Marketing Manager - Bridge Classic Cars
This is the story of a man with a dream and the classic vehicle that helped him achieve it. Scott from Good Vibes Coffee told the story of his 1977 Peugeot J7 in his own words: “In 2018 I set
We have recently welcomed our 1971 Morgan Plus Four into the Bridge Classic Cars workshop. This will join our ever-growing collection of competition cars for Bridge Classic Cars Competitions, once it has gone through its initial workshop inspection and assessment.
One more arrival has made its way into the Bridge Classic Cars workshop in the form of our 1996 MG R V8. Originally finished in Woodcote Green, it spent the first part of its life in Japan before coming back
Earlier today, we welcomed a new addition to the Bridge Classic Cars workshop in the form of our 2007 Aston Martin V8 Vantage. The plan is for it to soon be available to win through Bridge Classic Cars Competitions and,
One of the purchases made at auction this week was our 1953 Land Rover Series 1. Once it has gone through its workshop inspection, it will go on to be offered as a prize through Bridge Classic Cars Competitions. This
At the recent 30th Anniversary sale hosted by H&H, a very special and unique vehicle was up for sale. The 1950 (1961) Aston Martin-Triumph DB1 Special. The Story Of The Aston Martin-Triumph DB1 Special The roots of the story can
The Ford Mustang has become something of an icon. With a consistent presence throughout automotive history, it has now taken its rightful place as a legend of American muscle and performance. Birth Of A Legend The story of the Ford
It was announced last night, by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, that the introduction of a ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars has been pushed back five years, from 2030 to 2035. The Announcement On The Petrol
From Derek Davis, in his own words: “The picture is of my very first car that I bought from my Dad for £20 in 1972. It’s a 1958 Wolseley 1500 built like a tank with a Walnut dash, leather seats,
Bridge Classic Cars Directors, Gordon and Craig have spent the day at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford at the H&H 30th Anniversary Sale. Throughout the day, they have seen a wide range of interesting cars. One car in particular that
This is the story of Danny Gardner and his 1987 Ford Fiesta 1.1L, imported to the UK in 1988 and affectionately known as Evop! From Danny, in his own words… “My late father bought me the car back in January
RM Sotheby’s Private Sales has an incredible vehicle available for sale, a 2022 Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro. Only 40 of these stunning machines were ever made, making this the rarest of all Valkyrie models. If that wasn’t enough, it
The strip down of our 1951 Austin Devon Pickup has begun and is now well underway. As you can see from the photos below, a lot of work is needed to bring this practical classic pickup back to life.
This morning, the lucky winner of our 1958 Austin-Healey ‘Frogeye’ Sprite was found in our live draw from The Atelier at Bridge Classic Cars. Live draws are always exciting and this one was no different. The photos below will give
In March this year, Lady Susie Moss sadly passed away. This was just three years after the death of her late husband, Sir Stirling Moss. Goodwood Road Racing Club booklet paid tribute to the couple by saying: “It is with
Our 1976 TVR 2500M was won very recently through Bridge Classic Cars Competitions. The lucky winner of this beautiful classic car will get lots of information in the history file that comes with the car. Part of that file includes
Brian has continued his work on the headliner of our 1974 Volkswagen Beetle. After fitting the plastic trims to cover the roof hinges, the front edge of the roof inner pad was fitted to the frame. Webbing straps were then
The Motoring Hall of Fame (MHoF) has added four more automotive powerhouses to its small and highly exclusive club. At a ceremony held at this year’s British Motor Show, Dr. Andy Palmer, Linda Jackson, Steve Nash and Vera Park were
Our 1957 Austin-Healey 100-6 has been with Bridge Classic Cars workshop manager, John as he resolves a few issues with the vehicle before it goes live on Bridge Classic Cars Competitions in the very near future. As you can see
Workshop manager John has been working on our 2001 Ford Cougar. He has been looking into why the seat release was failing as well as fixing the rear wiper. Our Cougar continues to make good progress through the Bridge Classic
Our 2010 Land Rover Defender has been in the skilled hands of classic car technician Jonn as he has begun his initial inspection and assessment of this future competition car. Chris has also been working on our Defender by undersealing.
