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Goodwood Members Meeting 2021 – Day One (Part 3)

October 18, 2021

Between our times on the stand, each of us would venture out into the paddocks and to various points on the circuit to soak up as much as we could. Not only of the light evening drizzle, but of this wonderful event.

As the evening light grew dimmer, the paddocks once more played host to the ushering crowds. The magic hour held up to its name. The low light shone brightly on the historic cars giving them even more of a glow in the eyes of the feverish fans.

Everything imaginable was within arms reach. These priceless works of automotive art with very little supervision. But, with the machines comes healthy respect.

The still of that evening was soon to be broken.

A race track in the evening is a strange beast. The air around it grows still but the general calm is broken by the sounds of competition. This was the 2nd chance for the big V8 cars. The American monsters took the early autumn in the English countryside by the scruff of the neck.

As these vast machines would take a corner, you couldn’t help but feel sorry for the brakes. Straining and screaming for mercy but only to be drowned out by the combined cubic acres of the howling engines.

The track by this point was now dry after the earlier showers in the day. With this, the cars could now entirely stretch their legs… Lap after lap, the iron gladiators would attack the same sequence of corners but with growing confidence and vigour. Even from standing at one point, you could see each of the cars getting quicker. You could feel the lap times tumbling and you could hear the cars straining to beat the marshalls’ stopwatch.

It could only be Goodwood.

Goodwood Members Meeting 2021 – Day One (Part 2)

October 18, 2021

As the sun gained some strength and the air grew warmer, the paddocks also grew in size and commotion. The further you delved into the rows of priceless vintage racing machinery, the more there was to find.

Nestled away against the back row were a fine selection from our neighbours over at Historika, with a long bonnet 911 race car in nearly every conceivable colour. But, when you looked around. My word were there sights to behold.

The copper E Type lay dormant in the misty morning air. Its numbers emblazoned on its handmade, vast bonnet the only giveaway that this big cat was unlike the others in the car park. It’s other stablemates shared its single-mindedness. A plethora of vintage racing machines like the TVR, Morgans, a C2 Corvette and one of the most beautiful cars to have ever been created. The Ferrari 275GTB.

Mere hours later, they would all be at war just meters from where they now slept.

It couldn’t possibly be an outdoor British event without the heavens well and truly opening. The rain was torrential. No square inch of tarmac from Fordwater, St Marys and the chicane was safe. The perfect time to send out the V8s…

As the Americans invaded the English countryside, the rain began to fall lighter. Giant puddles had appeared in every braking zone, every apex and every opportunity for speed. However, this didn’t stop the iron leviathans. The 7-litre Galaxies barely noticed the slick and twitchy track. A healthy offering of torque and opposite lock allowed them to slide gracefully through the chicane and out towards the start/finish line. Eager to join in were the smaller Mustangs and Falcons as well as the lone gold Studabaker which brought the fight to the Blue Oval.

Whilst this ballet of power and noise played out for its baying crowd, the circuit began to dry. The cars would find the grip just at the wrong moments only to be followed by a greasy patch or an inconveniently placed puddle to spit them towards the slick, sodden grass and the wall beyond.

Some met their fate in that practice session. Others would have their hopes built that morning..

Goodwood Members Meeting 2021 – Day One (Part 1)

October 18, 2021

After we had built up the stand it was time to get some rest before the first day of the 2021 Goodwood Members Meeting.

We were up before dawn and on-site before the first members had even come through the gates. What surrounded us, was pure motoring heaven. The first group of icons we found were not destined for life on the tarmac. This selection of rally cars was absolutely mind-blowing. From the Peter Solberg 2003 Impreza WRC all the way to the Mk2 Escort driven by the master that was Ari Vatanen.

However, things hadn’t even begun yet…

The morning was cold and the dampness hung in the air. The clouds threatened the morning’s proceedings with their presence alone. As the movements of people ebbed and flowed through the tunnels under the main straight, the excitement built. The stillness of a mid-October morning was broken by the opera that could only come from a herd of classic touring cars.

