 1933 K3 Magnette | 1933 K3 Parnell |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
1934 MG K3 Magnette news, pictures, and information | ||
| Tweet | ||
 |  |  | Roadster |
Patriotic generosity, race-bred enthusiasm and shrewd business savvy combined to create the K3 Magnette. The patriot was Lord Howe, racer of Bugattis, Mercedes and Alfas, who was anxious to get behind the wheel of a competitive English car. The enthusiast was MG chief engineer Cecil Kimber who ardently believed that racing improved the breed. The businessman was Sir William Morris, owner of the MG Car Company, who thought the best publicity was that which didn't cost him much. In late 1932, Lord Howe proposed that if MG would build three racing versions of the Magnette, he would sponsor a team for the Mille Miglia. Kimber and Sir William readily agreed. Six months later the K3s finished the famed Italian road race one-two in class, winning the team prize, a first for a non-Italian marque. The K3 Magnette was among the finest sports/racing machines of its time. For 795 Pounds, anyone could buy one - directly from the MG catalogue. Few more than 30 MG K3s were built, a figure dwarfed by the legion of victories the car enjoyed. Many historians regard the K3 Magnette as the quintessential small sports car of the between wars era.Source - Historical notes courtesy of The Collier Collection |  |  | Roadster |
In 1933 MG introduced the K type Magnette with a 1.1-liter six-cylinder engine. The vehicles were equipped with a 12-inch cable-operated mechanical brake. The K3 was a modified racing version that sat atop a short-chassis and outfitted with a supercharged engine. One was able to capture a class victory at the Mille Miglia road race. In 1934 a K3 achieved 4th overall in the grueling Le Mans 24 hour endurance race. The list of victories does not end there, but it does establish the K3 as a competitive force in the racing arena. A Long-wheelbase touring version was available and could be fitted with four doors.
In early 1934 the N type Magnette was introduced. It sat atop a 96 inch wheelbase and powered by a 56 horsepower engine. In 1934, MG produced seven racing N's which were dubbed NE. They replaced the supercharged K3's which had been banned from the Tourist Trophy race. The NE vehicles were entered and carried on the legacy of the K3 by winning the race.
The following year control of the company passed from Lord Nuffield to Morris Motors. The first change under the new company was to withdraw from sporting events and the production of racing cars would be stopped. This meant the direction of the company switched to producing road-going vehicles.
By Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2008
In early 1934 the N type Magnette was introduced. It sat atop a 96 inch wheelbase and powered by a 56 horsepower engine. In 1934, MG produced seven racing N's which were dubbed NE. They replaced the supercharged K3's which had been banned from the Tourist Trophy race. The NE vehicles were entered and carried on the legacy of the K3 by winning the race.
The following year control of the company passed from Lord Nuffield to Morris Motors. The first change under the new company was to withdraw from sporting events and the production of racing cars would be stopped. This meant the direction of the company switched to producing road-going vehicles.
By Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2008
The MG K-Type Magnette was produced from late in 1932 through 1934 with three different series offered during its production run. The K1 was produced from 1932 through 1934 with a total of 181 examples created. The K2 and K3 versions were produced from 1933 through 1934 in low numbers, with only 20 examples of the K2 and 33 of the K3 produced.
The K-Type Magnette Series was introduced to the public at the 1932 London Motor Show and served as a replacement for the F-Type Magna. The 'Magnette' part of its name was given to designate its smaller engine capacity to its Magna sibling. The engine sat in a chassis similar to the Magna, but featured a track enlarged by six inches. There were two lengths available, the first was 94 and the other was a later 108 inch platform. Cable-operated 13-inch drums provided the stopping power The graceful body's were held in place by half elliptic springs and Hartford friction shocks on all four corners. The front and rear axles were rigid with wire wheels on all four corners.
The 1087cc engine was based on the Wolseley overhead camshaft design. When production began on the K-Type series, the cars were fitted with a triple SU carburetor that was good for about 39 horsepower. Shortly after production began, a modified and improved version of the engine was introduced that had two carburetors and 41 horsepower. A four-speed non-synchromesh gearbox or pre-selector unit sent the power to the rear wheels.
The K1 series had seating for four and came in two bodystyles, an open tourer and a pillarless saloon. It featured the KA engine and a pre-selector gearbox. A total of 54 examples were built with the KA engine, 74 with KB engines, and 53 with the KD version.
The K2 was a two-seater with open tourer coachwork. It had a shorter chassis and originally fitted with the KB engine and manual gearbox. Later cars, a total of 4, had the KD and pre-selector.
The K3 was the racing version built with seating for two in a very sporty body. The KC engine and Powerplus supercharger provided the power. The Powerplus unit was later replaced by a Marshall unit. The cars did rather well in racing, capturing a class victory at the 1933 Mille Miglia.
By Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2008
For more information and related vehicles, click hereThe K-Type Magnette Series was introduced to the public at the 1932 London Motor Show and served as a replacement for the F-Type Magna. The 'Magnette' part of its name was given to designate its smaller engine capacity to its Magna sibling. The engine sat in a chassis similar to the Magna, but featured a track enlarged by six inches. There were two lengths available, the first was 94 and the other was a later 108 inch platform. Cable-operated 13-inch drums provided the stopping power The graceful body's were held in place by half elliptic springs and Hartford friction shocks on all four corners. The front and rear axles were rigid with wire wheels on all four corners.
