May 16, 2024

Press Release – A Suffolk Barn Find – 1952 Austin A40

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

May 2024

Ipswich, May 2024 โ€“ Several members of the Bridge Classic Cars team recently set out to investigate a rumoured barn find. What they found was a 1952 Austin A40 Cabriolet bodied by Jensen that had been securely stored away in a locked metal shed since at least 1987.

The team was warmly welcomed by the car’s owner, Jenny, to her Kesgrave home before she guided them down a picturesque garden path to a small, padlocked structure at the bottom of her property. The condition of the vehicle was unknown, as the doors had been shut for many years with slabs and wood leaned against them.

After some effort, the team managed to open the doors and got their first glimpse of the car inside. The Austin A40 was housed in a structure just large enough to fit the car, making it difficult to assess its overall condition from its resting place. However, the front of the car appeared to be in excellent shape, giving hope that the rest of the vehicle might have similarly withstood the test of time.

As the car was carefully moved out of storage for the first time in decades, the team was delighted to find it in fantastic condition. It was evident that Jenny’s late husband, a dedicated classic car enthusiast, had perfectly prepared the car for its long hibernation. Grease had been applied to the body, and the interior remained remarkably well-preserved. Notably, four spare tyres and the original hubcaps were found neatly stored in bags in the boot.

Following a brief on-site inspection, the 1952 Austin A40 was loaded into a trailer and transported safely to the Bridge Classic Cars workshop in Pettistree, near Woodbridge, Suffolk. Now at its new home, the vehicle will undergo a thorough cleaning and recommissioning process.

“We are incredibly excited about this find,” said Craig Ranson, Managing Director of Bridge Classic Cars. “The Austin A40 Cabriolet is a rare and beautiful piece of automotive history. We look forward to getting it back on the road where it belongs.”

For more information and to follow the carโ€™s progress, keep an eye on the Bridge Classic Cars website.

Images

About Bridge Classic Cars

Bridge Classic Cars is a leading name in the classic car restoration industry, known for our dedication to preserving automotive heritage and providing exceptional services to classic car owners. With the launch of the Bridge Classic Cars Members’ Club and The Classic Lounge, we continue to expand our community and enhance the classic car experience for enthusiasts across the UK.

For more information about membership and upcoming events, please visit our website at www.bridgeclassiccars.co.uk or contact us Lily by email – events@bridgeclassiccars.co.uk 

Contact:

Rob Harvey
Marketing Manager
Bridge Classic Cars
rob@bridgeclassiccars.co.uk

01473 742038
www.bridgeclassiccars.co.uk

Final Checks of our 1991 Jaguar XJS Le Mans

Our 1991 Jaguar XJS Le Mans is soon to be honest way to its lucky new owner after being through Bridge Classic Cars Competitions just over a week ago.

Jon, one of our restoration technicians, has been going through the car to check everything over. Before carrying out the final road tests, Jon a loose connection in one of the headlights before correctly torquing all wheels and making sure the tyre pressures were at spec. Then, it was a case of filling up the car with 10-litres of petrol so its new owner can enjoy the car straight away.

Then it was handed over to Tony from our Transport team to get it safely loaded into our covered trailer ahead of its journey in the morning.

Carburettor Strip and Set Up on the 1955 MG TF

Steve has been working on the 1955 MG TF in the workshop of our Suffolk HQ.

To begin with, Steve stripped down the carburettors on the 1500cc 4-cylinder as the front unit was leaking and had a sticking piston. With a new set of seals and gaskets, Steve worked his magic to get both units rebuilt and back on the car to begin setting them up to get this 1950s sports car running better than ever.

Once back on the car and going through visual checks, Steve discovered that the top of the piston in the front unit was not sitting central and causing it to stick and because of this will require replacement.

Press Release – The World’s Only 1905 Riley 9HP

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

May 2024

Historical Rarity: 1905 Riley 9hp, Believed to be Experimental Design, Offered for Sale

Bridge Classic Cars are offering collectors a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire a true piece of automotive history: a meticulously restored 1905 Riley 9hp, believed to be an experimental design from the pioneering days of British motoring.

This remarkable vehicle, believed to predate even the earliest prototypes of Rileyโ€™s first four-wheeled chassis, has been brought back to life following a painstaking four-year restoration by the Pettistree-based restorers. The 1905 Riley 9hp, registered as CW151, is a unique example of early British automotive engineering and innovation.

Originally discovered hidden on a farm, presumably for safekeeping during the destructive years of the World Wars, CW151 was nothing more than a collection of scattered car parts and metal debris. Undeterred by the challenge, the restoration team at Bridge Classic Cars started the painstaking process of bringing the unique vehicle back to life.

Geoff Haviland, representing the Riley Cars Archive Heritage Trust, has personally inspected the car and strongly believes it to be an experimental precursor predating even the prototypes of Rileyโ€™s first four-wheeled chassis. The chassis details, although similar to those of the 1907 production model, exhibit distinct variations such as a longer front end, unique door and seating configurations, and other subtle differences that suggest its experimental nature.

“This 1905 Riley 9hp is believed to be an experimental design, produced for the test programme of Rileyโ€™s first four-wheeled chassis,” explains Rob Harvey, Marketing Manager at Bridge Classic Cars โ€œThere arenโ€™t many times in life when you get the opportunity to be close to a vehicle that genuinely changed automotive history but, without this car, our cars would all likely be very different todayโ€

โ€œThree-wheeled cars (2 wheels at the front and 1 at the back) were the most popular of vehicles back when this was thought up. If it wasnโ€™t for Percy Riley building this mock-up to refine his design, who knows how long it would have been before four-wheels became the norm.โ€

โ€œAs sad as we will be to see this one-off car leave the workshop, Iโ€™m excited to think that it will end up in a special collection where it can be appreciated and admired as much as it deserves to be.โ€

This exceptionally rare vehicle, one of only four surviving examples of the Riley 9hp, and the only experimental model believed to exist, is now going up for sale in the hope it will find its way into a collection worthy of its historical significance.

