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Craig Ranson

Managing Director – Bridge Classic Cars

Refining – Bodywork on the 2005 Suzuki Everyvan

July 28, 2022

The paint and body team are working on refining the 2005 Suzuki Everyvan in with Bridge Classic Cars.

Our body and paint tech Alan has been reworking the panels of the tiny campervan to make sure everything lines up perfectly but also each pieces flows correctly into the next while fairing out some of the compound curves at the front of VW look-a-like.

Soon, the microbus will go into the paint booth to be refinished.

Progress – New Seat Mounts and Panel Adjustments on the 1956 Jensen 541

July 28, 2022

The workshop at Bridge Classic Cars have been making good progress on the 1956 Jensen 541 at our Suffolk HQ for restoration.

To begin with, our technician Rob, has made and welded in the new seat mounts into the specially made chassis of the classic GT car and ground them smooth to blend them into the cross member.

After that, Rob could begin to adjustment refine the fitment of the doors by carefully reshaping the front and rear wings to achieve a uniform door gap on both sides of the car.

Check Through – Rewiring the Washer and Tell-Tale Light on the 1979 Porsche 911 Targa

July 28, 2022

Our technician Jon has been carrying on with getting all the wiring of the 1979 Porsche 911 Targa finished up and ready to head off to its new home.

He has wired up the new washer pump (along with the new wipers) and tested them to make sure everything worked correctly and they cleared the screen properly.

Then, Jon could turn his attention to some of the lighting system. The team noted that the signal light for the fog lights wasn’t working correctly, so Jon carried out a small wiring repair to the circuit before testing it and making sure it worked correctly for the new owner.

Small Repair – Repairing and Repainting the Door on the 1984 Lada 1200

July 28, 2022

The paint and body have been working on a small repair to the door of the 1984 Lada 1200.

After the panel itself had been fixed and prepared, the paint team could begin the delicate process of blending the repair back into the cream paint of the rest of the car.

For this, the team used our paint scanner to perfectly match the existing paintwork on the classic Lada. Then, using our paint mixing software our team feathered in the match paintwork to the car.

Qualified – The Bridge Classic Cars Team Get Their Forklift License

July 28, 2022

Recently, the Bridge Classic Cars team have been doing their training for their forklift license.

Earlier this week, it was time to actually take the test! Well, the team passed with flying colours and we can now use our new forklift to help with storage and moving restoration pieces around our various workshops.

Clean Up – Cleaning Up the Wiring on the 1979 Porsche 911 Targa

July 28, 2022

As part of the pre-delivery work on the 1979 Porsche 911 Targa, the workshop team have cleaned up some of the unneeded wiring under the bonnet of the classic aircooled 911.

Jon, one of Bridge Classic Cars restoration technicians, has carefully gone through each wire and system from the main fuse box to check the harness but also remove any redundant wiring to simplify the cars electrical system for its new owner.

After chasing the loom through the car, Jon reformed a couple of small wiring repairs to the main harness before testing each system individually and checking for continuity throughout the car front to back.

Repairs – Inspecting and Repairing the Arch and Sill on the 1986 Daimler DS420

July 28, 2022

The 1986 Daimler DS420 in with Bridge Classic Cars for restoration has been in with our fabrication team to have its arches and sills repaired.

The team have begun the process of stripping back and removing any affected metal to a solid starting point to build out from. The first piece was replacing the wheel arch which had corroded before then moving rearward along the bottom of the classic limousine.

A new handmade patch panel, which was shaped to perfectly match the gentle flair at the bottom of the arch was carefully made and fitted onto the car.

As the team began to inspect and assess the sills of the DS420, they noted the corrosion was quite deep in some areas and would require the area to be repaired and built back up in stages to retain the rigidity of the car.

Working from the rear, the team have begun to cut away any affected areas to gain more access to inspect and repair the sills and channels.

Festival of Classic & Sports Cars – Helmingham Hall

July 28, 2022

Held in association with the Suffolk Vehicle Enthusiasts Club (SVEC). Over 7,000 people attended the 2021 festival.

