Rob Harvey

Marketing Manager - Bridge Classic Cars

Servicing A Classic

Classic car technician Steve has been servicing our 1935 Wolseley Super Hornet Special. It only arrived in the last couple of days but Steve has

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Engine Stripping

The engine of our Ford Transit MKII Tipper has been in the care of classic car technician Steve recently as he has been stripping the

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Painting Our TR6

Classic car technician Mauro has been painting our 1973 Triumph Tr6. Before he put a new coat of paint on this eye-catching classic car, he

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Chrome Fitting

As the time gets closer to our biggest competition to date, our 1968 Jaguar E-Type Series 1.5, going live on the Bridge Classic Cars Competitions

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A Classic Arrival

Earlier this week, we welcomed a very ‘special’ classic vehicle into the Bridge Classic Cars Workshop. Our 1935 Wolseley Super Hornet Special has arrived with

Read More »

Suffolk Military Show 2023

Press release from the Suffolk Military Show Team: Over the weekend of 29-30 July, Trinity Park, Ipswich played host to The Suffolk Military Show.  Jam-packed,

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Transit Wheel Hubs

Classic car technician Alan has had the wheel hubs of our Ford Transit MKII Tipper in the Bridge Classic Cars Paintshop. After the hubs had

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Entry Is Now Open

You can now enter to win our 1934 Morris Eight Tourer. This is the oldest car we have ever made available to win through Bridge

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Convertible Spacer

Our 1973 Jaguar E-Type Roadster Series 3 has been in the care of classic car technician Steve who has been making and fitting a stainless

Read More »

TR6 Carpets

New classic car technician Lydia has once again been working on one of the classic cars in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop. Our 1973 Triumph

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Bonnet Assembly Complete

The bonnet of our 1958 Austin Healey ‘Frogeye’ Sprite has been assembled and put back onto the car by classic car technician Jonn.

A new exhaust has also been fitted.

As this beautiful classic will go on to be a competition car through Bridge Classic Cars Competitions, it’s very exciting to see it go through the final list of jobs to be completed before it is won and taken home by its new owner.

The Festival of Classic and Sports Cars

As the primary sponsor of The Festival of Classic and Sports Cars at Helmingham Hall, we found yesterday’s event to be an incredible experience that allowed car enthusiasts and families alike to celebrate and enjoy a huge collection of automotive design and history.

Hosted within the picturesque grounds of Helmingham Hall, The Festival of Classic and Sports Cars proved to be a big success. Despite the unpredictable and ever-changing weather, we were lucky enough to enjoy several spells of warm sunshine with only a couple of short (but rather heavy) downpours.

On the Bridge Classic Cars stand, we displayed a range of classic cars including our very special 1968 Jaguar E-Type Series 1.5 which is available to win in our biggest ever competition to date.


Highlights of The Festival Of Classic And Sports Cars

  • Diverse Collection Of Cars: Visitors to the show got to see an eclectic range of classic and sports cars. They were also treated to the beautiful cars being displayed and driven up the stunning driveway of the hall gardens. From modern sports cars all the way back to some very early classics, there was something for everyone with a passion for cars to look at.
  • Expert And Specialist Vendors: As the event’s primary sponsor, Bridge Classic Cars brought our expertise and passion to the thousands of people who came to see us. The team had a great time engaging with so many fellow car enthusiasts. In addition to our competition cars, we also had some examples of our handmade interior trim work on display too. Other stands included those selling sweets, pet accessories, children’s toys and accessories, plants, and so much more. Our friends from Vint-tro also had a presence as did the Suffolk Vehicle Enthusiasts Club, who helped oversee the event alongside the Helmingham Hall team.
  • Family-Friendly Activities: The festival catered to all members of the family, offering activities such as live entertainment, dancing, food stalls, and it was also dog-friendly! The atmosphere throughout the day was vibrant and extremely positive.
  • Community Engagement: The Festival of Classic and Sports Cars provided a platform for enthusiasts to come together to share their passion and enthusiasm. We were impressed by how well the owners of the cars on display cared for their vehicles and we loved seeing them up close. Money was being raised for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) which is a fantastic cause, and one we are extremely happy to help support.

