Managing Director – Bridge Classic Cars
The Norwich City Community Support Foundation charity Lotus Elise was at the Lotus Training Centre today for the opening. It joined its other siblings, including
For sale from Bridge Classic Cars is this Vauxhall 2.3 Litre Slant Engine. This engine, also known as a Big Valve engine, comes with a
It’s crucial with a restoration to take note of what you take off the car. Our in-house restoration technician Mauro is fanatical about this. So,
It’s crucial for any classic car to be able to breathe properly. Especially when it’s the V12 from our 1973 Jaguar E Type Series 3
It’s been an absolute treat to have one of the most iconic muscle cars of all time in the trim shop of Bridge Classic Cars.
The 1973 MGB Roadster we currently have in at Bridge Classic Cars for work has been having its cooling system gone through. Our in-house restoration
The wealth of knowledge held in our workshop is incredible. Centuries almost of combined experience allow Bridge Classic Cars to look into a wide spectrum
The 1965 Amphicar is already quite a unique and rare piece of automotive history. But, an original convertible hood cover? Slightly rare than hen’s teeth.
Here at Bridge Classic Cars, we’ve built a reputation for being one of the leaders in the restoration of the Jensen 541 family. The latest
The bonnet on this 1984 Jaguar XJ is currently in with the Bridge Classic Cars paint and body teams to look into a rust issue
Whilst out on the original photo shoot for our 1965 Amphicar, our Marketing manager Freddie snapped this photo. It’s a stunning VW Type 2 Camper.
The Bridge Classic Cars in-house trim team have worked their magic yet again. This time recovering the rear seat doors on the 1973 Jaguar E
The charity Lotus Elise has been out doing its promotional tour recently. This time it had been at the Royal Norwich Golf Course to raise
That’s our 1956 Jensen 541 safely in our enclosed transporter and on its way back to the Bridge Classic Cars workshop in Pettistree. It had
The new extension to the Bridge Classic Cars workshop finally has its roof on! The last bits of the structure has been put in place
The clouds grew ominous in the late September sky. Rain threatened to fall at any moment on the shoot. The car had only been in
There are certain things that get handed down through the generations. Something sentimental that have a certain connection to a person or place. This is
Work is continuing on the 1973 MG B Roadster that is in at Bridge Classic Cars to be recommissioned. This time, our in-house restoration technicians
Work has begun at Bridge Classic Cars on stripping down and cataloguing the rear axle components for the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 we have in
Hopefully, you will have all seen the news by now but if not, Bridge Classic Cars have got a fantastic 1966 Sunbeam Alpine in with
This glorious little Sunbeam is on its way into our workshop at Bridge Classic Cars very soon!
First up on tour is the amazing 1969 Ford Escort Twin Cam that was cruising around Ireland on holiday with its owner. We worked on
This beautiful 1964 Morgan 4/4 has been in with us at Bridge Classic Cars for a couple of issues. Most notably is the rough running
As the 1990s saw Bond change yet again into the modern world, this time it would be portrayed by another iconic actor. Pierce Brosnan would
Some of our cars come from further afield than others. Take for instance this lovely Sunbeam Rapier. Now you might be able to tell by
The 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 MkI is a perfect example of the sportscar built under the supervision of David Brown during his time as the
The names Cars. Bridge Classic Cars. Our very own Charlotte was at the Premiere of the latest James Bond 007 film in London this week
Bridge Classic Cars Competitions got to deliver our 2003 Vauxhall VX220 to its lucky new owners today! We delivered the car to Mr and Mrs
All classics need some attention. They need to be checked, kept happy and kept running. This 1973 MG B Roadster has come into us here
With such a bespoke and unique car as the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series 3 Roadster currently in at Bridge Classic Cars, only a handmade
The Norwich City Community Support Foundation charity Lotus Elise was at the Lotus Training Centre today for the opening. It joined its other siblings, including the all-electric Evija hypercar, to be part of the day’s events.
The Elise is being drawn on October 31st live with all proceeds going to help the Norwich City Community Support Foundation with all of the amazing work they do with young people of different backgrounds and abilities get involved in sport.
