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August 14, 2023

Back For A Service

August 14, 2023

Our 1991 Volkswagen Transporter T4 has returned to the Bridge Classic Cars workshop for a full service. Classic car technician Jonn has been checking it

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Amphicar Back In Paint

August 14, 2023

Classic car technician has been hard at work on our 1964 Amphicar 770 again. After undergoing several rounds of repairs on its body, it’s great

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The Schumacher Collection

August 14, 2023

Michael Schumacher is an icon of Formula 1. His illustrious career is one of legend and the name, Schumacher, will always be thought of when talking about motor racing. If you are old enough to have seen him race, there’s no denying that Michael Schumacher was a phenomenon that will be a challenge to ever follow.

From a young German racer to a competitive force of nature and dominating presence through the highest level of racing, Schumacher drove for some of the biggest teams such as Benetton, Mercedes-Benz, and, probably most famously – Ferrari.

Fans of the iconic driver will be able to get their hands on some truly extraordinary artefacts from his astonishing career. The items have been assembled over a 30-year period in a private Japanese collection and will open for bidding through RM Sothebys between 16th August and 6th September 2023.

Highlights From Full Throttle – The Schumacher Collection

1994 Michael Schumacher Bell Benetton Formula 1 helmet – This is the helmet Michael Schumacher wore while racing for Benetton during the 1994 Formula 1 season. This was the season that Michael won his first world championship where he took eight races and six pole positions. A Bell Certificate of Authenticity confirms the helmet is a very special find and a fantastic addition to someone’s collection Estimate: $40,000 – $60,000 (approx £31,500 – £47,000).

Image from RM Sotheby’s
Image from RM Sotheby’s
Image from RM Sotheby’s
Image from RM Sotheby’s

1989 Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost Signed Formula 1 Moet Champagne Bottle – Believed to have been signed by Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost at some point during the 1989 Formula 1 season, this is a very special champagne bottle! Estimate: $5,000 – $10,000 (approx £4,000 – £8,000).

Image from RM Sotheby’s
Image from RM Sotheby’s
Image from RM Sotheby’s
Image from RM Sotheby’s

2002 Michael Schumacher Schuberth Scuderia Ferrari Formula 1 Helmet– During Schumacher’s championship-winning 2002 season, he wore this helmet in the Japanese and Hungarian Grand Prix events. In Japan, he took pole position, set the fastest lap, and won the race. In Hungary, he qualified in second, set the fastest lap, and went on to finish second. The helmet has been certified by Jens Munser Designs as an authentic example. Estimate: $20,000 – $25,000 (approx £16,000 – £20,000).

2003 Michael Schumacher Scuderia Ferrari OMP Formula 1 Signed Racing Suit – Another incredible item from another championship-winning year. Schumacher wore the racing suit on 14th September 2003 at the Italian Grand Prix where he took pole position and the race win. Estimate: $12,000 – $15,000 (approx £9,500 – £12,000)

Image from RM Sotheby’s
Image from RM Sotheby’s
Image from RM Sotheby’s
Image from RM Sotheby’s

2001 Michael Schumacher Schuberth Scuderia Ferrari Formula 1 Helmet – Another championship-winning item. This time from the 2001 season when Schumacher wore this helmet on 22nd January 2001 at the Australian, Malaysian, and Brazilian Grand Prix events. Certified as an authentic example by Jens Munser and signed on the visor by Michael himself. Estimate $20,000 – $25,000 (approx £16,000 – £20,000)

