1934 MG K3 Magnette
- Engine
- Supercharged 1.1L inline-six
- Colour
- Burgundy
Chassis K3016 is one of three MG K3 Magnettes prepared by Earl Howe's Works team for the 1934 Mille Miglia, driven by E.R. 'Eddie' Hall with his wife Joan as riding mechanic. After retiring from that race, the car was sold in Britain before passing to Australia in 1935, where it spent six decades competing on the domestic racing scene. It retains its original bodywork, supercharger, and numerous factory-fitted components, and is considered among the most significant and well-documented competition MGs in existence.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold £522,500 (≈ $653K)
- → 1934Factory deliveryMG Works (Earl Howe team)partial documentation
Chassis prepared as one of three Works team cars for the 1934 Mille Miglia, under Earl Howe's operation. Hall and his wife Joan drove this car as part of that effort.
- 1934 → 1935Private saleGeorge Wrightfull documentation
Purchased via MG main agent University Motors; original sales invoice and related correspondence survive on file. Wright is understood to have used the car on the road rather than in competition.
- 1935 → 1947Acquisition unknownLyster Jacksonpartial documentation
Wealthy Australian based in Victoria; had the car repainted burgundy and used it extensively in competition. In 1940 he replaced the cylinder block with an unnumbered unit, which was subsequently stamped by Victoria Police as V40009P.
- 1947 → 1973Acquisition unknownOtto Stonepartial documentation
Melbourne-based engineer who maintained the car meticulously over roughly 26 years; work included fitting an L-type cylinder block and Laystall crankshaft, and converting the brakes to hydraulic operation.
- 1973 → 1977Private salePhilip Vickerypartial documentation
Sydney-based owner who held the car briefly before onward sale.
- 1977 → 1999Private saleRod Hileypartial documentation
MG enthusiast who kept the car for over two decades before it returned to the United Kingdom.
- 1999 → 2003Private salePeter Greenpartial documentation
Recognised K3 authority who acquired this car to complement his ex-Whitney Straight/Richard Seaman K3011. He replaced the transmission tunnel to ease entry and exit, though the original tunnel was retained with the car.
- 2003 →Private saleCurrent consignorpartial documentation
Undertook sympathetic restoration work including reverting to the 1940 Jackson-sourced cylinder block and refitting the original gearbox, all carried out by marque specialist James Gunn of Ecurie Fusil.
Competition
- 1934-04-081934 Mille MigliaDriver: E.R. HallRetired — blown core plug
Hall drove with his wife Joan as riding mechanic; the team assembled in Brescia with two other Works K3s piloted by Lurani and Earl Howe. Retirement came shortly past the halfway point.
- 19371937 Australian Grand PrixDriver: Lyster Jackson
One of several competitive outings for the car under Jackson's ownership in Australia.
- 19381938 Australian Grand PrixDriver: Lyster JacksonRetired — engine failure
Car failed mechanically during the race; one of numerous Australian events contested by Jackson with this car.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1940Engine rebuild
Cylinder block replaced with an unnumbered unit; Victoria Police subsequently stamped the block 'V40009P' in accordance with local vehicle registration requirements. This block remains fitted to the car.
Confirmed by Victorian state registration records held by the MG Car Club of Australia.
- —Mechanical
During Stone's ownership, an L-type cylinder block and Laystall crankshaft were installed, and the braking system was converted from mechanical to hydraulic operation.
Work carried out by Otto Stone, a professional engineer, between 1947 and 1973.
- —Mechanical
Transmission tunnel replaced with a modified unit to ease ingress and egress; the original tunnel was retained and accompanies the car.
Carried out during Peter Green's ownership between 1999 and 2003.
- —RestorationJames Gunn, Ecurie Fusil
Sympathetic restoration work undertaken by a marque specialist, including removal of the L-type block fitted by Stone and reinstatement of the Jackson-sourced 1940 cylinder block, along with refitment of the car's original gearbox.
Commissioned by the current consignor after acquiring the car in 2003.
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