You can still get tickets to help support this amazing cause by clicking the link below.
Enter now for the 2021 NCCSF Lotus Elise Sport 240 Final Edition
For sale from Bridge Classic Cars is this Vauxhall 2.3 Litre Slant Engine. This engine, also known as a Big Valve engine, comes with a host of associated parts as a collection.
The condition of the engine and the parts is unknown as this was part of a previous project but was not used. This is a desirable engine for many high-performance Vauxhalls.
The Year of the engine is unknown but does include a full exhaust system from the header to the backbox. Also included in the sale is a twin-carb manifold and spare set of headers. Perfect for anyone building a high-performance Vauxhall such as a Firenza or Chevette.
The asking price is £990 for the entire collection.
If you’re interested please get in touch!
It’s crucial with a restoration to take note of what you take off the car. Our in-house restoration technician Mauro is fanatical about this. So, the job of tearing down the front axle of the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 that we have at Bridge Classic Cars naturally fell to him.
Bolt by bolt, piece by piece Mauro has gone through the entire assembly on the ’50s sportscar. Carefully and meticulously Mauro labelled and catalogued each piece ready for assessment and refurbishment.
This DB2 is having a full restoration in-house by our incredible teams. Keep a lookout for more updates on the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 on our News Page
It’s crucial for any classic car to be able to breathe properly. Especially when it’s the V12 from our 1973 Jaguar E Type Series 3 Roadster.
The V12 has been completely rebuilt for this very special car and now it’s time to address the carburettors. Our in-house engine builders will begin by carefully inspecting the originals and begin to dismantle and check each and every component and seal.
The carburettors for this V12 will have a very important role to play in the dynamic of this bespoke E-Type. The performance from the V12 has been calibrated to reflect the unique nature of the 1970s super tourer. These carburettors maybe some of the first rebuilt in-house to become E10 compliant, a service we offer to all classic car owners.
Expect to see more on the rebuild of these carburettors on our projects page.
It’s been an absolute treat to have one of the most iconic muscle cars of all time in the trim shop of Bridge Classic Cars. This 1970 Dodge Charger. The 2nd generation Chargers are without a doubt, one of the best-looking muscle cars built.
This particular 1970 Charger is in with our expert in-house trim team to be fitted out with a brand new interior. First up, Kath began to fit the headliner to the Charger. Covering such an expanse in fabric can be daunting, but for the Bridge Classic team, it’s not a problem. Working through the car methodically allowed Kath to stretch and pull the headliner into shape and give it the best finish possible.
Each of the ribs was carefully moved into its position millimetre by millimetre to ensure it was level and square. These spars allow the fabric some element of give but also when they are correctly installed, gives the best finish with no ripples or waves.
Whilst installing the headliner, Kath did note a small area of corrosion on the shell by the back window. It had been treated and wasn’t structural. In any case, we always let our clients know and suggest a course of action. At this time, it will be underneath the headliner. As said, it’s not in a structural location, it has been treated and on inspection by our body shop team, it is perfectly fine for years to come.
Updates on the rest of the interior will be up very soon so keep an eye out on the Bridge Classic Cars blog.
The 1973 MGB Roadster we currently have in at Bridge Classic Cars for work has been having its cooling system gone through.
Our in-house restoration technician Ady last time worked on removing the water pump and the old radiator from this iconic little sportscar. New parts were put on order and have now been fitted into the front of the bright red MG B.
A completely new water pump has been fitted to make sure that when it is eventually driven, the temperatures stay nice and safe. Working alongside the new water pump is the replacement radiator.
This was crucial in the cooling system as the old one had seen better days and on the advice of our in-house technician, a new one was fitted for peace of mind.
More will be coming up soon on the MGB Roadster so be sure to keep an eye on our News Page.
The wealth of knowledge held in our workshop is incredible. Centuries almost of combined experience allow Bridge Classic Cars to look into a wide spectrum of issues on classic cars.
