Let’s get plastered…
November 30, 2022
Thanks to Joe from F&S Plastering for plastering our new office space. We are now looking forward to our new, larger space in the coming
Craig Ranson
Managing Director – Bridge Classic Cars
1988 Jaguar XJS Convertible in for a service
November 30, 2022
Arriving earlier this week, our beautiful 1988 Jaguar XJS Convertible is in with us for a general check over underneath but more importantly it’s service
Diagnosing An Electrical Fault
November 29, 2022
Classic car technician Steve has been looking after our 1975 MGB GT V8 since it first arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop. After completing
Interior Work – 1959 Jensen 541R
November 29, 2022
The body of our 1959 Jensen 541R has undergone lots of restoration work recently. With classic car technician Rob modifying the front chassis, welding, and
Starting Work On Our 1971 Jensen FF MKII
November 29, 2022
Our 1971 Jensen FF MKII hasn’t been in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop very long but it has already had classic car technician Jon’s attention
Investing in the future at Bridge Classic Cars
November 28, 2022
Here at Bridge Classic Cars we very much believe in investing in the future and investing in new people to make that future happen. A
Investigating Exhaust Blow – 1972 Jaguar E-Type V12 Series 3
November 28, 2022
Classic car technician Jon has been investigating the exhaust blow (blowing noise) on our 1972 Jaguar E-Type V12 Series 3. From listening to it, Jon
Repaired, Painted, And Looking Good
November 28, 2022
Our 1998 Mercedes E240 has recently undergone some repair and paintwork. Now that this classic car has some new paint, it is looking much better
Being Put Back Together
November 28, 2022
Our 1986 Daimler DS420 has been going through the process of being put back together after recently getting a new coat of paint. The doors
Nearly There – 1978 MGB GT
November 28, 2022
Classic car technician Rob has been looking at our 1978 MGB GT. As this car is getting very close to being ready to leave us,
1964 Rover P5 Coupe – The Assessment Begins
November 28, 2022
As it recently arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop, our 1964 Rover P5 Coupe needs to undergo a thorough inspection and assessment from our
Trial Fitting Bodywork – 1905 Riley 9HP
November 28, 2022
Our 1905 Riley 9HP has been going through a big transformation over the last few weeks. A big step towards this ultra-rare car looking more
Entry Is Now Open – 2005 Aston Martin DB9
November 25, 2022
Our 2005 Aston Martin DB9 is now live on the Bridge Classic Cars Competitions website. This was Bridge Classic Cars Director, Craig’s personal car and
Ready To Be Won
November 24, 2022
Our 2005 Chrysler Crossfire is ready for someone to win in the latest draw over at Bridge Classic Cars Competitions. Before a new owner is
Just Arrived – 1967 MGB GT
November 24, 2022
The latest addition to the Bridge Classic Cars workshop is our 1967 MGB GT. It has come to us for an appraisal and possible further
Just Arrived – 1964 Rover P5 Coupe
November 22, 2022
Another new arrival has made its way to the Bridge Classic Cars workshop. The latest addition to the collection is our 1964 Rover P5 3-litre
Entry Is Now Open – 1991 Maserati Bi-Turbo Spyder E
November 22, 2022
Our very special 1991 Maserati Bi-Turbo Spyder E is now live on the Bridge Classic Cars Competitions website. This car was formerly owned by the
Just Arrived – 1971 Jensen FF MKII
November 22, 2022
Another rare car has recently arrived at Bridge Classic Cars in the form of our 1971 Jensen FF MKII. With only 320 of these beautiful
Jensen 54R1 Modifications
November 22, 2022
Classic car technician Rob has, once again, been working hard on our 1959 Jensen 541R. Rob modified the front chassis of this classic car to
New Rear Panels
November 22, 2022
Classic car technicians Monty and Christian have continued their work on our 1975 Jensen Interceptor MK3. After new front panels were fitted their attention turned
Paint Repairs – 1998 Mercedes E240
November 22, 2022
Our 1998 Mercedes E240 has been in the Bridge Classic Cars paint shop with classic car technician Mauro recently. Mauro stripped parts of the car
A Leaking Steering Rack
November 22, 2022
The steering rack of our 1976 Aston Martin AMV8 is leaking and needs to be rebuilt! To rectify the issue, we have securely packaged it