Over 1000 vehicles attend, representing the last 10 decades of motoring history, including many from Britain’s motoring heyday – marques on display included Alvis, Bristol, Jensen, AC Riley, Armstong Sideley, Lea Francis, Crossley, BSA, Lagonda, Lanchester and Gordon Keeble. The oldest vehicle seen on display was a 1914 Ford Model T and the latest sports car models have included the Chevrolet Corvette and Ford Mustang’s as well as Ferraris’ and Porsche.

Bridge Classic Cars will be there! Pop by our stand to meet the team and take a look at our 1971 MG B Roadster which will be won that afternoon.

Start: 10AM

Finish: 5PM

Behind the Scenes – Shooting the 1971 MG B Roadster at Helmingham Hall

July 26, 2022

After its full check-over by the Bridge Classic Cars workshop, the latest competition car was given the green light to go off for a very special shoot.

The soft and warm light of a summer’s evening set the perfect backdrop for a drive in a classic roadster. The delicate rays of light dancing over its British Racing Green paintwork only highlighted the timeless shape and sophistication of our 1971 MG B Roadster.

The location only added to that air. The stunning Helmingham Hall here in Suffolk, where our MG B Roadster will be won in just over 2 weeks’ time.

The team transported the car into the grounds of the country estate which would be used as the location for this shoot. The team jostled the car into position, perfectly framed by the brick archway of the entrance to the main house, before it was let loose on the grounds with Lucy and Lily at the helm of the classic roadster. The beautiful 1.8-litre 4-cylinder happily singing past the rows of oak trees that line the estate’s meandering roads.

With the roof down, the MG B’s beautiful black interior set a wonderful contrast against its driver and passenger. Highlighting the depth and grace of these much-loved sports cars.

It could have been a scene from a 1970s arthouse film – The amber hues from the building’s glorious red brickwork falling on the parched grass only to be shocked by the richness of the green on the car.

The magical nature of a roadster in summer is something all enthusiast drivers can appreciate. That feeling of letting the outside in, noticing the sights and sounds missed when completely enveloped in the steel and glass canopy of a coupe. Driving purely for the love of driving, nowhere to really go and no time to be there.

This sense of freedom, the air of sophistication and the theatre of life in a classic convertible could be yours. You could win this 1971 MG B Roadster! Head over to the Bridge Classic Cars Competitions website and get your tickets now for this amazing car. The live draw is due to take place at the Helmingham Hall Festival of Classic and Sports Cars on August 4th 2022.

Get your tickets now and be in with a chance of winning this truly breathtaking classic. Or, to check out the full behind-the-scenes gallery and video see below:

Removal – Stripping the Interior Wiring from the 1971 Bristol 411

July 26, 2022

The workshop team have been working on removing the wiring harness from the interior of the 1971 Bristol 411.

The wiring harness, which runs all up and inside the dashboard, has been taken out of the car connector by connector in preparation for the rewiring of the entire car. Each switch, gauge and light on the dashboard has been removed and disconnected from the harness for the team to safely remove and evaluate the dash harness on the bench before working in reverse to get the brand new unit in.

Hands-On – Leo Does His Work Experience at Bridge Classic Cars

July 25, 2022

Last week, Bridge Classic Cars welcomed our latest new face to our Suffolk workshops – Leo.

Leo came in to do his work experience placement with us. He has a passion for all things automotive and plans to get into either motorsports data analysis or motorsport management after qualifying.

While with us, he spent time with our restoration departments who got him to work straight away. The teams reported back that he did a great job and his attention to detail was excellent, especially the work he had done in the trim shop with our trimmer Lydia. Who supervised him from start to finish in making a one-off leather cushion bag.

We want to wish Leo all the best with the future and the best of luck possible in whatever he does moving forward!

Onto the Next Stage – Filler and Primer on the 1958 Jensen 541R

July 25, 2022

The 1958 Jensen 541R has had its filler work completed by the Bridge Classic Cars paint and body team. Chris, one of our paint and body specialist, has been carefully perfecting the body lines and curves of the classic Jensen with minimal filler work.

