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Covered Up – Making the Battery Box Cover for the 1934 MG PA

November 29, 2021

Brian and Lydia, part of our incredible in-house Bridge Classic Cars trim team, have been working on covering and fixing down the battery box cover for the 1934 MG PA.

Brian and Lydia used the previous cover, to begin with, and have retrimmed it in a matching woven carpet. The piece itself was present with the car but Brian worked his magic to make it blend in seamlessly with the rest of the car. Whilst working on the back of the car, Lydia began work sizing up the new Tourneau cover for this classic early MG.

Keep an eye out here on the Bridge Classic Cars blog for more updates on the sensational 1934 MG PA.

Refining Process – Making the Rear Quarter Trims for the 1956 Jensen 541

November 29, 2021

Brian, our in-house trim expert, has been continuing to work on the rear quarter trims for the 1956 Jensen 541 currently in at Bridge Classic Cars for restoration.

Brian has completely fabricated each of the trim pieces by hand for the 541 using what was left of the originals. Piece by piece, Brian used the original techniques to recreate the trim panels which will then go on to be retrimmed in matching vibrant red leather to the rest of the car.

Each of the pieces has been hand cut and sanded to be a perfect fit when installed into the car. Millimetre by millimetre, Brian removed material after dry fitting. Also, taking into account the foam covering and leather to ensure the best fit and finish possible for this incredible 1950s British sports car.

Good as New – Painting the Wheels of 1998 Honda Integra Type R

November 29, 2021

The wheels for the 1998 Honda Integra Type R that has been here at Bridge Classic Cars to be restored are done in the paint shop!

Chris has been hard at work getting the correct colour and finish on the classic wheels to exactly match the white they needed to be. The wheels themselves have been refurbished so the colour was the final step of the process.

Through Chris’s hard work and dedication, the wheels have come out absolutely fantastic and will match the finish and standard of the rest of the car.

Stay tuned for more on the Integra here on the Bridge Classic Cars blog.

This Just In – 1973 Saab 96V4

November 26, 2021

We have welcomed the latest resident of our classic car storage facility, The Hangar, here at Bridge Classic Cars. The newest addition to the storage facility is this absolutely incredible 1973 Saab 96V4 Rally Car.

This particular car will be cared for at The Hangar until such time when it will be bought over to the workshop to have some jobs done. The Saab, still wearing its rally livery, is a wonderful reminder of the simpler days of motorsport and shows the variety of machinery that used to compete at every level.

Expect to see more on the 1973 Saab 96V4 here on the Bridge Classic Cars blog.

Behind the Scenes – Photoshoot of the 1967 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 Tribute

November 26, 2021

This was always going to be a special car. The 1967 Ford Mustang is an icon of the car world. One of the most recognisable pieces of pop culture. But this one pays tribute to the cars high performance cousin. The infamous Shelby Mustang.

Just after the rain, comes the best light. Every surface reflects the soft sun and lights up a car in a way a lamp never could. So, with the conditions like these, Freddie and Charlotte dropped the top on this stunning car and headed for the taxiway. This car, is a homage to the great Shelby Mustangs of the 1960s. Except this one, is a bit more special than any of those ones. This particular car, has been converted to Right Hand Drive.

As the V8 rumbled through the airbase towards Freddie’s keen eye and sharp lens. The scene was set to capture the heart and soul of this American icon. This, is what you see right here.

The other great thing about this car? It could be all yours. It’s the latest Bridge Classic Cars Competitions car.

Just head over to the Bridge Classic Cars Competitions website and enter now for your chance to own this incredible dream classic.

Click here to enter now for the 1967 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 Tribute

Not All Plain Sailing – Working on the Glastron Sea Ray

November 26, 2021

The Glastron Sea Ray is back in the Bridge Classic Cars for our technician Jonn to look into the ongoing issue with the carburettors on the engine.

A new unit had been put on order for the boat from Holley and once it had arrived here at the workshop it was time to get the boat from storage and have it fitted to the Volvo engine.

