Craig Ranson

Managing Director โ€“ Bridge Classic Cars

Rolls Royce Shadow 1 Back Home

Our running issues on our 1974 Rolls Royce Shadow 1 required new points and a condenser. Whilst in we topped up the oil in the carburettors.

She now runs beautifully and back home ready for an upcoming wedding trip.

Classic Spotting with Jack B

Our good friend Jack is still travelling the world on-board his luxury Superyacht, I believe is in currently residing in Italy enjoying the sunshine. He has sent through some fantastic classics for us to admire.

Painting the Bentley rear end

Bizarre but true, our Bentley’s rear bumper had found a mate in a friendly pheasant who decided to peck away at the paintwork.

Not a huge issue to resolve so we have now put the car through our workshops to tidy up the rear and make it look perfect once again.

Fitting up the front and rear hubs on our Jensen 541R

John has now built up the front and rear hubs.

The brakes have been upgraded all round with the front set up being converted to 4-pot calipers. We have also altered the set up to hold spoke wheels and have temporarily fitted a set for testing.

Restoring the window frames and hood cover

The original Austin Healey side screens have been stripped, cleaned and repainted. We have had to carry out some remedial repairs to the cracked frames which involved welding new metal into the affected areas. The material and perspex which makes up the window have been cleaned down before rebuilding both sides ready for refit.

The hood cover has also been cleaned ready for install.

The New Aston Martin โ€˜DBS 59โ€™

Confirmed to be attending this year’s Classic & Sports Car & Bike Show we have the very special 2019 Aston Martin DBS 59.


Source: Jardine Motors Official Website

Aston Martin DBS 59 – The Latest Limited Edition Model From Aston Martin Cambridge.

Aston Martin Cambridge hosted a unique handover event at 24 hours of Le Mans.

Aston Martin Cambridge, hosted a special five-day handover event for 24 new Aston Martin โ€˜DBS 59โ€™ owners during Le Mans weekend โ€˜DBS 59โ€™ a Q by Aston Martin: Commission by Aston Martin Cambridge celebrates sixty years since Aston Martinโ€™s iconic 1-2 finish at Le Mans in the DRB1.

Owners were also given the opportunity to drive their new Super Grand-Tourers around the track for a parade lap ahead of this yearโ€™s Le Mans race.

Richard Eniffer, Dealer Principal at Aston Martin Cambridge, said: โ€œOur unique handover event at Le Mans this year has been a triumph. โ€˜DBS 59โ€™ strikes a careful balance between a timeless design that respects Aston Martinโ€™s history and a modern take that celebrates its future. Each model is a stunning example of automotive excellence and design aspiration and will offer the owners a truly unique motoring experience in the years to come.

โ€œWe were delighted to create such a memorable handover event for everyone involved and were pleased to be joined by representatives from the highly talented design and engineering teams at Aston Martin who worked with us to turn our vision into a reality. To see the sheer joy on the 24 ownersโ€™ faces as they were given the keys was the perfect ending to this commission.โ€

Simon Lane, Director of Q and Special Project Sales at Aston Martin Lagonda, added: โ€œProjects like โ€˜DBS 59โ€™ showcase the capability of โ€˜Q by Aston Martinโ€™ to deliver unique design projects that enhance Aston Martinโ€™s original designs. By working on each project at a granular level, we can find detailed design features that look beautiful while creating points of interest and sentiment for owners. Each โ€˜DBS 59โ€™ honours an hour of the iconic 24 hour race and pays homage to the number of laps, the drivers who risked their lives and the date that our 1-2 win occurred โ€“ to create a stunning project that duly honours this historic achievement.โ€

Every detail of โ€˜DBS 59โ€™ has been meticulously thought through from the recreation of seat material used on the winning DBR1 to the unique bronze shift paddles. Following a careful study of the DBR1โ€™s own paint exterior, Aston Martin Racing Green was the outwear chosen for โ€˜DBS 59โ€™. Gloss finish carbon fibre on the roof panel and strakes add a striking juxtaposition against the lustrous green.