Classic car technician Jonn has been working on our 1973 Triumph TR6 which will soon be available to win through Bridge Classic Cars Competitions. Jonn fitted new cold start cables and looked at the fast idle speed cable too.
Our 1972 Ford Transit Tipper Mark 1 has been making good progress throughout its stay in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop. Classic car technician Chris has had it in the fabrication bay as he has been completing some welding work
We recently had an MG PA in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop so we could complete some paint work on it. While this beautiful classic was with us, classic car technicians Mauro and Chris made the car look even better
Classic car technician Alan has continued his work preparing our 2022 Bridge C-Type Replica for its new coat of paint. Now that the new colour scheme has been confirmed, the filler and panel levelling continued as our C-Type Replica continues
Classic car technicians Brian and Lydia have continued their work on the interior of our 1974 Volkswagen Beetle. They screwed the rear wooden frame rail to the frame bars, before fitting the rear edge of the headliner to the back
Back on 22nd August, Robert Alfonso won our 1968 Jaguar E-Type Series 1.5 when his ticket number 878 was randomly drawn as the winner. As our E-Type sold out in just a couple of weeks, it was drawn much earlier
Our 1979 Ford Escort MK2 has been going through its initial inspection with classic car technician Jonn. During the inspection, Jonn fixed a locking issue on the nearside rear door. The horn connection was cleaned before the interior was striped
Classic car technician Jonn has been continuing his work to get our 2020 AK 427 ready to go live on Bridge Classic Cars Competitions very soon. Jonn fitted a new sump gasket and torqued the sump to 12nm. He then
Classic car technician Brian has been busy making a new hood cover for our 1965 Morris Minor Convertible. This beautiful classic wasn’t in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop for very long, but it certainly looks great as it leaves us.
This is the story of a man with a dream and the classic vehicle that helped him achieve it.
Scott from Good Vibes Coffee told the story of his 1977 Peugeot J7 in his own words:
“In 2018 I set out on the mission to build my own mobile coffee van and turn it into a business. I had little knowledge of how to achieve this, just a vision and a dream. So after months of research and scouring the internet, I came across *the one*, and boarded a plane to La Rochelle on a one-way ticket. The first picture below is me on the south west coast of France assessing the reality I’d committed to of driving this old girl all the way home to England. [Gulp]. After 14 hours of driving through the night, we did (against all odds) make it to the ferry port home, albeit with 20 minutes remaining on the clock until the gates closed!
This of course was only half the journey and another 12 hours of driving later we made it back to Suffolk. Time stood still for a bit while I got my head around registering it on UK plates for insurance purposes, and then off to the body shop she went for some restoration work (and a hatch fitting!)
No less than one year later I got her back from the body shop, three weeks before the world went into the first lockdown, so it was at that point I set about the conversion of the inside (on my driveway!)
This final picture of her is me on the Stellantis Peugeot stand at a corporate car event at Millbrook, Bedford. Something I never even dreamed I’d have the pleasure of doing, but for me the entire journey was all about following your dreams, and if anyone comes to me with an idea I simply tell them “You’ve just got to do it”. It’s amazing what you can achieve when you set your mind to it.”
If you have memories of a special vehicle, we’d love to share them. Simply email rob@bridgeclassiccars.co.uk with some photos and why your vehicle means so much to you.
We have recently welcomed our 1971 Morgan Plus Four into the Bridge Classic Cars workshop.
This will join our ever-growing collection of competition cars for Bridge Classic Cars Competitions, once it has gone through its initial workshop inspection and assessment.
The last Morgan competition car proved to be very popular so we are looking forward to giving you another opportunity to win one equally as beautiful.
One more arrival has made its way into the Bridge Classic Cars workshop in the form of our 1996 MG R V8.
Originally finished in Woodcote Green, it spent the first part of its life in Japan before coming back to the UK in 2010 and being repainted in the rare Flame Red.
This is yet another future competition car that will be won through Bridge Classic Cars Competitions in the very near future.
Earlier today, we welcomed a new addition to the Bridge Classic Cars workshop in the form of our 2007 Aston Martin V8 Vantage.
