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
New Year!
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
Four new 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!
| right: First it's Clive Shelley showing his two most loved things |
 |
 |
left: The second picture shows Eddy Lepez and his wife Petra from Belgium |
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.
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, 16th was 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
#11184 Sue 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
Next weekend the 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.
