July 31, 2024

Fiat 500 Engine

Jonn has been stripping the engine of our 1963 Fiat 500. When looking to fit a new starter motor, Jonn found that a suspected missing

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More Competition Cars

Following a successful trip to an auction recently, four more future competition cars have arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop. Once they have been

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The Classic Lounge – Available For Work

Over the last couple of weeks, The Classic Lounge has been used by several individuals and businesses as a place to hold meetings, team events, and customer-hosting events.

If you are a Member of the Bridge Classic Cars Members Club, you can have access to The Classic Lounge for this type of event.

The Classic Lounge is available to hire for non-members too so if you are looking for a very cool location for a meeting where you’ll be surrounded by classic cars and have access to a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks as well as teas, coffee, and more – send me an email (rob@bridgeclassiccars.co.uk).

MGA In Paint

Our 1960 MGA has been in the paint shop with Chris. The holes have been welded and the panel has been painted.

Aston Martin Suspension

Rob has been assembling the front suspension stub axle cross member along with the rear axle of our 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Drophead Coupe.

GT6 Wheel Bearings

The left-hand rear drive shaft of our 1972 Triumph GT6 has been removed by technician Rob as the wheel bearing has collapsed. He needed to strip the drive shaft to reveal the total damage.

Rover P5 Welding And Rust Repairs

Christian has been completing some welding repairs on our 1973 Rover P5 Coupe before investigating some rust issues.

Paintshop manager Chris then applied schutz undercoat to the underside of the car.

Jensen Window Regulators

New window regulators have been fitted on our 1956 Jensen 541. Before they were fitted though, Paul had to modify the new regulators and the doors to ensure the perfect fit.

DB5 Running Issues

Classic car technician Jonn has been looking at our 1965 Aston Martin DB5 to find out why it is running poorly. Here are his notes:

Raise on ramp and check underneath for anything obvious regarding reported knock from rear. Found nothing of note at this point. Remove, clean and regap spark plugs. Lower to ground and run up to temp. Car w9nt idle even when warm. Strip and remove carburettor suction Chambers and pistons. Thoroughly clean and refit. Run up and car idles now. Put new fuel in 10ltrs. Carry out road test. Car better but under heavy acceleration it coughs occasionally. This maybe to do with extreme under bonnet temperature as its awful hot ambient temp today. Adjust cold start throttle stops and mixture. Lower idle speed. Carry out further road test, seems better now. Bounce Car rear end as I heard a knock when road testing. Found nearside rear shock unit linkage worn and has play when wheels on the ground. Requires new linkage.

Austin A40 Transport

Tony has recently transported our barn find 1952 Austin A40 from our storage facility to the Bridge Classic Cars workshop.

Tuning Our 914

Jonn has been working on our 1973 Porsche 914, in preparation for it to go live on Bridge Classic Cars very soon. Here are his notes:

Strip and fit new spark plugs. I dropped one plug inside engine covers so had to remove cover to retrieve plug. Refit covers and fit ht leads. Run and warm up. Set carbs at an equal setting for both and tune accordingly. Carry out road test. Recheck and adjust ignition timing. Reset carbs and balance all 4 chokes to approx 6 kg/hrs. Adjust air screws and set idle speed.

Fiat 500 Engine

Jonn has been stripping the engine of our 1963 Fiat 500.

When looking to fit a new starter motor, Jonn found that a suspected missing bolt was actually only half missing! The remainder of the bolt had broken off in the block.

He went on to strip the engine – removing the head and barrels, studs, sump, and pistons.

The crank journals and big ends were checked before Jonn went on to remove the flywheel, which he thoroughly cleaned in the degreasing tank.

More Competition Cars

Following a successful trip to an auction recently, four more future competition cars have arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop.

Once they have been thoroughly assessed by the workshop team, they will be added to our growing collection of classic cars waiting to be won by someone for just a few pounds.

1959 Ford Zephyr


1974 Triumph TR6


1978 MG Midget


1973 MGB Roadster


A Big Delivery


One response to “More Competition Cars”

  1. David Wilson avatar
    David Wilson

    Triumph 2000/2.5, my second favourite car after my Capri โค๏ธ

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A Triumph 2500S Arrives

We have had quite a few new arrivals to the Bridge Classic Cars workshop recently. One of those is our 1976 Triumph 2500S.

Finished in yellow, it’s certainly an eye-catching car and one that stands out in the workshop.

Recaro Files for Insolvency

Recaro Automotive GmbH, based in Kirchheim unter Teck, has filed for insolvency. This decision was driven by several financial challenges, including steep price increases over recent years and the loss of a significant contract. These issues, combined with legacy products and a dip in vehicle purchases in the region, have put a strain on the company.


What Led to This?

Recaro faced extreme price increases and lost a major contract, which severely impacted their finances. Additionally, older product lines and declining vehicle sales in the region hampered their ability to develop new products.

Current Status

On July 29, 2024, the Local Court of Esslingen approved preliminary self-administration for Recaro. Attorney Holger Blรผmle from Schultze & Braun has been appointed as the preliminary custodian, while Baker Tilly, an international consulting firm, is offering legal guidance.

Impact on Employees

Insolvency payments will ensure that employees continue to receive their wages and salaries. On Tuesday morning, a town hall meeting was held with employees, the trade union, the works council, and local politicians to discuss the situation. The company plans to keep full production going during the insolvency process to meet all current orders and respond to new customer inquiries.

Support and Future Plans

Shareholders have emphasised Recaroโ€™s importance to the region and pledged their support for restructuring efforts. The insolvency proceedings are confined to Recaro Automotive GmbH and do not affect any other companies in the group.

Recaro aims to strengthen its local and global position through this process, under judicial supervision and with Baker Tillyโ€™s support. By collaborating with employees, suppliers, and customers, and leveraging an insolvency plan under German law, Recaro expects to stabilise and regain solid ground in the near future.

Recaroโ€™s Legacy

Recaro is known for its commitment to quality, innovation, safety, and comfort. With over sixty years of experience in high-quality German engineering, the company employs more than 200 people.

About Recaro’s Advisors

Baker Tilly, with 41,000 employees in 145 countries, offers a wide range of consulting services. Their auditors, lawyers, tax advisors, and management consultants work together to provide tailored solutions for their clients.

Schultze & Braun is an interdisciplinary firm of lawyers and tax advisors in Germany, with over 500 specialised staff across more than 30 locations in Europe.


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