A Rare Find – Finding the Original Radiator for our 1905 Riley 9hp
February 9, 2022
Sometimes there is such a thing as fate. Thanks to the incredible work of Hilary Mackay at Beech Auctions, one of the most important pieces
News
Featured – 1967 Austin Mini 850 on Petrol Ped YouTube Channel
February 9, 2022
The amazing 1967 Austin Mini 850 which was converted to all-electric not only will be premiering on Discovery Channels Vintage Voltage on Thursday but it
Tanked – Removing the Fuel Tank of the 1978 MGB GT
February 9, 2022
The final pieces for the restoration of the 1978 MGB GT are out of the car! Our in-house restoration teams have worked on getting the
Getting Ready for Work – Sanding and Stripping Down the 1969 Bentley T1
February 9, 2022
The Bridge Classic Cars paint and body team have been working on the 1969 Bentley T1 before it heads into our restoration workshop for some
Reworking – Sanding and Preparing the Boot and Fuel Cap for the 1987 Mercedes 500SL
February 9, 2022
The in-house paint and body team here at Bridge Classic Cars have begun work on the 1987 Mercedes 500SL. Mauro, one of our paint team,
Fit and Trim – New Woodkit and Seats in the 1977 MGB Roadster
February 9, 2022
The Bridge Classic Cars in-house trim team have been working on getting the final pieces finished in the interior of the 1977 MGB Roadster which
Best Classic Car Restoration Specialists – East Anglia
February 8, 2022
We’re excited to announce that the team here at Bridge Classic Cars have been awarded the Best Classic Cars Restoration Specialists – East Anglia at
Parts and Pieces – Making New Pieces for the 1987 Daimler Double Six
February 8, 2022
The in-house Bridge Classic Cars fabrication team have been working on the rust repairs to the 1987 Daimler Double Six. Monty, one of our amazingly
This Just In – 1954 MG TF
February 8, 2022
The latest arrival into the Bridge Classic Cars Suffolk HQ is this stunning 1954 MG TF. The classic MG will soon go into the workshop
Featured – A Couple of our Previous Ford Escort RS2000’s on Facebook
February 8, 2022
Bridge Classic Cars have a history with the fabled Ford Escort RS2000. We have restored a couple of these amazing Fast Fords for customers and
Safety First – Removing the Fuel System on the 1978 MGB GT
February 8, 2022
The Bridge Classic Cars in-house restoration team have worked on removing the entire fuel system out of the 1978 MGB GT that is in our
Final Parts – Assessing Parts on the 1987 Mercedes 500SL
February 8, 2022
The in-house restoration technicians at Bridge Classic Cars have been working through the final parts and pieces for the 1987 Mercedes 500SL restoration which is
Helping Out – Removing and Repairing the Starter Motor on the 2002 Nissan Cabstar
February 8, 2022
At Bridge Classic Cars, we always try and help out our neighbours. So, when one of their trucks had a starter motor fail we stepped
Coming Together – Fitting the New Rear Screen into the Original Hood of the 1977 MGB Roadster
February 8, 2022
The Bridge Classic Cars trim shop have put a new rear screen into the original convertible hood for the 1977 MGB Roadster. The use of
Building Update – New Trim Shop
February 8, 2022
The Bridge Classic Cars in-house trim shop has moved! The in-house trim shop at our Suffolk HQ has moved to the first floor of our
Capping it Off – Fitting the Door Cards and Door Caps to the 1977 MGB Roadster
February 8, 2022
The 1977 MGB Roadster which is in the in-house Bridge Classic Cars trim shop has been under the care of our master trimmer, Brian. Brian
Under the Bonnet – More Sound Deadening on the 1977 MGB Roadster
February 8, 2022
The in-house trim team here at Bridge Classic Cars have finished off the last pieces of sound deadening in the 1977 MGB Roadster which is
Building Update – New Paint Prep Area
February 7, 2022
There’s a new area in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop at our Suffolk HQ. Our paint and body shop has extended to a new paint
Light Work – Bulbs Missing from the 1977 MGB Roadster
February 7, 2022
During the refit and testing of the 1977 MGB Roadster, our in-house restoration technicians here at Bridge Classic Cars have noted that none of the
The Next Phase – Masking Up and First Coat of Primer on the 1965 Porsche 912
February 7, 2022
The wonderful 1965 Porsche 912 that is in the Bridge Classic Cars in-house paint and body shop at our Suffolk HQ has been being worked
Featured – Man With The Golden Roller Outside Buckingham Palace
February 6, 2022
Our former 1974 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow 1, now owned by The Man with The Golden Roller, has been on its travels recently. The car
Behind the Scenes – Photoshoot with the 1975 MGB GT
February 4, 2022
Every car has a story. Some have been places, some of them have done incredible things but some, have just been adored by their owners.
