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Craig Ranson

Managing Director – Bridge Classic Cars

Coming Soon – 2017 Ducati Scrambler 800 Cafe Racer

July 6, 2022

Coming soon to the Bridge Classic Cars workshop is this beautiful Black & Bronze 2017 Ducati Scrambler Cafe Racer.

This bike is for our director Craig, but before that the team will give it a full check over and make sure its in tip-top working order.

Expect to see more very soon here on the Bridge Classic Cars news page.

New Arrivals – Classics in for Storage

July 6, 2022

The Bridge Classic Cars storage facility, The Hangar, received some new residents yesterday.

These classics belong to a good friend of Bridge Classic Cars, Karl. Karl won our 1957 Triumph TR3A as part of our Bridge Classic Cars Competitions. Karl is having some work done on his house so has had his classics sent up to us here in Suffolk to be cared for in our Hangar.

They’re all now covered up, ready and waiting for their owner to welcome them home.

Starting Anew – New Seat Base Foams for the 1958 Jensen 541R

July 6, 2022

The trim shop at Bridge Classic Cars have worked their skill and craft in making the brand new seats foams for the 1958 Jensen 541R. The team discovered what was left of the original cushion material after the covers were removed and could then begin to build them out of new, more modern materials.

Lydia, one of our amazing trimmers, carefully put together the combinations of foams in different thicknesses and densities to give the right amount of support once the seat base is all back together.

Once the pieces had been put together, Lydia could begin to hand shape the foams to their original contours to slip under the new covers which will be made by our in-house team.

Behind the Scenes – Live Draw of the 1993 Land Rover Defender 90

July 6, 2022

Slightly out of synch with the usual competition calendar this week. The Bridge Classic Cars team are bringing you two live draws! This Thursday the 1957 MG A Roadster and 1997 Rover Mini will be won at 7pm on our Facebook page. But last night, we found out who the lucky new owner of our 1993 Land Rover Defender was.

At 7pm exactly, the team went live across the internet. In the hour previously, it almost looked like the Mini was going to be drawn too! But, while we waited to see if this was going to happen Hayley and Freddie took all our amazing followers on a look around the stable of stunning classics which are kept safe and dry in our new competition building. Some of these are customers’ cars which have either been finished by our restoration workshops or are in storage while parts are on their way to our Suffolk HQ.

But, a few of them may or may not be upcoming competition cars…

After going around the eclectic mix of incredible machines, it was time for the team to find out the future of the 1993 Land Rover Defender 90. The competition had actually sold out early that day, so just like all of our competitions the entry lists are published on our website with every ticket number that had been bought with the corresponding name.

To find out who would be getting this stunning Corris Grey off-roader delivered directly to their door, the team use Google Random Number Generator. So, after testing that everything was working correctly with numbers outside the criteria. Hayley entered for the programme to choose between 1 and 3499. With a single click of the button, we had a winner.

Ticket number 2525 – The lucky number allocated to David. As always, we do try to contact the winners live on the Facebook stream but we had to leave David a voicemail to let him know the amazing news.

Remember! You could win a dream classic again this week. Although the 1997 Rover Mini completely sold out overnight, there is still incredible odds on the 1957 MG A Roadster – Enter now and you could be the new owner of this beautiful piece of sports car history.

Or, to rewatch the live draw, check out the video below:

In Colour – 1978 MG B GT Painted in Blaze Orange

July 5, 2022

The paint and body team at Bridge Classic Cars have got the 1978 MG B GT refinished in its original colour, Blaze Orange.

The team have laid down several layers of bright, vibrant orange on the body shell and panels of the classic MG B. The car will be taken out of the booth after the paint has begun to cure and left to fully harden before being colour sanded and polished.

This is a massive milestone in the restoration of the 1978 MG B GT!

Stopping Power – Overhauling the Rear Brake Calipers on the 1970 Bristol 411

July 5, 2022

The 1970 Bristol 411, which is for restoration and left-hand drive conversion at Bridge Classic Cars, has had its rear brakes completely overhauled by the team in the workshop.

The technicians at our Suffolk HQ have completely gone through the rear callipers on the car before getting reinstalled back on the classic GT. After double checking the tolerances, the team confirmed everything would work on the classic Bristol.

Nostalgia – 1955 Jensen 541 ”Number 8” and Its Former Life

July 5, 2022

Our 1955 Jensen 541 ”Number 8” has an amazing history. Through reference materials and historical documents, EX9090 is believed to be only the 8th Jensen 541 to be built by the factory. Through the years, it had been worked on, changed, rebuilt, and modified until it was a shadow of its former self.

