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Craig Ranson

Managing Director – Bridge Classic Cars

The Winners Circle – Winner of the 1972 Lotus Elan +2 Takes Delivery

June 17, 2022

The winner of the Bridge Classic Cars 1972 Lotus Elan +2 took delivery of his classic sports car yesterday just in time for summer.

Steven, who won the classic Lotus Elan, entered to win the car and his number was drawn! Part of the prize is also having the car delivered right to your driveway. And what a driveway this now is with the beautiful Elan sat there.

We wish Steven many happy miles with the car and all the best.

Best in Show – The 1959 Jensen 541R ”TEA 541” Wins Big at Jensen Show

June 17, 2022

The 1959 Jensen 541R which was recently in with Bridge Classic Cars for some work has won several trophies at a large Jensen show it was due to attend.

The team here at Bridge Classic Cars are always immensely proud when a car we have worked on gets recognised for its acclaim. So, when the owner sent us over a photo of the car with the Ron Smith Cup and the Members Trophy from the show which turns out was its first show ever!

We had done some set-up, interior and mechanical work on the Jensen in the run-up to it making the trip to the show and we also organised the car to be professionally valeted and cleaned ahead of its competition debut.

On The Cards – Teardown on the Rear Door Cards of the 1954 Bristol 405

June 17, 2022

The trim team at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop have begun work on stripping down the rear door cards of the 1954 Bristol 405 in for restoration.

The team began by carefully removing the coverings to use as a reference for the new ones which will be made at our Suffolk HQ by the trim shop. The team could then inspect any pieces or part which may be able to be refurbished or reused before measuring and checking each of the components that make up the door card.

Everything was then catalogued and the original coverings put into storage to be used at a later date for reference.

Inspection – Going Through the 1958 Jensen 541R

June 17, 2022

The team at Bridge Classic Cars have been working their way through the 1958 Jensen 541R in order to compile a full condition report for the owner of the beautiful 1950s GT car.

Our technician John has gone through the entire car front to back in order to check each individual system as well as a full visual inspection of the car’s mechanicals. He has found a couple of things to note which have been reported back on, one of them being a gap in the spring shackle of the car.

The passenger’s side rear spring shackle shows a gap between the eyelet and hanger which isn’t present on the driver’s side. This is something John has worked on and made a spacer in order to take up the space to ensure everything remains aligned and square.

Secured – Roof Supports Glued into the 1956 Jensen 541 Rear Window

June 17, 2022

The trim team at Bridge Classic Cars have been continuing work on the roof supports of the 1956 Jensen 541.

Previously, our trimmer Brian handmade the roof supports for the rear window of the classic Jensen which have been specifically profiled to fit the recess perfectly. With the pieces now test fit, the team could prepare the area and the pieces before applying the adhesives and clamping them securely down to let cure.

Behind the Scenes – Live Draw of the 1985 Jaguar Sovereign V12

June 17, 2022

First of all, congratulations to David! He won the 1985 Jaguar Sovereign V12 during last night’s draw with ticket number 2631 but, along with the live draw the team gave all of our audience a look around some of the other cars stored in our new building.

The Jaguar Sovereign V12 was the main event of the evening but it was surrounded by either current or possible future competition cars and some amazing restoration/customer cars we keep on site. Hayley and Freddie went all through the classic Jaguar showing everyone watching along on the live stream the fine details and modern luxuries which came as standard when the Sovereign V12 was new.

Then, Hayley handed it over to Nick who went through a little bit about our new online classic sales platform MyClassics. An overview of how, why, what and where it exactly is and that it sits with the enthusiasts at heart, whether that be buying or selling a classic it was designed just for them.

A quick look around the fantastic and eclectic mix of classics stored in our new building from a customers 1932 Lagonda Tourer in for our incredible trim team to work on all the way to a modern Triumph Street Twin motorcycle.

But, everyone watching along wanted to know the answer to the ultimate question which hung in the air. Who did the 1985 Sovereign V12 belong to? We also wanted to find out. Heading over to the screen, the team began that process.