The plan is for it to soon be available to win through Bridge Classic Cars Competitions and, from first impressions, it will likely be extremely popular.
One of the purchases made at auction this week was our 1953 Land Rover Series 1. Once it has gone through its workshop inspection, it will go on to be offered as a prize through Bridge Classic Cars Competitions.
This particular Series I 86’’ is presented in the ever-popular Green and was subject to a full restoration between June 2016 and July 2017. It was restored by Fisher Restoration at a cost of more than £30,000.
As you can see from the images below, this is a fantastic-looking Land Rover and it will make its lucky new owner (whoever that may be) very happy.
At the recent 30th Anniversary sale hosted by H&H, a very special and unique vehicle was up for sale. The 1950 (1961) Aston Martin-Triumph DB1 Special.
The roots of the story can be traced back to World War II when the Aston Martin Company was under the ownership of R.G. Sutherland. Just before the war began, the company’s chief engineer devised a 2-litre (1970cc) 4-cylinder pushrod engine, which boasted a 90 BHP output. Dr Rollason, the current owner of the vehicle, suspects that there might have been intentions to supercharge it. Following the war, production commenced, leading to the casting of approximately 70 engine blocks and the construction of 18 cars. One of these cars, driven by Sir John Horsfall, secured Britain’s first significant post-war motorsport victory at Spa in 1948.
At the same time, the company came under the ownership of David Brown, who subsequently acquired the Lagonda company. This acquisition led to the introduction of a 6-cylinder twin overhead camshaft engine that had been designed by W.O. Bentley. This 2590cc engine produced 105 BHP at 5000 RPM in standard form and 120 BHP in “Vantage” form. These engines went on to power future Aston Martin models, which later became known as the DB2. Interestingly, the initial 18 cars were retrospectively designated as DB1s, despite their design predating David Brown’s involvement.
While many of the engine blocks were assembled into engines, others served as parts cars for pre-war 2-litre models during servicing. Some were incorporated into some very interesting variants, but a considerable number of blocks remained untouched before eventually finding their way to a local scrap dealer named Coleys.
The engine in this vehicle, number 19, came into the possession of Aston Martin expert Dudley Coram, who later passed it on to Tony Hills, a member of the Aston factory team. This engine was installed in Mr. Hill’s 1934 Triumph Gloria. This happened with assistance from a young apprentice called Tony Tocock. During the early 1950s, the car was rumoured to have even served as a daily commuter to the factory. After Mr. Hill’s ownership, the location of the car is something of a mystery.
Around 1960, the vehicle was acquired by Mr. K.P. Brewer of Thorpe Leas, Egham Surrey. The original bodywork (from the Gloria) was replaced with the body that is still on the car – made from aluminium and steel. After this transformation, Surrey County Council assigned a new chassis number (SYC 91-4/2264) and the registration number 788 VPG to the vehicle, which had originally been registered as AUB 485. The body, which had been repaired following an accident, is attached to a modified tubular frame. The bonnet currently on the car has clearly been replaced and is lacking in quality compared to the rest of the vehicle. The steel roof was from an Austin A35, with the rest being hand-finished.
Designer Frank Gerald Feeley was a member of Sir David Brown’s Lagonda team and had a role in the design of this new generation of Aston Martins (the 6-cylinder engine DB2 onwards) after R.G. Sutherland sold Aston Martin Ltd. It is very possible that this body was actually one of Feeley’s design practices that may have been damaged during the testing process before being repaired and fitted onto the Aston Martin/Triumph Gloria crossbreed.
Originally, in its Triumph Gloria form, the car passed an MOT in March 1961, likely one of the earliest MOTs on record. Officially, it was registered as an Aston Martin on June 22, 1961, but the subsequent ownership history remains somewhat elusive. Notably, AMOC racer Shaun Magee had possession of the car at one point, using it as a source of emergency spare parts for his DB1. Magee has said that the front seats of the car were originally in a DBR racer.
