Sydney Motor Show
13 to 21 August 1954
– MG Magnette now available -
Pic.1a Left - MG ZA advertisement. Pic.1b Right -1954 stylised catalogue front.
1954 Sydney Motor Show displayed the MG ZA Magnette and MG TF. Orders could be placed with distributors P&R Williams PTY LTD at stand No 3.
Some prices as given in 1954 Sydney catalogue:
| MG ZA Magnette | £1285 |
| MG TF | £982 |
| Austin A40 Somerset | £1012 |
| Wolseley 4/44 | £1235 |
| Riley 1.5 Sln. | £1600 |
| Riley Pathfinder | £1850 |
| Rover 90 | £1674 |
| Morris Minor Conv. | £705 |
| Humber Hawk | £1378 |
| GM Holden FJ Special | £915 + £tax |
| Ford Customline | £1418 + £tax |
| Note £ = Australian Pound | |
Picture 2. P&R Williams Pty Ltd Dealer Plate for MG ZA Magnette
Dealer of Sydney and Newcastle - New South Wales [Australia]
MG’s sold by P&R Williams had a very prominent plaque [Picture2] fitted in the engine bay. For MG Magnette’s the plaque was typically placed either on top of the firewall or inner mudguard. Its dual purpose was to advertise the dealership and clearly identify which lubricants should be used.
[Picture 3] Dealer of Melbourne - Victoria [Australia]
South from Sydney and based in Melbourne was another very prominent dealership operating as Lane’s Motors Pty Ltd.
Lane’s Motors identified their cars by a stock number stamped into a very small plaque. Initially the plaques where made of brass with the detail etched into the surface. Location was low and obscure, being inside the cabin and attached to a side trim panel close to where the front passenger would place their left foot.
Picture 3.Lanes Motors Pty Ltd plaque. Stock No. 390 for a MG ZA Magnette
Summary.
Although officially launched in 1953 the MG ZA Magnette would not have been available for purchase, in Australia, until some time in 1954 due to initial production difficulties and transportation distances.
No records have come my way regarding how many MG Z Type Magnettes were sold by either P&R Williams Pty Ltd or Lanes Motors Pty Ltd. Dealers existed in other, Australian, capital cites but no history or memorabilia are known to me.
These fragments in the form of catalogue and plaques at least shed some light on the past; perhaps this may cause some extra information to surface, who knows?
Being 50 years old is a great feat for those Magnettes that have survived the journey so far. Of the 36,601 Magnette’s produced, we probably have {worldwide} less than 1,000 [2.7%] ZA/ZB types potentially available for the future. Thankfully our pooled resources of: shared knowledge {Internet sites and E Mail}, parts suppliers and increasing numbers of enthusiastically restored cars bodes exceptionally well in the preservation stakes.
Laurence [Loz] Scott
12 April 2004.
Geelong Car Club; Australia.
References
1954 Sydney Souvenir Catalogue – Motor Show
MG Saloon cars – Anders Ditlev Clausager
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