Using our pre-published entry lists (these are generated after ticket sales close or the competition sells out) the team verified that the tickets were within the range of between 1 and 3333. Then, it was over to the Google Random Number Generator to let lady luck take control. Hayley set the criteria and as the screen became awash with whirring numbers, the anticipation rose.

Finally, it landed on a number. 2631.

Consulting the entry list, that particular ticket number had been purchased by David Graham. The new owner of the 1985 Jaguar Sovereign V12. So, as we do with all our live draws we gave him a ring to give him the good news.

When David answered, he was thrilled. He had entered for the Sovereign after always wanting a classic to join in with his friends who restore and enjoy classics up in Scotland and now he has his Jaguar V12 to get involved in the fun!

You can rewatch the live draw on the video below:

In Storage – 2016 Ford Mustang GT

June 16, 2022

The Hangar saw a new addition this week with this 2016 Ford Mustang GT at the Bridge Classic Cars storage facility.

The car will be stored by us for its owner over the summer months.

If you have a classic or collectable car in need of storage, get in touch with us!

Coming Together – Wheel Wells and Front Arches of the 1956 Jensen 541

June 16, 2022

The paint and body shop at Bridge Classic Cars have been continuing with the fibreglass work on the 1956 Jensen 541 in at our Suffolk workshop for restoration.

Previously, the team remade the aluminium wheel wells which were then refinished in hardwearing black before being put into storage. Now, they can be pulled out and the team begin the process of making them into one complete unit.

The aluminium wheel wells have been bonded onto the fibreglass inner wings of the classic 541 before then have layers of fibreglass resined over the edge in order to create a uniform piece. From there, the team began work on the fibreglass filler used to perfect and refine the shapes which make up the pieces.

Refinements – Refining the Tonneau Cover on the 1932 Lagonda 3 Litre Tourer

June 16, 2022

Ahead of its final version, the trim team at Bridge Classic Cars have worked on refining the shape and form of the tonneau cover on the 1932 Lagonda Tourer.

The team made a draft of the cover out of paper, which was then transferred onto vinyl which was used to check for stretch and overall fitment. Once the team and the client was happy with the overall shape and quality, it could then be refined further to perfectly tailor the cover to the car.

Lydia, one of our trimmers, has worked on making sure the stitches and seems all fall and meet in the right place for the best result. Also, checking to make sure that the opening to the clips that hold the cover down are in the right place and not overly sized in order for the cover to remain tight once on the car.

After this, it was transferred onto the black mohair which will make up the final version of this bespoke piece for the car.

Resting Place – Remaking the 1954 Bristol 405 Armrest

June 16, 2022

Our in-house trim team at Bridge Classic Cars have worked meticulously on remaking the armrest of the 1954 Bristol 405 which is in for restoration.

The team completely stripped the old piece down to its base parts in order to assess and refurbish any pieces that require attention. The original wooden bases were cleaned up and reused while the foams were completely remade from scratch and shaped to fit.

Gone Through – Inspection of the 1972 Jaguar E-Type V12 Roadster

June 16, 2022

The Bridge Classic Cars workshop have been working on inspecting the 1972 Jaguar E-Type V12 Roadster along with carrying out some small repairs on the classic Jaguar.

The team have checked through the underside and all major components of the classic sports GT and found some areas which will require attention in the future. There are some areas of corrosion starting to form on the underside of the car, several of those have been cleaned up and sealed by the team, as well as some pipework which is out of shape.

One of the jobs the team have done is to replace a split radiator hose which works to cool the V12. This had a quite severe split in the front section so the team removed it from the car and fitted a replacement piece before refill and checking the levels.

Run Through – Road Testing the 1951 Jaguar XK120 Roadster

June 16, 2022

The restoration workshop have been tasked to look into a few items for the owner of the stunning 1951 Jaguar XK120 Roadster. To look into some of those issues, the classic Jaguar roadster has been carefully road tested by the team.

