1935 MG Magnette

This 1935 MG NA Magnette was first sold by Rochdale Motor Garages of Manchester, England, on January 1, 1935, and later imported to the US. The car was reportedly acquired by film industry supplier Pacific Auto Rentals of Los Angeles, California, in the late 1930s and is said to have been featured in films such as 1938’s Bulldog Drummond in Africa and Alfred Hitchcock’s 1941 film Suspicion. It was disassembled in 1958 and changed hands several times before undergoing a multi-year refurbishment between 1996 and 2008. It was acquired by the current owner in 2016. The car is finished in dark red and tan over burgundy leather upholstery, and power comes from a 1,271cc KD Series inline-six paired with a four-speed manual transmission. Features include headlight stone guards, a fold-down windshield, Brooklands-style windscreens, a clock, and a wood dashboard. Modifications include a replacement rear axle and a modern charging circuit fitted in the factory housing. This MG N-Type is now offered on dealer consignment with factory documentation, side curtains, spare parts, a Malcolm Campbell steering wheel, tools, a tonneau cover, correspondence from the family of the original owner, period photos, service manuals, and a clean California title. The body was refinished in its current dark red and tan during the refurbishment. Features include dual taillights, a fold-down windshield with an electric windshield wiper, Brooklands-style windscreens, rear-hinged doors, cowl-mounted mounted trafficators, headlight stone guards, a driving light, and a front British number plate. An engine crank handle is mounted behind the rear seat. The passenger-side door is said to sag, and the convertible frame is fitted without a top under a black cloth boot. A black tonneau cover is included in the sale and can be seen in the gallery. The 18″ body-color wire wheels feature chrome knock-off spinners and are mounted with Denman bias-ply tires. A matching spare wheel is fitted out back. André Hartford shock absorbers are fitted at all four corners, and braking is handled by four-wheel mechanical drums. The right-hand-drive cabin features front bucket seats and a rear bench that were re-trimmed in burgundy leather during the refurbishment, along with matching door panels and black carpets. The dash-mounted Jaeger clock is fitted with a battery-powered movement. The four-spoke banjo-style Brooklands steering wheel frames a Smiths tachometer and Jaeger auxiliary gauges mounted across the dash. Just over 100 miles are shown on the centrally mounted five-digit odometer, all of which were added since the refurbishment. Total mileage is unknown. A period Malcom Campbell steering wheel is included in the sale and can be seen in the gallery. The 1,271cc KD Series inline-six features a replacement engine block, twin SU side-draft carburetors and was factory rated at 56 horsepower. A toolbox with a burl wood top is mounted behind the firewall ahead of a spare spark plug mount. A diode charging circuit replaces the stock electrical setup and is fitted in a factory-style housing. An electric cooling fan is included in the sale. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a four-speed non-synchromesh manual transmission. A replacement non-stock rear axle was reportedly installed in the 1950s, and the clutch is said to slip. A collection of spare parts can be seen up close in the gallery below, along with copies of factory documentation, correspondence from the family of the first owner, and photos of the car in as-found condition. A walk-around video is viewable above, while driving footage can be seen below.