Top 10 Lots From RM Sothebys

  1. 1991 Michael Schumacher Replica Arai Jordan-Ford Formula 1 Helmet $40,000 – $60,000 (approx £31,500 – £47,000)
  2. 1994 Michael Schumacher Bell Benetton Formula 1 Helmet $40,000 – $60,000 (approx £31,500 – £47,000)
  3. 2001 Michael Schumacher Schuberth Scuderia Ferrari Formula 1 Helmet $40,000 – $60,000 (approx £31,500 – £47,000)
  4. 1990 Michael Schumacher Arai West WTS Racing German Formula 3 Helmet $30,000 – $50,000 (approx £23,000 – £39,500)
  5. 1991 Michael Schumacher Shoei Benetton Formula 1 Helmet $30,000 – $40,000 (approx £23,000 – £32,000)
  6. 1993 Michael Schumacher Bell Benetton Formula 1 Helmet $30,000 – $40,000 (approx £23,000 – £32,000)
  7. 1993 Michael Schumacher Bell Benetton Formula 1 Helmet $30,000 – $40,000 (approx £23,000 – £32,000)
  8. 1995 Michael Schumacher Bell Benetton Formula 1 Helmet $30,000 – $40,000 (approx £23,000 – £32,000)
  9. 2003 Michael Schumacher Schuberth Scuderia Ferrari Formula 1 Helmet $30,000 – $40,000 (approx £23,000 – £32,000)
  10. 2004 Michael Schumacher Schuberth Scuderia Ferrari Formula 1 Helmet $30,000 – $40,000 (approx £23,000 – £32,000)

5 Vintage Hobbies To Try for A More Retro Lifestyle

August 14, 2023

While driving classic cars never goes out of fashion, some hobbies have fallen by the wayside over the years. However, that’s all changing, and old school is cool again. From crocheting to bird watching, tinkering in the garage or shed, and painting, more than half of Brits have expressed interest in starting a new hobby that’s more than a touch nostalgic.

These five vintage hobbies take you back in time, giving you the opportunity to relax and create something new.

Woodworking

Woodworking is an extraordinary hobby that allows you to craft something truly unique by hand. The possibilities for making wooden furniture, toys, decorations, and other practical items are almost endless. 

The woodworking community is full of casual and professional artisans who enjoy meeting new friends, sharing ideas, and giving feedback. You can meet them by attending local workshops and events or by joining one or multiple online forums. 

Woodworking can even save you money as you can make your own shelves or cabinets, or repair or restore old or damaged wood items instead of buying new ones. We live in a world where we’re very quick to throw something away rather than repurpose or refurbish it, and woodworking gives you the opportunity to breathe new life into older objects, just like we did in the past.

It’s also among the best hobbies for making unique gifts that really demonstrate your appreciation and love for the recipient.

You don’t need expensive power tools to enjoy woodworking, and the whole point of this hobby is to enjoy it in an old-school way. A basic saw, hammer, and drill, coupled with some nails and screws, will do the trick.

Baking

Baking is a fun and rewarding hobby that allows you to delve into the world of fancy bread, delicious cakes, and mouth-watering pastries. You can enjoy the simple pleasures of kneading dough or decorating cakes just like your parents and grandparents did.

The most appealing aspect of baking comes in its potential for building a happy home. You’ll have multiple opportunities to foster social connections and relationships. It’s a wonderful hobby for bonding with family and friends through recipes and stories over a delicious puff pastry.  It’s the perfect retro hobby to replace watching TV or scrolling through your phone, and it has far tastier results too. 

Restoring Classic Cars

The allure and reward of restoring classic cars lie in the potential to preserve a piece of automotive history with your own mechanical knowledge. If you’d like to try your hand at restoring a classic car, find one that suits your budget, workload, and level of mechanical knowledge. If you’re new to the world of classic cars, a non-running jalopy that needs an entire engine overhaul, chassis work, chrome fitting, and interior restoration may not be your best bet.

The most significant restoration success stories come from enthusiasts who do their homework upfront. If you know what to look for before buying a car to restore, you can determine whether the project is suitable or if it’s beyond your scope—for now, anyway. 

Just some of what you need to consider before starting this hobby include:

  • Car condition – Look for rust, damage, or missing parts. Assess critical areas like the engine, transmission, brakes, suspension, and electrical system. A well-maintained car will be easier and cheaper to restore.
  • Part availability – Some classic cars have scarce or costly discontinued components. You’ll need to choose between original and aftermarket parts, impacting restoration authenticity and quality.
  • Model popularity – Certain classics are more desirable, impacting pricing and potential profit. Factor in competition and uniqueness for appeal and recognition.
  • Difficulty – Different classic cars vary in restoration difficulty based on design and complexity. Factor in your time and effort commitment.

