October 4, 2024

Ford Thunderbird in need of some TLC

Welcome to Bridge Classic Cars! Our latest arrival is our 2002 Ford Thunderbird very much in need of some TLC. The car has been in dry storage for some time now and has made it’s way into our possession from the storage company. What do you think?

The Ford Thunderbird was manufactured and marketed by the Ford Motor Company as a personal luxury car from model years 1955 to 2005 (with a 1998โ€“2001 hiatus), across 11 generations.

This model being from the 11th generation, the styling reverted to its original two-passenger personal convertible configuration. The eleventh-generation Thunderbird uses the Ford DEW platform also used by the Lincoln LS sedan (and the Jaguar S-Type); the Ford Mustang is loosely based on it.

With sales dropping significantly after its first model year, Ford discontinued the eleventh-generation Thunderbird after the 2005 model year; the final vehicle was manufactured on July 1, 2005.

From its introduction in 1955 to its final phaseout in 2005, Ford produced over 4.4 million Thunderbirds.

Torque Show – October 4th 2024

The Bridge Classic Cars team have been at it again! After another jam packed week they sit down to go through everything that’s been going on at the Suffolk HQ.

They talk through synthetic fuels after our visit from Jake at P1 Fuels, our love of Aston Martins as well as a sneak peek at our latest episode covering the restoration of our 1953 Aston Martin DB2/4 barn find and then, they sit down with our in-house photographer/videographer Nick to have a chat about what goes on behind the cameras here at Bridge Classic Cars.


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Kia UK to Unveil Unique ‘Restomod’ for 80th Anniversary at Bicester Heritage

On Sunday (6th October), Kia UK is going to reveal a very special vehicle as part of the celebrations marking the brandโ€™s 80th anniversary. The exclusive ‘restomod’ – a restored and modified car – will debut at the Bicester Heritage ‘Scramble’ event.

This one-of-a-kind vehicle has been created from a donor vehicle taken from Kia’s UK heritage fleet. Though details about the specific car remain an inside secret, it is said to offer a power-to-weight ratio reminiscent of popular hot hatches from the 1970s and 1980s. The focus of the redesign has been on enhancing the driving experience and creating a modern yet nostalgic feel.

This is the third custom vehicle Kia UK has built in recent years. It follows the track-focused Stinger โ€˜GT420โ€™ in 2019 and the Soul EV beach buggy. The Stinger ‘GT420’ was a heavily tuned-up version of Kia’s grand tourer, with modifications aimed at transforming it into a high-performance track car. The Soul EV beach buggy was aimed at a completely different audience with its rugged setup making it perfect for surfers. It even had a custom surfboard rack, wooden-decked interior, โ€˜rally raidโ€™ style elevated suspension, and chunky tyres.

The new restomod will continue this trend of creativity, innovation, and unique car design.


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Vauxhall Begins UK Trials of Hydrogen-Powered Vivaro Van

Vauxhall has started UK customer trials for its hydrogen-powered van, the Vivaro HYDROGEN. Over the next few months, a range of companies, including those with some of the largest fleets in the country, will be involved in these trials. This is all in preparation for the launch of the Movano HYDROGEN, which will be Vauxhall’s largest light commercial vehicle, in 2025.

The Vivaro HYDROGEN is new to the UK but it’s already available in left-hand drive markets under Vauxhall’s sister brand – Opel. This means that it is the first commercially produced hydrogen-powered van available for sale.


Hydrogen Power

The Vivaro HYDROGEN is based on Vauxhall’s all-electric Vivaro Electric, but with a hydrogen fuel cell system. It has a 45kW fuel cell and a 10.5kWh lithium-ion battery giving it a driving range of 249 miles (WLTP standard). Its hydrogen fuel tanks, which are located under the floor, can be refilled in just five minutes, which isn’t too dissimilar to the time needed to refuel traditional petrol or diesel vehicles.

The 10.5kWh battery has some added benefits too, such as providing extra power during acceleration and when starting the vehicle. It also allows the fuel cell to run at optimal conditions and enables regenerative braking, which means that the braking energy is converted back into electricity to recharge the battery.

Just in case hydrogen refuelling stations are hard to come by, the van also has a plug-in feature, which gives a range of up to 31 miles of pure electric driving.


Space and Functionality

As the Vivaro HYDROGEN has an advanced hydrogen system, you wouldn’t be blamed for thinking this has an impact on space. However, it actually offers up to 6.1 cubic metres of cargo volume and a maximum payload of 1,000 kg. This matches its combustion engine counterparts pretty much exactly.


โ€œAs the UKโ€™s best-selling electric van manufacturer for the past three years, we are already leading the way in electrifying Britainโ€™s businesses. With a 311-mile range, zero-emissions-in-use and quick refuelling, the Movano HYDROGEN will provide fleets with another sustainable option alongside our full line-up of battery electric vans. I look forward to hearing feedback from fleet operators taking part in the trial ahead of the commercial launch of Movano HYDROGEN later this year.โ€

James Taylor, Managing Director, Vauxhall

Movano HYDROGEN

Following the Vivaro trials, Vauxhall will be launching the Movano HYDROGEN in 2025. This will be its largest hydrogen-powered light commercial vehicle with the order books opening later this year. This will have an even greater range of up to 311 miles (WLTP) and the same quick refuelling time of under five minutes.

The Movano HYDROGEN will also feature a 110kW (150hp) electric motor and 410 Newton metres of torque. Like the Vivaro, it will also come with a lithium-ion battery for additional power during starts and acceleration, as well as the ability to recapture braking energy.

The Future of Hydrogen Power

The UK trial of a hydrogen-powered van is a good indication that Vauxhall is doing its bit to help grow the hydrogen vehicle market.

The Vivaro HYDROGEN and the Movano HYDROGEN could significantly reduce carbon emissions and, as their performance is comparable to traditional vehicles, there is a real chance that these two vans could help shape the future of commercial transport.

Vauxhall-Opel and its parent company Stellantis have over 20 years of expertise in hydrogen fuel cell technology. To further support hydrogen adoption, Vauxhall teamed up with UK-based company Ryze Hydrogen earlier this year with the aim of creating hydrogen refuelling infrastructure for fleet operators, enabling businesses to power their hydrogen vehicles either at on-site refuelling stations or dedicated facilities.


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