Craig Ranson

Managing Director โ€“ Bridge Classic Cars

Suspected head gasket

In our workshops this week we have our 1970 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow with a suspected head gasket. Upon starting, we are immediately experiencing pressurise

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Repairing our Bentley Continental Interior

A leak from the roof has caused the rear seats in our Bentley Continental to stain. We’ll look at a cleaning option for removing the stain, failing that we will need to come up with a plan B for how to repair the leather.

Plan C being a re-trim which we are hoping not to be the case…

Mazda MX-5 Rusty Sills

A common issue on the MkII Mazda MX5 is the corrosion within the sills.

Our 2003 Mazda MX-5 has arrived in our workshops having failed a recent MOT inspection.

The outer sills and front wing section on both the offside and nearside will need replacing and repainting.

Fitting the new TVR Grantura Loom

The newly trimmed dash, complete with polished dials, is in position which means the electrics can now be wired up.

Thank you, as always, to the guys and girls at Autosparks for manufacturing the rare super rare wiring harness for our TVR.

1986 VW Golf arrival

Arriving in our workshops today we have our 1986 Volkswagen Golf cabriolet. The car is in for a full respray which will also consist of a very sympathetic restoration of various components.

Ford Consul Interior Work

Donna has fitting out our 1956 Ford Consul with brand new carpets throughout. Whilst doing so, Brian has been busy cleaning up the existing interior and securing back into position.

Coming Soon: 1947 MG TC

Arriving soon to join the Bridge Classic Cars family we have our 1947 MGTC.

We’ll be looking to carry out the routine checks with an aim to get her back on the road in very little time. The car has aged beautifully and with bags of character this is a great example of when a car should not be restored. With a little TLC the car will be back on the road and ready to enjoy the shows.

Due in to us within the coming weeks, once in we will fully assess the car to work out what work needs to be carried out. We may even be able to have her ready for a trip to the upcoming Helmingham Hall Festival of Classic & Sports Cars.

1959 Morris J Type Home

We have just received a lovely email from the owners to show us it’s new home.

‘Stain in his new home. A big thank-you to you all A&N’

Jensen 541R: Skirts and front wing work

More images from the body work preparation. Here we have the fibre-glass front wing/arches as well as the side skirts being perfected; to remove all blistering and get them repaired and ready for paint.

1947 MG TC: Recommissioning

Our 1947 MG TC has arrived in our workshops for a recommission. The c ar has been regularly used up until recently so we are hoping not to have to carry out too much work to get her back on the road. A thorough service is a definite must and we look to be losing water so this will most certainly have to be addressed.

We also think a detailed clean would not go a miss and this will completely transform the car.

Coming Soon: 1965 Ford Mustang

Having owned the car for just under a week, the current owner is new to the classic car scene but has always wanted the iconic 60’s Ford Mustang. later in the month the car will arrive in our workshops for a general check over and full service.

This will be a longer term project for the owner who would eventually like to see the paint and interior imperfections addressed.

For now, it’s time to enjoy the summer and get used to the car and it’s personality.

Work now complete on our 1974 De Tomaso Pantera

One of the star attractions of last week’s Classic & Sports Car & Bike Show was our 1974 De Tomaso Pantera.

The engine work is now complete and the car is ready to return home.

The car came to us for a full service, to tighten, loctite the gear linkage and to investigate a misfire. We have replaced the obvious; plugs, leads, rotor arm, distributor cap. The fault was still present. We have now discovered an incorrect push rod fitted which has resulted in the rocker arm breaking.

We have stripped own and crack tested all rocker arms where we have established 3 being cracked.

We have fitted lifters, inlet manifold gaskets, pushrods and 4x rocker arms.

We have also removed offside rear hub assembly, replaced nut and tightened.

The torque has been adjusted to manufacturers recommendation.

Lastly we carried out a full MOT inspection.

One for the future: Owen Kett work experience

We had the pleasure of Owen joining us for work experience here at Bridge Classic Cars. We were really impressed with Owen’s attitude and know he’ll go far in this industry. We really hope Owen gained some valuable experience and enjoyed his time here with us. We wish Owen all the best for the future and would love to see him back here at Bridge Classic Cars in the future!

Classic & Sports Car & Bike Show Preparations

Busy weekend ahead as we work on the final preparations for the biggest event of the Bridge Classic Cars calendar, our Classic & Sports Car & Bike Show on Sunday 28th July.

Vincent has arrived with his incredible Mk1 VW Golf. Unfortunately the man himself is unable to join us on Sunday but he has kindly given his car to show.

And the CarCrazedFool has arrived with his wonderful 2019 Aston Martin DBS59 we featured previously. Be sure to join us on Sunday and enjoy!

Read up all about the New Aston martin DBS59

Suspected head gasket

In our workshops this week we have our 1970 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow with a suspected head gasket. Upon starting, we are immediately experiencing pressurise in one cylinder going into the water way.

Running our TVR engine

Running up our 1962 TVR Engine after rebuild.

Prior to Ady rebuilding the engine, it had been left in bits for many years with the main block being buried in the garden. This was a big engine rebuild but very satisfying when completed and running…

Ady and Andrew: Race Preparation

Our boys Ady and Andrew are keeping themselves busy of their time away from the workshops preparing their race cars for some upcoming events.

