A Day Behind The Scenes At Lotus
July 26, 2024
Yesterday, Molly and I had the pleasure of taking a small group on an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of Classic Team Lotus and the Lotus factory.
Events News
Extended hours granted on The Classic Lounge
July 25, 2024
We are extremely pleased to announce that East Suffolk Council have allowed The Classic Lounge to extend the operating hours on a number of key
Bridge Classic Cars Members Club Launch Party
July 8, 2024
On Friday night, we celebrated the opening of The Classic Lounge, the home of the exclusive members’ club by Bridge Classic Cars. The event, held
A Summer Car Meet
June 24, 2024
Last Thursday, we hosted our Sunset Classic Car & Bike Meet and it was a huge success. It was the first time most of our
Cars By The Coast – June 2024
June 20, 2024
Yesterday, we hosted a very successful Cars by the Coast event. After meeting at the brand-new Classic Lounge at Bridge Classic Cars, we spent some
The Classic Lounge Launch Party – By Invite Only
May 16, 2024
We are delighted to announce the official launch of The Classic Lounge at Bridge Classic Cars, which also includes the launch of our brand new
Classic Team Lotus & Factory Tour
May 10, 2024
Since 1966, Hethel (a quiet part of Norfolk) has been home to the development of some of the most exciting and innovative cars of our
Suffolk Show 2024
May 10, 2024
We had some very exciting post today, our passes and pitch information for the Suffolk Show 2024 arrived. We are really looking forward to returning
Rickinghall Car Show
April 29, 2024
The Jaguar Owners Club are holding their annual car show in Rickinghall, once more, on Sunday 19th May. There will be plenty of cars for
Good Deed 2/20 -Drive It Day 2024
April 22, 2024
Another year of Drive It Day, another brilliant turnout. Unlike last year, the weather remained dry and bright. There was a massive variety of cars
MG Owners Club Takeover
April 12, 2024
On Thursday 11th April it was a beautiful evening for the MG Owners Club to takeover our Atelier for their own exclusive event. The warm
Riley Spring Event
April 4, 2024
The Riley Cars Archive Heritage Trust are holding their Spring Event at the Coventry Canal Basin on Saturday 13th April 2024 to display a selection
Networking At Bridge Classic Cars
April 2, 2024
This morning, we hosted our first Networking event at Bridge Classic Cars. Despite the rain, and it being the first day back at work after
Our first Autojumble
March 28, 2024
We had a lovely morning on Sunday at our very first Autojumble, the morning dawn bright but very cold. We were delighted to see half
A Successful Bike Meet
March 28, 2024
Last night, we hosted our second Bike Meet, and it was a great success. With delicious food from Prestige Bars & Catering, relaxing music, and
SCC | Private Members Visit
March 27, 2024
We recently welcomed the SCC | Private Members Club into The Atelier at Bridge Classic Cars. While they were here, they had a look at
New Year’s Car Meet
January 10, 2024
Thank you to all of you who turned out to attend our New Year’s Car Meet on Sunday, it was a cold but dry morning
The Mince Pie Drive
December 8, 2023
On 1st December 2023, we set off on a festive adventure across the Suffolk countryside – our first-ever Mince Pie Drive. The day dawned bright
Festive Car Show
December 6, 2023
What a way to end a year of fantastic events at Bridge Classic Cars! Despite the cold and wet weather, festive spirits were not dampened.
Bridge Classic Cars At The NEC – The Classic Motor Show
November 14, 2022
This weekend, The Classic Motor Show was held at the NEC in Birmingham. Bridge Classic Cars were lucky enough to be in attendance and we
A Day Behind The Scenes At Lotus
July 26, 2024
Yesterday, Molly and I had the pleasure of taking a small group on an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of Classic Team Lotus and the Lotus factory.
The day began with a cup of coffee at the main Lotus factory and a briefing from the Lotus team explaining what would happen throughout the day. We then made our way over the road to Classic Team Lotus.
Classic Team Lotus
Classic Team Lotus, founded by the legendary Colin Chapman, is where Lotus’s Formula 1 legacy is displayed. Here, the race cars that once dominated tracks worldwide are restored and maintained by a highly skilled team of technicians. Our guide, the extremely knowledgeable Nick Duckworth, led us through the impressive collection of classic Lotus F1 cars and told us the unique story of each one.
Highlights included seeing the Lotus 25, the car that Jim Clark drove to win the 1963 World Championship, and the Lotus 49, which was recently awarded ‘Race Car of the Century’. Nick shared the stories behind Colin Chapman’s innovative engineering principles and how they changed motor racing forever. The group had the rare opportunity to see these historic machines up close and it was certainly an experience we will all remember.