Each panel and piece was worked on by the team in the absolute pursuit of perfection. From electrical sanders to the finest of sandpaper, the team have made the body of the 1950s GT car superb.

Then, it was time to get all the panels and the body into our in-house spray booth.

The classic Jensen was then taken into the paint booth to have the 2nd round of its primer laid down. First was the normal primer before then having its body and all the panels finished in Polyfan.

The team will then inspect and assess the body before moving on to the next stage of the cars aesthetic work.

Safely Returned – 1960 Jensen 541S Hubcap Returned

July 22, 2022

We’re lucky to have an amazing community surrounding our restoration workshops in Suffolk. Recently on a test drive, the 1960 Jensen 541S ‘Peony’ lost one of its aftermarket wheel trims.

The team at Bridge Classic Cars scoured the road for hours trying to find the wheel trim. We couldn’t find it anywhere – but thankfully our local community came together.

Our local community group put out a message saying they had found a new shiny wheel trim on the same road we had lost it on! Well today, a member of the local litter picking group turned up with our missing trim right to our workshops!

We’re massively grateful for its safe return and we have looked into why the trim fell off in the first place and due to the fit being not as good as an original piece, it worked itself loose.

Put Back – Dash Reassembled and Hoses Back in the 1970 Bristol 411

July 22, 2022

The 1970 Bristol 411 which is in with Bridge Classic Cars to have its left-hand drive conversion done has been worked on by the workshop to complete some of the smaller jobs.

The team have reassembled the dashboard with the various dials and switches fitted back into the wooden surround.

In the engine bay, the team have fit up several new hoses to the classic Bristols V8 engine. The first is the new power steering hoses for the PAS system as part of its left-hand drive conversion with a custom-made steering rack. The hoses for this were made by a local specialist company who we have a good relationship with and have all been properly tested before being fit to the car.

Next, the team could route the new radiator hoses. This were changed over as standard procedure and some small changes to routing due to the PAS system.

Taken Apart – Disassembling the 1959 Jensen 541R

July 22, 2022

The teardown of the 1959 Jensen 541R continues at the Bridge Classic Cars restoration workshop at our Suffolk HQ.

Our restoration technicians have been methodically stripping down the classic GT car to assess and inspect any of the parts which have been taken off the car. One technician, Paul, has been working on stripping down the rear end of the car such as the boot with all of the accompanying fittings and hardware being removed and catalogued.

At the same, Jon has been working in the engine bay of the car. He has been carefully removing the various pipework which runs along the firewall and bulkhead of the car. All of this will be catalogued and reported on its condition.

At Ease – Engine Out of the 1940 Morris C8 Gun Tractor

July 22, 2022

The engine from the 1940 Morris C8 gun tractor has been removed by the Bridge Classic Cars team ahead of its rebuild.

The team carefully removed the engine, after disconnecting the transmission, and loaded it up onto a pallet to be completely inspected and rebuilt for the classic military vehicle. Our technician Jon inched the commercial engine out of the front of the gun tractor to make sure nothing was damaged or moved whilst it was being pulled.

At the Ready – Priming the Bonnet and Boot of the 1986 Daimler DS420

July 22, 2022

The boot and bonnet of the 1986 Daimler DS420 have been in the Bridge Classic Cars paint shop for their next round of work in the lead-up to paint.

The team have carefully rubbed back all of the pannels on-top and underneath before getting the pieces into primer followed by a light coat of Polyfan. This will act as a guide coat for the team when sanding to help identify any low spots which will need to be addressed in order to achieve a perfect finish on the car.

Fresh Metal – Door Repairs on the 1986 Daimler DS420

July 22, 2022

The other door of the 1986 Daimler DS420 has been on the bench in the Bridge Classic Cars fabrication shop to have various metal repairs.

The door of the classic Daimler has suffered some quite serious corrosion in places which have been carefully cut from the door for the team to begin making hand-made patches for the car.

