Progressing Nicely
October 12, 2022
As our 1978 MGB GT continues to move through the restoration process, things are progressing well and more tasks have been ticked off the checklist.
Craig Ranson
Managing Director – Bridge Classic Cars
On The Way To The Workshop
October 11, 2022
The main body of our 1954 Bristol 405 has been transported to our workshop. Now it is here with the team, it can begin the
Entry Is Open – 1981 Volkswagen Scirocco Storm
October 11, 2022
Our very rare 1981 Volkswagen Scirocco Storm has been inspected and assessed by the workshop team here at Bridge Classic Cars. We have just received
New Body Panels
October 11, 2022
To get our 1975 Jensen Interceptor MK3 back on the road, some new body panels were needed. We now have these and they will soon
Epoxy Primer
October 11, 2022
Chris has been working on our 1986 Daimler DS420, putting on the epoxy primer ready for further painting. He first masked the car and gave
Remembrance Sunday Luncheon
October 11, 2022
Hintlesham Golf Club will be hosting a Remembrance Day Luncheon on Sunday, 13th November. There will be a sit-down meal as well as musical entertainment
Supercars At The Beach
October 11, 2022
On Sunday, the seafront at Felixstowe (just down the road from the Bridge Classic Cars Workshop in Suffolk), was treated to a display of supercars.
Getting Ready
October 11, 2022
Before our 1970 MGC Roadster leaves us to go to its new owner, classic car technician Paul has been rebuilding and refitting the carburetters. This
Resolving Rust Issues
October 11, 2022
Our 1999 Rover BRM had some issues with rust when it first came into the Bridge Classic Cars Workshop. The team have been working to
Still Going Strong – 1969 Mercedes 280SL (Pagoda)
October 10, 2022
It’s been a little while since our 1969 Mercedes 280SL (Pagoda) left the Bridge Classic Cars workshop. After undergoing an engine rebuild with us, it
Hitting The News
October 10, 2022
We were recently featured in an article by the East Anglian Daily Times. The article covers the story of how Bridge Classic Cars came to
World Mental Health Day 2022
October 10, 2022
Today, Monday 10th October is World Mental Health Day. At Bridge Classic Cars, we are trying to build a community of classic car enthusiasts that
Jensen Bonnet Strips
October 10, 2022
Our classic car technician, Clinton, has been making parts that will ultimately go on to be fitted into one of our ongoing Jensen projects. The
Going To Auction – 1934 Riley 9 Lynx
October 10, 2022
On the 19th October 2022, at 1 pm, an H and H Classics auction will take place at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford. It is
Boot Carpet And More
October 10, 2022
For the last few weeks, the interior of our 1958 Jensen 541R has been getting lots of attention from Lydia and Brian. Recently, Lydia turned
Mr Gordon-Foxwell
October 9, 2022
“I have now done over 500 mainly motorway miles in the car and it is running well. Thank you again for the work you have
Catching up with CSF
October 8, 2022
It’s mad to think that our incredible collaboration with Lotus and Community Sports Foundation, that saw Alex win the truly special and unique Lotus Elise
Inner Wheel Arch Work
October 7, 2022
Work has been completed on the inner wheel arch of our 1987 Volvo 240GL. This involved using seam sealant and adding an additional coating to
The Restoration Continues
October 7, 2022
Our 1905 Riley 9HP has been in the Bridge Classic Car workshop for quite some time now. Restoration work on a car like this is
Our Triple Live Draw – 3 Classic Vehicles Won
October 7, 2022
Last night, we held our triple live draw at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop. If giving away three classic vehicles wasn’t enough, we had a
New Lines And Trim
October 7, 2022
Classic car technician Rob has been making and fitting the new brake and fuel lines for our 1978 MGB GT. He also fitted the brake
It’s All Coming Together
October 6, 2022
Brian continues to work on the interior of our 1958 Jensen 541R. He finished cutting the centre section foam to fit around the centre pad
Our 1960 Rover 80 Is For Sale
October 6, 2022
Our 1960 Rover 80 came into our workshop after we took it on as one of our current projects from a previous customer. As much
Repairing A Hole In The Bonnet
October 6, 2022
Not only has classic car technician Alan been busy repairing the fibreglass roof of our 1956 Jensen 541, but he has also been repairing a
