An Irish MG restored: the story of a unique NB Magnette

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Catch sight of this 1935 MG NB Magnette faux cabriolet breezing along the country lanes, and you’ll know right away it’s something rather special. The work of Carbodies, perhaps, or Whittingham & Mitchel? It must be a rare machine. Actually, it’s neither, and it’s better than rare — it’s unique. It was built by an unknown Irish coachbuilder, probably in Dublin, and it makes for a fascinating study — close inspection reveals that it is not as refined in its construction as the work of the well-known coachbuilders, but it is nevertheless an attractive effort that would have won admiring glances when new.

Sixty years later, it was not so much to be admired. The body had been cut into three pieces, various timbers had rotted and the metalwork was covered in ugly patches of surface rust. Fortunately, it came to the attention of a committed Triple-M MG enthusiast with a penchant for unusual coachwork, and over a period of years, it was gradually brought back to life.

A few small improvements have been made along the way. Because the timbers used by the original coachbuilder were on the heavy side, and likely to affect performance, the restored car has gained a Marshall-style supercharger and picks up speed well. The Art Déco interior has been enhanced, too, with some period accoutrements, and the restored Magnette now satisfies all the requirements for a 1930s sporting coupé.

Zack Stiling tells how this special survivor was put Back On The Road in the August issue of The Automobile, available now.

Words and photographs by Zack Stiling
 

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