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Triumph TR7 V8

May 28, 2019

Unfortunately due to incorrect piston rings being fitted some time ago this has resulted in our 1981 Triumph TR7 V8 require an engine rebuild. The

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Jaguar E-Type: Replacing the engine mounts and underseal

June 5, 2019

Two tasks to carry out today on our 1968 Jaguar E-Type. First up we have the replacement of the split engine mounts.

Thanks, as always to Pete and the team at SNG Barratt for the quick turn around on new mounts. Arrived next day to our workshops and ready to be fitted.

We have now prepared the under side for the under seal application. The area has been cleaned up, the components that we need to avoid with our under seal have been masked up so we are ready to go.

Progess on our new showroom

June 5, 2019

Work is now well underway on the new home of our classic car showroom. The cars are starting to move in now but at present this is a slow exercise as we are waiting on the space being deep cleaned and prepared for when we fill it.

New electrics have been fitted with LED ceiling drops and wall mounted LED’s all round.

The industrial cleaners start work on the ceiling to floor brush down so all cars are being removed to make way for the cherry pickers to get to work.

Faulty indicator on our 1957 Triumph TR3

June 5, 2019

Our 1957 Triumph TR3 is in today with a faulty indicator. Firstly we cleaned out the connections to the switch. We then replaced the relay and bulb and cleaned out the connections on the bulb. This repaired the fault so the car was good to leave us once again.

One for the future: 1973 Wolseley Six

June 5, 2019

Visiting our workshops today we have a wonderful little 1973 Wolseley Six in need of some TLC inside.

The carpets need to be replaced throughout, the seats require recovering, the dash recovered and some parts of the wood needs attention.

Detailing the TR7 engine bay

June 4, 2019

With the V8 engine out for a rebuild it was a great opportunity to detail the engine bay of our TR7 to bring it back up to wonderful condition once again.

Rover Vitesse MOT

June 4, 2019

Our 1987 Rover Vitesse is currently in with us having some small issues rectified ready to run it through the annual MOT.

Repairing our Jaguar E-Type Floor

June 3, 2019

We are currently in the process of remedying the corrosion issues we have discovered underneath our 1965 Jaguar E-Type.

We discovered the rust and corrosion whilst the car was with us for an upgraded rear differential. In order to complete the task properly the rust needed to be removed and new sheet work applied before we could even consider fitting up the new diff.

The area is now addressed and under seal has been applied.

Coming Soon: 1991 BMW 318i E30 Cabriolet

June 3, 2019

Coming soon, we will have available our 1991 BMW 318i E30 convertible.

A limited edition, believed with be one of only two hundred built in Neon Blue and only twenty of them being an automatic. Makes this classic quite a rare car.

The current owner has owned the car for over 20 years with it only being used on bright and sunny days. On the dark and rainy days the car has been dry stored and away from the elements.

We hope to have the car with us within the next two weeks where we will prepare and be able to offer more photographs and information.

In the meantime, if you have any questions or to book a future appointment. Finance can be arranged by a third party. Office hours are Monday to Friday (Saturdays and Sundays can be arranged) 8am to 5pm. To arrange a viewing please call Craig on 01473 742038 or email info@bridgeclassiccars.co.uk

1956 Ford Consul in Primer

May 31, 2019

The body preparation of our 1956 Ford Consul is now complete and Chris has finished the week with the car in primer.

Arriving in from Canada: Jaguar Mk VII

May 31, 2019

Our Jaguar Mk VII and mini motorcycle has finally arrived in London docklands all the way from Canada.

This matching number car will be available for sale as a restoration project; complete with light tan seats, door panels, carpet and ceiling cloth. The interior is boxed and was purchased by the previous owner for £4500 but never fitted.

Alternatively, if you are looking for Bridge Classic Cars to restore this beauty back to concours standards then of course we can.

…and the bike is for the mini Bridge Classic Cars boss!!

Lieke – Angels Inc – BGT

May 30, 2019

Recently seen on this year’s Britain’s Got Talant, these 5 classy, trendy, power women are full of fierceness and Magic.

They started their career by winning the battle on the Dutch TV show ‘Circus Gerschtanowitz’.

After that they performed at the TV show ‘Le Plus Grand Cabaret du Monde’ in France, ‘The Winter Trial’ in Austria, ‘Masters of Magic’ in Italy and many more.

Here’s Lieke from the group, travelling the world and capturing a few classics on her travels…

Testing the Jaguar E-Type Engine Temperature

May 30, 2019

Our 1968 Jaguar E-Type has developed some issues with paintwork under the bonnet. Around the top of the engine the paintwork seems to be bubbling which suggests a reaction occurring between the paint and the engine.

Our first thoughts steer us towards a possible engine temperature issue.

Upon closer inspection there are no visible temperature issues. We have adjusted the carburettors and tightened up a couple of the exhaust nuts but the temperature is reading perfectly.

It could be an issue with the original paintwork but we will continue to investigate all possible outcomes.