A Popular Classic Car – Our 1970 MG C Roadster
October 5, 2022
Our 1970 MG C Roadster has proven itself to be an extremely popular prize on Bridge Classic Cars Competitons. When the Roadster went live, it
A Very Special Roof
October 5, 2022
The history of the Jensen 541 is an interesting story that goes all the way back to 1953. Before the release of the 541, Jensen
Original Wheels Refurbished And Back In The Workshop
October 5, 2022
Our 1999 Rover BRM arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars Workshop with the incorrect aftermarket wheels fitted. After we were able to source a set
Rust Issues On Our Vauxhall Omega
October 5, 2022
Our 1999 Vauxhall Omega has spent a bit of time in our workshop recently. During this time, the workshop team have discovered some rust issues
More Jensen Parts
October 5, 2022
Classic car technician Paul has been making several different parts that will eventually be used on one of our Jensen restoration projects. These include parts
Progress, Progress, Progress
October 5, 2022
Brian and Lydia continue to work on the interior of our 1958 Jensen 541R. Lydia has been busy covering the remaining door card as well
Progressing Nicely
October 12, 2022
As our 1978 MGB GT continues to move through the restoration process, things are progressing well and more tasks have been ticked off the checklist.
Classic car technician Rob has painted and fitted the number plate backing panels, fitted the door trim and handles on the right-hand side of the vehicle, as well as making new backing panels for the C pillar trim.
Rob has been extra busy as he also assembled and fitted the rear anti-roll bar and fitted the rear roof trim too.
On The Way To The Workshop
October 11, 2022
The main body of our 1954 Bristol 405 has been transported to our workshop.
Now it is here with the team, it can begin the next phase of its restoration. With work already done on the seats, it’s time to get the rest of the car in order so it can be one step closer to being back out on the road.
There will be lots more updates coming soon as this classic car returns to its full former glory.
Entry Is Open – 1981 Volkswagen Scirocco Storm
October 11, 2022
Our very rare 1981 Volkswagen Scirocco Storm has been inspected and assessed by the workshop team here at Bridge Classic Cars. We have just received the good news that it is ready to go and it can now be won in our latest competition.
With so few of these cars still on the road, this is your chance to win a rare piece of motoring history.
You can find out all the information you need about the car and how to enter by heading to Bridge Classic Cars Competitions – good luck!
New Body Panels
October 11, 2022
To get our 1975 Jensen Interceptor MK3 back on the road, some new body panels were needed. We now have these and they will soon be fitted to the car as it continues to move through its restoration journey.
We found it very exciting to see the new panels sitting on the shell of the Interceptor and we can’t wait for work to continue on this iconic classic car.
Epoxy Primer
October 11, 2022
Chris has been working on our 1986 Daimler DS420, putting on the epoxy primer ready for further painting.
He first masked the car and gave it a final rub down before applying the primer. This will create a good base for the top coat of paint to bond to. It will also prevent corrosion and rust from forming which will give a high-quality finish to the car.
Remembrance Sunday Luncheon
October 11, 2022
Hintlesham Golf Club will be hosting a Remembrance Day Luncheon on Sunday, 13th November.
There will be a sit-down meal as well as musical entertainment from Bridge Classic Cars’ very own Molly and her 1940s Trio – The Three Chordettes.
Arrival is from 12:30 pm for a 1 pm service.
If you would like more details or to make a booking, contact the golf clubs events team on 01473 652761 or email office@hintleshamgolfclub.com
Supercars At The Beach
October 11, 2022
On Sunday, the seafront at Felixstowe (just down the road from the Bridge Classic Cars Workshop in Suffolk), was treated to a display of supercars.
Everyone who had chosen to visit the beach for the day got to enjoy the sight of 15 supercars travelling together. The cars had actually driven in convoy through several parts of Suffolk including Sproughton and Woodbridge before heading to Felixstowe.