This Just In – 1952 MG TD
February 4, 2022
Bridge Classic Cars have welcomed the newest arrival to our workshop here in Suffolk. This beautiful 1952 MG TD, finished in glossy black with a
Step One – Getting the 1965 Porsche 912 Back to Bare Metal
February 4, 2022
The wonderful 1965 Porsche 912 is currently in with Bridge Classic Cars for paint and bodywork, so it has been moved into our state of
Laid Bare – Dismantling the 1978 MGB GT
February 4, 2022
The in-house restoration technicians at Bridge Classic Cars have been busy dismantling the blaze orange 1978 MGB GT. Mauro and Tom have stripped the entire
Building Update – Clear Up and Reconfiguring the Parts Stores at Bridge Classic Cars
February 4, 2022
The Bridge Classic Cars team at our Suffolk HQ have been busy preparing the first floor of our Suffolk HQ for the next phase of
New Shoes – Fresh Tyres on the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III Roadster
February 4, 2022
The Bridge Classic Cars team have managed to source a set of tyres for the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III known as Fern Grey.
Building Update – Solar Panel Installation
February 3, 2022
As part of the recent updates to the Bridge Classic Cars workshop at our Suffolk HQ, we have embraced modernity! As part of the upgrades,
Start Over – Repairing the Rust on the 1969 Bentley T1
February 3, 2022
The 1969 Bentley T1 is currently in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop for our in-house restoration technician, Dave, to begin work on the rust repairs
Inch Perfect – Fitting Carpets and Panels to the 1977 MGB Roadster
February 3, 2022
Brian, our master in-house trimmer here at Bridge Classic Cars, has been working on the next phase of the interior of the 1977 MGB Roadster.
A Rare Find – Finding the Original Radiator for our 1905 Riley 9hp
February 9, 2022
Sometimes there is such a thing as fate. Thanks to the incredible work of Hilary Mackay at Beech Auctions, one of the most important pieces of the puzzle for the 1905 Riley 9hp is back on its way to rejoining the car.
During a house clearance, Hilary came across an old radiator tucked away. Thanks to her exceptional knowledge of vintage and antique objects, she identified it to be pre-1920s. With the Riley mark on the radiator shell, she looked online to see about pre-1920s Riley’s and came across our project. Seeing as how there are only 3 9hp’s left in existence, it was deduced that this could in fact be our missing radiator.
With that, Bridge Classic Cars had to get hold of it.
Now with it on its way to our Pettistree Workshop, we cannot thank Hilary enough for her help and tracking us down to let us know this rare find and even rarer opportunity.
Featured – 1967 Austin Mini 850 on Petrol Ped YouTube Channel
February 9, 2022
The amazing 1967 Austin Mini 850 which was converted to all-electric not only will be premiering on Discovery Channels Vintage Voltage on Thursday but it will soon be appearing on YouTube!
The car, which Bridge Classic Cars helped the project by handling the paint and bodywork for, was driven by our friends Simon and Petrol Ped to showcase this incredible project to everyone online.
Keep a lookout on the Petrol Ped YouTube channel for this exciting video.
Tanked – Removing the Fuel Tank of the 1978 MGB GT
February 9, 2022
The final pieces for the restoration of the 1978 MGB GT are out of the car! Our in-house restoration teams have worked on getting the entire car stripped down to a bare shell over the past couple of weeks.
One of the last bits to be removed is some of the most crucial. After our technician Paul removed the fuel pump and fuel lines from the car, Mauro took over the task of getting the fuel tank and filler out of the car. Although this had been completely drained, we always remove the fuel tanks of cars that require any bodywork doing to them for safety reasons.
