1933 MG K3 Magnette

Roadster
Chassis number: K0326

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 Dan Vaughan

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 Dan Vaughan

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 Dan Vaughan