Craig Ranson

Managing Director โ€“ Bridge Classic Cars

Aircooled Cool – The REC 901 Watch

Bridge Classic Cars Competitions is giving one lucky winner the chance to win an air-cooled Porsche! But, it’s been made into a watch…

REC has launched the 901. A beautiful timepiece inspired by the early Porsche 911 (901) so much so that part of it is actually made from the metal of salvaged Porsche 911.

901 is the reference to the early cars created by Porsche before the dispute with Peugeot over the use of the 901 name. After this, Porsche changed the new cars name to 911. The REC 901’s dials are a reference to the early dials that lay in the minimal and iconic dashboard of the early Porsches. Much like the 911, the 901 watch is a stunning piece of engineering, style and precision that can be worn every day and also like the car, is for all occasions.

On the back of the watch, as a cover for the internals, is a Fuchs alloy. The iconic daisy style wheel that was used on air-cooled Porsche road and race cars all the way to the present day. A lovely little touch to further connect it to the car that gave up its metal to create this stunning timepiece.

Along with this watch, is a stunning print from The Automobilist featuring a fiery orange coloured 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7RS. One of the most iconic Porsche road and race cars of all time along with being the genesis of the Porsche GT programme.

It is available now to win! With only 911 tickets available at launch, enter now to make sure you don’t miss out on owning this piece of air-cooled Porsche memorabilia.

Click here to enter for the REC Watches 901 911 Watch Bundle.

Behind the Scenes – Shooting the 1984 BMW 635CSi

The rain had torn down throughout the night before. By the morning, the autumn air was fresh and moving as we pulled the 1984 BMW 635CSi out of the hanger at RAF Bentwaters.

This iconic 1980s example of a German grand tourer is stunning. It drives like a dream with its automatic gearbox and light handling. Charlotte began the drive around the filming area of the airbase to let the car slowly come up to temperature, once everything was just right. We began to work on the film that you can see right here!

The E24 6 series is a legendary sportscar. It was the pinacle of luxury and performance for the Bavarian brand when first launched and all the way during its decade long production run.

As part of our photoshoots, there are a series of static photos on the base. Even stood still, the car looked like it was doing 100MPH such is the timeless styling of the E24.

You could win this very car though! Bridge Classic Cars Competitions is going to make one lucky winner the new owner of this 1984 BMW E24 635CSi by clicking the link below.

Click here to enter for your chance to win the 1984 BMW 635CSi

Sound Control – Fitting and Binding the Front Carpet of the 1970 Dodge Charger

There’s been some big progress on the 1970 Dodge Charger currently in the trim shop at Bridge Classic Cars.

Kath had to cut the carpet to get a good fit during the test fit of the piece but rather than leave it, she has bound the edge to match the original edging fitted to the carpet set. Now with the piece ready to be fitted, it was time to get the final bits of sound deadening in place.

Carefully the trim shop put the new sound deadening material into place using reference photos to get them into the same placement as the original.

Once the sound deadening was firmly in place, Kath then began the process of laying the carpet panel into its place and securing it. Using high-spec carpeting adhesive, the carpet was laid into the Charger’s front footwell and firmly in place.

Next will be getting the trims, consoles and seats ready to go into this iconic American Muscle Car.

Behind the Scenes – Live Draw of the 1966 Sunbeam Alpine, 1983 Ford Capri and TAG Heuer Watch

Last Thursday, Bridge Classic Cars held its biggest ever prize draw! Also, we gave those watching along a sneak peek at our next competition car…

Going live at our Hanger in Bentwaters, the watchers on our Facebook page were greeted with the 1966 Sunbeam Alpine and the 1983 Ford Capri 1.6 which within the next half an hour would find their latest owners. During the live stream, we also gave a bit of a tour around the hanger. Showing the viewers the different projects and cars in for storage with ourselves while also having a walk around some of the upcoming competition cars like the 1971 Morris Traveller and the 2021 Lotus Elise Sport 240 Final Edition.

Then it was time to let everyone watching in on a little secret… The next competition car from Bridge Classic Cars Competitions. A 1984 BMW 635CSi which has been in our workshops getting prepared for its launch on the competition website.

