Restoring an old car which has rotted out and has a seized engine, hardly makes good economic sense.  So, building a 1956 MG Magnette V8, the early ZA Magnette, powered by a classic V8 makes more sense.  The Rover V8 is a logical power unit as it was also the engine in the MGB GT V8, so this engine now carries MG badges!  The project was started May 2004, and the engine was finally fired up just before the end of 2008. 

This is in some respects is a bit of a saga but tries to faithfully document the various ups and downs of a major project.  The concept has hardly changed at all - "take a 1956 car and repower it", sounds rather like a weekend project for a competent fabricator or mechanic.  What follows has turned to be anything but a simplistic weekend project and has turned into a major update of a classic British saloon car, where just about all that remains of the original car is the steel bodyshell, the doors, the radiator grille  and a couple of bits of wood trim and the heater blower!

AS AT THE END OF MARCH 2011, DUE TO THE INTERNET PROVIDER DROPPING ALL SUPPORT FOR MICROSOFT FRONT PAGE SERVER EXTENSIONS, BOTH MY WEBSITES HAD TO BE TOTALLY REBUILT AND AT THIS TIME, ELECTED TO TRANSFER THE REBUILD OVER FROM MY www.tops.co.nz WEBSITE TO THIS ONE.

THAT MEANS THAT THE REBUILD PAGES (ABOUT 20 OF THEM) HAVE TO BE MOVED AND CHECKED, SO PLEASE BE PATIENT.   MOST OF THE BUTTON STO THE RIGHT WILL BE ACTIVE!

latest update May 5th 2011

part 21 is just a few later pics whilst I catch up on other work!