Jonn worked through the various linkages and plates to make sure that everything was safely in its place with no hang-ups or catching. The carburettor is a newer design than the previous unit so it was crucial to make sure the new carburettor plate sat perfectly on the manifold to ensure that when the boat is run up during testing that it behaves.

Next up, it was noted that an issue with the nearside wheel on the boat trailer. Jonn began to carefully take apart the drum and bearing to inspect all of the components to get to the bottom of the grabbing issue.

Expect to see more updates on the Glastron Sea Ray soon on the Bridge Classic Cars blog.

Carrying On – Continuing the Woodwork for the 1956 Jensen 541

November 26, 2021

Brian has been busy at work hand-crafting several pieces for the interior of the 1956 Jensen 541 that is being restored by Bridge Classic Cars.

Brian, one of our master in-house trim experts, has been using what is salvageable from the original interior as well as reference photos and experience to create the needed trim panels. Here, Brian is making new wooden pieces for interior cards of the 541 which will be foamed and then wrapped in the world-class hide to the customers choice of colour.

Brian took his time to carefully measure and template the pieces that are needed for the car. Then, he began to bring them to life for this stunning British sports car which is currently being restored by all of our restoration teams.

Inspect and Rebuild – Work Begins on the 1964 Triumph TR4

November 26, 2021

Jonn, one of our in-house restoration technicians at Bridge Classic Cars, has been working on the recommission of the 1964 Triumph TR4.

The first port of call for the car was to rebuild and set the carburettors. Jonn worked meticulously through the units to ensure every passage and galley was clean and free of any sediment. Once back on the car, Jonn checked for any leaks and began to set up the carburettors for its eventual road test.

Along with the carbs, Jonn has been working on a couple of small issues throughout the car. Namely some wiring issues. Jonn worked his way through each system which had its problems to make sure each component functioned correctly before moving on to the next and testing. Underneath the car, Jonn also worked on the handbrake cable to ensure that when it is needed to be relied on it works correctly and efficiently every time.

This little red sports car is absolutely wonderful to see in our Pettistree workshop, so expect to see more updates on the car here on the Bridge Classic Cars blog.

In Time – Inspecting the Timing Belt of the 1992 Toyota MR2

November 26, 2021

The 1992 Toyota MR2 is in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop after its spell in our in-house paint shop.

This time it was for our in-house restoration technician Paul to inspect the timing belt of the 29-year-old Sports car. Although the belt itself seemed to be in relatively good condition, it was decided that as a matter of course that both the timing belt and the water pump were replaced as part of its routine maintenance.

With such a complex engine, the timing belt is a crucial part of the operation so it is best to replace it with a new component. While the timing cover is removed and access is easier, it is also good practice to replace the water pump with a newer, updated version to ensure the rear-engined sports car can cool itself down after a spirited drive.

Featured – The Electric Blue Mini at the Birmingham NEC

November 26, 2021

The blue all-electric Classic Mini we worked on a while ago has been spotted at the recent Birmingham NEC Classic Car Show!

The car was on a stand with several all-electric classics to showcase one of the ways that classic cars will be used in the future. This little car is absolutely incredible and we’re proud to have played a part in its story.

We handled the bodywork and paint for the project, working to make sure the outside met the same wow factor as what lay beneath its tiny turquoise bonnet.

Best Reaction – Calling the Winner of the 1975 Ford Escort Mk1 RS Mexico Recreation

November 26, 2021

Sometimes a simple phone call can change peoples lives. In some ways, it’s our favourite part of our live draws and of our competitions. Hearing and then seeing the reaction on our winner’s faces and voices when they realise the car is well and truly theirs.

Take for example this video clip of Charlotte calling Chris back after we had announced on the live draw that his winning ticket of 987 had won the competition. We think this is probably the best reaction we’ve ever had to calling a winner. Enjoy!

