1933 MG L1 Magna

Roadster

This MG L1 Magna was delivered to the Lancashire Constabulary in Preston, England, on April 11th of 1933. It was the 13th L1 four-seat Tourer built out of 258 total, and third in a batch of eight L1 police cars built. All MGs of this period were built in Abingdon-Upon-Thames, England. This example is one of two known remaining L1 police cars. The car has undergone a complete two-year restoration to the original specifications of black exterior, blue leather interior and blue wheels. The interior was imported from Mike Collingburn of North Yorkshire, and the instruments were rebuilt by John Marks of Kent, England. Many original parts were sourced from the UK to ensure authenticity.

The MG L-Type was produced by MG Car Company in 1933 and 1934. This 2-door sports car used a straight 6-cylinder overhead camshaft, crossflow engine which now had a capacity of 1086cc producing 41 horsepower at 5500 RPM. The engine was used in the Wolseley Hornet and MG F-Type Magna. The L-Type was a successful competition car with victories in the 1933 Alpine Trial and Brooklands relay race. This MG L-1 Magna is complete with period correct Police livery. According to the owners the Police car was delivered to the Lancashire Constabulary in Preston England on April 11, 1933. Seventy-five years ago the delivery price for the vehicle was 299 Pounds with the usual 15% discount. From 1933-1934 a total 486 L-1 Magna cars were made. Only two of an original eight L-1 Police cars have survived.

Roadster
Chassis number: 0414

The MG L1 with chassis number 0414 is the one-hundred sixty-second of 575 L-type 'Magna's' produced by MG in 1933 and 1934. The car was originally purchased by Mr. N.M.V. Blackburn of London, United Kingdom on June 10th of 1933. The car remained in the United Kingdom with a succession of owners until 1970.

In 1970, the car was exported to Switzerland. It was restored and eventually traded by Max Zingg for K 3014 from Dr. Gwar Reichen, in 1977. Dr. Reichen sold the car to Rudi Wevenfels in 1990.

The current owners purchased the car in December of 1999 and relocated the car stateside. The car received a full nut-and-bolt restoration between 2007 and 2011. It has been returned to the original color.

Roadster
Chassis number: L0317
Engine number: 576AL

This four-seat MG tourer was sold new by the Smith Auto Co. Ltd. of Croydon, Surrey, to H.K. Kelman of Bromley, Kent. It was given registration AKL 287 on December 5th of 1933. The subsequent history is not known; by 1963 the car was modified into the style of an L2 sports roadster. At the time, then-owner Bob Rushton believed that the conversion had been done by a previous owner, a Mr. Brown. In the late 1990s, the car was owned by David Ridler, who would sell it out of the United Kingdom to a private museum collection location in Japan. A few years ago, it was imported to the United States and was acquired by the current caretaker in early 2016.

After arriving at the new owner's home in New York, it received some sorting in preparation for further road use. All throttle and chock linkages were adjusted and synched, the carburetors were rebuilt, and the standard muffler was replaced with straight pipes.

The car is currently finished in British Racing Green and has a matching dark green interior and wire wheels. Cycle-type fenders are fitted in place of the standard L2 full-length swept style. The damascened instrument panel is equipped with Jaeger speedometer and gauges. It has a 5.28:1 final drive ratio, a bit taller than the standard 5.375:1 unit. There is a black canvas roof for inclement weather, and a hidden tool kit.

by Dan Vaughan

A British marque, 'MG' has produced sports cars from 1924 until 2005. Originally standing for 'Mossis Garages', MG is best known for its two-seat open sports car, though they also produced 'saloons, also known as sedans and coupes. More recently, the MG brand had branched out to designate sportier versions of other models that belonged to the parent company.

Introduced by the MG Car Company in 1933, the MG L-Type was a two-door sports car that used a smaller version of the 6 cylinder overhead camshaft, crossflow engine that had a capacity of 1086 cc with a bore of 57 mm and stroke of 71 mm that produced 41 bhp at 5500 rpm. Originally the engine was fitted in the 1930 Wolseley Hornet and the '31 MG F-Type Magna. A four-speed non-synchromesh gearbox supplied the drive to the rear wheels. The chassis was the same used in the K-Type, yet a narrower version with suspension by half elliptic springs all round with both rigid front and rear axles.

With a wheelbase of 94 inches, the MG L-Type had a track of 42 inches. Utilizing the same brakes as in the J2, they were cable operated with 12-inch drums all around. The same sloping radiator as on the F-Type was used, but the vehicle now had sweeping wings, while the four-seater featured cutaway doors.

The L1 Magna was a four-seater, coupe, and saloon versions, while the Magna L2 was a two-seater model. The coupe was called the Continental Coupe and was sold in a variety of spectacular two-tone colors. Unfortunately, the coupe was a slow seller and only 100 models were produced. Today the Coupe is a highly desirable rare vehicle. Bought in from Abbey, the bodies for the saloon or salonette version were not made by MG.

Around 600 L2 Magna's were produced and sold in 1933.

The MG L-Type was a successful competition vehicle with victories in the 1933 Alpine Trial and Brooklands relay race. A new L1 tourer cost £299, while the Continental CoupÈ was sold at £350.

by Jessican Donaldson