The Bird In Hand
At lunchtime, we headed over to The Bird in Hand pub. This turned out to be the perfect lunch stop with Lotus being well recognised throughout the pub. There were photos, room names, and lots more nods to the unique connection between the pub and the car manufacturer just 5 minutes down the road!
Lotus Factory
After lunch, we returned to the main Lotus factory. The contrast between the historic charm of Classic Team Lotus and the modern setup of the main factory was very noticeable! In the factory, we got to see what it takes to make a brand-new Lotus every 17 minutes! From automated machines to experienced hands, it was great to see humans and machines working together to produce some of the best-looking sports cars out there.
One of the highlights of the factory tour was our visit to Workshop 3, a part of the factory normally off-limits to visitors. Inside, we had the privilege of seeing the fastest road-legal car ever to complete a lap of the Nürburgring, the Lotus Evija, being made. There will only be about 130 of these cars made and, the ones we got to see up close were a limited run of less than 10 to be made with the recognisable JPS (John Player Special) Lotus F1 livery.
There’s a strict no photography policy throughout the factory so there aren’t any photos to show but, if you get the chance to go, you really need to see the incredible setup and how smoothly the process runs from start to finish.
The entire day was fantastic. The group of people who came with us were such great people and it was a lot of fun to spend the day with fellow car enthusiasts who all seemed to enjoy the tours as much as Molly and I did.
I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who joined us and another big thank you to Nick and Scott at Lotus for giving us all an incredible day – we will definitely be back again!
Future Events
We have lots more events like this coming up so if you want to join us on one of our future trips, keep an eye on our events calendar.
Extended hours granted on The Classic Lounge
July 25, 2024
We are extremely pleased to announce that East Suffolk Council have allowed The Classic Lounge to extend the operating hours on a number of key events throughout the year. Thank you so much to East Suffolk Council and our neighbours for your understanding and cooperation! We look forward to seeing many many of you over the coming years at Bridge Classic Cars.
Bridge Classic Cars Members Club Launch Party
July 8, 2024
On Friday night, we celebrated the opening of The Classic Lounge, the home of the exclusive members’ club by Bridge Classic Cars. The event, held in The Classic Lounge itself, right next to our workshop, was a complete success. From the moment guests arrived, when they were greeted with a glass of champagne, there was an atmosphere of class, style, and exclusivity that made for a truly unforgettable evening.
As soon as our guests arrived, all of whom had been personally invited, they were met with our 1905 Riley 9HP, the only one in existence. After a quick photo opportunity with a car that genuinely changed automotive history, they walked through the main doors and into the heart of The Classic Lounge.
With live music from Miss Leeloo Saxophonist and canapés from Paul Thompson Events, our guests got to experience first-hand what life as a Bridge Classic Cars Member is like.
As well as the moody interior of the main bar and seating area, we had a covered outdoor area too (provided by Events Under Canvas). Despite the rain, this was extremely well-received with guests being able to enjoy the fresh air of an early July evening, without any worry of the rain ruining their evening.
The location provided another level of specialness though. There aren’t many places where you can spend the evening with a fully licensed bar, food, and live music, surrounded by some of the rarest, and sought-after classic cars ever to exist. Our 1905 Riley 9HP is the only one in existence so having a photo taken with this on arrival set our guests up for what was to come. We also had our 1939 Jaguar SS100 on display. Not only is this a super-rare car, but this one returned from the legendary Mille Miglia just a few days prior and even still had the dirt from the 1000-mile race on its body.
When there were short breaks in the rain, our invited guests had the opportunity to take a look inside our workshop buildings. This allowed them to see even more classic cars including rare Aston Martins, Ferraris, Jaguars, Austin-Healeys, and more.
As far as launch parties go, this one was incredible and the whole team are extremely proud of what we have created. We want to say a huge thank you to everyone who joined us, the entire bar team, catering team, entertainment, and suppliers who helped launch the Bridge Classic Cars Members Club in such a big way.
Full details of our Members Club can be found here.
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A Summer Car Meet
June 24, 2024
Last Thursday, we hosted our Sunset Classic Car & Bike Meet and it was a huge success.
It was the first time most of our guests had seen inside The Classic Lounge and we were blessed with a warm sunny evening to enjoy and admire all of the cars and bikes that joined us.
The bar was open for guests to have an evening drink and the workshop doors were up so they could get a closer look at some of the impressive classics we are currently working on.
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Cars By The Coast – June 2024
June 20, 2024
Yesterday, we hosted a very successful Cars by the Coast event.