With this all removed, the team can now get the beautiful bright orange sports car around to our in-house body shop for them to begin working on the car.
Getting Ready for Work – Sanding and Stripping Down the 1969 Bentley T1
February 9, 2022
The Bridge Classic Cars paint and body team have been working on the 1969 Bentley T1 before it heads into our restoration workshop for some body repairs.
The Bentley has been completely taken apart by the in-house teams and while the body is going into the workshop, other panels and pieces will be kept in the paint shop and prepared for their repaint. The paint and body team have also been carefully preparing the interior of the car for the workshop team like moving back carpets etc which will be close to the cutting and welding areas.
The paint and body team have turned their attentions to the doors and rear decklid to get them in the best shape possible in preparation for the body returning.
Reworking – Sanding and Preparing the Boot and Fuel Cap for the 1987 Mercedes 500SL
February 9, 2022
The in-house paint and body team here at Bridge Classic Cars have begun work on the 1987 Mercedes 500SL.
Mauro, one of our paint team, has been getting some of the panels and pieces ready for paint. The team is working on getting the boot lid and fuel cap have been getting worked on to match it up to the rest of the car in terms of its body lines and panel match.
After this is done, it will all be cleaned down thoroughly and stored while the rest of the car is being worked on.
Fit and Trim – New Woodkit and Seats in the 1977 MGB Roadster
February 9, 2022
The Bridge Classic Cars in-house trim team have been working on getting the final pieces finished in the interior of the 1977 MGB Roadster which is with us for aesthetic restoration.
Brian, our head trimmer, has been working on getting the brand new wood kit into the dash and centre console of the classic convertible. Each piece has to be carefully test-fitted and trimmed to fit perfectly into the recesses before it is evenly glued down into the car.
With all of the wood pieces now in the car and setting up, Brian could turn his attention to getting the seats into the finished interior. The recovered seats and refurbished frames were gently placed into the car and if any adjustment needed to be made, the whole seat was lifted in the car and moved to avoid any snags or marking of the interior.
Best Classic Car Restoration Specialists – East Anglia
February 8, 2022
We’re excited to announce that the team here at Bridge Classic Cars have been awarded the Best Classic Cars Restoration Specialists – East Anglia at the UK Transport Awards 2022.
An amazing honour to have been selected.
Parts and Pieces – Making New Pieces for the 1987 Daimler Double Six
February 8, 2022
The in-house Bridge Classic Cars fabrication team have been working on the rust repairs to the 1987 Daimler Double Six.
Monty, one of our amazingly talented fabricators, has been hand-making patch pieces for the front end of the Daimler.
Monty began work by replacing a section of the windscreen frame which had corroded. Using the original piece as a template, Monty hand-formed the replacement piece and refined it perfectly to get the patch the perfect shape and size to fit in the windscreen.
After that, Monty turned his attention and skill to the front wings of the Double Six. The wings needed multiple repairs to them, both on the inside and the outside.
Monty has had to remake several brackets and pieces for the car. These pieces have to be precisely bent and shaped to allow the wings to fit back onto the car while also allowing the panel to be adjusted. After this, Monty began to work on the headlights of the 1980s luxury saloon.
Nearly the entire headlight surround had to be cut out of the car but this gave Monty the opportunity to hand-make a replacement piece and have the best fit and finish on the whole piece. The welds were then carefully ground down and some small adjustments made to the piece.
This Just In – 1954 MG TF
February 8, 2022
The latest arrival into the Bridge Classic Cars Suffolk HQ is this stunning 1954 MG TF.
The classic MG will soon go into the workshop for our in-house restoration teams to inspect, assess and report on the car. It will go through each of the teams individually for them to cast their expert eye over the car.
Keep a look out on the Bridge Classic Cars news page for more updates on the car very soon.
Featured – A Couple of our Previous Ford Escort RS2000’s on Facebook
February 8, 2022
Bridge Classic Cars have a history with the fabled Ford Escort RS2000. We have restored a couple of these amazing Fast Fords for customers and a pair of them have popped up on an enthusiast Facebook page.