In 1997, the current owner purchased the car from David Wynne of Wimborne Dorset. The actual transfer of ownership took place in Poole though. The car was sent to a friend for restoration, but unfortunately, the project stalled due to the friend’s illness. The car was then retrieved to its current location, where it has remained in project form ever since. At the time, the engine was operational, and although the car is nearly complete, it is in need of restoration. The possibilities include rebodying it as a super tourer or retaining its unique saloon style, but this certainly presents an exciting opportunity for a collector or enthusiast looking to acquire what could be considered an “after-hours factory car,” with major historical significance.
The vehicle was sold with a comprehensive history file containing a vast collection of invoices dating back to 1961, communications with Surrey County Council regarding its registration, numerous exchanges with Aston Martin concerning its origin, and the fascinating story behind its build, among other valuable records.
The Ford Mustang has become something of an icon. With a consistent presence throughout automotive history, it has now taken its rightful place as a legend of American muscle and performance.
The story of the Ford Mustang began in April 1964, when Ford introduced it at the New York World’s Fair.
The original Mustang GT model was based on this first-generation Ford Mustang. This was a compact, sporty car designed to appeal to a new generation of consumers. The GT, short for “Grand Touring,” was an optional performance package that included a powerful V8 engine, sport-tuned suspension, and distinctive styling.
One of the most iconic early Mustang GTs was the 1965 Shelby GT350, a collaboration between Ford and Carroll Shelby. With a 289-cubic-inch V8 engine, it set the stage for the Mustang GT’s reputation as a performance powerhouse.
The 1970s saw the Mustang GT facing challenges due to changing emission regulations and the oil crisis. However, despite these setbacks, it remained a prominent display of American automotive muscle. In the late ’70s, the Mustang II was introduced, which was smaller and lighter but not as powerful as its predecessors.
The 1980s breathed new life into the Mustang with the introduction of the Fox Body Mustang. With options for both 4-cylinder and V8 engines, it offered performance at an affordable price.
The 1990s brought about the fourth-generation Mustang, known for its modern styling and improved handling. It featured a 5-litre V8 which produced 215bhp.
In 2005, Ford unleashed the fifth-generation Mustang, signalling a return to the car’s roots as a high-performance machine. With a retro-inspired design and a 4.6-litre V8 engine producing 300bhp, it quickly gained popularity. The 2011 Mustang GT upped the ante even more with a new 5-litre V8 which delivered 412bhp, making it one of the most powerful Mustangs in years.
The sixth-generation Mustang GT, introduced in 2015, featured a sleeker, more aerodynamic design and a 5-litre V8 engine with 435bhp. Ford continued to refine the Mustang GT’s performance and handling, making it a highly successful competitor in the sports car market.
In 2020, Ford unveiled the latest version of the Mustang GT, part of the seventh generation. With a choice of engines, including a 5-litre V8 and a 2.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder, the Mustang GT offers a range of performance options to suit different tastes. The GT’s performance has been further enhanced with features like MagneRide suspension and advanced driver assistance technologies.
The future of the automotive industry is far from clear, however, the Ford Mustang shows no signs of slowing down. With advancements in electric and hybrid technologies, Ford has introduced the Mustang Mach-E, an all-electric SUV that pays tribute to the Mustang’s legacy. The Mustang Mach-E GT, in particular, offers impressive performance and handling, showcasing Ford’s commitment to innovation and sustainability while staying true to its high-performance heritage.
From its launch in the 1960s to its status as an American automotive icon today, the Mustang GT has consistently represented power, performance, and passion on four wheels. With each new generation, the Mustang GT has evolved and adapted, proving that it can thrive in an ever-changing automotive industry.
Our 2017 Ford Mustang GT is currently live on the Bridge Classic Cars Competitions website. This means that you could own a big part of automotive history for just a few pounds.
Full details are here.
It was announced last night, by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, that the introduction of a ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars has been pushed back five years, from 2030 to 2035.
The Prime Minister started his announcement by saying that the government is “completely committed” to hitting the net zero by 2050 target which former leader, Theresa May set in 2019. This means that, by 2050, the government expects the UK to not be adding any additional greenhouse gases to the atmosphere.
Mr Sunak went on to say “This country is proud to be a world leader in reaching net zero by 2050. But we simply won’t achieve it unless we change. We’ll now have a more pragmatic, proportionate, and realistic approach that eases the burdens on families.”