We had stumbled into the staging for the Gerry Marshall Trophy. This was a practice session before the afternoons qualifying for these Group1 Touring Cars. To be eligible, they must have been raced between 1970 and 1982 with full FIA period history.

A varied stable of classic racers lined up along the leafed road. Before being allowed out to appropriately stretch their legs. The ground shook with the war cries of the 8 cylinder Opels and Mustangs while the buzz of the 4 cylinder cars finished off this symphony of speed.

Find out more about the first day at the 78th Goodwood Members Meeting on our next blog post!

Plugged In – Changing Spark Plugs on the 1967 Ford Mustang Convertible

October 14, 2021

This 1967 Ford Mustang Convertible is having a list of things done to it by Bridge Classic Cars in Suffolk, UK but next up on the jobs is a spark plug change.

Mauro, our in-house restoration technician, has been working deep in the engine bay of the Mustang. As you can see by the photos, the sparkplugs that were in the Mustang had been in there for quite some time. With that, it was decided to renew them as part of the refresh being done on the car. As with all old spark plugs, you need to be very careful as they can be quite fragile.

So, Mauro gently eased the plugs out of the cylinder head ready to be inspected. They were heavily corroded on the mounts and also the ground straps and electrodes were covered in carbon. New plugs it was for this unique muscle car. Mauro also decided to inspect and clean up the threads in the cylinder head ready for the new spark plugs.

With the new spark plugs in the car, it was just a case of getting the leads back on the car according to its firing order ready for when we first fire up the V8.

Coming Soon – 1969 Mercedes Benz 250SE Automatic W111 Coupe

October 14, 2021

Coming soon to the Bridge Classic Cars workshop is this stunning 1969 Mercedes Benz 250SE Automatic W111 Coupe!

This will be making its way into us for assessment ahead of the plans that are being considered for its future. This is an incredible example of the W111 and 1960s German luxury which Mercedes were renowned for from its earliest days all the way to the present day.

Keep a look out on the Bridge Classic Cars news page for any updates on this gorgeous example.

In Plain View – Cleaning up the Dash and Centre Console of the 1970 Dodge Charger

October 14, 2021

The 1970 Dodge Charger is in the Bridge Classic Cars in-house trim shop to be fitted out with its interior.

Brian, one of our in-house trim experts, has been cleaning up the Dashboard and Centre Console ready to be put into the car when that point comes. With such effort being put into the fit and finish of the pieces for the rest of the interior, Brian got to work getting the dash and console up to the same standard.

Now with these and the kick panels all up to the same standard as the rest of the car, it was time to safely store these pieces away for when the time comes to install them into the car.

Not Quite Lining Up – Alignment on the 1930 Packard 740 Waterfield Convertible

October 14, 2021

This 1930 Packard 740 Series Waterfield Convertible has been in at Bridge Classic Cars recently for a check over and service.

Currently, our Workshop Manager John has been looking into an issue with the alignment of the front end. The front end of the car isn’t quite right, so some adjustment is needed on the car to make sure it tracks straight and true. Normally this can be done quite easily but with the Packard, everything is slightly different.

The steering arm located under the front axle won’t rotate enough for John to adjust the alignment on the car. For that, John tried to remove the ball joint on one side in order to unscrew one side and then adjust it out that way. Except the ball joint won’t come loose.

These pre-war cars carry a lot of weight on the front axle so their alignment is very important. John is trying several different ways to get the steering arm loose to make sure this beautiful piece of 1930s American luxury, tracks absolutely straight.

Finding the Source – Investigating an Oil Leak on the 1963 Jaguar MkII 3.4

October 14, 2021

This 1963 Jaguar MkII 3.4 is back in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop after its recent overhaul to investigate an oil leak from underneath this impressive tourer.

Our workshop manager John and in-house engine builder are on hand to look into the issue and will advise on the next steps to take to resolve the issue.

Keep an eye out on the Bridge Classic Cars news page for more

It’s Got To Be Right – Bodywork and Paint on the 1984 BMW 635CSi

October 14, 2021

The Bridge Classic Cars paint and body specialists need to know they’ve done a job absolutely right. So, once the 1984 BMW 635CSi came in to be assessed it was clear its first stop was going to be with Chris.

