Rob Harvey

Marketing Manager - Bridge Classic Cars

All Cleaned Up

After having rust repairs completed, our 1968 Jaguar E-Type Series 1.5 has had a thorough clean and is looking great! Parked in The Atelier with

Read More »

Prepping Our Defender

Our 2015 Land Rover Defender 110 continues to make progress in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop. The photos below show it before a thorough clean

Read More »

Primed And Ready

Classic car technician Al has been applying primer to various parts of our 1959 Jensen 541R. The underside of the bonnet was the first to

Read More »

Fixing Rust Issues

Our 1968 Jaguar E-Type Series 1.5 has spent some time in the Bridge Classic Cars paintshop recently. Classic car technician Chris has been resolving a

Read More »

Checking Our Daimler

After being in storage for several years, our 1968 Daimler 250 is in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop for an assessment and appraisal. Classic car

Read More »

Inspecting Our E-Type

Our 1970 Jaguar E-Type Series 2 has returned to the Bridge Classic Cars workshop to investigate and resolve some issues that the owner has been

Read More »

Fixing Sunroof Issues

Classic car technician Jonn has been investigating some issues that our 1987 BMW 635 CSI has been having with its sunroof. His investigation began by

Read More »

Rebuilding Our Defender

Our 2015 Land Rover Defender has made good progress lately. Classic car technician Mauro has been putting the chequer plates and wheel arches back on

Read More »

Prep For Sandblasting

Our 1960 Jensen 541 is back in the workshop and in the very capable hands of classic car technician Rob. In preparation for sandblasting, Rob

Read More »

Sealing And Painting

Since we collected our 1969 Morris Minor and safely delivered it to the Bridge Classic Cars workshop, it has been under the care of our

Read More »

East Coast Mini Club

Our 1967 Jaguar E-Type Racing Series 1 received some attention in the East Coast Mini Club Facebook group recently. The names of Bridge Classic Cars

Read More »

Test Driving Our AC Ace

Classic car technician Rob has been investigating an issue with the brakes of our 1958 AC Ace. The owner of this stunning classic car has reported that the brakes have been feeling a bit sticky and have not been operating as they would expect them to.

To find out what was going on, Rob stripped the brakes down and cleaned them. He also lubricated the brakes before reassembling them. He found that the stickiness was being caused by wear in the front calipers which was allowing the pads to get stuck. Rob filed the calipers to remove the worn areas in order to rectify the issue.

Rob went on to repair and refit the brake caliper pad mounting faces. New pad retainers were also installed.

Once Rob had finished his work on our 1958 AC Ace, workshop manager John took it out for a road test and found everything was now working as it should be.

During the road test, we got to see just how impressive this classic car really is. Not only does it look incredible, but it drives smoothly too. Everyone here certainly has a soft spot for this eye-catching classic car.

A 1974 Vauxhall Victor FE Discovered

A 1974 Vauxhall Victor FE with just 86 miles on the clock and seemingly untouched for decades, is proving to be something of a mystery.

Not too much is known about the classic vehicle at this point in time, other than it was purchased brand new by a man known only as Mr Milner.

Despite being found around 10 years ago, following Mr Milner’s death, its history is still mostly unknown by the car’s current owner, The Great British Car Journey Museum in Ambergate, Derbyshire. When it was discovered in a locked garage, it was found that its bodywork had been oiled and a lot of the interior had been covered in polythene to protect it. Empty fuel canisters, spare parts, and a 1974 Haynes manual had also been placed in the boot.

Staff at The Great British Car Journey Museum have been trying to find out more about the mysterious Vauxhall Victor. Documents found with the car show that Mr Milner purchased the car on April 12th 1974 from Mercury Garage, in Ilkeston, Derbyshire when the car was brand new. The documents also show that Mr Milner had rust-proofing applied to the car six years after he purchased it.

It was only when Mr Milner’s estate was being cleared after he passed away that the car was found. A collector purchased the mysterious Victor from the estate before the museum went on to buy it last November.

When it was found, the chrome and the lights had been removed and stored in the car. There doesn’t seem to be any friends or family of Mr Milner to ask about the car’s history so the museum has started their search for information about the car and why the owner only covered 86 miles in it before storing it.

Current speculation from people on social media include the theories that Mr Milner bought the car, didn’t like it so confined it to storage; the odometer is broken; that it was Bully’s Star Prize on the 80s gameshow Bull’s Eye, and even alien abduction of the owner!

More information can be seen here.

Talking Classics With Ed Stafford

Explorer, adventurer, and TV personality Ed Stafford recently joined us in The Atelier at Bridge Classic Cars.

It was great to have a conversation with Ed about his epic expedition when he became the first person to walk the length of the Amazon River, his time living on an uninhabited Island, his other adventures, projects, and, of course, classic cars too!