He then went on to say that, even though an electric car is sold every 60 seconds in the UK, the government believes that there are challenges to be overcome before they become the most common form of transport. These challenges include high costs, practicality, and a lack of infrastructure for charging the vehicles. It was for these reasons that he announced the introduction of the ban will be pushed back until 2035.
In August this year, electric vehicles were responsible for 20% of all new car registrations, with 17,243 new electric cars registered.
Up until the end of last month, there were close to 1.4 million plug-in cars registered for the road in the UK. Around 850,000 of these were full-electric vehicles and 530,000 were hybrids.
For the car manufacturers that have already spent huge amounts of money to transition over to electric cars, this delay is something of a disappointment.
As with most government announcements, it is unclear exactly what the result of this extension will be. However, there have already been several predictions.
The Climate Change Committee (CCC) advises the government on cutting carbon emissions. Earlier this year, the CCC said that the government’s progress towards its net zero commitments was “worryingly slow”. Despite acting as advisors, the CCC says it wasn’t consulted before the Prime Minister made his announcement.
The chair of Ford UK, Lisa Brankin, released a statement yesterday saying ” The UK 2030 target is a vital catalyst to accelerate Ford into a cleaner future. Our business needs three things from the UK government: ambition, commitment and consistency. A relaxation of 2030 would undermine all three.”
This follows Ford’s current investment of £430 million into its UK facilities with further investment planned to meet the initial 2030 date.
The plan to ban the sale of petrol and diesel vehicles will only impact brand-new vehicles (at least initially). Internal combustion-powered vehicles will still be able to be purchased used and the fuel will still be available long after the introduction of the ban. However, it seems feasible that, at some point, the government will ban this type of vehicle altogether.
This delay of five years certainly gives us more time to transition to an alternative fuel for our cars if nothing else.
It will be interesting to see the true impact of Rishi Sunak’s announcement in the next few years. It’s difficult to accurately guess how the automotive industry will look by the end of the next decade or two!
Great news the uk is certainly not ready for electric cars too expensive not enough charging points batteries have quite a short life then no safe way of disposing or recycling old battery packs
From Derek Davis, in his own words:
“The picture is of my very first car that I bought from my Dad for £20 in 1972.
It’s a 1958 Wolseley 1500 built like a tank with a Walnut dash, leather seats, electric fuel pump, the little light on the grill and shoes for brakes front & back😲
Learnt most of my mechanical skills on this car especially greasing the nipples 😁
It was well looked after and I sold it on after a couple of years for £40.
Always treasured the memories of this car and still know the number plate SVB 241″
If you have memories of a special vehicle, we’d love to share them. Simply email rob@bridgeclassiccars.co.uk with some photos and why your vehicle means so much to you.
You’ve forgotten to mention the quirky heated metal bar on the back shelf as a demister. 🤣. Loved mine, even when I turned right and the trunnion steering fell apart leaving me with a folded under wheel blocking my local high street. I didn’t make a profit, but I lost nothing when I sold it.
Bridge Classic Cars Directors, Gordon and Craig have spent the day at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford at the H&H 30th Anniversary Sale.
Throughout the day, they have seen a wide range of interesting cars. One car in particular that caught their attention was the extremely rare Aston Martin 2/2.6-litre Sports ‘DB1’. As you can see from the photos below, this will certainly be an incredible car once its new owner takes on the project.
As this was the 30th anniversary of H&H, the event was always going to be a memorable one so the ‘DB1’ wasn’t the only car of note. Other impressive lots include a 1963 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III Drophead Coupe, a 1953 Aston Martin DB2 Vantage, a 1954 Bentley R-Type Halse ‘Straight Eight’ Special, a 1935/38 SS 100 3 1/2 Litre Special, a 1927 Bentley Tourer, and so many more.
As well as the incredible cars up for sale, there was also a drinks reception, music and guest speakers. One of these guest speakers was TV presenter and motorsport expert, Andy Talbot.
H&H have done a fantastic job in making this a spectacle to celebrate their 30 years of success.