The orange 1977 Ford Escort RS2000 featured in the first image was restored by our in-house team. And the white car is also a 1977 Ford Escort RS2000 which was sold at Auction by ourselves but cared for the car for its new owner. The top car in the 2nd photo is that 1977 RS2000 outside the turnstiles at the home of Ipswich Town Football Club, Portman Road.
Safety First – Removing the Fuel System on the 1978 MGB GT
February 8, 2022
The Bridge Classic Cars in-house restoration team have worked on removing the entire fuel system out of the 1978 MGB GT that is in our Suffolk HQ workshop.
Paul, one of our technicians, worked on removing everything from the fuel tank, fuel pump and all the fuel lines to be carefully drained, inspected and assessed for this project. This is a critical part of the project as it is very high up on the safety list of each restoration project undertaken in our workshop.
Now with the whole system out of the car, the team can move forward on this amazing 1970s sportscar.
Final Parts – Assessing Parts on the 1987 Mercedes 500SL
February 8, 2022
The in-house restoration technicians at Bridge Classic Cars have been working through the final parts and pieces for the 1987 Mercedes 500SL restoration which is in our Suffolk HQ workshop.
Tom, one of our in-house restoration technicians, has been going through parts for the 1987 Mercedes R107 500SL to check their condition and to make sure anything missing can be sourced ahead of time.
Each piece has been carefully photographed and noted for the car.
Helping Out – Removing and Repairing the Starter Motor on the 2002 Nissan Cabstar
February 8, 2022
At Bridge Classic Cars, we always try and help out our neighbours. So, when one of their trucks had a starter motor fail we stepped in to help.
Jon found the stranded truck in their yard and got to work removing the starter motor from the truck. Thankfully, this being a cab-over truck, Jon could lift the bed out of the way for better access to the space he needed. Slowly but surely, he eased the starter motor out of the engine bay which will not be sent off to be rebuilt.
Once back, we can then go back out to the truck and get the starter motor back on the engine.
Coming Together – Fitting the New Rear Screen into the Original Hood of the 1977 MGB Roadster
February 8, 2022
The Bridge Classic Cars trim shop have put a new rear screen into the original convertible hood for the 1977 MGB Roadster.
The use of the original hood was a request from the owner. But, the rear screen was very deteriorated and split in places. So, the trim shop replaced the rear screen and stitched it into the existing material.
With this now in place, the hood can be fitted onto the car.
Building Update – New Trim Shop
February 8, 2022
The Bridge Classic Cars in-house trim shop has moved!
The in-house trim shop at our Suffolk HQ has moved to the first floor of our restoration workshop. This is to give Brian and Lydia, our incredible in-house trim experts, better access to the workshop and a more open-plan workspace.
The new trim shop location is also because the previous location of the trim department is now the new paint preparation area for our in-house paint and body department.
Capping it Off – Fitting the Door Cards and Door Caps to the 1977 MGB Roadster
February 8, 2022
The 1977 MGB Roadster which is in the in-house Bridge Classic Cars trim shop has been under the care of our master trimmer, Brian.
Brian has been finishing off the doors of the MGB Roadster as part of its interior refit. Brian carefully put the in-door webbing into the doors, which helps with sound deadening, and then began the process of fitting up the door cards into the 1970s roadster.
With the door cards firmly in place and looking phenomenal in the car, Brian could then attach the door caps to finish off the work on the doors that has been done by our incredible in-house trim team.
Under the Bonnet – More Sound Deadening on the 1977 MGB Roadster
February 8, 2022
The in-house trim team here at Bridge Classic Cars have finished off the last pieces of sound deadening in the 1977 MGB Roadster which is currently in with us for restoration.
Brain, our lead trimmer, has fitted the sound deadening under the bonnet of the classic convertible. This will help absorb any sort of unwanted engine noise so that its driver can simply enjoy the wonderful exhaust notes coming from the rear. It also helps with the tactile quality of the car itself, when closing the bonnet it won’t have that hollow and tinny noise. Fitting with the fit and finish Bridge Classic Cars has worked on putting into the car.
Building Update – New Paint Prep Area
February 7, 2022
There’s a new area in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop at our Suffolk HQ. Our paint and body shop has extended to a new paint and body preparation area.
The Bridge Classic Cars workshop has been evolving over the last few months and with a recent change, the space is now being taken over by our paint and body shop to use in getting our amazing restoration projects ready for their paintwork. The space is currently being repainted before the team officially take over the area.