We found the car in Lincolnshire as a parts car. Missing was the 4-litre straight-six it would have originally been supplied with, replaced with a Jaguar straight-six of the same time. The seats also appeared to be out of another car and its bright red paintwork had flaked, cracked and weathered. We know this from these photos we were sent of the car in what appears to be the early to mid-1990s from the background objects referenced.

But it wasn’t always this way. The other photos we were sent across are of another Jensen 541 which is in a matching colour scheme to how our 1955 Jensen 541 was originally delivered.

After checking documents and reference sources, we too believe that this is how the car was originally supplied in 1955. As part of its eventual restoration commission, this car will be put back to all original specifications, as seen in the photographs, and reunited with the 4-litre straight-six, a hallmark of the character of the car.

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Primed & Ready – Getting the 1978 MG B GT Ready for Paint

July 5, 2022

The body shop team at Bridge Classic Cars have handed over the 1978 MG B GT to our in-house paint team to get the classic sports car ready for colour!

The team have been working on refining the lines and form of the MG B GT in our body prep area before it was taken into the paint prep bay to be thoroughly cleaned down for its final stages of primer and reworking.

The team always make sure that every panel is inspected and checked over before the car enters the booth and any dust or debris is removed from the car before mask up and again afterwards. The team then could use Polyfan on the shell to recheck for any low spots once it has been sanded off the body and any adjustments made.

Then after another clean-down, it was taken into the boot/oven once more for the final primer to be laid. Whilst the primer was curing, the team could begin to seam seal the boot and engine bay of the classic M B and another layer of primer laid down in those areas.

Remove & Rebuild – Teardown, Refurb and Refoam of the 1958 Jensen 541R Seats

July 5, 2022

The trim team at Bridge Classic Cars have been working on refurbishing the front seats of the 1958 Jensen 541R which is in at our Suffolk workshops from Holland.

The interior of the car has been put in the hands of our trimmer Lydia who has been working on stripping down the original seat ahead of not only its rebuild but its new colour.

To begin with, the team have separated the front and back of the fibreglass bucket seat in order to begin removing the original black coverings which have been put to one side as use for references in the new templates. Then, the team could begin separating the foam from the bases.

Once completed stripped down to its base components, the team could sand back the pieces and anything that needed to be repainted could be done properly.

After that, Lydia could work on setting the new foam pieces into place before beginning to refine and contour them into the correct shape and form for the new blue coverings which the team will make specifically for the car.

Spotted – Jaguar MkII in Woodbridge

July 5, 2022

The Bridge Classic Cars team spotted this fantastic classic Jaguar over the weekend.

One of the team was working in Woodbridge, a town just down the road from our workshops, and spotted this stunning white Jaguar MkII parked up on the road.

It’s always a welcomed sight to see a classic out there being used.

Out & About – Heveningham Tour & Concours

July 5, 2022
Photos from Gary Morgan

This weekend saw the greatest gathering of classics, collectables and rarities from the classic car world gather at Heveningham Hall here in Suffolk. The annual Heveningham Concours.

For any petrolhead from Essex to Lincoln, it is definitely one to put on the list.

Friends of ours from the East Coast Retros Facebook group (Gary Morgan & David Front) went along for not only the Concours but for the Heveningham Tour. A drive out for many of the cars being shown on the lawn but also some local members’ pride and joys, possibly one of the only places you could see a Ferrari 250SWB Berlinetta with a Volkswagen Type 2 Campervan sharing the limelight.

Below is a gallery of some photos taken by David and Gary from this year’s event:

Photos by David Frost & Gary Morgan

This Just In – 2003 Lexus SC430

July 4, 2022

Just arrived at our Suffolk HQ is this beautiful 2003 Lexus SC430 for the teams to have a look at.

The early 2000s V8 convertible will be inspected by the various departments here at Bridge Classic Cars who will gather their findings and report back.

Keep a look out on the Bridge Classic Cars news page very soon for more on the 2003 Lexus SC430

Fine Adjustments – Adjusting the Framework of the 1956 Jensen 541

July 4, 2022

The workshop team at Bridge Classic Cars has been making the fine adjustments to the inner framework of the 1956 Jensen 541 in with us at our Suffolk HQ for restoration.

Rob, one of our technicians, has carefully had the fibreglass body panels placed around the framework and on top of the chassis of the classic Jensen to check for any adjustments needed to get the bodywork fit and square on the 541. Bit by bit, he has made adjustments to the steel pieces to allow the body to sit correctly on top of the chassis.

Not only was this for the rear clamshell but for the all-important fibreglass roof and windscreen panel.

Refinements – Bodywork Begins on the 1969 Morris Minor Convertible

July 4, 2022

The in-house body shop at Bridge Classic Cars have begun the process of refining the bodywork on the 1969 Morris Minor Convertible.