Bridge Classic Cars

Craig Ranson, Managing Director of Bridge Classic Cars said “We are thrilled to have sponsored the Festival of Classic and Sports Cars at Helmingham Hall. This event perfectly encapsulates our mission of celebrating the beauty, craftsmanship, and history of classic vehicles, while also offering our team of automotive fanatics and experts the opportunity to enjoy an amazing collection of cars. We were honoured to be a part of such an incredible gathering and share our passion with fellow enthusiasts.”

Bridge Classic Cars’ commitment to excellence and our deep-rooted connection to the automotive world shone brightly throughout the Festival of Classic and Sports Cars. As primary sponsor, we played a pivotal role in creating a memorable experience that captured the essence of classic and sports cars.

Our Biggest Ever Competition Is Live


Our 1968 Jaguar E-Type Series 1.5 is live on the Bridge Classic Cars Competitions website.

This is our biggest-ever competition and one that we are extremely excited about. The Jaguar E-Type is one of the most recognisable and iconic classic cars. Even Enzo Ferrari himself described it as “the most beautiful car in the world” so this is an amazing opportunity to win your very own piece of automotive history.

Our E-Type came to us as a stalled restoration which is being completed by our team of classic car technicians ready for it to be won by its lucky new owner.

A 1926 Classic Arrives

Another new arrival entered the Bridge Classic Cars workshop earlier this week in the form of our 1926 Clyno Tourer.

The car has been stored by its owner for several years so is now coming into us to check over and get back into drivable condition.

We have had multiple older cars enter the workshop recently and this is another beautiful 20s model.

Servicing A Classic

Classic car technician Steve has been servicing our 1935 Wolseley Super Hornet Special. It only arrived in the last couple of days but Steve has already got straight to work.

Multiple grease nipples were greased, and the brakes were checked, cleaned, and adjusted. Steve went on to put new engine oil in and replace the spark plugs. The gearbox and diff oils were also replaced as part of the service.

Engine Stripping

The engine of our Ford Transit MKII Tipper has been in the care of classic car technician Steve recently as he has been stripping the engine. While stripping the engine, Steve found that the coolant passages were blocked and it had a damaged bore so will need reboring along with new pistons.

Steve also found the old gasket sealer at the bottom of the sump, before various engine parts were vapour blasted.

The heater box was stripped, cleaned, and its internal parts were recommissioned before the centre dash console was cleaned too. The heater vents also underwent a big clean.

While Steve was working on the engine, classic car technician had the wheels of our Tipper in the paint shop where he primed them ready for painting.

Interior Work Continues

Our 1959 Jensen 541R has continued to make good progress as its interior is coming together nicely. Both Brian and Lydia have been working hard to make the interior of the car look as good as the exterior.

They have made and fitted the carpet for the boot lid. They also made the patterns and trial-fitted the interior carpets before cutting these out and fitting the carpets too. Edges were sewn before the kick panel boards and carpet were made and fitted too.

Sound deadening was cut out and fitted to the bulkhead and to the gearbox tunnel before Brian made a wooden bracket for the interior light. Brian went on to cut out vinyl for the rear pockets and he glued leather to the subframes while fitting the sill carpets.

Painting Our TR6

Classic car technician Mauro has been painting our 1973 Triumph Tr6. Before he put a new coat of paint on this eye-catching classic car, he prepped the vehicle before priming it.

Once prepped and primed, Mauro painted the TR6 so it is now looking better than ever.

After Mauro had finished with our TR6, Lydia took over and got to work on the interior carpets.

Chrome Fitting

As the time gets closer to our biggest competition to date, our 1968 Jaguar E-Type Series 1.5, going live on the Bridge Classic Cars Competitions website, work has been picking up pace as the restoration comes to an end.

One of the latest jobs to be completed was done by workshop manager John as he fitted the window chromes.

As we move into the finishing touches phase of the project, these little jobs go a long way in making our E-Type look as good as we know it will.

Handmaking Classic Parts

When restoring classic cars, it can be difficult to get the exact part that you’re looking for.

This is exactly what happened when classic car technician Monty was looking to replace the door latch on our 1973 Triumph Spitfire. After ordering the part we needed (which was extremely difficult to find), it was found to be too small.

As another wasn’t available, Monty had to handmake a replacement.

In the photos below, you can see the original latch at the top, the purchased latch which was too small in the middle, followed by the one Monty made at the bottom.

This goes to show the level of skill that our technicians have in order to restore and repair the classic cars we work on.

Welcome To The Team – Lydia

When former Bridge Classic Cars trimmer, Lydia, left for new pastures, our search for a new trimmer began.