Ady has just completed the body and paintwork on his Spedeworth Formula Lightning Rod with the 2 Litre Ford Pinto Engine.

Source: Spedeworth Motorsports

“The Ford Sierra may have all but disappeared from Britainโ€™s roads but on the ovals they live on in the rear-wheel-drive Lightning Rods.

This formula offers old-school side by side non-contact racing, with high speeds and spectacular tail-slides guaranteed from these experienced drivers. Many drivers come into the formula after competing in contact classes so they have the skill and competitive nature to put on an excellent show every time.

Drivers from across the UK and Ireland travel to Spedeworth/Incaraceโ€™s raceways on a regular basis to take on the stars of the ovals, and tight NASCAR-style battles have become a common feature of Lightning Rod meetings.

The highlights of the Spedeworth/Incarace calendar are the annual National Championship Weekend staged over three days at Hednesford Hills Raceway and the two day Spedeweekend spectacular held at Foxhall Heath Stadium, Ipswich which will be the stage for the 2015 World Championship.

The Lightning Rods can be seen at all Spedeworth and Incarace operated tracks over the year.”

Andrew is also looking to return to the track in his BriSCA F2.

Source: BriSCA F2

A brief history of BriSCA F2 Stock Car racing.

Junior Tens racing was introduced to the short oval raceways of the UK in August 1960, they were designed to offer the working man a chance of Stock Car racing without the prohibited expense of trying to run against the big spenders in the Senior Stock Car class.

Junior Tens became Juniors and then were eventually renamed BriSCA Formula Two Stock Cars, and the Senior Stock Cars are what we today call BriSCA Formula One Stock Cars.

The growth of BriSCA Formula Two Stock Cars during the 1960โ€™s was astonishing, with tracks opening in various parts of the country, with the South West becoming a particular stronghold of the sport.

During the 1970โ€™s dramatic modernisation of the sport took place, which saw the racing become limited to the South West, before the sport went nationwide again in the late 1970โ€™s, before being reintroduced to Scotland in 1981.

Near year on year growth in the driver ranks now sees BriSCA F2 racing as the largest open wheeled Stock Car sport in the country with nearly six hundred registered drivers, and tracks that span from Aberdeenshire in Scotland right down the to the South West of England, touching base in the North East, Lancashire, Yorkshire, The Midlands, the East Coast region, and the South East.

There are several main manufacturers of BriSCA F2โ€™s, but drivers can build their own cars if they wish, as long as they comply with the strict construction rules.

Unlike big circuit racing, Stock Car racing sees the stars of the sport start at the rear of the grid; to win they have to force themselves through the grids of cars with use of the front bumper being allowed. It is a contact sport, but out and out wrecking tactics are not allowed.

Austin 7 Regulator

Our fantastic little 1933 Austin 7 is in our workshops with an ongoing charging issue.

The dynamo has been rebuilt a number of times but the previous garage have been unable to work out why the car is still not taking charge.

Having carried out a little research, John temporarily rewired to ensure that the dynamo was working correctly. As this seems to be the case, we were then able to diagnose the issue being with the regulator.

The regulator is now away with a specialist being rebuilt. We await its return so we can get it refitted and the car back to the current owner.

TVR: Refit, Interior, Dash

Work is progressing well on our 1962 TVR Grantura as we continue to fit up the exterior, at the same time working on the full interior re-trim. The dash is complete and ready to fit before we look to wire up the entire car.

2008 Bentley Continental: painted

Our 2008 Bentley Continental back bumper is now complete.

The wheels have been fully refurbished and the back bumper has been painted.

Next up, the interior trim needs addressing.

But what a beautiful car…

New Arrival: 1 of 7 Vauxhall VX220’s

Collected from London this morning we have a very rare modern classic. Perfect for the collector, investor, petrolhead, thrill-seeker.

2003 Vauxhall VX220i, registered new in January 2003.

1 of only 7 remaining in the iconic British Racing Green, a very unusual colour to find on a VX220. Complimented beautifully by green leather and green hood.

The first owner owned the vehicle from January 2003 to October 2018, a fantastic 15 years. The second and current owner has owned the car from October 2018 to the present day.

The car comes with full service history from new as well as a Vauxhall Motors literature packs including very rare, non-published exclusive items.

The current mileage reads 66443 on previous odometer [supplied] and 200 on new odometer.

The interior has been subject to a full Premium Scottish Leather re-trim, new fabric roof, new door pockets and new lumbar pump costing ยฃ1590.00. A new starter motor and after-market heater kit have also been fitted ยฃ1079.46. New instrument binnacle, switchgear, steering wheel at a cost of ยฃ235.08. Brand new alternator, front discs and pads [Brembo], rear discs and pads [Brembo], battery, engine mounts, seat foams, stabilizer shaft, front and rear shock absorbers [Spax], battery isolation switch at a cost of of ยฃ4258.68.

Comes with no advisories and is a real collectors piece.

MGB Roadster Home Time

Today’s the day we introduce our 1975 MGB Roadster to it’s new home in the city.

First trip out was a big one, we’ve heard from the owner that the trip from London to Luton went very well. Next stop Sicily…