Take for instance this 1971 Jaguar XJ6. Recently it had its fuel tanks replaced with us but during the setup, our in-house restoration team noticed that it had a pretty bad misfire. This needed to be looked into more in-depth. Dave, one of our most experienced technicians, began to dive deeper into the straight-six.
Dave had noted that the HT leads and the coil was arching to the closest metal object. So, with that and his experience he elected to replace the leads and the coil as the first port of call. However, after startup, the misfire was still prominent. At that point, it was decided to perform a compression test. 5 out of the 6 cylinders were all within spec. However, 1 of them was suspiciously low. With the classic cars, it can be a myriad of things that can cause this.
Dave then pulled the rocker cover off of the intake side of the engine to gain access to the rockers and more importantly the valves. With the help of our in-house engine builder Ady, Dave checked each of the valves for the correct lash. Originally they would have been between 10-14 thousandths of an inch but on Ady’s guidance, he is happy to see them between 8-10 thousandths with a vehicle of this age and mileage. All of the valves however fell within those guidelines. Nothing was noticeably out of place.
With that, Dave then found the leads had begun to arch again. This time through a set of pliers and straight to the cylinder head, which was worrying. So, Dave is going to rebuild the distributor with new points and condenser along with a completely new set of HT leads again.
Expect to see more of the progress of diagnosing the misfire on the 1971 Jaguar XJ6 at Bridge Classic Cars very soon on the News Page.
The 1965 Amphicar is already quite a unique and rare piece of automotive history. But, an original convertible hood cover? Slightly rare than hen’s teeth. However, after some research, we found a company in the States who make them!
We had one shipped to us here for our 1965 Amphicar which was installed by our in-house master trimmers. As you can see, it looks absolutely brilliant!
Here at Bridge Classic Cars, we’ve built a reputation for being one of the leaders in the restoration of the Jensen 541 family. The latest of these that is just beginning its journey is this 1956 Jensen 541.
This car came to us as a semi barn-find. After pulling it into the workshop, our in-house restoration technician Scott began to separate all the associate parts that were left inside the shell. This is an important part of any ground-up restoration as it gives you a clear view of what is going to be needed and its availability.
With the body and chassis of the Jensen, Scott has been going through to assess what parts can be refurbished and what will need to have replacements made. Carefully Scott has been removing, cataloguing and storing the various fixings and components which can be fully inspected at a later date by our in-house restoration teams.
Expect to see more about the restoration of this 1956 Jensen 541 on our Blog very soon.
The bonnet on this 1984 Jaguar XJ is currently in with the Bridge Classic Cars paint and body teams to look into a rust issue on both the bonnet and the boot.
First off, the depth that the rust extends to needs to be assessed by the teams and a plan made. Currently, our expert painter Matt believes a lot of it can be cleaned up but some parts may need more attention.
Look out for more updates on the XJ on our news page very soon!
Whilst out on the original photo shoot for our 1965 Amphicar, our Marketing manager Freddie snapped this photo.
It’s a stunning VW Type 2 Camper. There’s something just so charming about these vans that are beloved by young and old that crosses all divides. This one is finished really nicely and obviously is loved by its owner.
The Bridge Classic Cars in-house trim team have worked their magic yet again. This time recovering the rear seat doors on the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series 3 Roadster.
Kath, one of the trim experts, carefully deconstructed the original panels not only to find out how they were originally made but to try and save as much of the original piece if possible. Kath managed to even save the original hardware and hinges for the piece.
After refinishing the wooden cores of the panels, Kath could then start to get the new coverings fit just right for such a hand-made sportscar. After this, it was time to put the body-coloured piping onto the new material.
After the pieces had been perfectly readied to go into the car it was time to get the original hardware Kath had removed looking just as good. Kath carefully prepped each piece for a new coat of paint to go along with the rest of the panel in terms of the finish and quality.
Expect to see more of this incredible, one-off E Type on our News Page very soon.
The charity Lotus Elise has been out doing its promotional tour recently. This time it had been at the Royal Norwich Golf Course to raise awareness for the Norwich City Community Support Foundation and the incredibly important work they do out in the community.