The main purpose of attending the auction was to top up our current collection of competition cars for Bridge Classic Cars Competitions. The day was a success as we added two more to the lineup in the form of our 2007 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Sportshift Coupe with less than 30,000 miles on the clock and our 1996 MG R V8.
Once these arrive at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop, they will be assessed and inspected before being won by lucky winners very soon.
This is the story of Danny Gardner and his 1987 Ford Fiesta 1.1L, imported to the UK in 1988 and affectionately known as Evop!
From Danny, in his own words…
“My late father bought me the car back in January 2001. It was a part exchange at the car dealers my brother was working at (Car Land) and he bought it for me for £150 as my first car for when I turned 17 in the August.
Since then we’ve done a fair bit together. My everyday car from passing my test, until 2003 when I bought a Ford Sierra to use every day.
She had a bodywork freshen-up in 2002, then I crashed it, so back to the body shop for another tidy-up. I went through my boy racer stage and fitted a bigger engine (1.6 Crossflow) and all the usually silly accessories. Thankfully they’ve mostly been removed or changed back to standard now including changing back to the factory-fitted 1100 engine in 2009.
(The original engine had sat in the damp for many years and wouldn’t start when refitted, with virtually no compression. It was assumed to be scrap, but after soaking the bores with Redex for 24 hours, it fired up and has done over 10,000 miles since then)
We’ve moved house with it twice! Thanks to a roof box and small trailer for extra room.
Attended many car shows over the years, travelled to many parts of the UK, and done a couple of little sprint-style track days too just for fun. It’s also the only vehicle we have left that our unborn son got to travel in before we lost him. I then went on to use the car to raise money for SANDS charity:
Not long after that I put the car away for a good few years but was inspired to get it back out again with the announcement that Ford were discontinuing the Ford Fiesta. A first-time pass on the MOT even after all those years parked away.
I then took the car back to visit two Bristol Street Ford dealers during their “farewell Fiesta” event including the Birmingham branch that supplied the car in 1988 (after paying my clean air zone fee of course) and I’ve managed to get one show in this year too.
It was my intention to get some more body work done this year as it needs tidying up again however I’m struggling to find a body shop prepared to do the work. They keep saying “It’s more than it’s worth” but don’t understand what it’s worth to us…”
If you have memories of a special vehicle, we’d love to share them. Simply email rob@bridgeclassiccars.co.uk with some photos and why your vehicle means so much to you.
RM Sotheby’s Private Sales has an incredible vehicle available for sale, a 2022 Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro. Only 40 of these stunning machines were ever made, making this the rarest of all Valkyrie models. If that wasn’t enough, it has only been used once, during its factory shakedown at the Bahrain International Circuit.
The Valkyrie was created as part of the mission to create the ultimate hypercar that would be capable of performance equal to the cars built for the sole purpose of racing. Aston Martin and Red Bull Racing Advanced Technology joined forces and this was the result. A monster that Aston Martin calculated could complete a lap of the 24 Hours of Le Mans circuit in just 3 minutes 20 seconds. That would mean it could comfortably keep up with the Hypercar class.
The AMR Pro offers double the downforce of its road-going counterpart as well as being 150kg lighter. This is a car that creates a driving experience that is extremely close to the one you would feel in professional motorsport.
Currently located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, the 2022 Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro is being offered for sale directly from its one and only owner through RM Private Sales. The Price is available upon request.
ONLY USED FOR A FACTORY SHAKEDOWN, THE CAR IS OFFERED FOR IMMEDIATE ACQUISITION
More information available at rmsothebys.com
The strip down of our 1951 Austin Devon Pickup has begun and is now well underway.
As you can see from the photos below, a lot of work is needed to bring this practical classic pickup back to life.
This morning, the lucky winner of our 1958 Austin-Healey ‘Frogeye’ Sprite was found in our live draw from The Atelier at Bridge Classic Cars.
Live draws are always exciting and this one was no different. The photos below will give you a small glimpse into what goes on behind the scenes when we find the winner of another classic car.
In March this year, Lady Susie Moss sadly passed away. This was just three years after the death of her late husband, Sir Stirling Moss.