Bronze details such as the โ€˜Superleggeraโ€™ bonnet badging, bespoke front grille, brake callipers and 21โ€ forged Y spoke satin duotone wheels nod to the bronze switches and dials on the Le Mans winner. Further exterior details, such as the individually numbered roundel painted on the fender, and the bespoke tyre wall arrow decal, breathe the spirit of racing into the already impressive performance of the DBS Superleggera.

Aston Martin Martin DBS59 Project

To honour Aston Martinโ€™s first win at Le Mans in 1959, Aston Martin Cambridge created DBS 59, the commission of a limited edition collection of 24 DBS Superleggeras.

The limited edition cars took design and styling cues from the Aston Martin DBR1 racing car which powered to victory 60 years ago against the motoring might of marquees such as Ferrari and Porsche.

The collection will be a celebration of Aston Martin’s Le Mans heritage and a celebration of modern motoring through the DBS Superleggera.

The cars were offered for sale at ยฃ325,000, and were handed over to their lucky owners at a spectacular event at the renowned Circuit de la Sarthe, Le Mans during the race weekend of 15th/16th June 2019.

The handover was a truly unique car and an unforgettable handover experience for the lucky 24 owners.

Design Specification

Exterior

โ€‹โ€‹Paint – Aston Martin Racing Green
Bodypack – 2×2 Twill Carbon Fibre – Gloss
Tail Lamps – Smoked
Bonnet Louvres – 2×2 Twill Carbon Fibre – Gloss
Side Louvres – Side Louvre – Black Painted
Mirror Caps – Gloss Black Painted
Roof and CHMSL Cover – 2×2 Twill Carbon Fibre – Gloss
Roof Strake – 2×2 Twill Carbon Fibre – Gloss
Brake Calipers – Q – Bronze Anodised
Underbonnet Pack – Q Gold Pack
Wheels – 21โ€ Forged โ€˜Yโ€™ Spoke Wheel – Satin Black/Satin Bronze

Interior

Seat Type – Sports Seat Plus
Interior Trim Split – Duotone Split – Obsidian Black and Chestnut Tan – Contemporary Leather
Welt – Contrast – Ivory
Seating – Powered Seat Bolster Adjustment
Bespoke heading – Pure Black Obsidian Black Leather
Trim Inlay – Trim Inlay – Piano Black
Jewellery Pack – Dark Chrome
Audio System – Bang & Olufsen BeoSound Audio
Carpet Cabin – Obsidian Black Lightweight
Floor Mats – Heavy Pile Floor Mats – Match Environment 2 Binding

Exterior

Tyres – Standard Tyres to have a single โ€˜Arrowโ€™ Painted to each Wheel.
Roundel Graphic – Painted White Roundel – Numbered 1-24
Rear Aero Blade Foils – Bronze DBR1 Outline Foil to the Forward-facing Plane on the Rear Decklid Blade
Lipstick – Bronze Lipstick around the Front Grille
Bonnet Louvres – Body-painted Carbon Fibre Bonnet Louvres
Side Louvres – Body-painted Carbon Fibre Side Louvres
Rear Script – Script to be Painted Bronze
Superleggera Badge – Script to be Painted Bronze
Q Fender Badge – Bronze Q Fender Badge
Wings Badges – Union Flag Wings Badge – HM Stirling Silver
Personalised Sill Plaques – Containing Side Profile of Winning DBR1 and Stating โ€˜Built to Commemorate 60th Anniversary of the DBR1 Victory at Le Mansโ€™ – Sill Plaques to be Anodised Black

Interior

Bespoke Rear Environment – Bespoke Saddle Leather Helmet Pods, with Housing for Race Suits and Gloves
Bespoke Trim Inlays – Painted Aston Martin Racing Green
Headrest Embroidery – Bespoke ‘DBS 59’ Logo in Ivory Tread
Bespoke heading – Painting by Martin Tomlinson to be a Printed Colour Image.
Passenger Airbag Cover – 60th Anniversaryโ€™ Embroidered on the Passenger-side Airbag Cover – Ivory Stitch
Paddle Shifters – Painted Bronze – to Match the Bronze Colour on the Switches of DBR1
Engine Plaque – Final Inspection Plaque – Bespoke Logo and Numbered (1 of 24)
Bespoke Seat Backs and Door Inserts – Seat Material inspired by the DBR1 trimmed to the Seat Backs and Door Inserts (quilted area)