We have been lucky enough to find someone who can join the interior trim team, to work alongside Brian, another Lydia!

Lydia Mark II joins us with a wealth of classic car experience. After leaving uni, she began working on the interiors of classic Volkswagens. This was an excellent match for Lydia who is a self-confessed classic car enthusiast/owner/hoarder.

After moving on from her VW work, she began working for Signature Furniture in Essex where she helped create bespoke furniture of all shapes and sizes.

Lydia has now joined the Bridge Classic Cars team and she has been hard at work on the interior of some stunning cars already, including our 1968 Jaguar E-Type Series 1.5 and our 1959 Jensen 541R.

As well as her love of classic cars, Lydia also has a passion for the vintage lifestyle. This is highlighted by her membership of a World War 2 re-enactment group – The Suffolk Regiment Living History Society.

Lydia’s current car collection includes a 1990 Mark II Golf, a 1986 Honda Acty, and a WW2 Royal Enfield CM350.

Welcome to the team!


Peter – 2023 Bridge Classic Car Show

A great day, enjoyed seeing everyone’s cars.
More stalls would be nice, perhaps some car accessory stalls (cleaning, detailing and gadgets)
Nice to see everyone look forward to the next.

Jeffrey Eatough – 2023 Bridge Classic Car Show

Thanks, great show at Bentwaters. Will next years be there as difficult to see how you could get all those exhibitors and visitors into the area in front of Suffolk Plant Centre? I was parked next to Steve with his sparkling MGB V8 GT. He was a happy man!

Jilly G – 2023 Bridge Classic Car Show

Ideal location, good varied selection of cars from the man who restored in his garage, to the high-end professional restoration, all unique in their own right. Nice atmosphere with the swing and jive music, and not a ghetto blaster. Would like to have seen more stalls generally, including an Autojumble, maybe the weather forecast was to blame. Keep up good work, Look forward to next year. Jilly.

A New Look For Our Trailer

The new Bridge Classic Cars trailer hasn’t been with us very long but it has already been extremely busy collecting and delivering classic vehicles all over the country.

Recently, we gave it a very short break so it could have a makeover with Bridge Classic Cars branding being applied to it.

It’s great to see our trailer now look like it is officially a part of the team!

A Classic Arrival

Earlier this week, we welcomed a very ‘special’ classic vehicle into the Bridge Classic Cars Workshop. Our 1935 Wolseley Super Hornet Special has arrived with us for a service.

We have had several older vehicles in the workshop lately and this is another that adds to that collection.

As you can see from the photos below, this is a beautiful car that has clearly been well looked after and loved throughout its life.

Suffolk Military Show 2023

Press release from the Suffolk Military Show Team:

Over the weekend of 29-30 July, Trinity Park, Ipswich played host to The Suffolk Military Show.  Jam-packed, covering over 700 years of interactive reenactor displays and bringing together over 1000 reenactors from across the UK and Europe. The cheering crowds were treated to a medieval ‘elimination!’ tournament, and archery, demonstrated by The Suffolk Swords.

The Main Arena Explosive Action came from an American Civil War Skirmish with Black Powder Cannon provided by SoSKan  (The Southern Skirmish Association) that wowed the viewers, whilst the WW2 Allied/Axis Battle came with atmospheric engagement, PAK field gun and pyrotechnic smoke cover as German, Russian and British Troops engaged at close quarters.

The hundreds of military vehicles displayed by both individuals and Military Vehicle Groups were a huge attraction alongside Knights Templar to Cold War re-enactment.


On Saturday, the sky was filled with the brilliant sights and sounds of a Battle of Britain Memorial Flight iconic Spitfire that came out of the clouds and brought out the sun over the packed event ground.  It was unfortunate that the winds and cloud base over the two-day event meant that the Tigers Army Parachute Team could not make their jaw-dropping skydiving display over the showground, so the crew provided a great ground display and crowd engagement open mic session.  

Entertainment by 1940s tribute group The Three Chordettes were joined by Dance Group A2 Jive on the Main Stage and on Sunday Service of Remembrance led by WW1 group The 10th Essex Regiment was joined by a Parade of Banners, Land Army Girls, representatives from the Regular Army, military charities being supported by the event and the many Veterans and Serving Military Personnel that were provided with free entry in a show as a sign of respect for the service to their countries.