It’s a good idea to start small and work your way up to ensure that you don’t end up with a car in your garage that deserves to be on the road.

Painting

Painting is one of the most expressive hobbies for giving you peace of mind and working out your frustrations. There’s a reason why the world’s greatest philosophers, like Leonardo Da Vinci, enjoyed painting. It enhanced his problem-solving skills and challenged him to think strategically about how to complete his painting.

When you choose your colours, mix your paints, and apply your strokes, the process is invigorating. It releases positive emotions and neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin. Painting has the unique ability to boost your cognitive faculties by triggering both the left and right hemispheres of your brain.

You can experiment with oil paintings, watercolour paintings, or acrylic paintings to find your style and see where your talents take you. If you want to add a real retro twist to this hobby, pack a watercolour kit and head off to the beach or the countryside (maybe even in your restored classic car!) and enjoy a day out painting the local scenery.

Film Photography

A true retro hobby that offers so much creative scope, taking photographs using older cameras and film can be a hugely enriching experience. Film photography is an art form that you can learn, and the excitement of waiting to see your pictures develop adds to the fun.

You can purchase older film online and use it with the appropriate camera and even learn how to develop the image yourself in a makeshift darkroom.

If you enjoy the technological side, you may want to extend this hobby beyond taking photographs and start restoring old cameras like the Leica IIIa or Rolleiflex, too.  You’ll learn a unique skill set that allows you to repair a shutter, align the lens mount, clean the film plane, or adjust a camera’s exposure. Plus, you can then take photos that are totally unique and harken back to days gone by.

Bringing Back The Past

A great hobby should be fun and relaxing while allowing you to express your creativity. Sharing that passion with others is the best way to go about it. These hobbies are uniquely retro but are making a comeback for good reason. Why not try something new that’s stood the test of time? You may end up with a classic car you can drive around proudly in, furniture you’ve made from scratch, or food and artwork that everyone wants to share and enjoy too.

Sunset Classic Car & Bike Meet

August 14, 2023

Highlights of our Sunset Classic Car & Bike Meet can be seen here.

Bridge Classic Cars is thrilled to invite you to our Sunset Classic Car & Bike Meet on Thursday, 7th September 2023.

The evening promises to be a relaxing and ambient environment where you can share your passion for classic vehicles with other like-minded enthusiasts. Meeting at sunset will create a stunning and picturesque backdrop that highlights the beauty of your classics.

Starting at 7 pm and taking place at The Atelier at Bridge Classic Cars, you will be able to enjoy food, drink, and live acoustic music to help bring your day to a chilled conclusion.

Whether you are a classic car owner, or simply an admirer of automotive artistry, our Sunset Classic Car & Bike Meet will have something for everyone. With plenty of opportunities to capture memorable moments against the backdrop of the setting sun, swap tips and advice with fellow enthusiasts, or simply admire the craftsmanship that has gone into each and every classic vehicle.

The Atelier bar will be open for drinks, and food will be available from Porkey’s, to make sure you have everything you need for an evening of automotive appreciation.

We would love it if you can join us in celebrating the timeless beauty of classic vehicles as the sun goes down over the Bridge Classic Cars workshop.

Attendance is completely FREE but please RSVP below to let us know you will be joining us.

Back Home – Shooting a 1935 Bentley Van Den Plas Sports Saloon for Auction

August 14, 2023

Here at Bridge Classic Cars, we have the rare and unique chance to deal with some of the most amazing classic and collectible cars on a near daily basis. Some are rare and iconic, others are storied and well-traveled. This 1935 Bentley Van Den Plas Sports Saloon is all of those wrapped into one.

The car belongs to a good friend of Bridge Classic Cars, John. John is a classic car enthusiast from South Africa who over the years we have developed an incredible friendship and appreciation for vintage metal with and its an absolute joy to have him make the trip over to see us. Recently, we had a shipping container filled to the brim with beautiful classics arrive at our Suffolk HQ which had been brought over by John, including this Derby Bentley.