The nights draw began with the draw of several players winning ยฃ20 Bridge Classic Cars Credit to use on the competition’s website and the lucky winner of our Tag Heuer Gulf Watch Paul Watkins with his winning ticket number 1420.

Then it was time to find out who the newest owners of our two stunning cars were. First on the draw was the 1966 Sunbeam Alpine which was won by John Kirby with the winning numbers of 3764 on his ticket.

Next, it was time to find out who now owned the stunning, iconic and legendary Ford Capri. As Charlotte span the random number generator, the numbers flashed by to reveal 3775 as the winning ticket. That happened to be owned by John Macintosh. Who when we called, was blown away that he was now the proud new owner of a very nice classic Ford Capri.

Could you be our next winner and join the growing list of people who have won their dream classic car? Head over to the Bridge Classic Cars Competitions website by clicking the link below.

Enter now at Bridge Classic Cars Competitions to win your dream classic

Ready for Take-Off – Pre-Delivery Inspection on the 1960 Jensen 541S ‘Peony Red’

It’s nearly time for Peony Red, the 1960 Jensen 541S to go off to her new home away from us here at Bridge Classic Cars. Every square inch of Peony Red has been worked on in-house at Bridge Classic Cars by our expert in-house restoration teams.

We will be sad to see her go but before she leaves, our workshop manager and senior technician John has been giving her a pre-delivery inspection ahead of our travels. John has been going through each individual system on the car to ensure everything is all present and correct before the end of the week.

Alongside John is Tamas, one of our junior technicians to work on getting Peony Red ready.

Safe travels.

Next Phase – Wiring and Plumbing the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series 3 Roadster

Scott, one of our in-house restoration experts has been hard at work getting ”Fern Grey” the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series 3 Roadster plumbed and wired.

Recently Scott carefully got the newly built 5 litre V12 into place in the car, taking his time to make sure everything was exactly where it should be and safely locked into place. Then once the engine was in its final position, Scott got to work hooking up the various systems needed to fire this stunning 12 cylinder Jaguar into life.

First up, the team fitted up the newly rebuilt Stormberg carburettors onto either side of the engine. Along with that were the large aluminium intakes that feed the Strombergs. Along with that are the various pipes and hoses that need to be spread across the engine bay and allow the long-legged V12 to run faultlessly and reliably. All of these components needed to go into place first to then get the heater system into place as it sits close to the back end of the carburettors.

From there, Scott worked his way from the engine bay into the cabin with the wiring. All of the related dials and lights needed to be wired up to the engine and the fuse box for when Fern Grey bursts into life. Each of the wires was meticulously run by Scott to ensure they would not chafe or mar the elegant green/grey paintwork that flows with the elegant, iconic lines of this E Type Roadster.

Looking Closer – Diagnostics on the 1968 Jaguar E Type 4.2

Bridge Classic Cars have the 1968 Jaguar E Type back in the workshop this week to have a look into a few issues the customer has noted with the car.

First up is some electrical issues. The customer reported an issue with the headlights which our technician Paul has looked into and found there was an issue with the fuse box. For this, a replacement is needed to make sure the issue is fully resolved and many happy nighttime miles can be done in this gorgeous dark green icon. We recently fitted an immobiliser to the car on its last visit with us. This has also been a concern to the customer so our team have relocated the system to be easier to access and have less interference from surrounding systems, ensuring the car is safe and reliable.

With winter approaching and the temperature starting to drop, the heater in a classic is even more important. The customer raised a concern about the heater not working so our technicians began to diagnose this for our customer. After all the related cables and pipework had been inspected and found to be in good working order, the heater valve itself was inspected. After thorough inspection by the team here at Bridge Classic Cars, it was found that the E Type requires a replacement Heater Valve.

Next was to inspect a slight leak from the top of the engine. The long-legged straight-six, hidden under that timeless bonnet was gone over by the team and each port and seal was checked. Upon inspection, Paul had noticed that the cam cover at the top of the engine had signs of a leak. With this narrowed down as the source of the issue, a new one is required to ensure the 4.2-litre straight-six remains in good health.