Chris carefully stripped back the paint in very specific sections to expose a series of questionable body repairs as well as addressing some very light rust bubbles beneath the rear lights. Behind the rear lights, a lot of damage had been done by the rust. So, a new section of the light cluster housing had to be made and out into the bodywork of this 1980s icon.

After the rust repair section was in, Chris turned his attention to the areas that stood out to him. Mainly where large amounts of body filler had been packed in previous damage. Painstakingly and slowly, Chris removed the filler in order to work the panels back into shape with only the most minimal amount of filler to be used.

Then it was time to tape and mask up the car in the booth. The results are incredible. But, you’ll have to wait for the next update to get a look at the makeover on the 1984 BMW 635CSi at Bridge Classic Cars.

This Just In – 1977 MG B Roadster for Restoration

October 14, 2021

New to the Bridge Classic Cars workshop is this 1977 MG B Roadster. It is in with us for a full aesthetic restoration which will include a brand new paint job along with a full interior, a new convertible hood and a new radio.

Work will begin shortly and getting this iconic sportscar stripped down and ready for our in-house paint team to work their magic on the car.

Expect to see much more on this MG B Roadster on the news page on the Bridge Classic Cars blog.

Take a Seat – Repairing the Seat on the 1971 Morris Traveller

October 14, 2021

This is one of the seats from the 1971 Morris Traveller 1000 which has been announced as the latest car to be won on Bridge Classic Cars Competitions.

Before then, this seat is going to need to visit our in-house trim shop where Kath will work her magic.

After assessing the damage to the top part of the seat, Kath said it could be repaired. Carefully, Kath removed the seat cover in order to have it laid out flat to come up with a plan to fix the tear.

Each of the pieces was removed one by one and labelled for the reassembly. The tear was skillfully repaired by Kath, whose experience and knowledge of trim work meant that there is almost no evidence that it was ever there.

Then, it was time to start putting everything back together. Kath gathered the closest thread to the original and began to reseam the seat to match the rest of the seats.

And here is the end result! Every part of the seat has been checked by Kath before its reassembly and all seemed to be ok. The finish on the repaired seat is fitting for the Traveller. It’s still original and perfectly useable for such a fun and quirky little car.

You can enter the draw for the 1971 Morris Traveller by clicking the link below!

Enter the draw for the 1971 Morris Traveller

Building Update – Brickwork on the Bridge Classic Cars Extension

October 14, 2021

The extension to the restoration workshop here at Bridge Classic Cars in Suffolk, UK goes full steam ahead. Now with the roof on the framework, the walls and interiors can start to be put in.

The first few courses of brickwork around the edges of the extension are in place and along with that is the rebar and membrane are set.

The extension is really starting to come along!

Best Port of Call – Results of the Wiring Checks on the 1974 Triumph TR6

October 14, 2021

This 1974 Triumph was in with us to have a look into a wiring issue caused by a mouse while being stored in a customer’s Carcoon.

Well, after careful inspection and checks by our Workshop Manager and electrical specialist John, he found that nearly half the wiring loom behind the dashboard was affected. Because of this, it is best practice to replace the entire loom. Both for the sake of time to the customer and for peace of mind when it comes to the electrical system of the car.

The loom is now on order from a specialist in TR6 wiring looms and will be fitted and tested once it arrives with us here at Bridge Classic Cars.

Following Along – Diagnosing a Head Gasket Issue on the 1971 Jaguar XJ6

October 14, 2021

As with any classic car, you want to try and exercise a certain amount of reserve and caution when working on them. Try to be sympathetic to their age and their condition. So, when the 1971 Jaguar XJ6 that we have had in at Bridge Classic Cars developed a misfire our in-house restoration team did everything they could before having to dive deep.

The XJ6 has had its fuel tanks replaced, new fuel lines and was tested by our technicians. Before the tanks were replaced this classic Jaguar had real trouble staying running. Now though, it will run for as long as there is fuel in it. However, now that it was running long enough, Dave noticed a misfire on the big straight-six.