A Winner Enjoying His Prize

Steve Biggs recently won our 1975 MGB GT V8 through Bridge Classic Cars Competitions.

He instantly fell in love with the car and, we are pleased to see, that he is still enjoying being the owner of this classic sports car.

Now known as ‘Velma’ due to the colour of the Scooby Doo character’s top, Steve took his MGB GT V8 for her first proper drive and she looks great!

Everyone here at Bridge Classic Cars hopes that Steve continues to enjoy being the proud owner of Velma, our 1975 MGB GT V8.

Saying Goodbye To Our 1979 Arrow Ferrari Daytona

The time has come to say goodbye to our Ferrari Daytona replica.

Since it first arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop back in 2020, our 1979 Arrow Ferrari Daytona has gone through a huge transformation and now looks incredibly different to how it did upon its arrival.

From its paintwork to its engine to its interior, you would be forgiven for thinking the car that is leaving the workshop is a different car from the one that rolled in at the beginning of its restoration journey.

The restoration of our Daytona has been extremely challenging but equally as exciting. Seeing it in its almost finished form has certainly made all of the hard work our team of classic car technicians have put into this project very much worth it.

As our 1979 Arrow Ferrari Daytona leaves us and returns to its owner, we look forward to seeing what the future has in store for this special classic car.

My Other Car Is An Amphicar

The owner of our 1964 Amphicar 7-70 recently visited us here at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop and he arrived in style!

If an amphicar wasn’t cool enough, the 2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicorn is certainly an eye-catching vehicle. It may not be a classic but we still love it just the same!

A Visit From Heart Of Suffolk Distillery

Bridge Classic Cars recently welcomed Martin and Ryan from Heart of Suffolk Distillery to The Atelier.

As a local distillery, we feel that their gin could be a great addition to our licenced bar so it was an exciting visit.

Both Ryan and Martin are big car fans too so, obviously, a visit to The Atelier at Bridge Classic Cars would have been fun for them too. Our 1973 Audi 100 Coupe S caught their eye during their visit!

We hope to welcome the team from Heart of Suffolk Distillery back soon.

All Cleaned Up

After having rust repairs completed, our 1968 Jaguar E-Type Series 1.5 has had a thorough clean and is looking great!

Parked in The Atelier with a range of other impressive-looking classic cars, it certainly is an eye-catching vehicle.

Our E-Type has been in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop several times over the years and we always enjoy welcoming it back, and we look forward to seeing it back out on the road very soon.

Prepping Our Defender

Our 2015 Land Rover Defender 110 continues to make progress in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop.

The photos below show it before a thorough clean and the fit-out process being started by classic car technicians Tamas and Scott.

Our Defender continues to look better and better and we are very excited to see its progress continue until it is ready to leave us in the near future.

MyClassics.co.uk – The Free Global Sales Platform

Bridge Classic Cars are known for our award-winning restoration work as well as our classic car competitions. However, we have also launched our very own sales platform – MyClassics.co.uk

What Is MyClassics.co.uk?

MyClassics is a completely free global sales platform where you can sell and buy vehicles and automotive-related products in a simple, user-friendly way.

What Can You Sell On MyClassics.co.uk?

There are currently three parts to MyClassics.co.uk – vehicles, number plates, and parts.

If you want to sell your vehicle, then you can list it on MyClassics completely free of charge. You also have the option to sell number plates if you have any personalised plates you are looking to sell.

The newest feature of MyClassics is the ‘parts for sale’ section. This has recently launched and gives you the opportunity to buy and sell any vehicle part.

What Can You Buy On MyClassics?

There are a range of vehicles available for sale on MyClassics.co.uk. There are also number plates that can be purchased too.

Finally, the parts section allows you to search through a catalogue of parts from various cars and bikes letting you find the exact part you need for your project.

What Fees Will I Have To Pay?

None! MyClassics is completely free for sellers and buyers.

There are no charges for listing vehicles, number plates, or parts, nor are there any commissions or percentages to pay if your listing is successfully sold.

MyClassics.co.uk is a completely free sales platform.

How Does MyClassics Work?

If you are selling on MyClassics.co.uk, any prospective buyers can contact you via the site to discuss a potential sale.

If you are buying on MyClassics.co.uk, you can contact sellers and discuss buying any listed items directly with the person selling them.

Our 1975 MGB GT V8 Delivered

The lucky winner of our 1975 MGB GT V8, Anthony Bannon, took delivery of his classic car earlier today.

Anthony’s ticket number of 714 was randomly selected as the winner during our live draw held on 2nd February 2023.

Everyone at Bridge Classic Cars would like to congratulate Anthony on becoming the new owner of our 1975 MGB GT V8, we hope you enjoy it!

The Classic Car Show at Culford

Highlights of our day at The Classic Car Show can be seen here.