New Year’s Car Rally
November 22, 2022
The New Year’s Car Rally was a great success! Read our thoughts on it here. Here are some of the highlights: Welcome in the New
Assessment Of Our 1975 MGB GT V8
November 22, 2022
Our 1975 MGB GT V8 has been undergoing its initial checks and assessment by classic car technician Steve. When any classic vehicle arrives at the
1986 Daimler DS420 – Prep And Paint
November 21, 2022
Our 1986 Daimler DS420 has had a new coat of paint! Before its final coat could be applied though, the entire car and its components
Work Continues – 1977 Triumph Spitfire
November 21, 2022
Classic car technician Jon has once again been investigating the running issues facing our 1977 Triumph Spitfire. After his initial investigations and subsequent work with
New Clutch Pedal – 1969 Morris Minor 1000 Convertible
November 21, 2022
When it comes to classic cars, like our 1969 Morris Minor 1000 Convertible, there are a wide range of components that have to fit perfectly
Repairing The Floor – 1976 Aston Martin AMV8
November 21, 2022
Classic car technician Scott has had his work cut out with our 1976 Aston Martin AMV8. After his investigation and prep work on this attention-grabbing
1954 Jaguar MKVII – The Restoration Continues
November 21, 2022
The restoration of our 1954 Jaguar MKVII has continued recently with quite a bit of work being completed by classic car technician Dave. After the
Saying Goodbye (Again) – 1972 Chevron B20
November 21, 2022
It doesn’t seem that long ago that we first said goodbye to our 1972 Chevron B20. There was a mix of emotions felt when it
Let’s get plastered…
November 30, 2022
Thanks to Joe from F&S Plastering for plastering our new office space. We are now looking forward to our new, larger space in the coming weeks.
1988 Jaguar XJS Convertible in for a service
November 30, 2022
Arriving earlier this week, our beautiful 1988 Jaguar XJS Convertible is in with us for a general check over underneath but more importantly it’s service is due.
The car has been undersealed so the owner is interested to see the integrity of the sealant and whether any additional work is required.
The car will also undergo a full service with an overhaul of the brake fluid too.
Diagnosing An Electrical Fault
November 29, 2022
Classic car technician Steve has been looking after our 1975 MGB GT V8 since it first arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop.
After completing his initial assessment of the car, and resolving some of the issues he found, Steve has been working to diagnose an electrical fault with the high beam.
Steve’s investigations ultimately led him to trace the fault back to dirty contacts on a light switch. These contacts have now been cleaned and checked and the fault looks to have been resolved.
Despite sounding like a relatively small job in comparison to a full restoration, it’s jobs like this that end up making a huge difference to the overall finish and drivability of the classic cars we work on here at Bridge Classic Cars.
Our 1975 MGB GT V8 will go on to be a competition car at Bridge Classic Cars Competitions and we are excited for a new owner to be found for this beautiful classic car, so keep an eye on the competition’s website if you want to win it for yourself.
Interior Work – 1959 Jensen 541R
November 29, 2022
The body of our 1959 Jensen 541R has undergone lots of restoration work recently. With classic car technician Rob modifying the front chassis, welding, and rebuilding various parts of this rare classic car, it has certainly made lots of progress on its restoration journey.
As work continues on the external elements of the car, classic car technician Brian has turned his attention to the interior. In particular, Brian has been working on the seats that will eventually help make the inside of our 541R as impressive as the outside.
Brian’s work started by cleaning the old foam and glue from the front seat frames. He could then fit the new foam into the front seat base tubs. Foam was fitted to the front edges and the inner rear edges before the front squab seat side foams were cut and glued in place.
The centre foams were also cut, fitted, and glued into place before the centre pad foams and wadding were added to the side foams. New backboards and new base foams were also cut.