John has kindly asked us to photograph and represent the car at auction for him here in the UK but the story of this car and its pure originality is what makes it truly stand out from the rest.

Firstly, here’s a quick recap on what a ‘Derby’ Bentley is for those who aren’t versed in early Bentley history – After the Rolls Royce takeover of Bentley in the early 1930s, the Bentley name would still retain its reputation for superb engineering, effortless style, and rock-steady reliability under its new ownership though the cars that would come to be known as Derby Bentley’s after its move from the Cricklewood home under W.O Bentley to Rolls Royce’s workshops based in Derby. Hence, ‘Derby’ Bentley’s.

Here’s what we specifically know about this car, BOL 505.

This 1935 Bentley Van Den Plas sports saloon spent its early years here in the UK under the registration BOL 505. In 1971, the car was acquired by South African Bentley enthusiast Tony White and shipped to South Africa in order to compliment his fleet of early Bentleys including a pair of 1928 4 ½ litre tourers. Soon after, the car was sold to another South African classic car enthusiast who would retain the car for the next 44 years.

It was then bought by another classic car enthusiast in South Africa who began work on the car, the previous owner to him carrying out the aesthetic restoration of the cars body as well as the overhaul of the all important straight-six engine, however due to the previous owners failing health there are no records or recollection of what work was indeed carried out.

Finished in two-tone Grey, this 1935 Bentley Van Den Plas sports saloon is a wonderful blend of sympathetic restoration and true originality. The exterior of the car is in fabulous condition, along with the engine block and engine bay being given an aesthetic restoration. In its 88-year life, it is believed the body has never left the chassis since the pair were brought together at the Derby works and must be one of only a handful to proudly wear that title.

Throughout its 52-year history in the southern hemisphere, the dry conditions have worked to preserve this beautiful British motorcar and meant that it has always been road registered with its previous owners.

The exterior of the car is in superb condition with very minimal work left to do, some of the original parts are missing such as the spare wheel, P100 headlight internals and sidelights. The interior is about as original as it comes but will require retrimming and some restorative work. The leather, although well patinated is still soft to the touch and could be kept or used to create a new interior for the car.

This is an incredible opportunity for an enthusiast of the Bentley marque or pre-war British motorcars to bring back to life, at minimal effort and with the large expenses already outlaid, a wonderful piece of British motoring history.

It’s a true pleasure and honour to be able to photograph piece of automotive history like this Derby Bentley. And it’s also a privilege for our friend and customer to ask us to represent the car at auction for him aswell.

The car is offered for auction through our friends over at Car & Classic using this link.

Back For A Service

August 14, 2023

Our 1991 Volkswagen Transporter T4 has returned to the Bridge Classic Cars workshop for a full service. Classic car technician Jonn has been checking it over and has found some issues that he is working to resolve.

One of the wheel cylinders is seized and one of the wheel rims is badly cracked. Jonn cleaned a calliper before noting that the brake pipe to the offside rear wheel cylinder is seized.

A new pipe and ends were made to fit before Jonn had to untwist the driver’s seatbelt. The foglight earth wasn’t connected so this was connected to the slam panel earth. Once this was done, the foglights were working as they should. Finally, Jonn fitted new belts to our T4.

Improving Our Mini

August 14, 2023

Our 1976 Morris Mini has been in the care of classic car technician Jonn as he has been resolving a few issues that he found during his investigations.

Part of this work involved sorting the wiring for the spotlights on the front of the car. Once this was complete, Jonn reassembled the lights and everything worked as it should. The speakers in the rear shelf were Jonn’s next focus before the front of the car was fully reassembled and cleaned.

There is a switch on the accessory panel which now functions correctly in that it operates the three spotlights on the front of our Mini when the full beam is activated. New CV boots were also fitted to our latest competition cars.

Before Jonn finished working on our 1976 Morris Mini, new discs and pads were fitted to the front of the vehicle.

© Bridge Classic Cars Holdings Ltd, T/ as Bridge Classic Cars. Registered in England and Wales with company number 5047706.