Originally Dave thought it to be connected to the ignition system. It would arc out to the nearest metal point. We also discovered exposed wires in the connectors that join the condenser. Those were all then replaced along with the HT leads but to no avail. It had got marginally better but the misfire was still rather prominent.

With that, our in-house engine guru Ady was called in to take a look at the straight-six. The only thing left to do was to gently remove the cylinder head. Carefully and patiently, Ady eased the head from the block to expose the pistons but more importantly the head gasket. On the cylinder closest to the firewall, the gasket was in tatters. The XJ6 had blown a head gasket. Also, Ady had noticed coolant marks down the side of the block. Another sign that the gasket is not sitting correctly between the cylinder head and the engine block.

With that, it also damaged the chamber of the corresponding cylinder in the head. A large chunk of material is missing from between the leading edges of the valve. But, all may not be lost. The head is currently in the process of being stripped down and assessed so that a plan can be made to get this wonderful straight-six back in action.

Once the plan for the XJ6 engine has been confirmed, work will begin to get the car back to its former glory.

Out & About – Calm Indian Cow in Cornwall

October 13, 2021

Our dear friends at Calm Indian Cow have been in Cornwall recently!

They were catering a wedding down in the West Country so of course, they took their gorgeous blue truck with them.

Some of you may remember a while back when we helped to build this amazing 1971 Bedford J Type into the mobile home of Calm Indian Cow. So, it’s always lovely to see it and Mahesh out there spreading the love.

Safe trip!

In It To Win It – Our 1971 Morris Traveller Is Now Up For Competition

October 13, 2021

The 1970 Morris Traveller 1000 has been revealed as our latest competition car!

It is a smashing little car. It’s so quirky and full of character that you can help but smile and be happy when you’re around it. Who doesn’t love a Moggy Traveller!?

This particular car has been kept in amazing condition but has been loved and used by its previous owners. It has a massive file of history and paperwork that goes along with it. But, you could become the new lucky owner of this stunning Morris Traveller…

Just head over to the Bridge Classic Cars Competitions by clicking the link below and entering the draw.

Click here to enter the draw for this 1971 Morris Traveller 1000

On Their Way – Collection of Cars from South Africa

October 13, 2021

Bridge Classic Cars are soon going to be receiving a shipment of cars from South Africa.

These have been sent to us by a collector in South Africa to be assessed and looked into. Here you can see them being loaded into a specialised container for their voyage halfway across the world to get to us here in Suffolk.

Expect to see more bits in the future about this amazing collection when it reaches the shores of the UK.

Clean and Mean – New Window Rollers and Trim on the 1970 Dodge Charger

October 13, 2021

Our in-house trim team at Bridge Classic Cars have been working hard to get the interior of the 1970 Dodge Charger back together. One of the key points of the cars looks is the brightwork and the window lines.

The rear quarter windows are pillarless. They must fit up and move perfectly to the window in the door, so they give the best overall look to the car. It’s the speciality of the Bridge Classic Cars trim shop, the fit and finish which completes the look of the car.

Brian has been working on getting the rear quarter windows in the car so all the trim that accompanies it can be fitted. It’s important with these Mopars that the window components are set just right. Thankfully, everything that was needed was in the car. So, with the windows perfectly in place, Brian could now start to work on the trim.

The trim pieces on the Charger come in multiple pieces which all need to be meticulously dry fit in such a way as to not damage either the pieces or the car. After test fitting, Brian then began the process of attaching them permanently onto the car.

Parts of the inner trim structure actually need riveting to the body. Then the covers are put over them to hide the hardware, this takes some time and a steady hand.

Over the course of an afternoon, Brian managed to get all the rear trims and windows in place so it’s time to move on to the next job on the list for the interior of the Charger.

Gentle and Fair – Reworking the Rear Wing of the 1951 Riley RMB

October 13, 2021

With a car as intricate and flowing as the 1951 Riley RMB, it’s important that our in-house metalwork craftsmen at Bridge Classic Cars apply all their skills and knowledge to ensure each flow, curve and line are exactly right on the car.