So, what used to be in there? We’ll let you know in the next building update!
Light Work – Bulbs Missing from the 1977 MGB Roadster
February 7, 2022
During the refit and testing of the 1977 MGB Roadster, our in-house restoration technicians here at Bridge Classic Cars have noted that none of the dash lights were working.
After looking further into this issue, Paul who is one of our in-house technicians found that the bulbs for each of the dash lights were actually missing from the car. He has reported that by the looks of the connectors, the bulbs had been missing for some time.
The Next Phase – Masking Up and First Coat of Primer on the 1965 Porsche 912
February 7, 2022
The wonderful 1965 Porsche 912 that is in the Bridge Classic Cars in-house paint and body shop at our Suffolk HQ has been being worked on by our amazing painter, Alan.
Alan has been working on getting the car prepared for the beginning of its bodywork journey. The first step was to get the car all the way back to bare metal, and now the team have begun the second phase of its story with Bridge Classic Cars. The car is now in epoxy primer.
The car needed to be put into primer before its bodywork begins as it’s used as a guide coat. The majority of this will actually be removed from the car. The paint and body team then use it to find any places where the bodyshell will need adjustment or tweaking to make the entire car work and flow in terms of its lines and curves.
After Alan has prepared the car for primer, he began the delicate work of masking up the car. This is just as important as the paint itself. Then, after cleaning down the bare metal, Alan began laying down the coats of primer.
We’re excited to show you the next chapter for the 1965 Porsche 912 with Bridge Classic Cars.
Featured – Man With The Golden Roller Outside Buckingham Palace
February 6, 2022
Our former 1974 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow 1, now owned by The Man with The Golden Roller, has been on its travels recently.
The car has been photographed outside the gates of Buckingham Palace to commemorate the 70-year reign of HRH Queen Elizabeth II with this iconic Rolls Royce.
Head over to Instagram and take a look at the adventures of this beautiful 1974 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow 1 with The Man with the Golden Roller.
Behind the Scenes – Photoshoot with the 1975 MGB GT
February 4, 2022
Every car has a story. Some have been places, some of them have done incredible things but some, have just been adored by their owners. That’s the case with this 1974 MGB GT.
This car had been owned by its previous owner for the better part of 30 years. Through meticulous record-keeping on the car, you can see its story with them. So, with that in mind, Freddie decided to give this car a special kind of photoshoot.
The early morning light at the airbase where we is something else. It comes up low behind the ridgeline and breaks across the frosty ground. Only the sound of deer in the trees keeps you company in the early hours of the dawn light. That is where we find out MGB, parked on a fighter jet turning pad.
Freddie had got the car out from our secure storage facility, the hangar, as the first rays of light came above the horizon. You have to move quickly around here to get the light. So, Freddie made sure everything was warmed up and happy before pulling away from the hangar doors. MGB’s are some of the most practical and user-friendly classics around, but this one is definitely one of the easiest ones we have driven.
Once he had moved the car into its position and the light had just broken onto the curves of the car, the shoot began.
This Just In – 1952 MG TD
February 4, 2022
Bridge Classic Cars have welcomed the newest arrival to our workshop here in Suffolk. This beautiful 1952 MG TD, finished in glossy black with a contrasting green interior.
The car has come in to be assessed by our in-house restoration teams to find out what if anything this incredible little sportscar needs to be back in top shape for its future.
Keep a lookout here on the Bridge Classic Cars news page for more on this wonderful 1952 MG TD.
Step One – Getting the 1965 Porsche 912 Back to Bare Metal
February 4, 2022
The wonderful 1965 Porsche 912 is currently in with Bridge Classic Cars for paint and bodywork, so it has been moved into our state of the art in-house paint shop for our technicians to begin working on it.
Alan, one of our amazing in-house paint experts, has stripped the iconic Porsche back to bare metal to begin the process of making the body perfect. Carefully and methodically, Alan has worked his way through the entire car to get rid of any old paint on the body.
We’re excited to bring you the next stages in the project of this 1965 Porsche 912 from Bridge Classic Cars.