Firstly, our restoration technician Jon has been testing the car to try and locate the mentioned unusual engine noise from the straight-six. The team will test the car in varying conditions (driven, idle, visual inspection) in order to look into any possibilities for the noise.

With the XK120 Roadster back into our workshop, tucked away in the Suffolk countryside, it will be moved onto one of our ramps to begin visual inspections of the car and some other items noted by its owner.

Out & About – Mercedes 280 W111 Convertible Spotted Locally

June 16, 2022

The Bridge Classic Cars team spot classics in our everyday lives away from the workshops and this morning, we spotted this beautiful Mercedes 280SE W111 Convertible locally.

The classic Mercedes was parked down the road from our main workshops in Pettistree so when we saw the car sat there we had to grab a few pictures of it.

Best Ride – Replacing the Front Shock Absorbers on the 1975 MG B GT V8

June 16, 2022

The workshop at Bridge Classic Cars have replaced the front shock absorbers on the 1975 MG B GT V8 in with us.

Upon inspection, our technicians noted there were a few leaks coming from the components so replacements were ordered. Once they arrived in stock, Jon began to remove the old components from the front suspension to cross-check them against the new pieces.

With everything checked, the new shock absorbers could be put into place and tightened down. Before the car was road tested and given the all-clear by the workshop.

In Place – Fitting the Sunroof and Working on the Headliner of the 1987 Daimler Double Six

June 16, 2022

The trim team at Bridge Classic Cars have been working alongside the workshop team on the roof of the 1987 Daimler Double Six.

The workshop technicians fitted the sunroof and its mechanism into place on the classic Daimler as part of its reassembly following its time with the paint and body team. Once in place, the trim team could begin to work the headliner into position around the opening.

Brian, one of our trimmers, carefully cut into the new headlining to be able to fix the headliner into position around the channels and to the roof itself.

From Scratch – New Wooden Rear Window Beams for the 1956 Jensen 541

June 16, 2022

The interior trim team at Bridge Classic Cars have worked on crafting new wooden support beams for the 1956 Jensen 541 in for restoration.

Brian, one of our trimmers, made templates of the original pieces to begin work on carefully cutting and angling the new pieces of pine into the factory position. Each of these pieces were first rough cut before being refined to ensure the perfect fit as these pieces not only add a bit of support to the rear window opening but will also allow the trim team a place to attach the headliner once the interior of the car begins to go in.

Each of the two pieces which made up the beam are cut by hand and then offered up as no two are perfectly uniformed due to the handmade nature of the cars originally.

Set Up – Cleaning and Setting Up The Carburettors, and Sorting the Ignition Issue on the 1970 Jaguar XJ

June 15, 2022

The 1970 Jaguar XJ has been in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop for our technicians to look into some running issues with the classic saloon car.

To begin with, our technician Jon road tested the car to confirm the issue with the car and to find out the situation the issue would arise in. After confirming the fault, he could begin to work his way through the fuel and ignition systems in the engine bay.

After inspecting, decided to strip and rebuild the carburettors to make sure that they were clean, clear and working just as they should do. Once rebuilt, they could be put back onto the manifold to begin testing again. The issue had become better but it still had some areas that Jon needed to investigate. He noticed a broken wire inside the distributor which was repaired, and the car was retested but again did not resolve the issue.

The team then took the decision to upgrade the ignition system to an electronic set-up and programme in the correct timing gap and curve to work with the car. After road test, Jon reported that the car worked just as it should do.

Coming Soon – 1953 Armstrong Siddeley Hurricane

June 15, 2022

Soon the Bridge Classic Cars restoration workshop will have a new resident. This 1953 Armstrong Siddeley Hurricane which is due to come in for a recommission for its owner.

The team originally went to collect the car and bring it back to our Suffolk HQ but upon arrival found the brakes/wheels were seized and couldn’t be moved out of position. So, the collection has been rescheduled for August where some of the workshop team will go to free up the issue and get the Hurricane loaded into our enclosed trailer.