The 1087cc engine was based on the Wolseley overhead camshaft design. When production began on the K-Type series, the cars were fitted with a triple SU carburetor that was good for about 39 horsepower. Shortly after production began, a modified and improved version of the engine was introduced that had two carburetors and 41 horsepower. A four-speed non-synchromesh gearbox or pre-selector unit sent the power to the rear wheels.
The K1 series had seating for four and came in two bodystyles, an open tourer and a pillarless saloon. It featured the KA engine and a pre-selector gearbox. A total of 54 examples were built with the KA engine, 74 with KB engines, and 53 with the KD version.
The K2 was a two-seater with open tourer coachwork. It had a shorter chassis and originally fitted with the KB engine and manual gearbox. Later cars, a total of 4, had the KD and pre-selector.
The K3 was the racing version built with seating for two in a very sporty body. The KC engine and Powerplus supercharger provided the power. The Powerplus unit was later replaced by a Marshall unit. The cars did rather well in racing, capturing a class victory at the 1933 Mille Miglia.
By Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2008
| The BMW 328: Driving to victory for 75 years. BMW Group Classic at the 2013 Mille Miglia. | |
 | BMW Group Classic is about to enter the 2013 Mille Miglia suffused with memories of a glorious premiere. It was 75 years ago that the BMW 328 sports car first lined up among the starters for this legendary long-distance event. Now BMW Group Classic is dispatching nine such models to compete in the latest edition of this historic round trip. The squad of BMW 328 models will delight classic car enthusiasts, while once again paying tribute to the tradition-steeped association between BMW and the Mi...[Read more...] |
| ICONIC BLOWER BENTLEYS PRIMED FOR MILLE MIGLIA CHALLENGE | |
 | Famous, supercharged Bentleys set for 1,000 mile Italian epic •'Bentley Boy' Tim Birkin's 1930 Le Mans racer leads charge •Original Bentley Motors 'demonstrator' completes team (Crewe, 14 May 2013) Bentley Motors will compete in this year's Mille Miglia with two unique 4 ½ litre Supercharged 'Blowers'; a 1930 Le Mans race car belonging to perhaps the most famous and daring of the Bentley Boys and a company demonstrator that is still going strong even after nine decades on the road. The N...[Read more...] |
| RM To Sell Magnificent 1905 Fiat 60HP | |
 | MAGNIFICENT 1905 FIAT 60HP HEADS LIST OF INCREDIBLE NEW ENTRIES FOR RM'S SALE DURING THE CONCORSO D'ELEGANZA VILLA D'ESTE WEEKEND • RM Auctions announces additional stunning consignments for its forthcoming sale during the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este weekend, 25th May • Offered for sale publicly for the first time in 108 years, this thundering and unique early 60HP FIAT presents collectors with the rarest of opportunities to buy a piece of motoring history • A simply exquisite and...[Read more...] |
| Coys True Greats London Sale | |
 | Coys round off their 2012 auction calendar with their world-famous True Greats sale of important collectors cars, classic film posters and the Keeler Collection of rare models. With some 400 lots coming under the auctioneer's hammer on 4th December, this sale offers a superb choice of entries for any car collector. Among the great entries include two Lamborghini Miuras, a rare Aston Martin DB5 Vantage in left-hand drive, accompanied by its sister models a DB4 and a DB6, and from Germany a be...[Read more...] |
| 1955 Tourist Trophy: One Last Victory | |
 | The tragedy at Le Mans on the 11th of June, 1955 would dramatically affect motor racing. For one of the manufacturers involved, Mercedes-Benz, it would be a confirmation of what it had already come to believe. Toward the end of the 1955 season it was known Mercedes-Benz would withdraw from all motor racing having achieved just about everything possible in Formula One and sportscars. However, on the 18th of September, there would be one last race in which the mighty Silver Arrows would be gunning...[Read more...] |
 1934
MG
models |
| MG N-Type Magnette |
| MG N-Type NA |
| MG NE |
| MG PA Midget |
| MG PA/B |
| MG PB Airline Coupe |
| Similar Automakers | |
| Allard | Austin-Healey |
| Bristol | Morgan |
| Triumph | |
| Similarly Sized Vehicles from 1934 |
| MG N-Type Magnette |
| MG N-Type NA |
| MG NE |
| Morgan Super Sport |
| Riley MPH |
| Rolls-Royce Phantom II |
| MG: 1931-1940 |
| Similar Automakers |
| Other models by MG |
| Related Articles and Event Coverage |
| Greenwich Concours d'Elegance : European Car Display |
| Radnor Hunt Concours d'Elegance |
| Simeone Foundation Museum |
| Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance |
| C K-Type L-Type | M-Type Magnette MGA | MGB Midget Model J | Model P N-Type SA | T-series TC VA | Y-Series MG |
| 1933 K3 Magnette | 1933 K3 Parnell |