The event was organised by members of The Drivers Union which is a supercar owners club. As they lived locally, it made complete sense that they should treat their home town to all the joy and excitement that comes from being up close and personal with a supercar.
The full story can be read in the East Anglian Daily Times article.
There were several supercars that took part including some older Ferraris and Porsches. It’s a shame the Bridge Classic Cars team were not in Felixstowe at the time as we would have loved to see the cars in all their glory. Instead, we will make do with looking at the below photos of some of the classic Porsches we have worked on in the past.
Getting Ready
October 11, 2022
Before our 1970 MGC Roadster leaves us to go to its new owner, classic car technician Paul has been rebuilding and refitting the carburetters.
This classic car was won through Bridge Classic Cars Competitions and will soon be leaving us for the last time as it begins the next chapter of its life on the road.
Resolving Rust Issues
October 11, 2022
Our 1999 Rover BRM had some issues with rust when it first came into the Bridge Classic Cars Workshop.
The team have been working to resolve these issues recently. Now we have the original BRM wheels back with us too, the car is making good progress through its restoration journey.
Still Going Strong – 1969 Mercedes 280SL (Pagoda)
October 10, 2022
It’s been a little while since our 1969 Mercedes 280SL (Pagoda) left the Bridge Classic Cars workshop. After undergoing an engine rebuild with us, it left the workshop to be returned to its owner a few months ago.
Since then, we have had some great feedback about the performance of the car and it sounds like it is very much at home being back out on the road.
Feedback from the owner includes:
“I have now done over 500 mainly motorway miles in the car and it is running well. Thank you again for the work you have done”.
and
“the car continues to run beautiful and was a pleasure to drive on a long trip to France a couple of weeks back”.
Hearing that a restored car is bringing enjoyment to its owner is something that makes us very happy. Classic cars like this are all about having the perfect driving experience so this is exactly the type of feedback we aim to achieve.
Hitting The News
October 10, 2022
We were recently featured in an article by the East Anglian Daily Times.
The article covers the story of how Bridge Classic Cars came to be, what we do, and what we hope to achieve in the future. It also includes some great photos of the workshop as well as a detailed explanation of some of the processes involved in restoring a classic car.
The full article can be read here.
World Mental Health Day 2022
October 10, 2022
Today, Monday 10th October is World Mental Health Day.
At Bridge Classic Cars, we are trying to build a community of classic car enthusiasts that can rely on each other for not only conversations about their vehicles, but also for support, friendship, companionship, and a listening ear when one is needed.
Whether people watch our live draws, meet us at a car show, or attend one of our events, we love bringing like-minded people together.
With loneliness being an ever-increasing problem, and mental health awareness still needing more focus, we acknowledge today as World Mental Health Day and we encourage anyone who may be struggling, feeling lonely, or feeling like they need someone to talk to, to reach out to a friend, family member, or a mental health charity.
Sharing your struggles with someone else can be the beginning of things getting better, so don’t be afraid to reach out and don’t be afraid of talking about mental health.
Jensen Bonnet Strips
October 10, 2022
Our classic car technician, Clinton, has been making parts that will ultimately go on to be fitted into one of our ongoing Jensen projects.
The bonnet strips he made can be seen in the photos below.
Going To Auction – 1934 Riley 9 Lynx
October 10, 2022
On the 19th October 2022, at 1 pm, an H and H Classics auction will take place at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford. It is here that our 1934 Riley 9 Lynx Tourer will be available for sale.
This beautiful classic car has been with us for a little while but, the time has now come for it to move on to a new owner. If you want to know more about how you can become the new owner, take a look at it on the H and H website here.
H and H describe our 1934 Riley 9 Lynx as:
“Introduced in 1933, the Lynx Tourer had much in common with its similarly rakish and elegant Kestrel Saloon sibling. Notably low-slung, both were four-seaters that placed their occupants between the front and rear axles. Powered by a ‘sports’ version of the Coventry marque’s advanced ‘twin-cam’ four-cylinder 1087cc engine mated to four-speed manual transmission, the pair enjoyed a level of performance that belied their 9hp tax rating. Based around a ladder-frame chassis equipped with all round semi-elliptic leaf-sprung suspension and bias-adjustable drum brakes, they were known for their crisp handling too.