Accessories

Race Suits – 1959 Blue Race Suits, with Logo (Left Chest) & Wings (Right Chest) Embroidery (x2 Suits Per Car)
Race Gloves – Replica of Carroll Shelbyโ€™s Gloves (2 Pairs Per Car)
Goggles – Halcyon Design – Brown Leather – Black Painted Rims (2 Pairs Per Car)
Luggage – Bespoke 2 Piece Luggage Set Matching to Interior Trim.
Bespoke Handbook Cover – Finished in Chestnut Tan & feature the DBS59 logo (1 Per Car)
Bespoke Build Book – Finished in Chestnut Tan (1 Per Car)
Bespoke Key Pouch – Finished in Chestnut Tan (1 Per Car)
Helmet – 1959 Replica Race Helmet – Helmet Painted AM Racing Green, Black Lip around Front of Peak with Bespoke Logo in White on Front (2 Helmets Per Car)


Aston Martin DBS 59 Technical Specification

Dimensions

Vehicle length – 4705 mm
Vehicle width – 2145 mm
Vehicle height – 1280 mm
Wheelbase – 2805 mm
Unladen weight (DIN) – 1845 kg
Engine / Cylinders – V12 Twin Turbo
Engine Capacity – 5.2 litre
Max Torque – 900 Nm
Max Power – 725PS/715bhp
Top Speed – 211 mph / 339.6 kph
Acceleration – 0-60 mph / 3.4 seconds
Fuel Consumption (Combined) – 12.4 l/100km
CO2 Emissions – 285 g/km

European Fuel Ecomomy Figures

Official government fuel consumption figures in litres/100km for the Aston Martin DBS Superleggera: urban 18.0; extra urban 9.1; combined 12.4. COโ‚‚ emissions 285 g/km. The mpg/fuel economy figures quoted are sourced from official regulated test results obtained through laboratory testing. They are for comparability purposes only and may not reflect your real driving experience, which may vary depending on factors including road conditions, weather, vehicle load and driving style.

Source: Jardine Motors Official Website

Chroming various parts

Images back from Tony at Wyatt Polishing as he continues to work through the various re-chroming and re-polishing projects we have given him.

Here we have bright work from our TVR Grantura, Jensens 541R’s and Jaguar E-Type.

A visit from our friends at Suffolk Sportscars

Out on a test drive in the beautiful SS100, Suffolk Sportscars have called in to our workshops to pay us a little visit and show our John some developments possibly suited to our Jensen 541R rebuild.

Suffolk Sportscars Official Website

Suffolk Sportscars is dedicated to the production of the visually exact reproduction of the legendary Jaguar SS100, they have been in continual production of these cars for over 20 years. It is a pure and true in it’s form, and is fully recognised and accepted by all the Jaguar car clubs around the world.

The SS Jaguar 100 was originally designed in 1935 by William Lyons, the founder of Jaguar Cars Limited. You will find a history of the SS Jaguar 100 within their website.

The SS Jaguar 100 is one of the most important cars every produced in England. It marked the high point of English sports car design before the start of World War II. When the leading motoring writers of Europe selected their choice of the 100 most important cars of the 20th century, they included the legendary SS Jaguar 100. Surely there cannot be a more iconic or widely recognised car ever produced in such limited numbers. Only 314 SS Jaguar 100s were ever made, so for a car to be so well recognised signifies it as one of the most significant Art Deco vehicle designs, and also, a hugely significant vehicle in British motoring history.

TVR Grantura: Bringing back to life!

Images have emerged of our 1962 TVR Grantura in dis-repair some years ago.

As much as it is not nice to see a wonderful classic looking so sad it is still lovely to find images like this.

Cleaning our M3 engine cover

Whilst we continue to diagnose the running issues with our 1998 BMW M3 Evolution we have cleaned up engine cover ready for the recommission to commence.