Parts are In – Wiring Loom on the 1962 Jensen 541S

November 26, 2021

The wiring loom for the 1962 Jensen 541S that is in at Bridge Classic Cars has arrived! This means our world-class in-house restorations technicians can begin to slowly and carefully remove the old harness in preparation for the new loom to be put into the car.

Before the harness is removed, our technicians will check vital components and their connectors to ensure that the new loom will fit into place just as intended both neatly and safely back into this gorgeous British sports car.

We’re excited to see more on the 541S in the coming weeks!

Behind the Scenes – Live Draw of the 1974 Ford Escort Mk1 RS Mexico Recreation & REC 901 Watch Bundle

November 26, 2021

A bit of a change of venue with this week’s Live Draw for the 1975 Ford Escort RS Mexico Recreation and also for the REC 901 Watch & Automobilist print of a 1973 Porsche 911 2.7 Carrera RS. This time, the draw was bought to you from our very own Bridge Classic Cars restoration workshop in Pettistree.

This week, being at the workshop, we thought we would give everyone a look around some of the restoration projects we currently have being worked on. Charlotte and Freddie carefully negotiated their way through the cars to give the audience the best views and little bits of information on each of the cars and the various stages of their restoration.

There was an inevitable question ”where’s the Mustang?” to which Charlotte let everyone know it was safe and sound being stored at The Hangar. However, we did have another competition car parked just behind the Escort RS Mexico, the stunning 1966 Mercedes Benz 250SE Coupe (which tickets are still available for!).

Charlotte gave our live viewers a look around the stunning green metal flaked RS Mexico Recreation with details added in by Freddie to guide our lucky audience around the car. Then, it was time for the main event!

Heading over to the laptop, Charlotte and Freddie ran through the way our draws are run (something we do every single time) to ensure everyone watching along is clear on how this live draw will work. First up, the watch.

As Charlotte entered the parameters for the ticket numbers onto the Google Random Number generator. As the number generator whizzed through, everyone on the pre-published entry list must have been holding their breath with anticipation. Then, appearing on the screen was number 819. After checking through the entry list on the live stream, it was Terry Dawson who became the lucky owner of the REC 901 Porsche Watch and Automobilist print.

Up next, the series of events which would make one very lucky person very happy thanks to Bridge Classic Cars Competitions. As Charlotte reset the numbers for the Google Random Number generator to select from between 1 and 4999. Then with a click of a button, the generator did its thing. The numbers flew past in a haze until it picked a number at complete random. Number 987. It had been the number given to Chris ONeill after his purchase of several tickets as part of Black Friday Event to bolster his chances of getting his hands on this amazing Mk1.

As Charlotte talked to the live audience to console or congratulate, the details for Chris were found by searching his ticket number in our database. Then Nick handed Charlotte the phone to call Chris. One ring. Two rings. Three Rings..

”Welcome to the answering service…” was the response. But just as the live stream had ended and the Bridge Classic Cars competitions began to pack up for the evening. The phone rang. It was Chris calling us back, and we honestly had never heard someone so excited when Charlotte told him where we were calling him from. After a quick chat on the phone and all of us congratulated him on his new 1975 Ford Escort Mk1 RS Mexico Recreation, it was time to wrap up this latest draw of the Bridge Classic Cars Competitions.

If you fancy getting hold of a dream classic of your own, then head over to the Bridge Classic Cars Competitions website and enter now for your chance to win by clicking the link below.

Bridge Classic Cars Competitions

Preparing For It’s Big Day – Removing the Steering Box on the 1966 Mercedes 250SE Coupe

November 25, 2021

The 1966 Mercedes Benz 250SE Coupe is in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop today ahead of its competition draw to have its steering box removed.

On assessment by our in-house restoration teams, it was determined that the steering box would need to be removed and sent away to a specialist that we have used for many of our steering box rebuilds in the past. So, with that, Paul began to remove the box from the W111 Coupe.

After carefully pulling the unit from the car and inspecting all other components and systems connected to the steering box, all was deemed to be ok underneath the large german 2 door grand tourer.