Each of these pieces, after being formed, is then test fit and adjusted to make sure the final fitment is perfect before Monty, one of our fabricators, final welds them into their place making sure each individual piece interacts with any other pieces around it.

Rewire – Removing the Old Wiring from the 1971 Bristol 411

July 22, 2022

The workshop at Bridge Classic Cars are busy removing the old wiring from the 1971 Bristol 411 ahead of its rewire by the team.

Our workshop manager John has been carefully tracing the wiring from front to back on the classic Bristol to make notes on how the new harness will need to be laid out into the car and routed. This involved removing the interior and some of the carpet in order to fully chase the old harness and make a full map of the wiring.

Out with the Old – New Exhaust and Mirrors on the 1954 Jaguar MkVII

July 22, 2022

The workshop team at Bridge Classic Cars have been getting the old parts off and out of the 1954 Jaguar MkVII ahead of the new replacement pieces going in.

To start with, Jon removed the old exhaust from the car to clean up the manifolds. Once cleaned, he could them back into the car and begin putting together the exhaust with the new backbox. This included brand new hardware for the mounts to keep the soundtrack as elegant as this classic Jaguar looks.

Finally, with the exhaust all complete, Jon could fit the new replacement mirrors onto the MkVII and give them a quick polish to finish the car off.

Update – Progress on the 1956 Jensen 541

July 22, 2022

The Bridge Classic Cars workshop have made great progress on the 1956 Jensen 541.

Our technician, Rob, has been working on the front end of the classic Jensen. To begin with, he fully welded in the suspension towers onto the new chassis. This is a crucial stage as it also acts as a tie-in for the front wing braces and forms part of the core support.

Next, Rob could fit the new wheel arches and begin to make the new brackets now that the towers were firmly in place, and accurate measurements could be taken to ensure the inner arches/wings sat squarely in the car and to the frame.

With all of these pieces firmly in place, Rob could begin to test fit the lower part of the front wing. This could then be adjusted for the right fitment and alignment to the body to act as one of the datum points with the fibreglass front end is fitted.

Behind the Scenes – Live Draw of the 1979 Porsche 911 Targa

July 22, 2022

Last night, the Bridge Classic Cars team got together to find out who the lucky new owner of the 1979 Porsche 911 Targa was!

The live stream started off a touch different this time, with Craig and Freddie showing our followers something very exciting that’s coming up soon and letting them witness and experience this amazing red and white beast… but we can’t give too much of it away on here just yet.

The live stream then moved on to Freddie and Craig having a look around our competitions building and giving our views several sneak peeks of what’s coming up very soon. Also, our show coming next Sunday! Head over to our show page here for more information.

Then, at 10 past 7, the competition closed. Only 240 of the 4750 tickets remained at the end and the entry list was made ready for the team.

Then, it was time to run the draw.

As always, we use a Google Random Number Generator to determine the winner. Craig test the system to show the viewers and then it was time. Setting the criteria between 1 and 4750, with one simple click – the fate of the 911 was decided.

The whir of numbers stopped as quickly as it had started. the screen showed 1766. Checking the entry list, that number had been assigned to Richard Smyth.

The team gave Richard a call – as we do with all our live draws. He answered and chatted with Craig letting us into an amazing story. He had wanted a Porsche 911 since he was 9 years old and now, he has his very own 1979 Porsche 911 Targa.

This Just In – 1996 Jaguar XJS V12

July 21, 2022

This stunning 1996 Jaguar XJS V12 has just arrived at Bridge Classic Cars to be transferred over to The Hangar, our secure classic and collectable storage facility in the heart of Suffolk.

This classic Jaguar is part of a group of cars we are storing for a customer and its a pleasure to have it in our care.

This Just In – 1950 Land Rover Series 1

July 21, 2022

Just arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars restoration workshop at our Suffolk HQ is this stunning 1950 Land Rover Series 1.

The classic Land Rover has come in for the teams to assess and inspect the entire car. From there they will compile a report on the truck.

Keep a look out on the Bridge Classic Cars news page very soon for more updates on the 1950 Land Rover Series 1.