After its time in the fabrication shop, it was transferred across our Suffolk HQ to our body preparation technicians. The team first assessed the Minor Convertible to see where they would need to focus their work. The work has begun with minimal filler work to the pannels to create the right shape and curve to the individual pieces which make up the body of the classic Morris.

Keep an eye out on the Bridge Classic Cars news page for more very soon on the restoration of the 1969 Morris Minor Convertible.

Inside Work – Stripping The Interior of the 1959 Jensen 541R

July 4, 2022

The in-house trim team at Bridge Classic Cars have been working with our workshop to carefully and completely remove the interior from the 1959 Jensen 541R as part of its restoration journey.

Brian, one of our trimmers, has removed everything from the inside of the 541R. All of these pieces will be stored to use as a template and if anything can be reused or refurbished for the car. Everything from the headliner to the seat runners have been taken out of the car for the team to carefully look through and assess.

Teardown – Stripping Down the 1959 Jensen 541R

July 1, 2022

The workshop team at Bridge Classic Cars have begun the process of carefully stripping down the 1959 Jensen 541R ahead of its restoration beginning.

The workshop team have worked alongside our trimmers to remove everything from both the inside and outside of the classic GT car. Even under the front clamshell, the wiring and various hoses have been removed in preparation for the 4 litre straight-six engine to be pulled out.

Once this is complete, the team can begin to remove the bodywork from the frame to assess and inspect the running gear move thoroughly.

To see some more detailed shots from our workshop on the teardown of the 1959 Jensen 541R, check them out below:

New Face – Josh Does His Work Experience at Bridge Classic Cars

July 1, 2022

This week at Bridge Classic Cars we’ve welcomed new team member Josh. He’s been here to do his week’s work experience shadowing the technicians across our restoration teams.

Josh is currently studying Maths, Physics and IT but has a love for classic cars and in particular Ford Mustangs. He has been working alongside our technicians who have been showing him what goes into restoring and preserving classic cars to the standard we do here at our Suffolk HQ.

Today is Josh’s final day with the team. So we paired him up with our master fabricator Clinton who gave him the task of creating a metal box complete with lid and legs using only hand tools to show him the core elements of fabrication. This involved accurate measuring and cutting as well as understanding that one change has a knock-on effect to the next phase of the piece.

It’s been great having Josh here, with the team happy to share their skills and knowledge with the next generation of petrolhead.

And here’s the results of his hard work under Clinton’s watchful eye!

Matched – Finishing the Other Squab Seat on the 1954 Bristol 405

July 1, 2022

The trim team at Bridge Classic Cars have completed the 2nd squab seat for the 1954 Bristol 405 which is in for restoration with us at our Suffolk HQ.

The team have made an exact copy of the other squab seat which was completed earlier. Both of these pieces have been carefully wrapped up and stored ready for the cars reassmebly.

Keep a look out on the Bridge Classic Cars news page for more on the 1954 Bristol 405 very soon.

Perfect Lines – Bodywork on the 1958 Jensen 541R

July 1, 2022

The body shop at Bridge Classic Cars have been refining the bodywork on the 1958 Jensen 541 after its fibreglass repairs have cured.

The team use a specialist fibreglass filler to perfect the lines on the classic 1950s GT car and make sure that everything is just right for the car. The team will only use filler where absolutely necessary and the vast majority will be completely sanded from the body.

This is the first step into the team getting the car ready for its Ice Blue respray.

Heveningham Hall Concours – 2nd & 3rd of July 2022

July 1, 2022

This weekend , the 2nd and 3rd of July, sees the return of the most prestigious classic car spectacle in Suffolk of the year. The renowned Heveningham Concours.

Held on the lawn of Heveningham Hall here in Suffolk, the house is opened up to a country fair with a separate area for the county’s petrolheads to fall in love with the priceless metal put on display for people to see.

You can get your tickets over on the Hevenigham Hall website by clicking here! And hopefully, we’ll see some of you there.

Until then, enjoy some of the photos taken by our own Nick a few years ago!

Progress – Framework Fit on the 1956 Jensen 541 Chassis

July 1, 2022

The workshop at Bridge Classic Cars is working on the chassis of the 1956 Jensen 541 currently in for its full restoration by us here in Suffolk.

Recently the team have been working on adjusting and refining the brand new chassis for the classic GT car. Now with the majority of the reinforcements and adjustments in place, the team can begin to fit up the various framework pieces which create the substructure for the body.

A network of cross-linked metal channels combine to create the skeleton of the car. The team had to make sure the chassis was perfect before this could be done to ensure the framework sits exactly where it should do at this key stage.