Brian went on to cut and glue the front edge foams and trimmed them to shape. The wood for the seat base frame was also cut to the right size.
Our 1959 Jensen 541R is a very rare car. We have restored many Jensens in our workshop and we definitely enjoy seeing cars like this one get better and better the longer they are with us.
Starting Work On Our 1971 Jensen FF MKII
November 29, 2022
Our 1971 Jensen FF MKII hasn’t been in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop very long but it has already had classic car technician Jon’s attention this week.
The first thing he wanted to do was to get the engine up and running. As Jon was working on making this happen, he discovered that the battery was flat and the starter motor was no longer in working order.
The battery was charged and the old starter motor was removed with a new one being installed in its place.
Once the new starter motor was installed, Jon modified the 4×4 front prop mount to clear the starter. Once this was done, he was able to reassemble everything.
When Jon removed the spark plugs of this rare classic car, it was obvious that they had not been changed for a while. New spark plugs were installed so this should certainly help our Jensen FF get back onto the road.
Another issue noted was that the driver’s door was not closing properly. Jon also managed to resolve this issue by making new spacers for the striker that he fitted and adjusted to make everything fit nicely.
We may not have had our 1971 Jensen FF MKII with us for very long but Jon has already investigated, assessed, and resolved some of the issues identified.
Only 320 Jensen FFs were made and only 110 MKII versions like this were produced. With so few being in existence, it’s really important that we keep as many on the road as possible. Everyone at Bridge Classic Cars enjoys working on rare vehicles and we are certainly excited to have a car as rare (and as beautiful) as this in our workshop.
Work will continue on our 1971 Jensen FF and we look forward to seeing what the future holds for it.
Investing in the future at Bridge Classic Cars
November 28, 2022
Here at Bridge Classic Cars we very much believe in investing in the future and investing in new people to make that future happen.
A little over a month ago, Lily joined the team to help launch our newest project which is already starting to take shape. These ideas will help build the landscape of Bridge Classic Cars in 2023.
In order for the fresh new minds to work, we needed to create fresh, new space for it to all happen in so here we have our latest office space. A extension on what is already the marketing office here at Bridge, the space will now be twice the size and open planned for many minds to work together!
Or to chat more and share snacks…
Ollie from OJHurd Carpentry pulled in some long nights for us to get this built in just 4 days.
With the electrics now in, all we need now is the new window openings, the plastering, the decorating and voila…our events hub will be here!
We are very much looking forward to all of the new and amazing events being thought up in our new space. Freddie is already wanting the extension of his office to have plants and water features but we think a couple of desks and a cabinet will be just as good!
We won’t give away too much for what we have coming up next year but more information will follow very soon indeed!
Investigating Exhaust Blow – 1972 Jaguar E-Type V12 Series 3
November 28, 2022
Classic car technician Jon has been investigating the exhaust blow (blowing noise) on our 1972 Jaguar E-Type V12 Series 3. From listening to it, Jon believed that the issue seemed to be coming from the offside bank of the exhaust manifold.
To confirm his suspicions, Jon had to strip and investigate this area of the car.
After a bit of work, Jon was able to gain access to properly investigate. He found that the front manifold of this classic car was cracked and was causing the blowing noise coming from the exhaust.
The front manifold was removed and was found to be in need of replacement. While Jon was waiting for the new part to arrive, and while he had access to it, he removed the rear manifold too in order to check it was in better condition than the front.
Jon went on to clean all the parts and mating surfaces ready for the new parts to be fitted. Once the new parts have arrived and have been put into the car, Jon is hopeful that the exhaust blow would have been resolved.
Work will continue on this beautiful Jaguar E-Type to make sure it is soon ready to leave the Bridge Classic Cars workshop and be returned to its owner. We know that once it’s back out on the road, it will be extremely enjoyable to drive and experience.
Repaired, Painted, And Looking Good
November 28, 2022
Our 1998 Mercedes E240 has recently undergone some repair and paintwork.
Now that this classic car has some new paint, it is looking much better than it did when it first arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop and classic car technician Mauro has been putting things back together to get the car ready to move on to the next stage of its stay with us.
