1933 MG K3 Magnette Roadster

From 1933 through 1934, MG produced a small number of six-cylinder supercharged competition cars that were based on the concurrent MG K-Series Magnette chassis. Only 33 examples were produced, and since they followed the K1 and K2 production Magnettes, the logical naming choice was the K3.

In their first outing, three works K3s took the team prize at the 1933 Mille Miglia. They achieved speeds of up to 110 mph during the race. Other important victories would follow with legendary driver Tazio Nuvolari at the wheels. Nuvolari piloted a K3 to victory at the Ulster Tourist Trials.

This example is not a factory-original K3. Peter Gregory, a MG expert, built it up on a non-original chassis. It is one of several K3 recreations produced by Gregory. Around sixty percent of the car's parts are thought to be original K3 competition components, including the supercharger unit, steering column, spare spark plug mount, finned sump, and magneto.

This recreation has a vintage racing history in the United Kingdom, where it competed in VSSC and MGCC events. Legendary Stirling Moss is known to have driven the vehicle.

In 2010, this car was offered for sale at the Exceptional Motorcars and Automobilia auction presented by Bonhams. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $194,000 inclusive of Buyer's Premium.

By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2010