Recently repatriated to the UK, ‘AXR 525’ is offered finished in a vivid Blue with a Black full leather interior. A 1934 Riley 9 Lynx Tourer, from the second year of production, the car hides its 88 years incredibly well. The car has lived part of its life in South Africa where the climate appears to have preserved both its paint, wood, bodywork and interior remarkably well, and evidently a testament to the level of care and attention given to the car by its previous owner. The Lynx Tourer comes with a UK V5C.
During the car’s residence with the vendor, we are told that it has been given an inspection by his restoration team. A ‘full’ service, carburettors rebuilt, rear lights and wiring were replaced, as well as a small repair carried out to its folding soft top roof. Additionally, the brakes have had some mechanical fettling, with adjustment all around and road tested on several occasions by the vendor. The gearbox is described as working smoothly, and the engine runs evenly and is said to be balanced through the revs. This is an attractive example of the 9 Lynx Tourer built by Riley which still wears its original brass chassis plate on the top of the firewall. A pre-war classic that would be a beautiful addition to an existing collection or as a single pride and joy for an enthusiast owner.“
Boot Carpet And More
October 10, 2022
For the last few weeks, the interior of our 1958 Jensen 541R has been getting lots of attention from Lydia and Brian. Recently, Lydia turned her attention to the boot of the car – specifically, the boot carpet.
After lots of measuring, cutting, making patterns, and double-checking everything, Lydia was able to get the boot carpet fitted and looking good.
Restoring a classic car isn’t just about getting it running and making the bodywork look good. At Bridge Classic Cars, every part of the car gets the same levels of attention, including areas that most people won’t see – like the boot.
While Lydia was busy working in the boot, Brian was busy completing more work on the interior of the car. He fitted carpet to the front and rear footwells, the bulkhead, and trial fitted the handbrake carpet.
Brian also fitted the sliding covers to the kick panels and cut the sound deadening for the transmission tunnel before glueing it to the tunnel and cutting out the required access holes.
Mr Gordon-Foxwell
October 9, 2022
“I have now done over 500 mainly motorway miles in the car and it is running well. Thank you again for the work you have done.
I am pleased to say that the car continues to run beautiful and was a pleasure to drive on a long trip to France a couple of weeks back.”
Catching up with CSF
October 8, 2022
It’s mad to think that our incredible collaboration with Lotus and Community Sports Foundation, that saw Alex win the truly special and unique Lotus Elise Sport 240, was almost a year ago!
Earlier today and we caught up with Sam and the team from CSF at their stomping ground to see Norwich City take on Preston North End. We were also joined by Norwich City legend Bryan Gunn.
It wasn’t the best result for the home team as Norwich City fell to defeat, losing 3-2 at Carrow Road.
Thank you all at Community Sports Foundation and Norwich City for your wonderful hospitality and we look forward to inviting you to our territory next, Portman Road!!
Inner Wheel Arch Work
October 7, 2022
Work has been completed on the inner wheel arch of our 1987 Volvo 240GL. This involved using seam sealant and adding an additional coating to the arch for added durability and toughness.
Our 240GL continues to move through its restoration journey and this work, along with its fresh coat of paint, has it looking almost brand new again already.
The Restoration Continues
October 7, 2022
Our 1905 Riley 9HP has been in the Bridge Classic Car workshop for quite some time now. Restoration work on a car like this is extremely complex and can only be done by expert classic car technicians.
Dave has been putting his close to five decades worth of experience to good use by getting more work done on this truly unique car. If you haven’t heard the story of our Riley 9HP before, then it’s one you should definitely make yourself familiar with.
Firstly, the fact that there are believed to be only 3 of these cars left in existence should be enough to grab the attention of any classic car enthusiast. One of the remaining three is in the Gaydon Motor Museum, one is thought to be in a private collection, and we have the third in our workshop which is the one Dave has been working on.