Our 1998 Mercedes E240 will eventually be put up for sale. It’s a beautiful car and will make a great addition to someone’s garage in the future.
For now though, we will enjoy admiring it in the workshop.
Being Put Back Together
November 28, 2022
Our 1986 Daimler DS420 has been going through the process of being put back together after recently getting a new coat of paint.
The doors of this large classic car have been reattached and the new paintwork is looking good!
Since it first arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop, our 1986 Daimler DS420 has undergone lots of restoration work and it now looks very different to how it did when it first arrived.
While its time in the paint shop might be getting closer to coming to an end, there’s still more work to be done on our DS420. Our expert team of classic car technicians will continue working on this classic limousine until it is ready to leave us and get back out on the road.
In the meantime though, the below photos show the new paintwork and the current state of this classic car.
Nearly There – 1978 MGB GT
November 28, 2022
Classic car technician Rob has been looking at our 1978 MGB GT. As this car is getting very close to being ready to leave us, he has been double-checking that everything is working exactly as it should.
While there is still some work needing to be done on this eye-catching classic car (the sunroof being the main one), it is clear to see that it won’t be too much longer before it drives out of our workshop and back to its owner.
The workshop team here at Bridge Classic Cars have put a lot of time and effort into bringing this classic car back to life. It has recently been started and, like Rob has been doing recently, checks will continue to be done until everyone is satisfied it is good to go.
We love a classic MG so we always love having them come into the workshop. However, it is equally as exciting to see a fully restored MG as beautiful as this one leave us and move on to the next chapter of its life on the road.
Our 1978 MGB GT might not be quite ready to leave us just yet but, once the sunroof is installed by classic car technician Brian, and Rob has finished his checks, we will have to say goodbye to this beautiful classic car. Until then though, we will continue to enjoy having it with us.
1964 Rover P5 Coupe – The Assessment Begins
November 28, 2022
As it recently arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop, our 1964 Rover P5 Coupe needs to undergo a thorough inspection and assessment from our experienced team of classic car technicians.
Paul has begun his initial assessment of this beautiful classic car as preparations begin for it to be offered as a competition car through Bridge Classic Cars Competitions.
Our 1964 Rover P5 Coupe impressed Paul as, from first impressions, it looks to be in good shape. However, Paul did notice that, despite the car being well cared for and maintained, it appears that one of the brake shoes was fitted incorrectly.
This has now been resolved and the inspection and assessment of our 1964 Rover P5 will continue until Paul and the rest of the workshop team are completely satisfied that it is ready for someone to win.
Trial Fitting Bodywork – 1905 Riley 9HP
November 28, 2022
Our 1905 Riley 9HP has been going through a big transformation over the last few weeks. A big step towards this ultra-rare car looking more like it should was when the wheels were fitted. This was a great opportunity to see much more clearly how our finished Riley will hopefully look.
However, classic car technician Dave has been taking our 9HP through an even bigger stage of its transformation and restoration by trial-fitting the wooden bodywork.
This was the first time in a very long time that the bodywork and chassis were together in what is likely to be their final configuration.
While it’s still not the right time for everything to be secured into place, this trial-fitting gave everyone here at Bridge Classic Cars a clear view of how special this car truly is.
Even Dave couldn’t help himself and had to take a seat in the car he has been working so hard to bring back to life.
Obviously, there is still a long way to go before our 1905 Riley 9HP is ready to leave us, but it certainly won’t be too much longer before the sound of the engine is heard throughout the workshop.
Starting the engine for the first time in decades will be an extremely special moment and it is one we are very much looking forward to.
The photos below show just how much of an impact having the bodywork on the chassis has on the car. A huge amount of work has gone into the project to get it to this stage and it is always rewarding to see it make big steps towards its finished state.
Entry Is Now Open – 2005 Aston Martin DB9
November 25, 2022
Our 2005 Aston Martin DB9 is now live on the Bridge Classic Cars Competitions website.