This stunning example of the final run of the fabled sports car is still up for grabs on our competition site! All of the proceeds will be going straight to NCCSF to help them support young people in the community get into sport.
Just click here and buy your ticket!
That’s our 1956 Jensen 541 safely in our enclosed transporter and on its way back to the Bridge Classic Cars workshop in Pettistree.
It had been sat for quite a while awaiting its place in line for restoration. Our transport team carefully positioned the enclosed trailer up to the front of the sleeping sportscar. Inch by inch the car was tenderly pulled from the storage unit to keep it and the building around it safe.
With the car and all other parts securely stored and the area cleaned up, it was on its way to the workshop to begin teardown in preparation for its full restoration.
The new extension to the Bridge Classic Cars workshop finally has its roof on!
The last bits of the structure has been put in place for the roofers to come and install the panels which make up the expansive roof of our new workshop extension. Soon, the brickwork will start and then it can be clad.
We’ll be in the new building before you know it!
The clouds grew ominous in the late September sky. Rain threatened to fall at any moment on the shoot. The car had only been in our possession a matter of minutes before it was whisked off the back of our enclosed Transporter and off to the shoot location. There was no time to spare.
The timeframe was tight. Shoot and edit the photos and videos for the latest Bridge Classic Cars Competitions car before the release of the latest James Bond 007 film, No Time to Die. Why? Because the Sunbeam Alpine was the first bond car. It appeared in Dr No with Sean Connery behind the wheel as the worlds most famous secret agent.
This particular Alpine had been dry stored for over 20 years before its previous owner had it completely rebuilt. A folder containing photographs of the rebuild came with the car stripped all the way back to bare metal and then worked on from the ground up. This car has been lovingly used by its previous owner, who is a true classic car enthusiast, for several years whilst also ensuring it is kept in the best condition possible for an in-use classic. That also includes the engine…
Without hesitation, the 1725cc 4-cylinder fired into life. The previous owner spent countless hours and no expense was spared getting the engine to perform and run perfectly. This particular engine has less than 1000 miles on it since being completely rebuilt to better than new condition. Along with the engine, this Sunbeam Alpine is fitted with the much-needed overdrive gearbox. Making it more useable as a classic in today’s modern world for its next lucky owner.
All of this was evident as we pulled away from the hanger. It revved out beautifully towards the lowering sun on the horizon. For take after take, the Sunbeam delivered faultlessly over and over again with Charlotte at the helm. As the temperature dropped along with the light, the Sunbeam still kept going. Its near-perfect interior offering no warmth with the roof off but still the best seat in the house when it came to a late summer evening jaunt.
It buzzed up and down the track without so much as a hesitation or stumble. The brakes were faultless, as proved when a herd of deer emerged from the undergrowth during a run. Not a problem for the Alpine, it gracefully and quickly came to a dead-straight stop.
With the light waning from under the wooded horizon, it was time to head back to the hanger.
There are certain things that get handed down through the generations. Something sentimental that have a certain connection to a person or place. This is true with his fabulous 1959 MGA Twin Cam that we currently have at Bridge Classic Cars for storage.
We are looking after the car for a customer at our Bentwaters storage facility for a while. This car was originally owned by the customer’s father who at one time was the manager of the Chevron racing team. A nice connection between Bridge Classic Cars and Chevron was the recent 1972 Chevron B20 Formula 2 car we auctioned on Collecting Cars.
This beautiful pale blue Twin Cam car has been rebuilt and restored from the ground up. It also appears to have had somewhat of competition history, with several newspaper cuttings from club races. The current owner has sent over some wonderful images of the recommission that was undertaken on the car to show the extent of what has been completed on the car.
Here they are in the gallery below:
Work is continuing on the 1973 MG B Roadster that is in at Bridge Classic Cars to be recommissioned. This time, our in-house restoration technicians are looking into the cooling system. A crucial part of any classic.