The sale of this extraordinary 119-year-old vehicle presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for automotive enthusiasts and collectors to acquire a true piece of motoring history.

Key Highlights of the 1905 Riley 9hp (CW151) Include:

  • Meticulously restored by Bridge Classic Cars over four years
  • Hand-painted by renowned sign writer, Joby Carter
  • Restoration focused on preserving and reusing original components, with a high percentage of the vehicle being authentic
  • Comes with a professionally framed original roof and seat cover, adding to its historical authenticity

[End of Press Release]

Media Pack

For media inquiries, please contact:

Rob Harvey

Marketing Manager

rob@bridgeclassiccars.co.uk

01473 742038

www.bridgeclassiccars.co.uk

About Bridge Classic Cars:

 Bridge Classic Cars specialise in the restoration and maintenance of vintage and classic vehicles.

Established in 2004, a full in-house service is provided by a skilled and experienced team of technicians.

Built on a passion for classic cars, the team have restored rare and one-off vehicles in their state-of-the-art workshop.

In addition to their award-winning restorations, Bridge Classic Cars also encourages a new audience to join the world of classic car enthusiasts. With their successful competitions, everyone has the opportunity to win their dream classic car for just a few pounds.

Bridge Classic Cars has created a hub for the classic car enthusiast community and, with a growing audience and client base, they are making sure vintage and classic vehicles can be enjoyed and admired by future generations.

Press Release – Bridge Classic Cars Members’ Club

For Immediate Release

16th May 2024

Bridge Classic Cars Unveils Exclusive Members’ Club at Their

Brand New Venue – The Classic Lounge

Woodbridge, UK – May 2024 – Bridge Classic Cars is thrilled to announce the launch of the Bridge Classic Cars Members’ Club, an exclusive community for classic car enthusiasts across the UK. This exciting new venture is based out of the Pettistree-based brand-new facility, The Classic Lounge, located right next to the companyโ€™s award-winning restoration workshop.

The Classic Lounge: A Hub for Enthusiasts

The Classic Lounge is a bespoke venue designed exclusively for members. It offers a stylish and comfortable space for car lovers to gather, share their passion, and enjoy a host of exclusive events and activities.

Exclusive Events and Experiences

Members of the Bridge Classic Cars Members’ Club will have access to a curated calendar of unique experiences, including factory tours, wine tasting, live music, track days, and more. Some highlights of the 2024 calendar include:

  • July: A tour of Lotus Heritage and the Lotus factory, complete with lunch.
  • August: Live music from the 1940โ€™s trio, The Three Chordettes.
  • September: Webbs of Weybridge, The Classic Driving Experience at Brooklands Museum.
  • November: An overnight stay and a day at the Classic Car Show held at the NEC.
  • December: A very special Christmas party to bring the year to a memorable close.

Membership Perks

In addition to access to The Classic Lounge and exclusive events, members will enjoy a variety of benefits, including:

  • 20% discount on all purchases.
  • A thriving online and in-person community.
  • Exclusive members’ clothing.
  • An updated membership pack featuring a specially designed pin badge every year.

Join the Community

The Bridge Classic Cars Members’ Club is open to anyone in the UK with a love for cars. Membership provides a unique opportunity to immerse oneself in the classic car culture, meet like-minded individuals, and participate in unforgettable experiences.

About Bridge Classic Cars

Bridge Classic Cars is a leading name in the classic car restoration industry, known for our dedication to preserving automotive heritage and providing exceptional services to classic car owners. With the launch of the Bridge Classic Cars Members’ Club and The Classic Lounge, we continue to expand our community and enhance the classic car experience for enthusiasts across the UK.

For more information about membership and upcoming events, please visit our website at www.bridgeclassiccars.co.uk or contact us Lily by email – events@bridgeclassiccars.co.uk

Contact:

Rob Harvey
Marketing Manager
Bridge Classic Cars
rob@bridgeclassiccars.co.uk

01473 742038
www.bridgeclassiccars.co.uk

Rear Seats Installed in the 1985 Citroen CX25 GTi

The Bridge Classic Cars trim team have been working on finishing up the interior of our 1985 Citroen CX25 GTi.

Lydia has installed the recovered rear seats in place, and at the same time changed over the armrests and and centre console to match the rest of the interior in the correct fabric.

The Classic Lounge Launch Party – By Invite Only

We are delighted to announce the official launch of The Classic Lounge at Bridge Classic Cars, which also includes the launch of our brand new Members’ Club. This exclusive, invite-only event promises to be an evening of celebration, good company, and beautiful classic cars.

The night will begin with a champagne reception, and canapรฉs will be served throughout the night as we open the doors of The Classic Lounge for the very first time. There will also be live music from Miss Leeloo Saxophonist.


Some of the Bridge Classic Cars team will be there, keen to share this very special occasion with our esteemed guests. Among the attendees will be influential figures from the automotive world and beyond, as we bring our old friends and new together.

This event not only marks the launch of The Classic Lounge but also celebrates the beginning of the Bridge Classic Cars Members Club. Our members will enjoy a wide range of benefits and events designed to enhance their passion for classic cars.

We look forward to welcoming you to an evening of celebration, friendship, and shared success.