Up For Sale – 1972 MG Midget

June 15, 2022

The 1972 MG Midget which recently arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop has gone up for sale!

The classic MG has been checked over by our workshop who have noted a couple of jobs which will be done before the car is sold, the front brakes will be rebuilt along with new bushes on the underside.

The car is up live now eBay and our no fees classic car sales platform, MyClassics!

Piece by Piece – Fibre Glass Repairs on the 1956 Jensen 541

June 15, 2022

The paint and body team at Bridge Classic Cars have been carrying out a series of delicate fibreglass repairs to the bodyshell of the 1956 Jensen 541.

The team have been working on the joins between the front pillars and the windscreen surround which over time had cracked. The team carefully strapped the piece into place to make sure the piece was in alignment once the resin had set.

Along with this piece the team also had to carry out some repairs on the rear body section in places around the wheel wells to repair some small cracks and thin areas.

Coming Back Together – Reassembly of the 1987 Daimler Double Six Begins

June 15, 2022

The restoration workshop at Bridge Classic Cars have begun the process of reassembling the 1987 Daimler Double Six following its time with our paint and body team.

The team began by getting the sunroof panel installed into the mechanism to be able to fit back into the roof of the Daimler so the trim team can come to help with the trim panels that surround it.

After the sunroof was back in the car, the team moved on to getting the sill plate mounted into the car and test fitting the polished plates onto the car.

Deep Dive – Stripping Back the 1986 Daimler DS420

June 15, 2022

The paint and body team at Bridge Classic Cars have been stripping the 1986 Daimler DS420 further in preparation for its restoration. Previously the team had noticed a few areas of corrosion which required further exploration to ensure the whole car could be completely assessed.

Once the team had begun to dive deeper into the classic Daimler limo, a lot of the history of the car had become evident. The team had found years of repairs/quick fixes across the body of the car, especially lower down in the car mainly the sills and quarter panels. Both of these had excessive amounts of body filler in them which the team had to sand through in order to inspect the bare metal that lay behind it.

However, upon inspecting the higher parts of the car it is in relatively good shape with only a few small areas requiring the attention of the fabrication team.

Root Cause – Getting to the Bottom of the 1975 MG B GT V8’s Oil Leak

June 15, 2022

The 1975 MG B GT V8 has come back to visit the Bridge Classic Cars workshop for the team to have a look at an oil leak reported by the owner of the car, Roger, who won the car from us back in December.

The car has been used and enjoyed by Roger but after a drive noticed an oil leak coming from the B GT V8 and had it looked at by another garage locally to him who unfortunately didn’t seem to find the problem. So, Roger asked if the car could be looked at by the team here.

Once it arrived and our technician Jon got it onto a ramp, he could see the oil sump had taken a considerable hit at some point and he suspects this had caused the gasket to partially blow out due to the edges (which make up the mating surface for the gasket) to roll outwards and not seal correctly.

So, the team cleaned out the original sump for the car and carefully cleared off the paper gasket to begin reshaping the sump whilst we waited for the new cork-style gasket to be delivered. Once it arrived in stock, Jon could fit the new replacement gasket and fit the cleaned and reshaped sump to the underside of the V8 and top up with fluids.

Cleaned Out – Stripping and Cleaning the Carburettors on the 1972 Lotus Elan +2

June 15, 2022

Whilst having its pre-delivery inspection, the 1972 Lotus Elan +2 developed a slight running issue. So, the Bridge Classic Cars workshop team have taken the carburettors off the car to look into the problem.

After removing the set of carbs from the classic Lotus our technician, Jon, could begin investigating what the issue was. In the carburettor bowls, he found that some sediment had built up and caused some small fuelling issues. So, the entire set-up was methodically stripped down to its base components before each individual piece was cleaned, inspected and tested before being put back together and refit to the car.

After this, the car was run up and then road tested, coming back with an all-clear from the workshop team ahead of its new life with its new owner.