The reason we needed to remove the radiator was to gain access to the water pump. This was due for replacement as Ady had noticed it begin to weep. Whilst the radiator is out, it allows our in-house team to inspect and assess the radiator itself to see if it needs any repairs or is in need of replacement.
Keep a lookout on our news page for any updates on the MG B Roadster.
Work has begun at Bridge Classic Cars on stripping down and cataloguing the rear axle components for the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 we have in with us for full restoration.
Our in-house restoration technicians carefully removed the rear axle from the car in order to have it in a safe and accessible place to begin the teardown. Mauro carefully removed each component, taking care as to not damage any original pieces of the rear assembly.
The rear end will be completely rebuilt in preparation for the rest of the components coming back from refurbishment.
Hopefully, you will have all seen the news by now but if not, Bridge Classic Cars have got a fantastic 1966 Sunbeam Alpine in with us in our workshop. Yes, the same as Sean Connery drove in the James Bond film Dr No. This is going to be a competition car which one lucky winner will be drawn.
This honest and really rather lovely 60s sports car also has an incredibly rare hardtop! so no matter the weather it can be enjoyed by its future owner. At Bridge Classic Cars, our in-house teams will assess the car soon to come up with a plan to get the Sunbeam to a stage where it can be instantly used and enjoyed.
Keep checking the blog for more updates on this fantastic car.
This glorious little Sunbeam is on its way into our workshop at Bridge Classic Cars very soon!
First up on tour is the amazing 1969 Ford Escort Twin Cam that was cruising around Ireland on holiday with its owner. We worked on this very car earlier this year and it’s amazing to see it being used and enjoyed. Safe travels!
Next on the road is the 1960 Jensen 541S ”Prototype” which was taking part in Petit Tour in Belgium. This Jensen was in with us in 2017 and 2019 for a full restoration but it’s amazing to see it out and being enjoyed by its owner.
This beautiful 1964 Morgan 4/4 has been in with us at Bridge Classic Cars for a couple of issues.
Most notably is the rough running from the 1600cc engine. After inspection, our in-house technician Ady discovered there was an issue with the manifold that was causing the exhaust to blow and therefore the engine to run poorly.
With this information, we managed to source a replacement manifold for the car and fit it. However, the replacement manifold didn’t quite line up with the threaded hole on the cylinder head. So, carefully Ady elongated the holes to allow it to bolt up while also keeping the gaskets perfectly in place to achieve the correct seal.
After this had been done and the manifold connected back up to the exhaust system. Our in-house team went through the entire system from engine to exhaust box to check everything was working exactly as it should on the Morgan.
As the 1990s saw Bond change yet again into the modern world, this time it would be portrayed by another iconic actor. Pierce Brosnan would begin his career for MI6 in the 1995 film Goldeneye.
This film’s most famous Bond Car was actually a Russian T37 tank but towards the end of the film, the audience was given a glimpse of a new age of Bond. The BMW era.
Before the production of Goldeneye, EON productions had signed a 3 film deal with the Bavarian manufacturer to supply Bond with his own modes of transport. The first being the brand new Z3.
Bond’s specific Z3 in Goldeneye was a 1.9 litre 1996 model which most famously appears on an airstrip in Cuba. The car in the film has been thoroughly gone through by Q-Branch, offering Bond ”the usual refinements” which can be best demonstrated in the lab during the walk around with Q (played by Desmond Llewelyn. It is apparently equipped with Stinger missiles behind each of the Z3’s headlights, a parachute deployed from the boot and radar displayed on an LCD screen inside the dash. There is a mention of an Ejector seat though… as well as a self-destruct system. References to earlier Bond cars from the franchise.
The Z3 in Goldeneye, which holds the title as the first non-British Bond car to ever be officially issued to him by Q Branch, was only a brief appearance. Because it was traded on the airstrip in Cuba for a plane (where it’s then seen fishtailing off into the trees with its new owner CIA Jack Wade at the helm) it also holds the title as one of only a handful of Bond cars that are not destroyed on screen. Even the DB5 doesn’t hold that accolade.