This was Bridge Classic Cars Director, Craig’s personal car and it is a beautiful example of the DB9.
It has recently gone through a pre-delivery inspection with our experienced team of classic car technicians and it is now ready to be won by its new owner.
All the details you need can be found here.
Ready To Be Won
November 24, 2022
Our 2005 Chrysler Crossfire is ready for someone to win in the latest draw over at Bridge Classic Cars Competitions.
Before a new owner is found, there were some small areas of the car that our team of classic car technicians wanted to work on.
After Brian replaced the headliner in our Crossfire, classic car technician Alan repaired and painted the spoiler and this is now working exactly as it should and looking good doing it too.
While Alan was working on our 2005 Chrysler Crossfire, he noticed that there was some flakey paint on the windscreen frame. This was primed, painted, and fully resolved.
Our 2005 Chrysler Crossfire is now ready for a new owner to be found so make sure you get your tickets now to be in with a chance of winning it.
Just Arrived – 1967 MGB GT
November 24, 2022
The latest addition to the Bridge Classic Cars workshop is our 1967 MGB GT.
It has come to us for an appraisal and possible further work depending on what our team of classic car technicians find during their assessment.
Everyone here loves a classic MG and this one will certainly get its fair share of attention while it is with us.
Once an initial assessment has been completed, a detailed plan of action for the future of this beautiful classic car will be made.
Just Arrived – 1964 Rover P5 Coupe
November 22, 2022
Another new arrival has made its way to the Bridge Classic Cars workshop. The latest addition to the collection is our 1964 Rover P5 3-litre Coupe.
It will soon undergo a thorough inspection and assessment by our classic car technicians before it can move on to the next stage of its journey.
The current plan is for this to be a competition car over at Bridge Classic Cars Competitions so, if you like the look of this impressive classic car, keep an eye on the competitions website for your chance to win it.
Entry Is Now Open – 1991 Maserati Bi-Turbo Spyder E
November 22, 2022
Our very special 1991 Maserati Bi-Turbo Spyder E is now live on the Bridge Classic Cars Competitions website.
This car was formerly owned by the late Robert Furniss Riding and was part of his collection sold at auction that raised more than £1 million for the RNLI.
Entry is now open so you can get your tickets for this beautiful classic car for just £5.
At this low price and with a story like this car has, tickets are unlikely to be available for long.
Just Arrived – 1971 Jensen FF MKII
November 22, 2022
Another rare car has recently arrived at Bridge Classic Cars in the form of our 1971 Jensen FF MKII. With only 320 of these beautiful classic cars being made, we are very excited to have one in our workshop.
After not being used for a while, the car is experiencing some issues that we will be looking to resolve.
While our 1971 Jensen FF MKII is with us, we will be replacing the original ignition with an electronic kit, replacing all spark plugs, investigating a suspected hole in the fuel tank, overhauling the cooling system, looking at some of the switches on the front console, and other investigative tasks too.
The FF (Ferguson Formula) is a rare four-wheel-drive variant of the Jensen Interceptor. At the time of its release, the FF cost around 30% more than the Interceptor and was owned by those who wanted more luxury from their car. Jensen only made the FF with an automatic gearbox to further increase the feeling of comfort and luxury the car provided its driver.
This is a beautiful example of a very rare classic car and we look forward to seeing it progress through its restoration journey with us.
Jensen 54R1 Modifications
November 22, 2022
Classic car technician Rob has, once again, been working hard on our 1959 Jensen 541R.
Rob modified the front chassis of this classic car to fit the chassis cross-member. Making sure everything fits together perfectly is extremely important so, sometimes, modifications need to be made in order to get cars like this back on the road again.
Once the modifications to the chassis had been complete, Rob went on to repair the skin fitted on the right-hand door. Once this had been repaired, he was able to fit the door onto the car. He then fitted the right-hand door skin and door too.
Rob needed to make some additional modifications to the bonnet hinges as well. He made some alloy spacers which helped him fit the bonnet to this rare 541R.
The modifications weren’t quite complete just yet though, as Rob had to also modify the boot lid to ensure it fit the car perfectly.