Laid Bare – Dismantling the 1978 MGB GT
February 4, 2022
The in-house restoration technicians at Bridge Classic Cars have been busy dismantling the blaze orange 1978 MGB GT.
Mauro and Tom have stripped the entire car back to a bare shell for its assessment by the other in-house restoration teams. As part of this process, the technicians have carefully been taking photos of each individual component that comes off of the car and cataloguing them separately as assemblies.
This will help not only with the assessment of the car (in terms of what can be refurbished) but also if any new parts/pieces need to be sourced for the project. With the car this far stripped back, crucial parts of the car can be fully inspected by the team.
Expect to see a lot more on the 1978 MGB GT in at Bridge Classic Cars here on the news page.
If you would like to see the full gallery of the teardown, have a look at the gallery below!
Building Update – Clear Up and Reconfiguring the Parts Stores at Bridge Classic Cars
February 4, 2022
The Bridge Classic Cars team at our Suffolk HQ have been busy preparing the first floor of our Suffolk HQ for the next phase of updates.
The parts stores and engine building room have been reconfigured for the next changes in our workshop which we’ll let you know about very soon…
New Shoes – Fresh Tyres on the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III Roadster
February 4, 2022
The Bridge Classic Cars team have managed to source a set of tyres for the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III known as Fern Grey.
Fern Grey will soon begin road tests and with that, we felt it needed a new set of tyres. At the request of the owner, we have sourced the closest we can get to the original tyres as possible but with a modern compound. Originally the tyres would have had a 215 section tyre but these tyres are a 205 section from Pirelli.
With tyres mounted thanks to Tyre Assist, our in-house restoration technicians can now move forward on the checklist before road testing this incredible one of a kind E Type.
Building Update – Solar Panel Installation
February 3, 2022
As part of the recent updates to the Bridge Classic Cars workshop at our Suffolk HQ, we have embraced modernity! As part of the upgrades, the roof of our workshop is now being lined with Solar Panels.
Along with protecting and preserving classic cars for the future, we feel we must embrace the tide and our responsibility of being more environmentally friendly to reduce our impact on the surrounding countryside even in a small way.
These are being installed onto ours and the surrounding buildings to reduce our energy consumption and make use of the large expanse of uninterrupted sky that surrounds our Suffolk workshop.
Start Over – Repairing the Rust on the 1969 Bentley T1
February 3, 2022
The 1969 Bentley T1 is currently in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop for our in-house restoration technician, Dave, to begin work on the rust repairs of this classic Bentley.
The state of the body on the Bentley wasn’t in the best shape once our in-house paint and body team took the car all the back to bare metal. Evidence of poor repairs and work done to the car which did not have the best interest or, the longevity of the car in mind.
So, it’s time to sort the T1 out properly. Dave is one of our most experienced technicians and fabricators. He is beginning by sorting out the front sills for the Bentley. These are crucial for the strength and rigidity of the car which our team can then work off of when tackling other areas.
With this process started in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop, keep a look out on the News Page for more updates soon on the 1969 Bentley T1 restoration.
Inch Perfect – Fitting Carpets and Panels to the 1977 MGB Roadster
February 3, 2022
Brian, our master in-house trimmer here at Bridge Classic Cars, has been working on the next phase of the interior of the 1977 MGB Roadster.
The rear was the first port of call for Brian on the journey of getting the interior complete. The rear bulkhead panels and carpet had to be put in place before moving forward. Brian had to retrim a few of the pieces from the carpet kit as they were oversized, the fit and finish on the Roadster has to be 100% right which is the standard of all Bridge Classic Cars interiors.
Brian also had to fabricate and modify some panels to take into account the rear speakers. Carefully, Brian made a template for the speaker grille and cut it out of black perforated steel which will sit behind the quarter panels, now with their hand-cut and finished openings for the speakers.
With the rear bulkhead trimmed, Brian could then start fitting the base panels which have been trimmed in match black carpet. Then the flooring could be laid and glued down into the classic 1970s roadster. Each piece was first offered up by Brian and if the fit wasn’t right, using his huge experience and skill, it could be trimmed to get the perfect fit for the car.
The work is progressing quickly on the 1977 MGB Roadster in with Bridge Classic Cars so keep an eye out here on the News Page for more updates on this fantastic little sports car.