There is still time to win this amazing car! Head over to Bridge Classic Cars Competitions to enter now!

Back in the Workshop – 1979 Arrow Daytona

November 25, 2021

This wonderful 1979 Arrow Daytona is back in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop in Pettistree, Suffolk from being in storage.

It’s currently under covers while several cars are being worked on around the workshop while it awaits its time with our in-house restoration experts to carry on with the restoration of the car.

Keep an eye out here on the Bridge Classic Cars blog for updates on the Arrow Daytona.

This Just In – 1962 Jensen 541S

November 25, 2021

Bridge Classic Cars are happy to welcome another wonderful Jensen 541 into our restoration workshop. This particular car is a 1962 Jensen 541S which has arrived in our workshop for our in-house restoration teams to begin working through several jobs.

This car is going to have an entire wiring loom replaced by our in-house restoration technicians. This is down to a couple of wiring issues but thanks to our specialism in Jensen 541’s it is no problem for our world-class team. While the car is in our workshop, it will also have its steering column replaced for the owner.

We’re looking forward to getting to work on yet another Jensen 541, so keep an eye out on the Bridge Classic Cars blog.

Application of Skill – Remaking the Rear Quarter Trims for the 1956 Jensen 541

November 25, 2021

Brian is a true master of his trade. What started as a series of rotten wooden pieces became brand new pieces for the 1956 Jensen 541 that is in at Bridge Classic Cars.

Using what was left of the original pieces, Brian began to strip back and assess each piece to see if it could be salvaged and reused in the car to preserve any form of originality. Inch by inch Brian has recreated the pieces for the rear quarter trims from almost thin air. Using ply for the wooden pieces underneath, Brian began to wrap and prepare the pieces for the leather trimming.

In Good Hands – Sending Away the Jensen 541 Gearboxes to be Rebuilt.

November 25, 2021

With several Jensen 541’s restorations currently going through the Bridge Classic Cars workshop, it was time to send their gearboxes off to a local gearbox/transmission specialist with who we have been working with for several years.

These gearboxes and overdrive units will be completely rebuilt in preparation for when the cars are ready later in their respective restorations.

There will be more updates once these have been rebuilt at Last Transmissions and are back safely in our hands at Bridge Classic Cars.

This Just In – 1964 Triumph TR4

November 25, 2021

There are more arrivals this week at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop in Pettistree this week! We’ve welcomed this absolutely stunning 1964 Triumph TR4 which is for some work to be recommissioned.

The TR4 is finished in a stunning, bright, vibrant red with a complimenting and classic black leather interior. The weathered Moto-Lita steering wheel adds to the story and the history of this stunning sports car which our in-house restoration technicians are eager to begin work on.

There are a few wiring jobs that need to be carried out along with a small running issue which will begin as soon as possible.

There will be more updates on the 1964 Triumph TR4 very soon here on the Bridge Classic Cars news page.

This Just In – 1934 MG PA Midget

November 25, 2021

This is not an MG TD. In fact, it’s quite an early MG PA. This particular car belongs to one of our directors, Gordon, who has decided there are few jobs he would like doing on his new pride and joy.

The first stop will be into our in-house trim shop for a few bits and pieces that need sorting out and then it will be into the main workshop where our in-house restoration technicians will work on this wonderful 87-year-old Sports car.

Keep your eye out here on the Bridge Classic Cars blog for more updates on the MG PA.

From the Bottom to the Top – The Sills on the 1992 Toyota MR2 are Painted!

November 25, 2021

In the last update on the 1992 Toyota MR2: Paul, our in-house restoration technician, was busy cutting out the corroded and damaged sills of the bright red sportscar in preparation for its date with the Paint Shop.

Chris, who runs our in-house paint shop, has worked his magic on the JDM icon to seamlessly blend in the new sills that paul had grafted into the bottom of the car. Thanks to our state of the art paint mixing computer, Chris could get the colour as close to the existing paint on the car to best make it flow together. Then, the bottom part of the sills were finished in a glossy black hard coating to ensure their protection for many years to come.