This type of work, where our classic car technicians have to handcraft and modify components in their restoration work, shows how skilled our workshop team is. Technicians like Rob are able to complete this type of work only because they have years of experience to call upon and they are well-equipped to restore a rare car like this from the ground up.
Classic car technician Rob will continue his work on our 1959 Jensen 541R and we are very excited to see it continue to make progress through its restoration journey. Seeing classic cars like this evolve from an empty chassis to the final product that drives out of the workshop is an exciting process to see.
We are looking forward to seeing the rest of the Jensen restoration journey take place and we hope to see this beautiful classic car back with its owner and on the road in the future.
New Rear Panels
November 22, 2022
Classic car technicians Monty and Christian have continued their work on our 1975 Jensen Interceptor MK3.
After new front panels were fitted their attention turned to the rear of the car. Monty and Christian removed the rear quarter before fitting new panels in its place. Some of the new panel pieces needed to be made by the two technicians to ensure they fit perfectly onto the car.
To make sure everything was installed correctly, Monty referred to photographs taken of the car during the old panel removal process. He was then able to double-check everything he was doing as the new panels were installed.
Our 1975 Jensen Interceptor MK3 continues to make progress towards how it will eventually look when it is fully restored. It has already come a long way since it first arrived with us here at Bridge Classic Cars and, as work continues, it will become an even more eye-catching classic car.
Paint Repairs – 1998 Mercedes E240
November 22, 2022
Our 1998 Mercedes E240 has been in the Bridge Classic Cars paint shop with classic car technician Mauro recently.
Mauro stripped parts of the car down in preparation for paint repairs to be completed. As you can see from the photos below, the main area of focus was on the off-side rear door.
Once Mauro had stripped the door and appropriately prepped it, the paint repairs could be done.
Our 1998 Mercedes E240 already has an improved look since it first arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop and we are looking forward to seeing the finished product very soon.
A Leaking Steering Rack
November 22, 2022
The steering rack of our 1976 Aston Martin AMV8 is leaking and needs to be rebuilt!
To rectify the issue, we have securely packaged it up and have sent it off to our steering rack specialist who will be able to find the cause of the leak and fix it ready for us to reinstall the steering rack back into the car.
As experienced and highly skilled as our classic car technicians are, sometimes we call on our friends to assist in some of the restoration work we do here at Bridge Classic Cars. We have a large network of contacts who specialise in various areas of the automotive industry.
As a result, we are confident that the steering rack of our 1976 Aston Martin AMV8 will be back with us very soon and the car will be one step closer to getting back out onto the road with its owner.
The photos below show the steering rack being packaged and ready to be sent to our steering rack specialist.
New Year’s Car Rally
November 22, 2022
The New Year’s Car Rally was a great success! Read our thoughts on it here.
Here are some of the highlights:
Welcome in the New Year with Bridge Classic Cars.
You are invited to our New Year’s car meet and rally.
We will be meeting at the Bridge Classic Cars workshops for a 9am start where snacks and hot drinks will be available.
Bridge Classic Cars, The Nursery, Main Road, Pettistree, Woodbridge, IP13 0HH.
Then at 10:30am, the rally will begin as we travel, in convoy, through the Suffolk countryside.
We will arrive at Friday Street Kitchen for a quick pit stop!
From there, we continue en-route to our final stop at The White Hart in Blythburgh for a traditional Sunday lunch. Number’s at the restaurant are limited so please ensure you book with us below to avoid disappointment.
If you just want to join us for the meet at our premises that’s perfectly fine too.
And don’t be put off by the unpredictable January weather, all cars are welcome!
Have a look at our upcoming competitions, take in our brand new bar and browse through our Bridge Classic Cars workshops. We will be on hand to give you a warm welcome.
The route will be a scenic route via the country roads and will take approximately 45 minutes to an hour.
If you are planning on attending our New Year’s Car Rally, please register your interest on the form below so we know how many people (and cars) we will be expecting. You can book a meet and rally ticket only or one that includes a lunch booking.