Highlighted in this post is the extensive work our fabricator James has done on the rear wing of the Riley RMB. Much of the original material had pitted in places, and in some places to the point of allowing holes to grow in the metal itself especially along the rear flange. This piece has been replaced before as can be seen by the various patches and pieces along the length of the panel.

Carefully and with much reserve, James began to remove the affected piece from the panel. Removing only what needed to be and keep as much of the original piece as possible. The new section would have to be entirely handmade for this wing but that is no problem for our fabrication shop.

James measured not only the length but the thickness of the piece that would be needed to replace the original flange. Then, using the English wheel, James skillfully began to give the piece its shape and form. Constantly offering up the new piece and referring to the shape of the original. A combination of shrinking and stretching key areas of the panel allowed it to blend into the original piece.

Then, it came time to join the two parts together. Slowly and precisely James TIG welded the parts together at strategic points, allowing the piece to cool at the correct rate and distributing the heat in such a way as to minimise the warp caused to the panel from the process. Once completely married up, James then began to finesse the join.

Using a planishing hammer and a selection of dollies, James began to smooth the joint between the two panels together until there little to no signs they had never been together their entire lives. That is craftsmanship…

Protecting Hard Work – Applying the Guard Liner to the 1998 Honda Integra Type R

October 13, 2021

After working so hard on the finish of the 1998 Honda Integra Type R, it is important to protect what has been done here at Bridge Classic Cars.

Chris, our in-house paint expert, has been applying arch liner protection to the wheel arches of the Integra DC2. Chris has put many hours into ensuring that the finish on the paintwork we have done to the DC2 Integra is world-class. The front wings, as well as the engine bay, have been worked on for rust repair and paint so a few coats of arch liner will help to protect not just the paint but the metal work underneath.

This was also done by the factory when the car was new so it makes sense to redo the coating to make sure this Integra lasts for many years to come.

Sealed up Tight – Replacing the Pinion Seal on the 1967 Ford Mustang Convertible Rear End

October 13, 2021

Mauro, our in-house restoration technician, has been working on the 1967 Ford Mustang that we have in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop.

As part of its mechanical refresh recently, Mauro replaced the rear axle seals and now it’s time to renew the rear pinion seal. A key part of the well being of any rear-wheel drive car.

After removing the old seal and inspecting the mounting surfaces, Mauro then put the new seal in place and check the pinion worked correctly. It all worked perfectly. So with that, the driveshaft and coupling were put back in place and it was time to move on to the next job on the list…

Featured – Our 1965 Amphicar is on the Top Gear Website!

October 12, 2021

Our 1965 Amphicar that is currently up for auction with Car & Classic Auctions has found its way onto the Top Gear website!

The team here at Bridge Classic Cars painstakingly restored this car over countless hours into a full working, fully certified Amphicar.

Check out the article here or check out the auction with Car & Classic here!

Moving Forward – Update on the 1977 Honda GL1000 Goldwing

October 12, 2021

It’s been a little while since the last update on the 1977 Honda Goldwing.

This is Gordon, our director’s, bike. Last we wrote, the carburettors had been sent off to be media blasted and now it’s time for the rear swing arm to be serviced and rebuilt. The progress on this classic Honda (mainly believe to be from golden age of Honda motorcycles) is steady and we are looking forward to having her back and being enjoyed.

Featured – Our Bridge Classic Cars / Norwich City Community Sports Foundation Lotus Elise on the Lotus Newsletter.

October 12, 2021

Our 2021 Lotus Elise Sport 240 Final Edition which is being given away to support the important work that the Norwich City Community Sports Foundation do was featured in the latest online Lotus email Newsletter.

The Lotus is still up for grabs to one lucky winner. And all the proceeds will go towards helping the work that NCCSF do with young people of different abilities and backgrounds to get involved in the amazing world of sport.

You can enter just by clicking the link below!

Win the 2021 Lotus Elise Sport 240 Final Edition

House of Cards – Fitting the Door Cards to the 1970 Dodge Charger

October 12, 2021

Our in-house trim expert Kath has been fitting the door cards to the 1970 Dodge Charger we have in here at Bridge Classic Cars.