I think we can all agree that if you hadn’t read the previous stories about the MR2, you’d think it was a brand new car. That is the magic of our in-house restoration teams.

Building Update – Entrance to the Workshop

November 25, 2021

Another big step in the extension to the Bridge Classic Cars workshop extension is happening! Since last time, our builders have covered over all of the necessary pipework in preparation for this moment.

They have begun to work on the crucial ramp and entry into the workshop. It may look like a mound of earth but the metal rails placed next to it shows the approach angle which will greet each and every car going into the extension. Smooth and relatively shallow to make sure there is the right clearance for any and every vehicle heading into the new build.

It’s all moving full steam ahead with the extension and all of us here at Bridge Classic Cars are very excited to see the progress.

In the Hands of Specialists – Sending Out Parts to Specialists

November 24, 2021

The latest batch of parts has been sent out to our local, trusted specialists for various treatments/rebuilds. Some parts will be sent away for sandblasting, vapour blastic and even sonic baths.

We use a selection of local companies we have built close working relationships with to send out our parts to be cleaned and prepared for any of the Bridge Classic Cars restorations.

Once these are returned, they will be stored and catalogued to wait for their return to the car.

From Scratch – Making the Rear Seat for the 1956 Jensen 541

November 24, 2021

Brian has been continuing to work on the interior of the 1956 Jensen 541 that is here at Bridge Classic Cars for restoration.

This time, Brian has been skillfully making the new rear seat by hand. To ensure the best fit, our in-house trim shop finds it best to do these by hand in order to get the best possible finish for the car.

Starting from a single solid block of foam, Brian transferred the template and began to cut it down to size. Slowly refining the shape until it was as close to perfect as possible and then going that last little bit to get it 100% spot on. Brian then began fitting in the braces and extra padding that is needed once the cover has been made and fitted to fit properly.

New and Improved – Working on the Interior of the 1968 Jaguar MkII

November 24, 2021

The interior of the 1968 Jaguar MkII 2.4 is the next item on the list of jobs to complete for its very lucky owner. With this, it’s been down to our in-house trim expert Brian to carefully dismantle and evaluate the intricate interior of the MkII.

Removing both the front seats, Brian could begin to carefully pull up and remove the front carpet from the car. This is being done as part of the replacement with a brand new matching set of carpets we have got for the car. Also during this process, Brian removed several leather-wrapped panels and the centre console that will need Brian’s expert eye and skill cast over them.

With the centre console and seats out of the car, Brian also needed to remove the rear air vents for the next phase.

With the front carpets removed from the car and safely stored away in case they are needed. Brian could turn his attention to stripping down the rear seats and floors ready for the refit. For that, Brian also had to strip the leather from the original rear seat bases to prepare for the new kit.

With everything stripped, Brian could then put the new matching set into the car. And, they look absolutely incredible!

Back Out – Removing the Engine on the 1973 MGB GT V8

November 24, 2021

A few weeks ago, after firing the newly rebuilt V8 in the front of our 1973 MGB GT V8 for the first time, our in-house restoration technicians discovered some flecks of metal in the oil.

With this, our technicians have decided to take the engine back out of the front of this iconic purple sportscar and begin to diagnose what has happened. With a project such as this, it’s always done that after the engines first run in that everything is checked, doubled checked and then triple checked to ensure the health of the engine.

Thankfully, our in-house restoration experts are on hand to oversee the investigation and expect to see more here on the Bridge Classic Cars blog.

Coming Soon – 1973 Saab 96V4

November 23, 2021

Coming soon to our safe, secured and private storage facility, The Hangar, is this incredible 1973 Saab 96V4.

This car is going to be stored with us for some time before it is bought over to our Pettistree workshop for our incredible in-house restoration teams to look into a few jobs for its lucky owner.

If you would like your car stored with us here at Bridge Classic Cars, head over to our storage page to find out more or get in touch with us!