Reserve Your Place
Assessment Of Our 1975 MGB GT V8
November 22, 2022
Our 1975 MGB GT V8 has been undergoing its initial checks and assessment by classic car technician Steve.
When any classic vehicle arrives at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop, it is thoroughly inspected and assessed to identify any restoration work that may need to be carried out before the car is ready to move on through its restoration journey, back to its owner, or over to Bridge Classic Cars Competitions for someone to win.
Some of the tasks that were completed to make sure everything is as it should be on this beautiful classic car include Steve checking and cleaning the rear brakes as well as cleaning the sump and engine gasket surfaces before reassembling them.
While Steve was working on our 1975 MGB GT V8, he noticed that there appeared to be coolant leaking from the car. To find the cause of the leak, he removed the inlet manifold and water pump rear housing. Once these were removed, Steve was able to identify that there were actually two leaks – one coming from the inlet manifold gasket and the other from the steel heater pipe under the manifold.
Steve’s inspection and assessment of our MGB GT V8 will continue until he is completely satisfied that the car is ready to move on to the next chapter of its story.
If you can see yourself as the new owner of our 1975 MGB GT V8, then keep an eye on the Bridge Classic Cars Competitions website as, at some point in the near future, it will be one of the impressive classic vehicles you can win for yourself.
In the meantime though, it will continue its stay in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop while Steve and the rest of the workshop team continue making sure it drives as good as it looks!
1986 Daimler DS420 – Prep And Paint
November 21, 2022
Our 1986 Daimler DS420 has had a new coat of paint!
Before its final coat could be applied though, the entire car and its components needed to have primer applied,
Some of the parts of this classic car had to be removed and prepped separately from the rest of the vehicle. These were painted on both their interior and external surfaces while they were detached from the main body of the car.
The car itself was also prepped for painting. It was masked up before getting its final coat of paint applied.
To make sure our 1986 Daimler DS420 looks its very best, classic car technician Chris polished the newly painted doors. As you can see from the progress photos below, this makes a big difference to the overall final look of the doors.
Now that our DS420 has been painted, it looks very different to how it did when it first arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop all the way from the United States of America. There is still a good amount of restoration work needing to be done but progress is certainly being made and this classic car continues to get better and better.
Work Continues – 1977 Triumph Spitfire
November 21, 2022
Classic car technician Jon has once again been investigating the running issues facing our 1977 Triumph Spitfire. After his initial investigations and subsequent work with the brake fluid being used in the car, he has had to continue his work to find the cause of the running issues being experienced.
Jon stripped the carbs so he could thoroughly inspect them. He found dirt in both float bowls so these were blown out before Jon cleaned them out ready for reassembly.
The fuel lines were also blown out and the filter was removed and cleaned too. Jon found a small leak at the gearbox end of the fuel line so he fitted new seals to rectify the issue.
After this was all done, Jon balanced the carbs and rechecked and adjusted the ignition timing. Although Jon was keen to take our 1977 Triumph Spitfire out for a test drive to ensure everything was moving in the right direction, unfortunately, the weather was not suitable on his first attempt.
During his investigations, Jon bypassed the ballast resistor in the wiring loom by running the power wire directly to the coil. Doing this got the car running perfectly. Jon found an ignition-fed live wire which he traced back to the rear of the fuse box where he soldered the wire from fuse number 1 to the coil-positive terminal.
Jon tested everything and all was working as expected. The last thing to do was to tidy up the wiring and to refit the components.
Now that Jon has been spending some time with our Spitfire, it looks to be making good progress and will soon be back with its owner and on the road again.
New Clutch Pedal – 1969 Morris Minor 1000 Convertible
November 21, 2022
When it comes to classic cars, like our 1969 Morris Minor 1000 Convertible, there are a wide range of components that have to fit perfectly together to form the beautiful classic vehicles you see leaving the Bridge Classic Cars workshop. While some of these components will be as unique as the vehicles themselves, there are some parts that will be very familiar to modern car owners too.