Strip Down – Tearing Down the Seats and Panels of the 1958 Jensen 541R

July 1, 2022

The trim team have begun the interior side of restoring the 1958 Jensen 541R. The first stage is to strip back the fibreglass bucket seats and rear panels.

The team carefully unpick all of our restoration pieces, catalogue each piece and store it for templating later. With the team having done over a dozen Jensen 541 interiors by this point, they have perfected the art of disassembly on them.

The team begin by separating the base from the back and then remove everything down to its fixings, covers and foams in order to inspect and assess any of them.

The team also stripped down the handmade rear quarter panels to their coverings, backboards and the hand shape wooden framework.

Out Back – New Boot Trim for the 1987 Daimler Double Six

July 1, 2022

The Bridge Classic Cars trim shop have turned their attention to the rear of the 1987 Daimler Double Six which is in our workshop for reassembly as part of its restoration.

The team have made a new boot top trim piece for the classic Daimler. Using the original as a template, the team have carefully recreated the original piece to be a perfect fit under the decklid. Along with that, the team have also made new smaller panels out of mil board for the boot of the car.

Safe & Sound – 1968 Morris Minor Van Delivered to Scotland

July 1, 2022

The Bridge Classic Cars transporter team have delivered the 1968 Austin Morris Minor Van to its new owner up in Scotland!

The transport team loaded up the classic Morris Minor Van into our enclosed trailer for its long journey from our Suffolk HQ to begin its new life in Arbroath, Scotland with the Cargill’s. Robert entered our competition to win the classic Van which will be used for his wife’s cattery business and as something for a Sunday drive while enjoying the various country roads which wind their way through that area of Scotland.

We want to wish Robert and his wife many happy miles with their Austin Morris Minor Van and can’t wait to see the adventures it goes on!

This Just In – 1955 Jensen 541 Arrives at the Bridge Classic Cars Workshop

July 1, 2022

The 1955 Jensen 541, which records show is the 8th car ever built, has arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars Suffolk HQ.

The team recently picked up the classic Jensen from its previous owner in Lincolnshire before being bought home to Suffolk for our team to inspect. As soon as it came out of our enclosed trailer, the workshop technicians began to roughly reassemble the car’s panels back onto the framework before it was loaded back up and taken to our secure storage facility, The Hangar, to await its commission.

Keep a look out here on the Bridge Classic Cars news page very soon for more updates on this very early 1955 Jensen 541.

Coming Soon – 2003 Lexus SC430

July 1, 2022

Arriving soon at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop is this 2003 Lexus SC430.

The luxury sports car will be coming in for our restoration teams to inspect and assess the car before compiling their reports on the condition of the early 2000s V8 convertible.

Keep an eye out on the Bridge Classic Cars news page very soon for more updates.

Behind the Scenes – Photographing the 1997 Rover Mini

June 29, 2022

It’s the latest competition car from Bridge Classic Cars! This stunning 1997 Rover Mini is now live and ready to be won.

The classic Mini happily made its way over from our workshop to The Hangar in preparation for filming after being given a clean bill of health during its workshop inspection by the team.

Then, it was time for the team to get to work on capturing this amazing Metallic Maroon driver-focused classic Mini for you to enter. The 1275cc 4-cylinder engine was the perfect soundtrack through the twin exhausts, paired with the clubman buckets, harnesses and the half-cage. This Mini takes advantage of the wider body arches with wider wheels finished in anthracite grey, giving you the confidence to keep pushing and reach its full potential.

The pint-sized bruiser couldn’t help but make each of us smile either driving it or seeing it. It was poised and purposeful, ready to take on anything a good B-Road could throw at it.

And now, it could be yours. This 1997 Rover Mini is now live and waiting to be won by one very lucky winner. Click here to enter now and get your tickets for this incredible classic Mini.

Out & About – 1966 Jaguar MkII 3.8 at Simply Jaguar, Beaulieu

June 29, 2022

The winner of our 1966 Jaguar MkII 3.8 has sent in some photos of the car at its first outing at historic Beaulieu.

The car took part in the show Simply Jaguar where it was joined by nearly every generation and modern of Jaguar possible. From early SS cars to the newest F-Type, everything was on display along with the normal exhibitions at the National Motor Museum.

We love to see our competition cars out there in the world!

Coming Soon – 1981 Triumph TR7 V8

June 29, 2022

Coming soon to the Bridge Classic Cars workshop at our Suffolk HQ is this 1981 Triumph TR8.

The classic Triumph will be coming in to be assessed and inspected by our workshop team and who will compile a report on the car.

Keep a look out very soon on the Bridge Classic Cars news page for more updates on the 1981 Triumph TR8.

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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