After meeting at the brand-new Classic Lounge at Bridge Classic Cars, we spent some time catching up with everyone, having a coffee, and, of course, admiring all of the cars that came along.
Before heading off, Nick gave everyone a short briefing about the route, where we were going, and the plan for the rest of the day.
Then we all set off to Aldeburgh via the scenic route to enjoy some time down by the coast.
Thank you to everyone who joined us, we all had a great time!
The Classic Lounge Launch Party – By Invite Only
May 16, 2024
We are delighted to announce the official launch of The Classic Lounge at Bridge Classic Cars, which also includes the launch of our brand new Members’ Club. This exclusive, invite-only event promises to be an evening of celebration, good company, and beautiful classic cars.
The night will begin with a champagne reception, and canapés will be served throughout the night as we open the doors of The Classic Lounge for the very first time. There will also be live music from Miss Leeloo Saxophonist.
Some of the Bridge Classic Cars team will be there, keen to share this very special occasion with our esteemed guests. Among the attendees will be influential figures from the automotive world and beyond, as we bring our old friends and new together.
This event not only marks the launch of The Classic Lounge but also celebrates the beginning of the Bridge Classic Cars Members Club. Our members will enjoy a wide range of benefits and events designed to enhance their passion for classic cars.
We look forward to welcoming you to an evening of celebration, friendship, and shared success.
Classic Team Lotus & Factory Tour
May 10, 2024
Since 1966, Hethel (a quiet part of Norfolk) has been home to the development of some of the most exciting and innovative cars of our time.
The Bridge Classic Cars team have organised a very special trip to Hethel to experience, first-hand, what goes on at the Lotus factory. You will get to see the entire production process up close as well as pay a visit to the test track where the Lotus cars are signed off as ready to go.
We will tour the factory, led by a knowledgeable Lotus product specialist to see the end-to-end build process, from bare chassis to completed sports car. We will then head to the local pub, The Bird in Hand for lunch and drinks (not included in price).
Classic Team Lotus
After lunch, we move on to a tour of Classic Team Lotus – a bespoke operation just across the road from the main Lotus HQ, it’s a separate business that’s dedicated to preserving and promoting the Lotus racing legend.
This is a fantastic opportunity to see a unique collection that includes some of the most historically significant race cars ever.
“Experience, first-hand, the production process. Witness the track, where the class-leading sports cars are put through their paces. Walk in the footsteps of the F1 greats, who so admirably filled the Lotus trophy cabinet.”
£140 per person – members will receive a 20% discount*
Not yet a member, why not join the community now?
Please Note
Factory and Heritage Tours involve walking for up to 2 and 3 hours respectively but we can accommodate wheelchair users also. Please let us know in advance if you require any assistance.
Visitors must be 10 years or older. Under 18’s must be accompanied by an adult at a ratio of 1 adult for every 2 children.
2 responses to “Classic Team Lotus & Factory Tour”
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Good morning,
Are there still any spaces for the Lotus visit on Thursday?
Looking for 1 ticket but possibly two.,.especially if there is any last minute cheeky discount ?Thank you. for your time.
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Hi James,
There certainly are tickets left. Unfortunately, no last-minute discounts are planned but it would be great to see you there. It’s going to be a fantastic day!
Thanks,
Rob
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Suffolk Show 2024
May 10, 2024
We had some very exciting post today, our passes and pitch information for the Suffolk Show 2024 arrived. We are really looking forward to returning this year, this time with our own stand!
The Suffolk Show is a well established event having been running for a long time, it has been on its current site since 1960! The event always showcases the very best of local agriculture and produce including live animals. The two day event features many shows including horse events, prize cattle and sheep shearing. There are hands on activities for all the family as well as plenty of corporate stands to show you just what the county has to offer. Many industries are present, the emergency and armed services are always in attendance. You just need to keep your fingers crossed for sensible weather.
The Bridge Classic Car stand will of course feature our classic cars as well as many team members who are excited to meet you. It will be a great opportunity to discuss any restoration questions and to tell you about our new exclusive members club. We look forward to seeing you all at Suffolk Show 2024.
Rickinghall Car Show
April 29, 2024
The Jaguar Owners Club are holding their annual car show in Rickinghall, once more, on Sunday 19th May.
There will be plenty of cars for you to admire and there is also a craft fair happening inside the village hall at the same time which will have 20 stalls selling things such as wooden giftware, jewellery, cards, and more.
Food, coffee, and ice cream will be available throughout the show.