Coming Together – Refit on the 1973 MGB GT V8

Bridge Classic Cars team of in-house restoration experts have been working on getting this 1973 MGB GT V8 we have in all buttoned up and ready to hit the road!

John and the workshop team have gone through hours of wiring checks and small fixes that were needed to ensure the wiring system throughout the whole car was in good working order and each component worked exactly as it should. Along with that, the interior of the car can now begin to go back in. Step by step, it’s beginning to look like an MGB GT again.

Underneath, there’s a brand new exhaust system to help that V8 breathe. Tucked up nearly underneath its brightly coloured body, there will be no doubt thanks to the new exhaust that this is indeed a V8 car. Also, the new brakes and clutch hydraulic systems have been put in, bled and tested passing with flying colours.

All of this means we should be able to test this stunning little sportscar on the road very soon. Keep an eye out on the Bridge Classic Cars news page for updates on the 1973 MGB GT V8.

Back in Shape – Metalwork for the Scuttle/Windscreen Surround on the 1951 Riley RMB

Metalwork on classic cars is a craft. A skill that takes years to master and dedication to conquer. Our in-house bodywork experts at Bridge Classic Cars have those skills, experience and dedication.

Work is continuing on the windscreen/scuttle for the 1951 Riley RMB by our in-house expert James. Last time he worked on the top of the windshield surround but this time, it was the case of the lower scuttle.

Some of the metal bracing and reinforcement had deteriorated over time quite badly. These pieces help give that stunning spilt windscreen its shape and hold it rigid, so their placement and construction are crucial.

Using the existing pieces as a template, James cut the new parts roughly into shape to begin refining them closer to the originals. Then, offering the pieces up to the panel James could work on shaping them more and more till the fit was perfect.

All of the areas underneath the remade panels were rust treated carefully before being welded in.

Put in Place – Fitting the Interior Panels and Carpet into the 1970 Dodge Charger

Kath and the in-house trim team have been busy working on the insides of the 1970 Dodge Charger that’s in here at Bridge Classic Cars.

Kath has been working on getting the rear panels ready and into the car. The weatherstrip has been riveted to the bottom of the window opening along with the chrome strips that make up the ribbing for the panel.

Before that, Kath and the team had tested fitted the carpet and found that in place it didn’t sit quite right. In places, the carpet was actually too long. Not a problem for the Bridge Classic Cars trim-shop! Kath simply cut the carpet and then re-edged it to fit the car perfectly (more on that in the next post)

This meant that the carpet now sat where and exactly how it should in the iconic muscle car, taking extra care and attention to make sure any brackets or holes needed for trim work were neatly and discreetly cut.

Next time, we’ll take you behind the scenes of how Kath cut and rebound the carpet for the Charger!

New Lease on Life – Throttle Cable Install on the 1994 Piaggio Ape TM P50

The new throttle cable for our 1994 Piaggio TM P50 Ape is on the car!

Our restoration technician Mauro has got a long and personal history with this car so it makes sense for him to be the technician to be working on the car. The throttle cable for the Ape is much like a motorcycle throttle cable and it’s routed carefully through the car down to the little single carb at the back.

Now that it is all in place and back together, we can start to test the Ape ready for it’s MOT soon!

Coming Soon – 1969 MG B GT

Bridge Classic Cars will soon be welcoming this stunning 1969 MGB GT into our Pettistree workshop for a list of jobs to get this beautiful white 2 door sportscar back up and running.

There’s a reported issue with the fuel pump, which in turn means that the carburettors will need to be adjusted and balanced. Along with the bits under the bonnet is a service/overhaul of the points and rotor arm in the distributor upon the client’s request. The customer also reports the overdrive only working intermittently so that will be investigated by our in-house restoration technicians then we will advise on any issues.

Around the car, there are a few areas around the car that our in-house restoration teams will also be looking into. Some rubber seals on the rear hatch have perished in places so to make sure the car is weatherproofed and stop any water from entering the cabin. Next up, our body and paint experts will have a look at an issue with tyre fitment. The nearside wheel arch apparently catches on the tyre but there does seem to have been some modifications done to the offside rear arch to stop that from happening.