One such example of this is the latest work classic car technician Scott has been completing on our 1969 Morris Minor 1000 Convertible. Scott has recently installed a new clutch pedal and bushes to this very popular classic car.
As you can see from the photos below, Scott spent some time tucked into the front of this beautiful classic car while he was completing the task and he has now bought it one step closer to leaving us to go back to its owner.
Repairing The Floor – 1976 Aston Martin AMV8
November 21, 2022
Classic car technician Scott has had his work cut out with our 1976 Aston Martin AMV8. After his investigation and prep work on this attention-grabbing classic car, he looked at the fuel system as part of his preparations to start the engine, and he also started removing some of the interior so he could access the floor pans.
Scott recently continued his work of stripping the interior of our AMV8 so he could get a better look at the rust issues the car seems to be suffering from. Once Scott had stripped the interior, he went on to remove the fuel lines and brake master before cutting out any rust that he found.
After cutting out the rust, repair panels were needed. Scott made these and welded them into place before dressing the welds. Once this was done, the welded-in panels fit smoothly into the car while also resolving the rust issues.
Finally, Scott primed and painted the areas where new panels had been fitted before re-installing the interior.
Our 1976 Aston Martin AMV8 has made good progress since first arriving in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop. Its long journey from America to us here in Suffolk was just the beginning as it now continues to make progress through the rest of its restoration journey.
1954 Jaguar MKVII – The Restoration Continues
November 21, 2022
The restoration of our 1954 Jaguar MKVII has continued recently with quite a bit of work being completed by classic car technician Dave.
After the engine of this beautiful classic car was removed a little while ago, it has now been rebuilt by our friends at Coltec and delivered back to us here at Bridge Classic Cars. Dave has been working on getting the engine back into the car so it can continue on its restoration journey.
Prior to the engine returning to us, we were able to see the pistons being machined so it was great to see the full engine back with us and ready to go back into the car.
Once the engine was back in, Dave was able to get it running and conduct a check of its condition. He was pleased with the temperature levels but did some additional work on other areas of the car.
The 2 fuel pumps were drained, removed, and replaced.
While working on our 1954 Jaguar MKVII, Dave noticed that the fan was broken. A new fan was installed but, as is the case with a lot of the classic cars we work on, the new fan didn’t quite fit into place exactly as it should. Luckily, our classic car technicians are master craftsmen so Dave was able to weld some new lugs onto the car so it would accept the new fan being installed.
To make sure the new lugs blended perfectly with the rest of the car, Dave painted them black and, as you can see from the photos below, they are now in perfect keeping with the rest of this classic car.
Now that the engine is back with the car, work can continue on our 1954 Jaguar MKVII. We are looking forward to seeing things progress over the coming weeks and we are excited to see this impressive classic car back out on the road with its owner.
Saying Goodbye (Again) – 1972 Chevron B20
November 21, 2022
It doesn’t seem that long ago that we first said goodbye to our 1972 Chevron B20. There was a mix of emotions felt when it left as this is a special classic car that we don’t usually see in the workshop. That being said, we were excited to see it move on to the next stage of its adventure.
When it returned to us last month, we were happy to have it back in the workshop and our team of classic car technicians were very keen to get their hands on this incredible car one more time.
Although its time with us was short, our 1972 Chevron B20 was stripped and underwent checks for asbestos here at Bridge Classic Cars before being given the all-clear to continue with the plans to move it to Victoria, Australia.
The F2 race car was collected from our secure storage facility, The Hangar, and set off for the next stage of its epic journey to the other side of the world.
Even when being loaded into the back of a transport lorry, it’s hard not to stare at a car like this. It looks extremely cool whether it’s sat on the tarmac, in our workshop, or in the back of a lorry.
Our 1972 Chevron B20 is moving on to the next chapter of its story in Australia. We hope that, eventually, it will end up back on a race track but, whatever happens, we hope its owner enjoys having such a special car in their collection.
We have said goodbye to this car twice now and, although this seems like it could be the last time, we hope that we see it again in some form in the future as we really do like having our 1972 Chevron B20 with us.
For now though, we will admire it from afar!