The Suffolk Military Show 27-28 July 2024 is already under construction by the Team behind the event, Fifty One Degree Events. 

Plans for the 2024 show are already underway and under wraps, as the organisers aim to provide the County of Suffolk with a top-quality historical showcase that everyone will be proud of.

 The show will be back with its signature ground-to-air lights to provide some of the very best interactive experiences you will not want to miss and will not forget.

So be prepared to get involved, prepare for the unexpected but most of all prepare to enjoy yourself as the team pull out all the stops to provide you with a thrilling and truly memorable time at the Suffolk Military Show 2024

Transit Wheel Hubs

Classic car technician Alan has had the wheel hubs of our Ford Transit MKII Tipper in the Bridge Classic Cars Paintshop.

After the hubs had been primed and painted, they look much improved and will no doubt look great when they are finally put back on the vehicle as its restoration continues.

TR6 Hood Frame Improvements

Our 1973 Triumph TR6 has been in the Bridge Classic Cars Paintshop with classic car technician Alan who has been painting the hood frame.

This is already an attention-grabbing car thanks to its yellow colour and improvements like this go a long way in making it even more admirable.

Painting Jensen Parts And Interior Work

Classic car technician Alan has been busy painting several components of our 1959 Jensen 541R. These were then passed on to Rob who is continuing his work rebuilding this beautiful classic car.

As well as the main body of the car being rebuilt, our interior trim team, Brian and Lydia, have been working hard on the interior. Brian has been cutting and fitting the carpet while Lydia has been getting the boot sorted.

Helping Keep East Anglian Air Ambulance Saving Lives

We were very proud of our special charity competition where we gave the opportunity for someone to win a 1973 Triumph Spitfire, while also helping to keep East Anglian Air Ambulance saving lives throughout Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, and Bedfordshire.

Although we are known for our classic car restorations, we love being able to offer incredible opportunities like this to win a classic car. This competition not only allowed us to contribute to an extremely important cause, but it also gave car enthusiasts the chance to own an iconic piece of automotive history for just a few pounds.

The 1973 Triumph Spitfire was a true gem among classic sports cars, renowned for its timeless design, thrilling performance, and undeniable charm. Our Spitfire was finished in stunning Carmine Red with a black and red interior. It came with a history file containing invoices, MOT certificates, parts catalogues, and a Haynes manual. Showing 59,000 miles, the car was transported from its previous home in Scotland by Bridge Classic Cars ready for it to be won.


By collaborating on this charity competition, we wanted to make a significant impact on EAAA’s mission of saving lives 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Craig Ranson, Managing Director of Bridge Classic Cars said “We were delighted to support EAAA as we know just how important their work is for our region. We understand that without their fundraising efforts, a lot of lives will be put at risk, so we are extremely happy to play our part in helping the charity continue their incredible work and save many more lives.”

Our 1973 Triumph Spitfire charity competition generated around £40,000 in ticket sales. From this, all profits were donated to East Anglian Air Ambulance. The live draw of the car took place at the 2023 Bridge Classic Car Show and Alex Chifu was randomly selected as the lucky winner with ticket number 3744.

Everyone here at Bridge Classic Cars would like to say a massive thank you to the whole team at EAAA for working with us. We would also like to express our gratitude to everyone who purchased a ticket for the Spitfire. It was great to see so much support for this very special charity.

Entry Is Now Open

You can now enter to win our 1934 Morris Eight Tourer.

This is the oldest car we have ever made available to win through Bridge Classic Cars Competitions and it really is a beautiful classic.

Despite being a 1934 model, it still drives and can be used as well as admired.

A Successful Car Show 2023


The Bridge Classic Car Show 2023 took place on Sunday 30th July and it was a great success. With around 800 cars in attendance, The Hangar, at Bentwaters Parks and the surrounding runways were packed with a huge range of vehicles spanning multiple eras, makes, and models. From a Ford Model T from 1912 to 2023 Aston Martins, there certainly was something for everyone to admire.

With the addition of a vintage fair, swing dancers, a live draw, and much more, our show more than doubled in size from previous years. The Bridge Classic Car Show 2023 was a definite sign that our show could very well be one of the biggest in the local area in the very near future.

The History Of The Bridge Classic Car Show

Since its debut in 2018, The Bridge Classic Car Show has steadily grown in size and popularity. Previously held predominantly at our Pettistree workshop, this year was the first time we hosted the entire show from our Bentwaters Parks facility.