Click here to find out more about storage solutions.

Nostalgia – Our Friends Cars

November 23, 2021

Bridge Classic Cars are evolving our Nostalgia features!

Within the coming series, we want to feature the cars, motorbikes and other vehicles which our friends in the community have and the stories behind them. If you have a story and a vehicle that you would like us to mention, then get in touch with us.

You can contact us by email at marketing@bridgeclassiccars.co.uk or through our social media pages on Facebook or on our Instagram.

Here though is a look at some of the previous Nostalgia entries:

This is our Director Gordon’s original Vauxhall Carlton. Unlike most Carltons, Gordon’s car was red. Seen here in period, it was kept spotless and even now it would still turn heads like the day it was new.

Our friend Nigel Bromley sent in these incredible photos of his first car, the red Mini. And then later in his motoring career the Mk3 Escort. Nigel is now heading up departments at Lotus Cars but it’s interesting to see where the love of motoring began for him.

Those of us who live in Suffolk will know the name Luke Deal. Many won’t know that Luke is an avid collector of classic and vintage buses. Owning several of these wonderful examples of a bygone age of public transport.

Another friend of Bridge Classic Cars sent over this wonderful photo to celebrate Mothers Day. Simon, the man behind Vint-Tro is a neighbour of ours here in Suffolk. He sent over this awesome photo of his Mum as a young woman on what appears to be an old Speedway/Grasstrack bike.

This photo just sets the most wonderful of scenes. Paul Judd sent in this incredible photo of a Type 2 Splitscreen being used just as Wolfsburg had intended. To think, there was a time when camping sites all around the world would have seen these in droves being used just like this on a warm summers day in the sunshine or a rainy bank holiday weekend in the Lake District.

This photo belongs to Kieran Roper, a friend of our director Craig. Here you can see him sat atop of what appears to be a rather lovely Ducati 916. These bikes were in period quite the bit of kit and now are just as, if not more, sought after than the day they were made.

The Level of Detail – Recovering the Dash and Ceiling Pad of the 1956 Jensen 541

November 23, 2021

It’s the small details on a restoration that we believe take it to a world-class finish. Interiors are a huge part of the experience of these cars for their very lucky owners as it’s the best seat in the house in our opinion. That’s why our in-house trim shop takes everything to the next level in terms of fit and finish.

Brian, one of our in-house trim experts here at Bridge Classic Cars, has been hard at work stripping down and recovering several of the larger components for the 1956 Jensen 541. Brian began by stripping back the original dash and ceiling pads ready for them to be recovered in matching red leather to the rest of the interior. Carefully, Brian worked his magic on revealing the original piece that lay under the weathered coverings for assessment.

The pieces themselves were in remarkable shape. So, very little was needed before they were prepared for their new look. Inch by inch, Brian began with the underlays for each piece making sure they were cut perfectly to size before being married to the piece. Then, using the best hide, Brian began the process that would make them complete.

Using his years of experience in high-end retrimming, Brian stretch and secured the leather to the piece making sure at each point that the coverings sat flat and straight onto the original 1950s pieces. As you can see, the results are sensational just like the rest of the interior on this wonderful early car.

First Signs of Life – Firing Up the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III Roadster

November 19, 2021

It’s Alive! The beautiful 5 litre V12 that sits at the heart of Fern Grey has cracked into life for the first time since its rebuild. This is a milestone for the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III Roadster that we have been building at Bridge Classic Cars.

The engine has been completely rebuilt but this was the first time it had been run since returning to our workshop and being installed in the nose of this unique, one of a kind E Type. The engine still has open headers so it sounds like an absolute animal whilst being run in the workshop with all those involved in the build to witness such a massive moment.

Scott and John have worked incredibly hard to get Fern Grey to this point and it was such a sight and sound to hear the engine run for the first time.

Bridge Classic Cars are award winning Classic Car Restoration and Maintenance specialists. Your pride and joy is in safe hands with our expert Classic Car Technicians. Take a look at our awards here.

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