In Place – Finishing the Metal Repairs to the Rear Quarter Panel of the 1969 Morris Minor Convertible

June 15, 2022

The Bridge Classic Cars fabrication shop have been working towards completing all the crucial metal repairs to the 1969 Morris Minor Convertible in for restoration.

The team have worked on securing and repairing the substructures beneath the rear quarter panels which were heavily corroded and needed to be carefully cut out and replaced with new pieces and then methodically welded into place to add the much-needed structure beneath the classic Morris.

With the substructures repaired and covered in rust-proofing treatment, the team could begin work on fitting the closing panel which will be blended into the existing body work by our paint and body team later in the car’s restoration journey.

New Lease of Life – Refurbishing Rear Seat Parts on the 1954 Bristol 405

June 15, 2022

The interior trim team have worked on refurbishing and refinishing several key parts of the rear seats for the 1954 Bristol 405 currently in with Bridge Classic Cars.

Lydia, one of our trim team, has carefully stripped back the parts to bare metal to fully assess and inspect each individual piece before then preparing them to be refinished in hard-wear durable black paint.

With these pieces now curing, the team can carry on with the retrim of the rear squab seat in the classic Bristol.

Adventure Time – The 1973 Jaguar E-Type V12 Series 3 Roadster Collected

June 15, 2022

The Bridge Classic Cars team have delivered our beautiful 1973 Jaguar E-Type V12 Series 3 Roadster to its owner ahead of the car being taken on holiday.

The team met up with Stephen in Folkstone to hand over Fern Grey on his way to France on holiday where the car will join the 1973 Triumph TR6 on its adventures in France.

Fern Grey has been built entirely to Stephen’s specification by our in-house restoration teams who have spent countless hours building, perfecting and testing the beautiful V12 E-Type for this moment and its life with its owner afterwards.

We look forward to hearing about the Jaguar’s adventures over the summer in France and wish Stephen many happy miles in this incredible GT car.

To go back and look at the entire 1973 Jaguar E-Type V12 Series 3 Roadster project, click here!

Next Phase – Moving the 1978 MG B GT Into Paint Preparation

June 15, 2022

The 1978 MG B GT has moved from the workshop into the Bridge Classic Cars preparation area for our paint and body team to start work.

With all the metal work and repairs complete on the bodyshell, the classic sports car has been transferred into the paint and body department for the team to begin preparing the body for the next phase of its restoration.

We’re excited to show you the beginning of the next phase of the journey with the 1978 MG B GT very soon.

Coming Soon – 1958 Jensen 541R

June 15, 2022

Arriving soon at the Bridge Classic Cars restoration workshop at our Suffolk HQ is this 1958 Jensen 541R.

The car will be coming over from the Netherlands to join our other 541 projects that the workshop teams are hard at work on.

Keep an eye out on the Bridge Classic Cars news page soon for more on this incredible project.

The Winners Circle – Winner of the 1973 Triumph TR6 Comes to Collect Her Car

June 15, 2022

Yesterday, the Bridge Classic Cars team welcomed Valerie to our restoration workshop to collect her 1973 Triumph TR6 she won through Bridge Classic Cars Competitions.

Valerie came down to take delivery of her beautiful Saffron Yellow TR6 and to have a look around our workshops at some of our restoration projects. Whilst she was collecting the car, we found out it was Valerie’s birthday! What a day it would be. Valerie, her son and her partner made the trip from Norfolk to collect the car and drive it home.

It’s always an incredible part of the story when you get to see someone’s reaction for the first time seeing their new classic in the metal for the first time. As Valerie said, the morning after she had won the car she still couldn’t believe it and had to ask if she had actually won it. This isn’t the first car Valerie won however, in 1991 she won a brand new Rover Metro through a competition by Heinz.

Still, this TR6 is a beautiful addition to the family so this morning Valerie sent us over a photo of ”Caramac” alongside the family Delorean in its new home.

We all want to wish Valerie many happy miles and hope she enjoys her new classic.

And here’s the video of Valerie collecting her 1973 Triumph TR6 from the Bridge Classic Cars workshop:

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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