MG ZA Magnette - grille

MG ZA Magnette. The MG ZA used the new BMC B-series engine and production was delayed awaiting this engine. The similar Wolseley 4/44 used the older MG TF engine.

MG ZA Magnette. The ZA Magnette had to wait until October 1954 for the arrival of the 1489cc B-series engine, which was tuned to give 60bhp, whilst the launched earlier Wolseley 4/44 had to put up with an old 1250cc Y-type engine.

MG ZA Magnette. Gerald Palmer had designed this body for the ZA but it was withdrawn in 1953 and remodelled and sold as the Wolseley 4/44. The ZA Magnette had to wait until October 1954 for the arrival of the BMC B-series engine. ZA and 4/44 shared few body parts as the different engine/gearbox configuration demanded different floorpans. The roof, bootlid and front doors were common to both cars.

MG ZB Magnette. The Gerald Palmer designed ZA Magnette had been launched in 1953, and in 1956 the ZB was launched with a retuned engine and trim changes.

MG ZB Magnette. The Gerald Palmer designed ZA Magnette had been launched in 1953, and in 1956 the ZB was launched with a retuned engine and trim changes.

MG ZB Magnette Varitone. This is the optional 'Varitone' version of the ZB, but in this example it is finished in a single colour.

MG ZB Magnette Varitone. This is the optional 'Varitone' version of the ZB, which had a larger wraparound rear window. Varitone cars were usually delivered in two-tone colours, but some were sold in a single colour.

MG ZB Magnette. Gerald Palmer designed the body for the ZA Magnette and this was launched one year earlier as the Wolseley 4/44 in 1953. In fact the Wolseley and MG shared only the roof, bootlid and front doors, wings, rear doors, bonnet and even the floorpan differed mfrom 4/44 to ZA.

MG ZB Magnette Varitone. This is the optional 'Varitone' version of the ZB, which had a larger wraparound rear window that was hand cut into the body after pressing.

MG ZB Magnette. The ZB launched in 1956 had a retuned version of the 1489cc B-series engine, now giving 64bhp instead of 60. The rear window was also enlarged, but the optional Varitone cars had even larger rear screens.

MG ZA Magnette - head lamp

MG ZA Magnette. Palmer got free rein with the ZA/444 project and created this Italianate saloon. Perhaps the Y-type could have been more elegant if Palmer had been given his way.

MG ZA Magnette.

MG ZB Magnette. Only the Bootlid and roof of this ZA/ZB were shared with the Wolseley 4/44. ZA cars had single red rear lights.

MG ZA Magnette - front wheel. The chrome trim that curves around the front wheel arch was only fitted on the ZA Magnettes. A cheaper chrome trim was used on the ZB.