Goodwood Road Racing Club booklet paid tribute to the couple by saying:
“It is with great sadness that we heard of Lady Susi Moss’s passing on 18 March 2023, just three years after we lost Sir Stirling. We will remember them as a fantastic team who put a smile on so many faces here at Goodwood and around the world.”
Our 1976 TVR 2500M was won very recently through Bridge Classic Cars Competitions.
The lucky winner of this beautiful classic car will get lots of information in the history file that comes with the car. Part of that file includes a photo album containing photos of the car going through various stages of its restoration earlier in its life.
No matter how detailed a car’s history is, seeing pictures of it being worked on makes its story even more exciting and interesting.
Brian has continued his work on the headliner of our 1974 Volkswagen Beetle. After fitting the plastic trims to cover the roof hinges, the front edge of the roof inner pad was fitted to the frame.
Webbing straps were then stapled to the roof bars and the position of the rear window was marked out. The window frame was then glued to the headliner.
The Motoring Hall of Fame (MHoF) has added four more automotive powerhouses to its small and highly exclusive club. At a ceremony held at this year’s British Motor Show, Dr. Andy Palmer, Linda Jackson, Steve Nash and Vera Park were formally inducted as Motoring Hall of Famers for life.
Working in the automotive industry for more than 40 years, Dr. Andy Palmer has held multiple senior and influential positions such as COO of Nissan and CEO of Aston Martin Lagonda. Among his long list of accomplishments within the industry, he is also a licensed race car driver and even advises the UK Government on export matters.
Dr. Palmer said “I’m humbled and honoured to be inducted into The Motoring Hall of Fame this year, and to be recognised at last month’s British Motor Show induction ceremony in this way,”
Linda Jackson has worked in the automotive industry since 1977 when she held a temporary position as an accounting clerk at Jaguar. After her time at Jaguar, she moved on to multiple positions for various well-known car brands including British Leyland, and Austin Rover. She became CEO of Citroen before finally being appointed as CEO of Peugeot in 2021.
Speaking about her induction, Linda said “Thank you to the Hall of Fame and show organisers for this wonderful accolade”
As CEO of the Institute of the Motoring Industry, Steve Nash has been in the motor industry his entire working life. A large part of his career was spent at BMW UK where he worked from 1986 all the way through until 2012. In his current role, he is working on his mission to raise awareness of the importance of professional standards across the sector, not only within the industry but also in government, consumer organisations, and other relevant stakeholders.
A very surprised Steve Nash said, “The British Motor Show is the biggest event of its kind in the UK, so to be presented with this accolade at the show amongst so many industry colleagues and genuine automotive enthusiasts was a real privilege.”
Vera Park is currently the Lead Exterior Designer at Jaguar Land Rover. In this role, she plays a huge part in how Jaguars and Land Rovers will look in the future. She has also worked at Infiniti, Nissan and Renault before her appointment at JLR.
Vera said “Many thanks to the organisers of The Hall of Fame and The British Motor Show. Also, my congratulations to Andy, Linda and Steve. It really is a huge honour for me, as a car designer, to join such admirable automotive industry people in The Motoring Hall of Fame.”
Since 2010, there have been 39 inductees into the Motoring Hall of Fame. They are:
Mary Barra
Albert Biermann
Martin Brundle
Ian Callum CBE
Eui-sun Chung
Michael Cole
Luca De Meo
Lord Edmiston
Henrik Fisker
Giorgetto Giugiaro
Tom Hartley
Paddy Hopkirk MBE
Peter Horbury
Linda Jackson
Hiroyoshi Kato
Woo-choong Kim
Michael Leiters
Bob Lutz
Ikuo Maeda
Nick Mason CBE
Lord Monatgu of Beaulieu
Sir Stirling Moss OBE (Inductee No.1)
Prof. Gordon Murray CBE
Elon Musk
Shiro Nakamura
Steve Nash
Dr Andy Palmer
Vera Jiyeong Park
Guy Pigounakis
Marek Reichman
Peter Schreyer
Osamu Suzuki
Ratan Tata
Carlos Tavares
Le Thi Thu Thuy
Takeshi Uchiyamada
Matthew Weaver
Janet Wilkinson MBE
Kazunori Yamauchi
Our 1957 Austin-Healey 100-6 has been with Bridge Classic Cars workshop manager, John as he resolves a few issues with the vehicle before it goes live on Bridge Classic Cars Competitions in the very near future.