1959 Triumph TR3 body preparation

Our 1959 Triumph TR3 is now in the preparation area having the outer sills removed and corrosion behind repaired.

The sills will be replaced with new and repainted.

A tour of Old Jet, Rendlesham

Last week Bridge Classic Cars had the pleasure in being given a guided tour of the amazing creative set up at Old Jet, Rendlesham.

And look what caught our eye outside in the car park…

Old Jet is an arts centre based at Bentwaters, the ex US Air Force base in Rendlesham, Suffolk

The aim of Old Jet is to create an inspiring environment for people working in the arts and creative industries.

We believe that you produce your best work when you are part of a community of like-minded people.

Transforming our Bentley Continental Wheels

Our 2008 Bentley Continental split rim wheels have now returned from Wheelcare complete.

Wheelcare is an Alloy wheel refurbishing specialist. We offer our refurbishment in and around Essex and Suffolk. If your wheels are damaged or corroded they can really effect the look of your car and of course, it’s value. You can end up paying a lot of money for factory fitted wheels when they may not even be as good as your original set.

โ€ข Custom Finishes
โ€ข Tyre Fitting Service
โ€ข Diamond cut alloy repairs โ€ข Increase the value of your car
โ€ข Cheaper than purchasing new alloy wheels
โ€ข Powder Coat and Wet-Spray Finishing

Building up the TVR Grantura dash

Donna has now completed the re-trim of the dash in Poppy Red leather. The dash has been handed back to Brian to reinstate the refurbished dials.

Polishing some of the TVR Grantura parts

Working on cleaning and polishing our TVR parts ready for the rebuild. The warning lights, ignition and hinges have all been polished now and ready for refit.

The original badges have also had the polishing treatment.

Our 1959 Triumph TR3 arriving

Due in this week we have our 1959 Triumph TR3 in need of some body work repairs on the outer sill.

And right behind to collect the owner is our good friend Hilary with his Austin Healey.

Travelling in style…

BMW Car Magazine โ€“ August 2019

BMWcar – Independently written for real enthusiasts.

Featured in the August 2019 edition of the BMWcar magazine is our 1973 BMW 2002 Targa.

1960 MGA Walk Round

Seeing the sunshine for the first time in 26 years our 1960 MGA barn find is now back in our workshops awaiting assessment.

1957 Jensen 541R bodyshell ready for refit

We are delighted with the ‘snug’ fit of our 1957 Jensen 541R bodyshell. Having spent some time perfecting the fibreglass shape and removing all signs of the years of cracking and wear within the moulding, the body shell is now ready for re-fit.

We are yet to secure the body shell to the chassis but our test fit results are fantastic with it being one of the best fits we have ever seen on the many Jensen’s we have worked with.

1960 MGA: 26 yrs stored in a barn

Having been stored away for 26 years in a barn in the midlands we were expecting the worse when we went up to collect the car. After pumping up the tyres and making a pathway it was relatively straight forward to wheel out which was great news.

With the car all loaded up as well as the boxes of extras we headed back down the A14 ready to welcome the car to our Woodbridge workshops.

Re-trimming our TVR dashboard

Our 1962 TVR Grantura interior is starting to take shape with Donna now working on rebuilding the existing seats, dash and side panels.

We have chosen Poppy Red as the interior colour. Against the blue exterior this will be a beautiful colour combination.

The dash is now re-covered so it is now over to Brian to refit the refurbished dials whilst Donna can move on to the seats.

Re-designing our 1962 TVR Grantura Interior

Donna has now began work on stripping our TVR Grantura interior trim and prepare the frames ready for the new design. The framework will be cleaned up and refurbished ready before Donna builds back up with new cushions and leather work.

The existing dash will be stripped down and replaced with new leather and refurbished dials.

1956 Ford Consul – now in colour

Our 1956 Ford Consul is now once again finished in the beautiful Sarum Blue finish. Mauro is busy piecing it back together with all of the refurbished bright work and components earlier removed for restoring.

Jensen brightwork ready for refit.

We have now stripped back, cleaned and plated the seat runners and bonnet stays.

We have also received delivery of our brand new rear brakes, hubs and caps ready for refit too.