1956' MG Magnette

The ZB Varitone introduced in late 1956 featured a more powerful high compression engine producing 68 BHP. Whilst Pressed Steel produced the MG Magnette body shells, they did not tool up for the increased rear window size of these early Varitones so was installed by cutting a larger aperture at the Abingdon factory. This outstanding, very early ZB Varitone has come to us from customers of ours in West Sussex. 812 DPP is a RHD Home Market example that was built on the 27-29th November 1956 leaving the factory finished in Ivory and Autumn Red with Maroon trim. The MG was despatched from factory on the 4th December 1956 and was registered on the 8th April 1957 in St. Helier, Jersey. This beautifully kept car comes with some wonderful early paperwork to include its Jersey Brown ‘buff’ logbook, AMOCO Recorded Lubrication Service book, Vigzol Lubrication Service book from Grouville Garages, Jersey, 1970’s Parking discs, Jersey tax disc and original handbook. The MG had three Jersey owners before coming back to England in 1982.
There's no doubt from the beautiful original leather upholstery this is a low mileage car and this is supported by very detailed paperwork. Its not unusual for Jersey cars to cover low miles, and the service books record mileages to 1969 at 15165 miles. Paperwork confirms the MG was brought back to England in 1982 and it was then MOT tested with 20326 recorded miles. MOT's then record gentle annual mileage up to the cars current recorded 59, 000 miles. In 2017 812 DPP was purchased by its most recent owner, the daughter of a former Metropolitan Traffic Patrol Officer and qualified vehicle examiner who we came to know a few years when we sold his number 26 Daimler Dart Police Car, the final one built by Daimler. An aficionado and expert for Police Dart's, it was rebuilt over a fifteen year period and came to us as probably the best in existence. Knowing his incredibly high standards, we were delighted to be offered this MG that was very carefully re-commissioned and sympathetically restored by him since 2017 on behalf of his daughter . In the region of 1000 faultless miles have been covered since, mainly for local Sussex outings and Goodwood Revival.
Great care has been taken to preserve the wonderfully patinated original low mileage interior of this example. A comprehensive file of invoices and notes also accompany the car detailing the level of re-commissioning work that has gone into the car to ensure its in excellent mechanical order. 812 DPP is a delight to drive, the engine, gearbox and axle all lovely, it handles and holds the road superbly and renewed brakes are efficient. It presents ready for the show season, paintwork is of a high standard, as is chrome work and the body is structurally excellent. This is a ZB that has led a very sheltered life, it's a beautiful largely original example with some wonderful provenance. This is certainly one of the very finest, and we look forward to finding a new home for this very special car that even features a rare original tool kit in the boot.