For more information about this event, please contact Geoff Short at geoffshort186@gmail.com
Good Deed 2/20 -Drive It Day 2024
April 22, 2024
Another year of Drive It Day, another brilliant turnout. Unlike last year, the weather remained dry and bright. There was a massive variety of cars spanning the eras, from pre-war to more modern fast Fords. We were delighted to welcome the Lowestoft Car Club as well as members from many other local classic car clubs. Some of our guests travelled great distances to be with us, including a 1960s Aston Martin which was an absolute show stopper, this was driven all the way from Clapham.
Prestige Catering returned and provided a tasty array of Mediterranean food which went down well. Lots of guests were kind enough to donate towards the fundraising efforts for NSPCC, this is what this event is all about. All in all it was a lovely day.
MG Owners Club Takeover
April 12, 2024
On Thursday 11th April it was a beautiful evening for the MG Owners Club to takeover our Atelier for their own exclusive event. The warm weather and late sunset marked the start of summer feelings and a fleet of classic MGs arrived early evening.
Some of the guests in attendance were familiar faces however there were lots of new people experiencing Bridge Classic Cars for the first time. Rio expertly parked them outside and managed to capture some brilliant footage of all the cars which can be seen on our YouTube channel and Lily was behind the bar and responsible for the workshop tour. There were lots of current projects visible for the MGOC to see and learn about.
The current bar was a temporary fix ahead of our relocation to our exciting new events premises next door, all of the guests on the evening have promised to return once we are up and running. All in all it was a great evening.
Riley Spring Event
April 4, 2024
The Riley Cars Archive Heritage Trust are holding their Spring Event at the Coventry Canal Basin on Saturday 13th April 2024 to display a selection of Riley cars. Bridge Classic Cars are proud to be presenting our 1905 Riley 9hp alongside a fine display of other Riley vehicles.
You will be able to visit The Riley Archive at unit 8 and view the replica of the first Riley car designed and built in 1898. Also on display is a 1903 Riley Cycle which is believed to be one of only 2 left in existence.There are also books, manuals, magazines, and photographs to browse through as well as Riley memorabilia and trophies.
Car enthusiasts and owners, as well as the general public, are welcomed free of charge and Riley car owners are invited to apply to exhibit their vehicles although spaces will be limited.
Networking At Bridge Classic Cars
April 2, 2024
This morning, we hosted our first Networking event at Bridge Classic Cars.
Despite the rain, and it being the first day back at work after a long weekend, we welcomed a group of local professionals into The Atelier and lots of new connections were made.
While they were here, attendees enjoyed a coffee, some biscuits, a tour of the workshop (including our brand new event space which is due to open very soon), and a powerful talk from Lorna Goodwin from the RSPCA. Lorna discussed the charity’s fundraising goals and important work helping thousands of animals in need.
It was great to see so many people here at Bridge Classic Cars, networking and making new connections. We like to do our bit in supporting local businesses and we hope this was successful in doing just that.
Thank you to everyone who came along and we hope to see you all again very soon.
Our first Autojumble
March 28, 2024
We had a lovely morning on Sunday at our very first Autojumble, the morning dawn bright but very cold. We were delighted to see half a dozen stall holders come along to display and also to welcome lots of you to our Atelier. The hot drinks were flowing and it was delightful to see some new and familliar faces.
We also welcomed a few new members to the team this weekend, it is lovely to have them on board. Rio was resident photographer for the morning and snapped some great shots.
A Successful Bike Meet
March 28, 2024
Last night, we hosted our second Bike Meet, and it was a great success.
With delicious food from Prestige Bars & Catering, relaxing music, and a whole lot of motorbikes to admire – plenty was going on to keep everyone entertained.
As well as enjoying the event, everyone in attendance got to see the live draw of our 2004 BMW R1150 where we found lucky winner, Andrew White.
The whole Bridge Classic Cars team had a great night and we are extremely grateful to everyone who attended. We hope to see you all again at our next event.
SCC | Private Members Visit
March 27, 2024
We recently welcomed the SCC | Private Members Club into The Atelier at Bridge Classic Cars.
While they were here, they had a look at all of our current restoration projects as well as spending a bit of time admiring each other’s cars too.
They arrived in an impressive fleet of supercars and it was great to see them all. We hope to see them again soon.
New Year’s Car Meet
January 10, 2024
Thank you to all of you who turned out to attend our New Year’s Car Meet on Sunday, it was a cold but dry morning and we were astounded by the variation in cars. We had nearly 200 visitors with a variety of cars, some over a century old to modern daily drivers.
The Atelier Bar was open for hot drinks and pastries and we offered bacon sandwiches with delicious bacon from E W Revett & Sons Butchers, based just down the road in Wickham Market, and fresh bread from our friends at The Bakehouse Bakery Woodbridge.