Classic cars, food, drink, and entertainment, the Classic Car Show at Culford is a great day out for car enthusiasts.

You can enjoy looking at the wide range of classic vehicles on display as well as spending some time browsing the many stall holders that will be in attendance too.

Tickets will go on sale just after Easter with a generous discount for pre-booking via The Classic Car Show at Culford website.

The Festival of Classic & Sports Cars

Held in association with the Suffolk Vehicle Enthusiasts Club (SVEC), the Festival of Classic & Sports Cars features vehicles from a wide range of eras. More than 1000 vehicles attended the 2022 festival so you can be sure you will be able to find something for everyone.

The show takes place against the backdrop of Helmingham Hall and its surrounding moat making for a stunning location for some truly beautiful cars.

In addition to the eye-catching vehicles on display, there are plenty of activities for all the family including children’s activities, fairground stalls, over 40 craft and trade stalls, main ring entertainment, birds of prey and much more!

A variety of food and drink will be available and there will be multiple forms of entertainment including country music artists Jax & Co, who will be playing among other performers, plus Chocks Away will be dancing throughout the day showing off their skills in Jive, Swing and Lindy Hop.

There is also the opportunity to transport yourself back to the era your car was made by dressing in the fashion of the time. Competitions for best dressed will be going on throughout the festival so you can be rewarded for making the effort.

Pre-Booked Admission Prices

Admission including entry into the grade 1 listed gardens:

Adults £10

Child (5-15 years old) £5

Under 5’s Free

Family (2 adults, 2 children 5-15 years) £25

On The Gate Prices:

Adults £12

Child (5-15 years old) £6

Under 5’s Free

Family (2 adults, 2 children 5-15 years) £30

Well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome!

Primed And Ready

Classic car technician Al has been applying primer to various parts of our 1959 Jensen 541R.

The underside of the bonnet was the first to have epoxy primer applied before the outside of the bonnet had its primer applied too.

Once the bonnet was complete, Al turned his attention to the doors, boot, wings, and body of this rare classic car. All of these had high-build primer applied.

Work continues on our classic Jensen 541R as it makes progress through its restoration journey in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop.

Paint Improvements For Our MGB GT

It won’t be too much longer until our 1968 MGB GT will be available to win through Bridge Classic Cars Competitions.

To make sure it is ready to be won, it has spent some time in the paintshop with classic car technician Chris. He has been making some improvements to the paintwork to ensure this classic British sports car is looking its very best for its eventual new owner.

Fixing Rust Issues

Our 1968 Jaguar E-Type Series 1.5 has spent some time in the Bridge Classic Cars paintshop recently.

Classic car technician Chris has been resolving a rust issue on the rear of this classic car.

After Chris had finished his work on our E-type, you can see from the pictures below that the car now looks much better and the rear appears to be free from rust.

Specialist Auto Repair Company Of The Year – Suffolk

We have recently been announced as the winner of the London & South East England Prestige Awards Specialist Auto Repair Company Of The Year – Suffolk.

Everyone at Bridge Classic Cars works extremely hard to deliver the high levels of service that we provide so we are always proud to be recognised for our success.

The Corporate Livewire Prestige Awards recognise small and medium-sized businesses that have proven to be the best in their market over the past 12 months.

All shortlisted companies put forward in the prestige awards are asked to support their nomination with evidence of their work, positive feedback from their clients, information on previous accreditation and recognition as well as highlighting the most outstanding parts of their businesses.

The judging panel base their decisions upon areas such as service excellence, quality of the product/ service provided, innovative practices, value, ethical or sustainable methods of working, as well as consistency in performance.

The winners selected are those who can best demonstrate their strengths in these areas.

Checking Our Daimler

After being in storage for several years, our 1968 Daimler 250 is in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop for an assessment and appraisal.

Classic car technician Jonn began his inspection of our classic Daimler and found some small areas of rust as well as noticing an issue with the engine oil level. The oil had been overfilled so there was actually too much of it in the car.

Once the car has been fully checked, Jonn’s findings will be reported to the car’s owner ready to formulate a plan of action for the future.

Inspecting Our E-Type

Our 1970 Jaguar E-Type Series 2 has returned to the Bridge Classic Cars workshop to investigate and resolve some issues that the owner has been experiencing while driving the car.

Classic car technician Jonn started his investigative work by taking the car out for a road test. During his time in the car, he checked the overdrive operation and found that the solenoid powered and was working so it was suspected that the issue lies with the overdrive unit.

The speedo cable was also checked to see what might be causing it to jump during driving.

The handbrake warning light has been reported to come on during driving. Jonn found that the brake fluid reservoir was loose on the nearside which could be the reason for the light engaging.

When the car was up on the ramp, Jonn noted that there were a few oil leaks too.