With almost unlimited space, we were able to accommodate hundreds more cars and bikes. With the stunning backdrops of the former military air base, every car in attendance looked beautiful in this setting.

A Spectacular Display Of Automotive Elegance

We had several car clubs attend The Bridge Classic Car Show 2023 including Porsche Club GB, Clacton Classic Car Club, East Coast Mini Club, ISMOC, East Coast Japanese, and East Coast Retros.

The heart of the show was obviously the impressive array of classic and sports vehicles on display. The whole team loved seeing so many car owners and their cherished vehicles that have been meticulously cared for and lovingly maintained.

Visitors were treated to a snapshot of automotive history, with cars spanning several decades, each representing its era’s unique design language and engineering marvels.


An All-Inclusive Event

This year, we made a big effort to make The Bridge Classic Car Show an all-inclusive event. While classic car enthusiasts made up the core audience, the event catered to the whole family, including the four-legged variety!

Throughout the show, vintage DJ Nigel Woodhouse and his dancers from Simply Swing were entertaining the crowds with their impressive dancing skills. We also welcomed Sparkle Bar who applied glitter to many faces. The Heart of Suffolk Distillery offered some beautiful gin, while the Cheese and Pie Man added even more choice to the selection of food on offer.

Everyone here at Bridge Classic Cars would like to thank all of the vendors who helped us make our 2023 show as successful as it was.

  • Nigel Woodhouse
  • Simply Swing
  • Sparkle Bar
  • The Cheese and Pie Man
  • Heart of Suffolk Distillery
  • Sally B Vintage
  • The Cake Kitchen
  • Alexandra Vintage
  • Hannah Iris Vintage
  • Le Keux
  • Ace Auto Memorabilia
  • Blue Pig Photography
  • Ransomes Mobility

Our Charity Partner – East Anglian Air Ambulance

At 3:30 pm, our very special charity competition came to an exciting conclusion when we found out who the lucky winner of our 1973 Triumph Spitfire was in the live draw. All profits from this competition will be donated to East Anglian Air Ambulance to help them continue their vital life-saving work around the region.

By the time the competition closed, £40,000 was generated which is a result we are very happy with!

East Anglian Air Ambulance was a big part of our 2023 show by teaching children and adults the extremely important skill of CPR and AED use. With so many lives literally being saved with this knowledge, we are extremely proud to help them spread the message and continue their work.

A highlight of the show was a flyover of the EAAA helicopter which everyone seemed to enjoy.


Best In Show

Local radio presenter Mark Murphy MBE was the judge for The Bridge Classic Cars Best in Show 2023. He awarded the title to Bryn Jones for his Jaguar XK120.

The two runners-up were Martin Dawson for his Mustang and Derek Simonds for his Jensen 541R.


Testimonials

“Ideal location, good varied selection of cars from the man who restored in his garage, to the high end professional restoration, all unique in their own right. Nice atmosphere with the swing and jive music, and not a ghetto blaster. Would like to have seen more stalls generally, including an Autojumble, maybe weather forecast was to blame. Keep up good work, Look forward to next year. Jilly.”

“A great day , enjoyed seeing everyone’s cars. More stalls would be nice, perhaps some car accessory stalls (cleaning, detailing and gadgets). Nice to see everyone look forward to the next.”

“Excellent venue and show with great variety of cars and easily accessed. Look forward to next year.”

“Great day out lovely collection of cars and motorcycles.”

“Great show and people were so friendly. My son has autism/adhd and he loved it.”

On Social Media


The Bridge Classic Car Show

Following the great success of this year’s show, we have already begun plans for the 2024 show. More information on this will be available very soon.

Our SS100 Delivered To Holyhead

Our 1939 Jaguar SS100 may not have been with us very long but, it has now left the Bridge Classic Cars workshop and has been delivered to Holyhead to its owner.

It will now travel to Ireland where it will be driven across the country and enjoyed as it should be.

Convertible Spacer

Our 1973 Jaguar E-Type Roadster Series 3 has been in the care of classic car technician Steve who has been making and fitting a stainless steel spacer to adjust the centre roof catch.

TR6 Carpets

New classic car technician Lydia has once again been working on one of the classic cars in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop.

Our 1973 Triumph TR6 has been her focus, specifically the interior carpets.