Keep an eye out on the Bridge Classic Cars news page for more updates on the 1969 MGB GT.

Keeping the Noise Down – Putting Sound Deadening in the 1970 Dodge Charger

After Kath had mocked up the rear seats into the Charger, it was time to start getting the carpets into the car.

However, underneath the carpet is where to most important bit of the interior is. The sound deadening. It’s crucial in making long journeys more enjoyable just due to its job of cutting down the cabin noise.

Kath carefully laid out the material across the floors of the car to make sure each piece was just in the right place to give the best result. All of this needed to be done before fitting up the carpets, which will be happening next!

Finishing Touches – Making the Tunnel Carpets for the 1960 Jensen 541S ‘Peony Red’

As part of Peony Red’s pre-delivery inspection, our in-house trim team have been busy finishing off parts of the interior. Mainly the tunnel carpet.

This Jensen 541 has been a long-loved restoration by us here at Bridge Classic Cars. Every department of our in-house restoration team has worked on this car in one way or another. Now, our trim shop is finishing off the last bits. Mainly it needed to have its transmission tunnel carpets finished.

The sound-deadening and insulation were fitted to the tunnel and then the templates could be made for the piece. After they had been cut, edged and fitted a small inspection flap needed to be carefully cut into the finished carpets for future use if ever needed. Kath carefully made a small ear from the matching carpet and trimmed it just like the other carpet to match and bring the whole piece together.

Next was the all-important tool tray. A unique piece of the Jensen 541, it lives underneath the glove box. The tray itself has been in our body and paint shop to make sure it looks absolutely perfect before it’s cover was made by Kath and fitted to the glovebox.

The interior of Peony Red looks absolutely sensational if we do say so ourselves.

Out With the Old – Replacing the Wiring Harness on the 1974 Triumph TR6

John has been hard at work on the 1974 Triumph TR6 that is in with us at Bridge Classic Cars for a wiring issue. A rat or a mouse has managed to chew its way through part of the wiring loom.

Consequently, when the owner went to start the car is actually melted some of the wiring! Because of the extent of the damage to the wiring loom. John felt it best to replace the harness as a precaution due to the extensive damage.

John carefully began to remove the old harness for the car, working his way through the separate systems to ensure all the components could also be inspected.

The new loom was then put in place step by step, whilst also running through each part to make sure it functioned correctly now that power could be applied to the harness. Wit the harness now in, its time to test the car completely.

A New Look – Repainting the Bonnet and Boot on the 1984 Jaguar XJ

Some of you may remember the 1984 Jaguar XJ bonnet and boot that a customer had asked us to refinish. The rest of the car had been painted elsewhere but that isn’t a problem for our in-house paint team.

After working on the rust repairs for the panels and making sure the surfaces were flat and true, Chris and the team got to the meticulous job of paint matching.

Thanks to our state of the art paint system as well as years of experience, Chris managed to exactly match the shade and hue of deep, vibrant maroon for this classic Jaguar. The results look incredible.

Chris and the team take their time with the prepping of each individual piece that needs painting and that also includes laying the primer in just the right way that it sits and shines just in the right way for the colour coat to achieve the best finish.

Coming Together – Metalwork on the 1951 Riley RMB

As you might have seen in our previous post on the 1951 Riley RMB here at Bridge Classic Cars, James has been hard at work getting the wings into the best shape possible.

James, our expert in-house fabricator, has been working on the Riley for quite some time. A lot of the panels needed extensive repairs and reworking to be useable in the restoration of this beloved classic. The rear wings are currently the pieces on James’s bench.

After James worked the repair patches into the original wing, he then had to work them carefully and methodically to ensure they met the original shape and dimensions of the car. Also, he has to make sure both sides are identical. This takes a highly skilled hand and incremental adjustments to achieve the finish you see before you.

James has blended new pieces into the originals and almost seamlessly blended new and old together through the medium of metal. Any adjustment to the piece also means that the entire panel must be checked to see if it has caused any sort of distortion elsewhere.

But, these wings are looking absolutely incredible for when they eventually meet back up on the car.

Doing the Big Shop – Our Technician Mauro’s 1954 Ford F100.