Jet Wash – Fitting the Washer System to the 1969 Sunbeam Rapier

July 21, 2022

The workshop team at Bridge Classic Cars have finished up the final job on the 1969 Sunbeam Rapier ahead of the journey to its new home.

The washer system for the car has been completely cleaned through and tested before being refitted to the car. With this job finished, the transport team will soon load the classic Sunbeam into our enclosed trailer to head of to its new owner.

As It Should – Repairs on the 1969 Sunbeam Rapier

July 20, 2022

The 1969 Sunbeam Rapier Fastback has been on the ramp at Bridge Classic Cars to have the last few jobs finished on the car before it heads off to its new owner.

The workshop have been working through the car to rescue one of the seat mounts on the interior which is now fixed down firmly in place before moving on to the handbrake.

The workshop have fitted new handbrake cables to the underside of the classic Sunbeam as well as replacing all the rubber joints in the front suspension of the car.

Hooking Up – Beginning to Wire Up the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk1

July 20, 2022

The workshop at Bridge Classic Cars have begun working on wiring up the beautiful 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk1 in at our Suffolk HQ for full restoration.

Scott, one of our restoration technicians, has been working his way through the classic DB2 to get it to the stage where the team can begin to fit up the new harness and looms into the classic GT car.

Scott has been wiring up the various relays and lights throughout the car, and at the same time fitting the beautifully finished chromework onto the car. As well as that, Scott has been routing the harness through the dashboard and car all the way to the rear lights.

This project is moving along quickly so keep an eye out on the Bridge Classic Cars news page very soon for more updates.

Finishing Touches – Final Dash Panels on the 1970 Bristol 411

July 20, 2022

The trim team at Bridge Classic Cars have been fitting up the final trimmed panels onto the dash of the 1970 Bristol 411.

Brian, one of our in-house trimmers, has been up new dash ends and corners to go along with the leather trimmed panels which cap the bottom edge of the dashboard in the classic Bristol. Each of these pieces has been entirely made and trimmed by hand by the in-house team and now installed on the car.

Coming Soon – 1950 Land Rover Series 1

July 20, 2022

Coming soon to the Bridge Classic Cars workshop at our Suffolk HQ is this wonderful 1950 Land Rover Series 1.

The classic off-roader will be coming in for our various restoration teams to inspect the whole car.

Keep a look out on the Bridge Classic Cars news page very soon for more on the 1950 Land Rover Series 1.

Behind the Scenes – Shooting the 2020 Triumph Street Twin

July 19, 2022

There is something wonderfully simple about riding a motorcycle. The direct, mechanical nature of a machine and its rider at one with each other on the open road. Some names are legendary within the pages of motorcycle history, such as this. Triumph.

Classically, the Bonneville series of motorcycles became synonymous across the world for steadfast engineering and superb performance. This bike is the modern interpretation of those principles. Our 2020 Triumph Street Twin. A modern take on the classical styling of the Bonnevilles, it works as a daily commuter or a knee-down warrior on a glorious Sunday afternoon.

Before the team began, the bike was checked over and inspected by the Bridge Classic Cars workshop who found the bike was in incredible condition covering just over 1200 miles in its life.

With the green light given for the team to go and film with it, it was off to our filming location to get what was needed. The water-cooled 900cc twin sang along the country roads on its way to The Hangar, our director Craig at the helm of the fantastic red and black bike. From there, the team could head out onto the old airforce base and begin to shoot.

The riding style and performance of the Street Twin make it not only comfortable for everyday use but gives the rider a confidence in the machine itself.

And all of this could be yours! This is now our latest competition prize as part of Bridge Classic Cars Competitions. Head over to the website using the link here and enter now for your chance to win this amazing 2020 Triumph Street Twin!

Or to check out the full gallery and video, take a look below:

Bridge Classic Cars are award winning Classic Car Restoration and Maintenance specialists. Your pride and joy is in safe hands with our expert Classic Car Technicians. Take a look at our awards here.

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