Initially, our 9HP was missing a radiator. While we searched for a way to source something that could be used as a replacement, we were extremely fortunate to be offered an unbelievably rare Riley 9HP radiator that had been found during a house clearance. Not only was this radiator a match for our Riley, but it was actually very likely the radiator that had originally been in the car.
While we may have had some good luck with the radiator, the rest of the Riley has been much more challenging to restore. As there are only 3 left, there are only 2 others we could potentially look at in order to see how the finished vehicle should look.
We were offered the opportunity to visit the Riley 9HP in Gaydon Motor Museum which we took and were able to get a whole load of photographs that would hopefully help us rebuild this incredible car. It’s these photos that Dave has been using as a reference to try and bring everything back together in its original form.
Relying on photos and a wealth of experience shows how skilled our classic car technicians really are. There aren’t too many people out there who could take on this type of work but, fortunately for us, we have experienced technicians like Dave who are determined to get the job done.
The most recent work Dave has completed on the car was making the water return pipes from the cylinder head, fitting the front stub axles with bearings, along with fitting the anti-tramp bars too.
It’s worth repeating one more time that our 1905 Riley 9HP is one of only 3 left in existence. We have one of the last remaining examples of this truly classic car and we look forward to seeing what the future holds for it.
Our Triple Live Draw – 3 Classic Vehicles Won
October 7, 2022
Last night, we held our triple live draw at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop. If giving away three classic vehicles wasn’t enough, we had a live audience in attendance, musical entertainment from The Three Chordettes, food and drink from The Miller’s Kitchen and Carmello’s, and our workshop was open so some of our ongoing restoration projects could be seen and explored.
All of the Bridge Classic Cars team had a great time. We love finding new owners for our classic cars and finding three last night bought a smile to everyone’s face.
Our live draws happen on a regular basis and they are always fun, but this one was extra special. There was a great atmosphere, there were conversations about classic cars, there was anticipation for the 3 winners to be announced, and it was a great opportunity to speak with other classic car enthusiasts face-to-face.
We hope that this type of evening will be much more of a regular occurrence in the very near future. The chance that one of the winners could actually be in the live audience definitely heightened the excitement and suspense of the evening!
Hopefully, as these events become more frequent, we will find a winner who is with us live as the draw is held.
At our triple live draw, new owners were found for our 1961 Mini Deluxe ‘Little Eva’, our 1994 Ducati 750 SuperSport, and our 1970 MG C Roadster. If you want to be one of our future winners, head over to Bridge Classic Cars Competitions to see the vehicles currently up for grabs.
More photos will be shared soon (including some great behind-the-scenes shots) but for now, here are just a few of last night.
New Lines And Trim
October 7, 2022
Classic car technician Rob has been making and fitting the new brake and fuel lines for our 1978 MGB GT.
He also fitted the brake master cylinder, which brings the car one step closer to being able to get back out on the road.
Other work continues on the MGB GT in the form of more trim being installed. This helps the car look much closer to how the finished restoration will look.
It’s All Coming Together
October 6, 2022
Brian continues to work on the interior of our 1958 Jensen 541R. He finished cutting the centre section foam to fit around the centre pad before glueing the cover and calico backing down and fitting the brackets.
Brian then installed the rear seat into the car and it looks great!
The interior continues to look better and better with each task being completed. The rear seat looks comfortable and we’re sure any passengers who eventually sit on it will agree too.
Our 1960 Rover 80 Is For Sale
October 6, 2022
Our 1960 Rover 80 came into our workshop after we took it on as one of our current projects from a previous customer. As much as we think this car has huge amounts of potential and will very likely go on to be a beautifully restored car, the time has come for it to leave us and move on to a new owner, as our workload is too full to complete it ourselves.
There is some rust on the front nearside wing but, other than that, the car is complete and was running as it should when the workshop team was working on it previously.
All the details you need about the car can be seen on MyClassics.co.uk, where the car is listed for sale.