The Z3 had some serious kudos with potential owners after the launch of the film. The first year of production had sold out before the first cars had even been finished. But, some audiences felt the Z3 should have been given more of a role in the film considering the armaments bestowed on it by Q-Branch. for that they would have to wait until the release of The World is Not Enough a few years later with another BMW as Bond’s car of choice.
So, this concludes the end of our series on notable James Bond 007 Cars that we here at Bridge Classic Cars have had experience dealing with.
But there is still one more… Check in tonight to find out how you could have the chance of owning one!
Some of our cars come from further afield than others. Take for instance this lovely Sunbeam Rapier.
Now you might be able to tell by the photos that this car isn’t coming in from the UK. This car has actually called the continent of Africa home for its life. Specifically South Africa.
It will be coming into us to be assessed and have its new home here in the UK. Recently this car has done an epic 1800km road trip from Johannesburg to Pringle Bay with its owner. The car itself had been restored by Rapier expert Barney Curtis before his passing.
The owner in South Africa wrote a wonderful piece in the Summer 2019 edition of Cut & Thrust about this road trip and the most important thing we took away from it was that it never skipped a beat thanks to the work done by Barney Curtis.
Expect to see more on this Sunbeam when it arrived with us later on.
The 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 MkI is a perfect example of the sportscar built under the supervision of David Brown during his time as the head of Aston Martin.
This particular Aston Martin DB2/4 is in at Bridge Classic Cars for a full restoration. Recently it has been worked on by our master fabricator Clinton to make sure that all the metalwork throughout the cars body and frame is in the best shape before the next stage for the car. Now, it’s time to start dismantling and cataloguing the front and rear suspension assemblies plus the steering system. Our technician Mauro meticulously worked his way through each system carefully noting down the position of anything that has an adjustment so when it comes time to reassemble the DB2/4 it can be back in the same position it was taken off in.
You may have seen last time that some of the parts which had been prepared by our technician Lydia went into be primed in our in-house paint shop. Very soon, it will be the turn of this stunning ’50s GT sportscar to enter the booth for our masterful paint team to get it looking absolutely perfect.
Check-in very soon on the blog page for more updates on the DB2/4
The names Cars. Bridge Classic Cars.
Our very own Charlotte was at the Premiere of the latest James Bond 007 film in London this week (she won’t tell us anything about what happens)! It’s only a couple of days before it’s released to the public and we all cannot wait.
Are you going to go and watch it? Head down to your local cinema to enjoy this icon of cinema.
Bridge Classic Cars Competitions got to deliver our 2003 Vauxhall VX220 to its lucky new owners today!
We delivered the car to Mr and Mrs Spellman, who actually have another VX220 as well as their new British Racing Green example! The other one however is having a bit of work done to it after a small incident on track. But now, Ian has got a replacement to enjoy while the other is being fixed.
Thanks to their winning ticket of 4851, the Spellmans now have many years to enjoy this amazing example of an underappreciated sportscar.
All classics need some attention. They need to be checked, kept happy and kept running.
This 1973 MG B Roadster has come into us here at Bridge Classic Cars for just that. It is in to be recommissioned after laying dormant for a while.
Our technician Paul has begun work on getting this lovely, honest example of a true British sports car back on the road. To begin with, Paul stripped down the iconic twin-carburettors to make sure that the throaty 4 cylinder was getting all the air and fuel it needed.
With the carb refresh complete, it was a case of bolting them back up to the manifold to check the next part in the combustion cycle. The Spark.
To read more about that, check the News Page for updates very soon!
With such a bespoke and unique car as the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series 3 Roadster currently in at Bridge Classic Cars, only a handmade bespoke interior would suit.
Our master trim technician Kath has been working hard to get all the interior trim pieces for the E type stripped back to begin work on. Carefully she worked her way around each individual piece to preserve them for any templates that may need to be made for the car.
Some of the interior trim has metal components underneath the hides used originally. So, to make sure those pieces are in just as incredible shape as the body and chassis Kath worked on rust prevention for each piece and then finished in black.
Expect to see much more on Fern Grey very soon here on the blog.
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.
