C  33 3829

For sale in 6/2013

KA C 33 3844
Hubert Fackler owns this car since 1958! This picture shows him with the first owner and the salesman.

KA A 13 3987
This car was for sale in summer 2003 in Glasgow. Spent most of her life in a museum. Only 5,000 orig. miles.

This is from a British TV spot at the end of the 90's. Does anybody know more about it?

On February 14th, Paul Lester, a member of the Windsor - Detroit MG Club, and his fiancée Marie tied the not. Before the event, Paul scoured the newspapers and internet for a unique wedding car. Being a couple of ex-pats, of course the vehicle had to at least have a Lucas electrical system, had to drip a little oil, have a bonnet, a boot, and maybe even the steering wheel on the “correct” side. He had considered using his MGB, but the thought of a mid-February day in Michigan, a complete absence of a heater and poorly-fitting soft top encouraged him to look elsewhere. He turned to the club and was immediately offered the use of Jeff Zorn's 1958 ZB.   Despite the cold weather, the car was warm and comfortable. It drew admiring (and puzzled) looks from the American wedding guests – the bigger the car they were in the more they strained to see what this odd little gray car was. At the church it was a hit. It really did look great. Almost without fail, all the guests stopped to see what it was. 

Attached is a photograph of my partner Margo's son Stuart and his bride Jennifer at their wedding in September 2003 at Culcreuch Castle, Fintry. The castle is located in the beautiful area of Central Scotland known as the Trossachs. Naturally Margo and I travelled to the wedding in the Magnette, and equally naturally it featured in the wedding photographs with the castle in the background. Isn't it amazing what a little wax and elbow grease can do for the appearance? (Of the car I mean!) For anyone who is interested, Stuart (who is a McPhaden) is wearing the tartan of the affiliated clan McLaine of Lochbuie with an Argyll jacket. Jennifer is stunning in two layers of ivory silk topped by a layer of ivory chiffon decorated with seed pearls. 
The '57 Magnette ZB was resplendent in six alternating coats of grey primer and Twilight Grey cellulose (none of which has concealed the persistent micro-blistering!)
Andy Dear

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! Chuck Reece,USA

Henk Kroese from The Netherlands uses his ZA four or five times a year for weddings. His car wearing flowers and him a chaffeur hat...

Eddy & Petra Lepez from Belgium 

Clive and Frances Shelley, UK

Overdressed? Never! Peter Holzigel and Daniela from Germany only loaned their car to another wedding couple

Paul Bray and Peter Daley used their Magnettes as wedding cars for a wedding held at the historic 'Lanyon' station near Canberra, Australia. The cars generated a great deal of interest.

Dieter Otten in Germany used his car fresh restored car for his own wedding.

Pictured in the gardens of Craibstone College, Aberdeen, Bride & Groom, Averil and Robert were well pleased with Ian Hendry's 1958 Magnette Varitone, as their special car for their special day.

Z register committee member Andy Brock with his lovely wife Jo. Of course there were more Magnettes around (one can be seen in the background)

Udo Barthels from Germany owns his Magnette for many years now, but it was off the road for most of the time. Luckily some circumstandes in life bring some dynamic even into a restoration project! Note: they wear the MG colours brown and cream!!

Three Victorian MGCC Magnettes carried the Bridal Party to an outdoor Wedding in the grounds of a Winery on the Mornington Peninsular with views of Melbourne City Skyline across Port Phillip Bay, a beautiful setting well suited to these three Classics. The cars were provided by Paul Vermont(ZB) Loz Scott(ZBV) & John Russell(ZA).

Varitone polished up from daily use for the wedding of Sarah Smith to Alex Mariage. Seen here at the reception at Leighton Hall,  ilverdale, Lancashire  Aug 2005.

Attached is a photograph of my '57 Magnette taken in Dunfanaghy, Donegal, Ireland, at the wedding of my son Benjamin Dear and his bride Elaine Christie in July 2005. The car created even more interest than usual over there, as I believe Magnettes are quite rare in Ireland. I know there is only one in the website gallery (a '58 ZB) and that is located further south in Galway. Margo and I took the car from Central Scotland across the water and did a week of touring while we were there. It's a beautiful country - almost as good as Scotland!
Andy Dear

Janet Caiger and Jo Gayton from Farnham, Surrey used their green Varitone to travel to and from their civil partnership ceremony at Guildford Register Office in June 2006. On the right in the photo is Janet's work colleague, Anne, who acted as chauffeur for the day.

Here is a shot of my Magnette I used for a wedding last March. It was about 10 degrees F so we supplied a blanket in the back seat to the couple who were getting married. I acted as their chauffeur given this was a free limo for them. The Magnette ran flawlessly that day although I fried the generator shortly thereafter. Putting on an alternator now.

Sonia and Yves Rommes from Luxembourg own several Magnettes in different conditions. Surely they used a Magnette on their wedding day....

It was the first time I used my Magnette as a wedding coach and was overwelmed with enthusiasm. The florista asked me whether I can be booked. I grined and answered with a look at my wedding ring. if she meant my car and me as a chauffeur, then ok.
Robert Schmitz; Germany

Webmasters Magnette at another wedding: The groom's father owns a Triumph TR4 but found that Triumph built no suitable saloon, so my Magnette was choosen for the wedding.

A black-silver Varitone in France. No more information yet.

I took a wedding snapshot in Bad Soden near Frankfurt ("Quellenpark"), Germany.
Matthias Schreiner

Not sure whether Matthias does anything else on a weekend than driving brides and grooms....
picture by Matthias Schreiner, Germany

This is our first iron wedding (65 years!!)on the gallery. Wow. Congratulation. So this is couple is the first that married BEFORE the Magnette appeared on the marhet!
picture by Matthias Schreiner, Germany

This time an unusual marriage, as the couple already has 4 children. They managed to get married on register office before the first baby was born. But the church wedding had to sat back on their timetable as other babies "came across"
The car is Robert Schmitz's ZA

Again Robert Schmitz' car..

My nephews only told me he would like to use the ZB in January 2010 that he would like to use it for his wedding day. At that time the front & rear suspension, engine, gearbox, rear axle and interior were stripped out. Was planning a 2-3 year resto`! The ZTT pictured is my wifes and the two were complementary to each other. The ZB now has all new front & rear suspension, 1800cm3 MGB engine, sierra 5 speed gearbox and 3.9 ratio rear axle, alternator conversion and front disc brake conversion with a servo`. What a difference, very easy to drive in modern traffic conditions now.

Last year in August my Magnette was used as a wedding car for the wedding of Judith's nephew and his wife. It was the first time the Magnette was in wedding dress (as far as I know). The wedding was in the Dutch "polder" Flevoland. The Magnette is even older than the city were the young couple married. During the day there was a problem with the head gasket of the Magnette. The car was pulling very badly and made a lot of noise. The wedding couple and all the guests thought that this was quite normal for an old car ;-).
At the end of the day the Magnette brought us home and a few weeks later I replaced the head gasket. Now the car is running again as it used to do. So, end good, all good!

Here are some pictures of my Magnette in its role as a wedding. The married couple are old friends of mine and when they had the choice between te Magnette and the Wolseley 16/60 they choose the Magnette. They specially liked the shape and besides that the colour matched better with the colour of the dress of the bride.
They are both quite long, but had sufficient room for their legs. And even the photographer who is about 2.03 meter, had legroom enough on the front seat. Great wedding car, this Magnette.
Hans Lubberding, NL

Carsten Wivel from Denmark acted as a driver in his Magnette for his wife's girlfriend

Sadly this was the last wedding she did prior to an accident last year. She will return!
Clive Shelley