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MG Magnette

1953–1968 · two completely different cars on one badge

A Cowley monocoque and a Pininfarina saloon, fifteen years apart, sharing a name and an engine family and nothing else.

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About the MG Magnette

The ZA and ZB, 1953 to 1958, are Gerald Palmer’s car: a Cowley-built monocoque whose body is substantially shared with the Wolseley 4/44 and 15/50, with coil independent front suspension and a leaf-sprung live rear axle. 1,489cc B-series, Lockheed 10in drums front and rear. The ZA makes 60bhp on 7.5:1; the ZB raises compression to 8.3:1 for 64bhp with larger SU carburettors, and there is no brake change between them. 18,076 ZAs and 18,524 ZBs. A Manumatic two-pedal semi-automatic was fitted to 496 cars in 1957. The Varitone is a body change, not a mechanical one — a larger rear window, the aperture cut in the Morris body shop before painting, plus optional two-tone paint. So a Varitone rear screen and its seal are a different part from a standard ZB’s; underneath it is just a ZB.

The Mk III and Mk IV, 1959 to 1968, are a different car entirely: the Pininfarina BMC B-body, shared with the Austin A55 Mk II and A60 Cambridge, Morris Oxford V and VI, Riley 4/68 and 4/72 and Wolseley 15/60 and 16/60. Mk III is 1,489cc and 64bhp; the Mk IV goes to 1,622cc and 68bhp, and with it a longer wheelbase, wider track front and rear, anti-roll bars front and rear where the Mk III has none, a front end lowered about an inch, the rear axle moved back an inch, much smaller fins and an optional three-speed automatic. Because the wheelbase and both tracks changed, Mk III and Mk IV suspension and steering parts do not interchange even though the shell looks identical. Drums all round on both. No Magnette of any mark ever had a disc brake.

MG Magnette — specification & changes within the model

ZA
1953–1956, 18,076 built. 1,489cc B-series, 7.5:1, 60bhp. Cowley monocoque, body shared with the Wolseley 4/44 and 15/50.
ZB
1956–1958, 18,524 built. Same engine at 8.3:1 for 64bhp, larger SUs. No brake change from the ZA.
Varitone
A body change, not a mechanical one — larger rear window, aperture enlarged at Cowley before painting, optional two-tone paint. The rear screen and its seal are a different part. Mechanically a ZB.
Manumatic
Two-pedal semi-automatic, 496 cars in 1957.
Mk III
1959–1961, 16,676 built. Pininfarina B-body. 1,489cc, 64bhp @ 4800rpm. Wheelbase 8ft 3.25in. No anti-roll bars.
Mk IV
1961–1968, 14,320 built. 1,622cc, 76.2mm bore, 68bhp @ 5000rpm. Wheelbase 8ft 4.35in, front track 4ft 2.6in, rear 4ft 3.4in. Anti-roll bars front and rear, front lowered about an inch, axle moved back an inch, reduced fins, optional three-speed automatic.
Mk III vs Mk IV
Different wheelbase and different track at both ends. Suspension and steering parts do not interchange, though the shell looks the same.
Brakes
Lockheed hydraulic drums front and rear on every Magnette of every mark. ZA and ZB are 10in. No Magnette ever had discs.
What crosses between the two cars
The badge and the B-series engine family. Nothing else. No panel, no glass, no suspension part, no trim item.
Sister cars
ZA and ZB with the Wolseley 4/44 and 15/50. Mk III and Mk IV with the Austin A55 Mk II and A60, Morris Oxford V and VI, Riley 4/68 and 4/72, Wolseley 15/60 and 16/60.
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