As you can see from the photos below, John has been working on various components in preparation for it to be won.
Workshop manager John has been working on our 2001 Ford Cougar.
He has been looking into why the seat release was failing as well as fixing the rear wiper.
Our Cougar continues to make good progress through the Bridge Classic Cars workshop and we are looking forward to seeing it leave us soon.
Our 2010 Land Rover Defender has been in the skilled hands of classic car technician Jonn as he has begun his initial inspection and assessment of this future competition car.
Chris has also been working on our Defender by undersealing.
Classic car technician Jonn has been working on our 1973 Triumph TR6 which will soon be available to win through Bridge Classic Cars Competitions.
Jonn fitted new cold start cables and looked at the fast idle speed cable too.
Our 1972 Ford Transit Tipper Mark 1 has been making good progress throughout its stay in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop.
Classic car technician Chris has had it in the fabrication bay as he has been completing some welding work while other Chris, from the paintshop, has been working on the paint of this classic commercial vehicle.
We recently had an MG PA in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop so we could complete some paint work on it.
While this beautiful classic was with us, classic car technicians Mauro and Chris made the car look even better than it already did with some paint repairs made and completed.
Classic car technician Alan has continued his work preparing our 2022 Bridge C-Type Replica for its new coat of paint.
Now that the new colour scheme has been confirmed, the filler and panel levelling continued as our C-Type Replica continues to make good progress through the Bridge Classic Cars workshop.
Classic car technicians Brian and Lydia have continued their work on the interior of our 1974 Volkswagen Beetle.
They screwed the rear wooden frame rail to the frame bars, before fitting the rear edge of the headliner to the back edge of the car. The front edge was then fitted to the front of the frame and the metal trim panel was put on to hold it in place.
Brian stapled the rear flap of the headliner to the rear wooden frame bar before glueing the front flap of the headliner to the frame bars.
Once the headliner was in place, the rear side panels were glued and the rear carpet was glued over the top to keep everything secure and where it should be.
Back on 22nd August, Robert Alfonso won our 1968 Jaguar E-Type Series 1.5 when his ticket number 878 was randomly drawn as the winner.
As our E-Type sold out in just a couple of weeks, it was drawn much earlier than scheduled. The live draw was actually meant to take place this past Tuesday (12th September). As it sold out so early, the car wasn’t quite finished and ready to go.
However, we didn’t want to make Robert wait any longer before he got to see his very own E-Type so we invited him to the workshop so he could see it for himself.
Robert spent a couple of hours with the team here, not only admiring the new addition to his garage but also the other stunning classic cars we are currently working on. He even got a short drive with Bridge Classic Cars Director, Gordon too.
As you can see from the photos below, it was a great visit and we are very much looking forward to our E-Type leaving the workshop and being delivered to its new home.
Our 1979 Ford Escort MK2 has been going through its initial inspection with classic car technician Jonn.
During the inspection, Jonn fixed a locking issue on the nearside rear door. The horn connection was cleaned before the interior was striped so Jonn could resolve an issue with the reverse light wiring. New wiring was installed from the gearbox to the reverse lights and a new exhaust heatshield was also fitted.
Once he has finished assessing the vehicle, we will be able to put together a plan of action for getting it live on Bridge Classic Cars Competitions in the very near future.
Classic car technician Jonn has been continuing his work to get our 2020 AK 427 ready to go live on Bridge Classic Cars Competitions very soon.
Jonn fitted a new sump gasket and torqued the sump to 12nm. He then checked the vacuum pressure cooling system, with it steadily holding pressure, indicating no loss of vacuum and, therefore, no leaks.
The white screw on the number plate was swapped for a black one before the car was run up to temperature where all the gauges were reading fine and within specifications.
Our AK 427 is now almost ready to be won by its lucky new owner.
Classic car technician Brian has been busy making a new hood cover for our 1965 Morris Minor Convertible.
This beautiful classic wasn’t in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop for very long, but it certainly looks great as it leaves us.
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