To fix an issue with the clutch, the engine and gearbox need to be removed from our E-Type. Jonn began the process of removing these so he could fix the issue.

The bonnet hinges had seized so, to allow Jonn access, he heated the pins to aid the removal.

During the engine removal process, it was found that the top hose of the radiator was damaged. The front suspension was stripped to take the tension off the torsion bars.

The engine and gearbox removal then moved on to the interior centre console being stripped so Jonn could remove the gear lever and wiring. Classic car technician Rob then assisted Jon in removing the engine and gearbox.

The wheels were put back on the car so it can be moved to our secure storage facility until the engine and gearbox are ready to be put back in the car.

Jonn noted that there was lots of waxoyl covering many of the components making the job quite a messy one!

Once out of the car, the engine and gearbox were separated. The overdrive was removed and cleaned ready to be sent for repair.

The new clutch was aligned and fitted. Jonn removed the seized clevis pin in the clutch fork slave rod. He cleaned and replaced this with the new thrust bearing.

Our 1970 Jaguar E-Type Series 2 has turned into a big job that has required lots of time, skill, and experience. Luckily, Jonn (and the rest of the workshop team) have this in great quantities and the car is making good progress towards getting back to its owner and out on the road once more.

Fixing Sunroof Issues

Classic car technician Jonn has been investigating some issues that our 1987 BMW 635 CSI has been having with its sunroof.

His investigation began by stripping the sunroof. While doing this, it became apparent that the roof had been badly welded at some point in the past. Jonn believes this was probably when someone removed the old sunroof.

While working on our 635 CSI, Jonn fitted new fog lights. However, the multi-plugs on the new lights were different. To overcome this, the plugs were cut and rewired using bullet connectors.

Bridge C-Type Replica Test Drive

Our 2022 Bridge C-Type Replica has been taken out of the Bridge Classic Cars workshop for its very first test drive.

Classic car technician Jonn was behind the wheel as this very exciting (and special) vehicle drove for the very first time.

Rebuilding Our Defender

Our 2015 Land Rover Defender has made good progress lately. Classic car technician Mauro has been putting the chequer plates and wheel arches back on after they were painted.

He also painted the doors and door hinges before reattaching the newly painted doors to the rugged vehicle.

Now that the doors match the rest of our Defender, it is looking very cool. With a bit more work left to do, it will be with us for a little while longer but it has certainly come a long way since it arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop at the beginning of the year.

Improvements To Our Range Rover

Our 2013 Range Rover Vogue SE SDV8 has been undergoing some minor works that have made a big difference to the overall look of the vehicle.

Part of this involved classic car technician Mauro refurbishing the side steps.

In addition to the side steps being refurbished, the grille was also replaced.

Our Range Rover has made good progress during its short time in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop and it will soon be leaving us ready to get back on the road again.

Getting Ready For Paint

Classic car technician Scott has been busy stripping our 1976 Aston Martin AMV8 ready for it to be painted.

Now that it has been stripped, this classic car will undergo a complete external respray as we continue to restore it ready to go back to its owner in full working order.

With lots of work being done to get the car running, it will be great to see the paintwork looking much improved too.

Prep For Sandblasting

Our 1960 Jensen 541 is back in the workshop and in the very capable hands of classic car technician Rob.

In preparation for sandblasting, Rob has removed the body and the roof frame.

With a history like this car has, it is exciting to see it progress through its restoration journey and be one step closer to being back on the road (even though there is still a long way to go yet).

Sealing And Painting

Since we collected our 1969 Morris Minor and safely delivered it to the Bridge Classic Cars workshop, it has been under the care of our experienced classic car technicians.

Dave has continued his work on our Morris Minor Convertible by resealing the exhaust clamp. This is all part of the bigger picture of getting the car running and through an MOT as well as a structured recommissioning over time.

While Dave was working on the exhaust clamp, classic car technician Mauro was giving the wheels of this classic car some attention.

The wheels were coated in epoxy primer before being painted and, as you can see from the photos below, they are looking much better after leaving the paintshop.

Rebuilding And Rust Protection

Our 1986 Daimler DS420 continues to be put back together. Classic car technician Steve carried on putting the front end back together before moving on to apply rust protection in the rear arches.

The rear end was also put back together.

Steve made a new bush for the throttle linkage as he found that the old one was missing. This was causing excessive play. The new bush resolved this issue.

As work continues on rebuilding our 1986 Daimler DS420, it is becoming more apparent that the finished vehicle will be a great-looking limo-style classic car.

East Coast Mini Club

Our 1967 Jaguar E-Type Racing Series 1 received some attention in the East Coast Mini Club Facebook group recently.

The names of Bridge Classic Cars Directors, Gordon and Craig Ranson can be seen on the car.

Our racing E-type is back with us and we are very much looking forward to getting it running and ready for more photo opportunities in the future.