Kath carefully put together the two-piece door cards which are a key feature on the interior of this glorious Mopar. Kath went through each component to check its fit and finish before anything was put on the car, painstakingly marking out any points that would need a skilled hand turned to them.

The door cards themselves needed the openings cut into them for different handles and fixings so Kath broke out the tape measure. Each of the cuts made was a case of measure 10 times and cut once as with all of our interior work. The best way to get the perfect finish is to work with the car and that’s why we have a world-class trim shop.

Piece by piece, Kath put together the parts onto the door itself with all its bright work. The clips that fix the card to the door have to be eased onto the door as to not become deformed or move out of alignment so clip by clip the door card was installed onto the car.

Work on the interior of the 1970 Dodge Charger will continue in the Bridge Classic Cars trim shop in our next update on the blog

Back in Place – Installing the Rebuilt Injection Pump on the Land Rover Series IIA

October 12, 2021

When work began on this 1970 Land Rover Series IIA, there was a slight bit of confusion. Originally it was thought to be a Series III but thankfully, we have Scott who drives a Series II every day to work.

The other bit that had us scratching our heads somewhat was working out what engine it. The last MOT certificate stated it was petrol, but once Ady opened up the bonnet he was faced with an Injection Pump and Glowplugs. Meaning that sometime between then and now, a diesel engine had been put in its place.

Either way, we need to get the Series IIA running. So, our in-house engine wizard Ady had the injection pump sent off to a nearby specialist to be rebuilt and tested. Within a couple of days, the pump was back here at Bridge Classic Cars.

Next Ady had noted some wiring that didn’t quite make sense. A positive cable leading from the glowplug to the frame, in the same way a ground would be routed. After looking into the matter to be double sure, Ady removed the old wiring and rewired up the glowplug to the correct set-up.

Now, it is time to prep the engine for its first fire-up since being with us. Which you will see very soon here on the Bridge Classic Cars blog

More Than a Mouthful – Wiring Issue on a 1974 Triumph TR6

October 12, 2021

This beautiful 1974 Triumph TR6 arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop this morning for John to begin looking into an issue with the wiring. The issue is that a mouse has managed to eat through part of the loom causing the car to have some issues.

The customer has told us that it was being stored in its Carcoon when he went to go and start the car but nothing would work.

So, our workshop manager and wiring guru John is having a look into the issue. Because of the damage done to one of the cables, as soon as the car was powered on, it melted several wires. Now, John must try and get access to the back of the dashboard to follow the trail…

Stop and Go – Replacing Wheel Cylinders and Axle Seals on the 1967 Ford Mustang

October 11, 2021

Our technician Mauro has been waiting on some parts for the 1967 Ford Mustang Convertible for some time now. These parts have all had to be sourced from the US so there is bound to be a bit of a wait for them.

The car was assessed and inspected so that all the parts could be ordered in one go but first on the list is the rear axle seals and wheel cylinders. Mauro had noted down a small leak coming from the rear axle and while the rear drums have to be removed for the axles to come out, we thought it best practice to service the rear brakes. In all, their condition was fine. The shoes had plenty of material and all the hardware looked straight and in good order.

So, Mauro decided that just the wheel cylinders would need replacement. As we got the axle out, the backing plates off the drums it was time to pull the old leaking seals out. Carefully, Mauro removed the old seals and prepped the area to receive the brand new seals. They went in perfectly.

Working back out, Mauro began to put the drums back together. As he did, he replaced the wheel cylinders and bled the system. So now, there’s just one more job to do on the back end of the Mustang…

Over Your Head – Headliner Complete on the 1970 Dodge Charger

October 11, 2021

Kath, our in-house trim expert has been hard at work finishing up the install of the headliner into the 1970 Dodge Charger we have here at Bridge Classic Cars.

The headliner is such a crucial part of the interior of any car let alone a classic that its fit and finish must be as close to perfect as possible. Thankfully, that is what our in-house trim shop is known for. Kath has carefully stretched and secured the headliner into place to make sure that across the roof of this iconic muscle car, everything lines up.

The interior for this particular Charger is important as it must compliment the vibrant exterior colour scheme but also match the finish of the car. So, next up. Kath will be fitting the 2 piece door cars.

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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