Repairing A Hole In The Bonnet
October 6, 2022
Not only has classic car technician Alan been busy repairing the fibreglass roof of our 1956 Jensen 541, but he has also been repairing a hole in the bonnet too.
He repaired the inside first by attaching some meshing which would provide more support for the repair. Once the inside of the hole was sealed, he then repaired the outside.
Repairs like this may seem small but they require high levels of skill and form an important part of the overall restoration project.
A Popular Classic Car – Our 1970 MG C Roadster
October 5, 2022
Our 1970 MG C Roadster has proven itself to be an extremely popular prize on Bridge Classic Cars Competitons.
When the Roadster went live, it didn’t take long for all of the available tickets to sell out. Unfortunately, that means, if you haven’t got a ticket for our live draw yet, you won’t be able to win it for yourself. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy how beautiful this car really is with our photos below.
We think they do a pretty good job of giving you some idea as to why this one sold out so fast!
A Very Special Roof
October 5, 2022
The history of the Jensen 541 is an interesting story that goes all the way back to 1953. Before the release of the 541, Jensen Motors predominantly used aluminium to make the bodywork of their Interceptors. Interestingly, the boot lid of the Jensen Interceptor though was made from fibreglass.
Fibreglass was not commonly used in car manufacturing at the time, so when Jensen released the 541 with a fibreglass body, it was actually the first European production car to be made in this way.
At Bridge Classic Cars, we have a wealth of experience in restoring classic Jensens. Considering only a few hundred 541s were made, we have had several come through our workshop and undergone restoration work with us.
Our classic car technicians work hard to make sure the restored cars are as close to the original specifications as possible. That’s why Alan has been doing some very special work to repair the fibreglass roof of our 1956 Jensen 541.
This type of work may not be seen in many other workshops so we had to take some photos of Alan at work as the restoration of this classic Jensen continues.
Original Wheels Refurbished And Back In The Workshop
October 5, 2022
Our 1999 Rover BRM arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars Workshop with the incorrect aftermarket wheels fitted. After we were able to source a set of original BRM wheels, we sent them off to Wheelworx to be refurbished ready to be fitted onto the car.
The newly refurbished wheels have just arrived back at the workshop and they are looking just as good as we thought they would.
Having the original wheels will go a long way in bringing this classic car back to all of its former glory. We are really excited to see them on the car and we look forward to the first drive with a set of original wheels on this classic Rover.
Rust Issues On Our Vauxhall Omega
October 5, 2022
Our 1999 Vauxhall Omega has spent a bit of time in our workshop recently. During this time, the workshop team have discovered some rust issues that will need to be addressed.
Our classic car technicians will now put together a plan of how to best resolve the issues so we can get the car back out on the road.
More Jensen Parts
October 5, 2022
Classic car technician Paul has been making several different parts that will eventually be used on one of our Jensen restoration projects.
These include parts such as seat runners, bonnet supports, gutter trim, and door frames. All of these will go on to be further prepped before being installed in one of the cars.
Paul also tested Jensen heater box fans as well as cleaning them, painting them, and reassembling them.
Progress, Progress, Progress
October 5, 2022
Brian and Lydia continue to work on the interior of our 1958 Jensen 541R.
Lydia has been busy covering the remaining door card as well as covering the back of the rear squab with black vinyl to give it a neater and more appealing look. She also covered the metal frame that Clinton made, which is the frame that will go in the middle of the rear seats.
Lydia then cut out the carpets for the footwell of the car before moving on to covering the metal for the air vent sliders.
The task Lydia is currently working on is spray painting the metal rails that the air vent sliders will go on.
Meanwhile, Brian has been making new rear cappings, and glueing foam to the cappings before covering them in vinyl.
He also cut the strip of wood that went on to be screwed to the body of the car so the cappings could be attached. Brian then installed the door panels as well as making the patterns for the footwell sound deadening and carpets.
Brian also fitted the door panels before fitting the carpet and sound deadening he made the patterns for earlier.
One extra job that Brian did was to add wood ends to the ceiling pad to make it fit perfectly.