Our technician Mauro has got an amazing truck. It’s a 1954 Ford F100.

Last weekend, Mauro thought he should use it to do ”The Big Shop” which we thoroughly approve of!

The looks on people’s faces as he drove it around the streets and then casually parked it in the supermarket car park he said were absolutely priceless and the thumbs up and smiles made it even more important. Using classics for everyday duties is always a fun thing to do.

There’s a lot of interesting cars owned by everyone at Bridge Classic Cars. Keep an eye out for more updates on staff cars in our news section.

Back Together – Refitting the Engine and Gearbox to the 1998 Honda Integra Type R

Tamas and Paul, our in-house restoration technicians have been busy refitting the wiring harness, accessories, engine and gearbox back into the 1998 Honda Integra Type R that is in at Bridge Classic Cars.

Using reference photos and the catalogued parts from the dismantling of the car, the whole engine bay now looks as good as new.

Next stages for the Integra will be to get the vehicle back together before final check overs. Expect to see more here on the Bridge Classic Cars blog.

Looking Back – Fitting the Door Mirrors and Dome Light to the 1970 Dodge Charger

The in-house trim experts at Bridge Classic Cars have been hard at work. Teaming up to conquer the interior of the 1970 Dodge Charger.

One of the jobs on the list for the interior refit was to fit the signature dome light. This involved a small hole in the brand new headliner for the wires to be passed through. Thankfully with the skill of our trim fitters, you would never know it was ever there and the outings all lined up to be able to secure the light to the roof.

Next up, Brian began to work on getting the new rearview mirrors to the doors of the Charger. These mirrors are so iconic to the Charger that their placement is crucial. Brian, one of our in house trim experts, carefully measured up and mocked up the mirrors countless times before drilling the holes for the fixings to pass through. Once in place, the mechanisms to control the mirrors can be installed to make them fully functional.

Background Sounds – New Speakers and Speakerbox on the 1960 Jensen 541S ‘Peony Red’

Peony Red, the 1960 Jensen 541S, is reaching the end of its restoration and its pre-delivery inspection. So it’s time to get the last few finishing touches completed and in the car.

One of these systems that is being finished by our in-house trim experts is the sound system. Peony Red has got a modern stereo unit, although it is a classic-looking head unit it is thoroughly up to date. With that, it does require a set of new speakers.

Kath has been working on making new speaker boxes from scratch for the car. These were made from a simple wooden box but finished in matching carpet to the rest of the interior to blend into the car and be completely useable for her new owner.

Just because it’s a classic car, doesn’t mean you can’t have some of the modern luxuries. We think its a good balance of old and new in this stunning 1960 Jensen 541S

Starting From Scratch – Diagnosing an Oil Leak on the 1963 Jaguar MkII 3.4

Our in-house engine builder at Bridge Classic Cars, Ady, has been working at trying to get to the bottom of the oil leak with the 1963 Jaguar MkII 3.4.

At idle, the engine would behave itself perfectly. Not a spot of oil but any higher in the revs and it would begin to leak. Ady has spent countless hours hanging over the engine bay of the MkII trying to get to the root cause of the issue. He believes he has found the cause.

Upon inspection for the oil leak, Ady has found the bores in several cylinders to be heavily scored.

With some of the pistons, the rings have too much play in them and allow a lot of the cylinder head pressure to escape past the rings, down the cylinder and into the crankcase. With this added pressure, it begins to push the oil out to any opening that may have a weakness.

The rear main seal on the MkII 3.4’s is a split seal design. Meaning at the bottom engine they are cut to allow them to be slipped into place during installation. This, with the added crankcase pressure, has been pushing the oil from the crankcase through the rear seal and out. So a combination of pistons slop, ring movement and too much crankcase pressure have been causing the leak we have been searching for.

The only remedy for this in Ady’s experience, is a full engine rebuild with new parts including a rebore to clean up the cylinder walls.

Keep an eye on the Bridge Classic Cars blog for more updates on the MkII 3.4.

Solid Foundations – Getting the Frame of the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Ready for Powdercoat

The frame and body for the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 that is with us here at Bridge Classic Cars have been separated ahead of the frame being sent off for powder coating.