Events like this display the comradery amongst the local classic car community with people swapping stories and advice about their experience with classic and modern cars.
The Mince Pie Drive
December 8, 2023
On 1st December 2023, we set off on a festive adventure across the Suffolk countryside – our first-ever Mince Pie Drive. The day dawned bright but extremely cold and icy. We decided to still venture out, albeit with a smaller convoy than first planned. The Bridge Classic Cars team wrapped up warm and headed out (special mention goes to our friends Garry Catchpole and Derek Rush for joining us).
The idea behind our Mince Pie Drive was to take classic cars to several local residential care homes to bring nostalgia and festive cheer to the residents and staff. There were mince pies, kindly provided by The Bakehouse Bakery Woodbridge, and carol singing from Molly and me (sorry about that folks!)
We went first to Highlands in Woodbridge before making our way to Bucklesham Grange Care Home, where we were greeted by the lovely Amanda-Jane Frank, who introduced us to the residents. Several came out to have a look at our cars, with Derek’s BMW proving to be a favourite here. Luke Deal from BBC Suffolk came along to chat with us and see what we were up to. You can listen to that interview here.
Next, we headed to Glebe House in Hollesley. The residents were just having their lunch, and talk about a meal with a view! The mince pies were a very welcome dessert! Lastly, whilst chasing the last hour of daylight, we popped to our neighbours at Lehmann House in Wickham Market.
We are so humbled by all the lovely residents and incredible care workers we met on our Mince Pie Drive. It was so wholesome to be able to remind them of yesteryear by bringing along a spectrum of cars. There really was something for everyone.
We can’t wait to do more events like this in future.
Festive Car Show
December 6, 2023
What a way to end a year of fantastic events at Bridge Classic Cars! Despite the cold and wet weather, festive spirits were not dampened. The turn out was great with lots of you coming along for food and drink. Our Molly kept us entertained with vintage tunes and Christmas classics with The Three Chordettes singing throughout the day.
Some brave souls ventured out with their classics which was great to see and it was lovely to speak to so many of you as you warmed yourself with coffee and mulled wine.
This event just about wraps up our events for the year, we have got lots planned for 2024 and we can’t wait to see you there.
And it was one of the first outings for our newly branded Bridge Classic Cars Defender. A perfect advertising board parked up outside our gates.
Bridge Classic Cars At The NEC – The Classic Motor Show
November 14, 2022
This weekend, The Classic Motor Show was held at the NEC in Birmingham. Bridge Classic Cars were lucky enough to be in attendance and we loved spending time with fellow classic car enthusiasts.
If you have never been to The Classic Motor Show before, it is a place where anyone with even the smallest of interests in classic vehicles can find something to catch their eye. From car clubs to tool kits and even the odd celebrity or two, the show is a hub for the classic car community.
Throughout our time at the show, we got to meet some old friends and made some new ones too!
Who Was There?
Members of the Jensen Owners Club were extremely welcoming and we spent some time talking to them about our love of Jensens. We were particularly drawn to a 1960 Jensen 541R that was being displayed on their stand. This impressive-looking car has paint and interior work that is 35 years old yet still looks as good as new. We were even told that no one has sat on the actual seats in the car as seat covers have always been used!
The Rover P6 Club had a range of P6s available to look at including ‘Joseph’ the multi-coloured, award-winning P6 owned by Clive who runs M H Annable & Son. Clive has worked on P6s for more than 40 years and is now a key member of the P6 club.
Having a chat with members of The Mercedes-Benz Club was good fun and we loved seeing all of the beautiful Mercedes vehicles they had on show. We were particularly impressed by the members-only cafe where members of the Mercedes-Benz club could enjoy a hot drink and snacks away from the busy main show area.
One of the most popular areas of this year’s Classic Motor Show was the stand occupied by The Smallest Cog. This is the restoration company (and soon-to-be classic racing team) owned by Richard Hammond. The highlight of the exhibit was Richard’s 1972 MGB GT. This was the last car he ever drove on Top Gear and is the car that his team will be racing in the near future. As well as his current projects, some of Richard’s iconic cars from his TV shows were on display too – any Top Gear fan will know the Opel Kadett known as ‘Oliver’!
The Classic Motor Show 2023 – A Great Show And We Will Be Back
We all had a fantastic time at The Classic Motor Show 2023 and we will certainly be back again next year. Seeing such a wide variety of classic vehicles, speaking to so many classic car enthusiasts, and experiencing the excitement of the event is something we definitely want to do again.
As you can see from the photos below, there was a lot to explore at this year’s show and we can’t wait to return next year!
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