- Larger 1497cc six cylinder OHC engine, supercharged
- Owned from new by racing driver Ken Crawford
- Major engine work carried out by ourselves
The N-Type Magnette was the last in a series of small six-cylinder overhead cam light cars produced by the MG Car Company in the mid-1930s. The six-cylinder cars were built in relatively small numbers compared to the less expensive four-cylinder Midgets of the era. N-Type production was limited to approximately 700 cars from 1934 to 1936. Only a handful have survived, and many have been re-bodied with special racing bodies. The N-Type six-cylinder engine’s single overhead cam is driven by a unique vertical dynamo arrangement with bevel gears. The four-speed gearbox is designed by Wolsley, and the 12-inch drum brakes are mechanically operated by cables.
This N-Type was first registered on 20th October 1934 to the well renowned racing driver Ken Crawford. He purchased the car from C. Attwood & Sons of Wolverhampton with the registration JW 5703.
When ordering the N-Type, Crawford specified the car for competition. MG records state the car was fitted with NE specification racing engine. Modifications include NE specification carburettors and distributor paired with a higher compression ratio of 8.2:1.
Crawford went on to use the car in several events throughout his ownership including the 1935 Land’s End and Edinburgh Trials. Copy photographs and articles from The Light Car magazine are included in the history file illustrating some of his exploits in the N-Type.
In the late 1980s JW 5703 was subject to a complete restoration that took nearly 30 years which was a labour of love for the owner at the time. Donning the original colour scheme of black coachwork, the car was also retrimmed in the original Apple Green.
Since the current owner purchased the N-Type in 2016, major engine works have been carried out by ourselves. As well as having a fully rebuilt engine, it was decided that more power should be extracted for the 6-cylinder engine. A belt driven Roots-type supercharger was fitted under the bonnet and as a result the car has vastly improved performance. A modern type of dynamo replaces the original unit and a full set of Blockley tyres are fitted culminating to provide a thrilling driving experience from the small MG.