The body will remain here with our in-house paint and body teams to continue work while we wait for the other parts to come back.

Powder coating frames gives not only the best finish but the best protection for the chassis so it’s worthwhile having it done to this amazing car.

Finding the Cause – Leak from the Gearbox of the 1954 Jaguar MkVII

The 1954 Jaguar MkVII that was in with us for restoration is back in the workshop to look into a leak from under the car.

Upon inspection by the Bridge Classic Cars restoration team, it was found to be an issue with a gearbox seal. This has been sent away to a specialist gearbox expert to have the proper rectified in order to the engine and gearbox back in the car as soon as possible.

Keep a look out on the News Page for more updates on the Jaguar MkVII

Coming Soon – 2003 BMW Z3

This 2000 BMW Z3 is coming into Bridge Classic Cars soon to be assessed by our in-house restoration teams to get this early 2000s sports car back to its absolute best.

Keep an eye out on our news page for more updates once it arrives.

Coming Soon – Dashboard on a 1966 Ford Thunderbird

Bridge Classic Cars will soon be welcoming a new car into our in-house trim shop. Soon, this bright yellow big block 1966 Ford Thunderbird will be coming in to have its dash pad assessed by our trim team.

As you can see, its seen better days. But, our trimmer can work wonders.

Keep an eye on the news page to see more on this amazing American icon.

Ready to Go Home – Paint Repair on the 2008 Porsche 911 Carrera S

Chris and the paint shop team at Bridge Classic Cars have been hard at work on the front bumper of the 2008 Porsche 911 Carrera S in for some paint repairs on the front bumper.

Rather than try to blend the paint into the existing finish, Chris thought to get a better result would be to entirely repaint the bumper and match it to the body.

As you can see, the results look fantastic. Now, the Carrera is ready to go back home to its adoring owner.

Milestone – Engine in Place on the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series 3 Roadster

There’s always certain parts of any build that can be classed as milestone moments. That rings especially true for the first time the chassis is reunited with its powertrain.

This 1973 Jaguar E Type Series 3 Roadster being built by us here at Bridge Classic Cars has just met that fabled milestone. The built 5 litre V12 is now safely in place between the immaculately restored frame rails and securely in the car. Scott has been working hard to get all the necessary systems in place for a few days before the engine was carefully lowered into position. Firstly to ensure they will fit and secondly so that no damage is done to the long list of refurbished or brand new parts.

The engine looks incredible inside the car. In terms of its packaging, it is a feat of engineering to fit an engine this large in such a compact but stylish skin.

Once Scott has finalised the installation into the car, it will then be time to get everything hooked up and ready to be tested.

The Once Over – Inspecting our 1994 Piaggio Ape TM P50

Those who have been following the blog for a while may remember the 1994 Piaggio Ape we talked about back in July.

Well, it is now in our workshop being inspected ahead of its MOT. Our in-house restoration team at Bridge Classic Cars wanted to check over all the systems on the van/scooter to make sure there would be no problems.

During loading at our storage unit at RAF Bentwaters, Mauro (whose grandfather originally owned this amazing little car) found the throttle cable had snapped so as soon as he got back to the workshop, a new replacement was put on order. While waiting for the cable, Mauro began to strip down the brakes and bearings on the Ape to inspect all of the components and make sure everything was in tip-top condition.

The front drum apparently needs a new shoe but apart from that the little machine seems to be in very good condition.

We’re looking forward to having fun with this one!

Put on the Shelf – Making the Rear Parcel Shelf for a 1970 Dodge Charger

Our incredibly talented trim-shop experts have been hard at work on the 1970 Dodge Charger currently in at Bridge Classic Cars.

Next on the list of pieces that need to be done in order is the rear parcel shelf. For this, Kath had to make it from scratch. Creating a tight-fitting template, it was then cut from ply and covered to match the rest of the interior.

Kath even repainted the original fixings to make sure all originality could be kept and create a uniform look to the car.

After it was wrapped in matching material, the trim team fit it into the car and it looks absolutely amazing in the back of this wonderful muscle car.