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:

Hi Günter.
We arrived back last night so here is the final short report:
The third section of this 8500 km endurance rally ended at the Pyramids near Cairo on 4th May 2002. 76 cars started and 70 finished; many had mechanical problems along the route and competitors had amazing stories to tell of replacing pistons, half-shafts, differentials and suspension components. some work was carried out by local garages, other short term repairs were made by the back-up crews of the two service vans which ensured that the cars could get moving again. The four wheel drive vehicles used by the rally officials helped to tow cars out of the soft sand. Midday in the Sinai Desert saw underbody temperatures rise to over 90F (moving) and 100F stationary. Although there were fewer steep hills to climb during the last week the organisers found routes which took the rally cars along many kilometres of rough stoney tracks between oases. Two nights were spent in the desert at Bedouin-style encampments; most crews slept in tents but some chose to put their camp-beds by their vehicles and sleep outside under the stars. 
The overall winners of the main Trials group were the popular McAllisters from Ireland driving a 1965 Volvo 120. Second was a 1962 Mercedes 220B and in third place a 1965 Triumph 2000. A good power to weight was desirable because of the many timed regularity sections up steep hills.
Warren Marsh navigated by David Johnson came 29th out of the 49 starters in the Trials class. Hans Pernet and Herman Osterbann in their immaculate ZBV which was entered in the touring class also gained a Finishers Award.Throughout the whole event their car only required a small adjustment to  the carburettors due to the low octane petrol.
The rally from the Rhine to the Nile proved a tough test for cars and crews. It was voted a great success by all competitors and it will be interesting to learn what type of event Hero Holland plans to organise in 2004.
We hope to let you have some photos in due course. 
Kind regards
David Johnson  

Congratulation to 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 e-mail 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