1975 MGB Roadster Engine Run Up

May 29, 2019

Here is Ady and Pete successfully running up our MG B roadster engine for the very first time in the restoration project.

MGA in for a respray

May 29, 2019

In our workshops this week we welcome our wonderful 1957 MGA for a full exterior respray and new carpets.

We may be a little while off from starting but with the owner currently residing overseas we accepted delivery as ‘one for the future’.

Visiting our workshops this week: Morgan, Volvo and Bentley

May 29, 2019

Outside our Woodbridge workshops last week we had a couple of absolute beauties.

First up, we have the 2014 Morgan Plus Four. The sun was out and we saw this stunner visiting our neighbours at Suffolk Plant Centre.

We also welcomed the gorgeous 1966 Volvo Amazon 132 to our workshops. The car has been beautifully maintained throughout it’s life. Owned by the one family for over 20 years. Previously, the bumpers have been re-chromed, engine converted to unleaded, electric fan, re-conditioned carburettors, uprated springs and Belstein shocks, new rubber mats, leather seats with adjustable head rests and door cards, retro radio, new rear suspension arms and bushes, twin rear exhaust and heated rear screen.

The car visited today along with our 1957 MGA which is in for a respray.  

Lastly we have our Bentley Brooklands, visiting to discuss possible paint work. The customer also owns a classic DAF which is in need of a full renovation.

Refurbishing our Rostyle Wheels

May 29, 2019

Not the easiest of wheels to restore our friends at Wheelcare Refisnishing had their work cut out when we presented two sets of original Rostyle wheel in need of restoration.

Our 1975 MG B Roadster and 1977 MG BGT will soon be sitting on fresh looking rims.

Source: Wiki

Rostyle wheels are a notable design of automobile wheels of American origin but made under licence by the British firm of Rubery Owen. The Rostyle wheel was especially popular during the 1960s and 1970s.

The wheels had a characteristic pressed steel form with raised ‘spokes’, and were painted aluminium-grey on the spokes and rim and black between the spokes to imitate the open space of true magnesium alloy wheels. They were designed for use without the need of hubcaps or wheel covers but usually had a centre cap carrying the emblem of the car manufacturer.

In the United States, the wheel style was manufactured in Lansing, Michigan, by the Motor Wheel Corporation[2] and found fame in the 1960s and 1970s on Muscle cars like the Pontiac GTO, Ford Torino, Shelby Mustang, Plymouth Barracuda and AMC Javelin. In an American context the wheel style was known as the “Magnum 500”. Hence, the first British cars with “Rostyle” wheels were referred to in early road tests as having “Magnum style” wheels.

The first appearance of Rostyle wheels on the Rover P5B met with descriptions of them by some testers as “raffish” and “gaudy” and ill-befitting a luxury saloon. At that time, some Rover road testers also referred to the wheels as “Ro-style”, suggesting that the name, if not the style, may have first been developed specifically for wheels fitted to Rovers. Although this surfaces as “fact” on forums it is not correct. The name “Rostyle” is a portmanteau word deriving from “R-ubery O-wen” (the manufacturer of the wheels) and “Style”: “ROstyle”: “Rostyle”.

The firms MG and Rover, amongst other British sporty cars in the 1960s often specified Rostyle wheels as original equipment instead of ones made of light alloy or wire spoked wheels. Chromium-plated Rostyle wheels were made for Jensen, Rover and, famously, the Ford Cortina 1600E, originally designed for Ford Chairman Len Crossland’s wife.

Rostyle wheels were the only wheel option on the Range Rover for many years following its introduction. These 16-inch Rostyles were used on the Range Rover until 1986 when they were replaced by alloy wheels. The Rostyles then became optional fitment to the short wheelbase Land Rover (the wheels were not strong enough for use on the long wheelbase models). The Land Rover maintained its optional Rostyle wheels until 1995, becoming the last vehicle to offer them from new.

As well as in Britain, similar wheels were made under license in Germany and Argentina.

Special masks must be made to paint the wheels of restored cars to resemble the originals.

Max Sinclair, the sales manager for Rubery Owen in the 1960 to 1980 period has stated that “We changed the face of motoring, and Mag wheels followed us as their reliability improved.”

Rebuilding our Jaguar E-Type Carburettors

May 28, 2019

Progress on our 1965 Jaguar E-Type project has not been fantastic recently so one success story to report is the completion of the carburettor rebuilds Ady has been busy stripping the carbs, cleaning up and replacing the seals and gaskets. He has now rebuilt the carbs and is ready to refit.

Triumph TR7 V8

May 28, 2019

Unfortunately due to incorrect piston rings being fitted some time ago this has resulted in our 1981 Triumph TR7 V8 require an engine rebuild. The incorrect size piston rings have meant that there has been some movement and vibration within the groves. In order to rectify this matter the engine has now been removed so that new piston rings can be fitted.

Jaguar E-Type Pedal Box, Handbrake Refurb, Body Parts

May 28, 2019

Work continues on refurbishing parts for our 1972 Jaguar E-Type. The handbrake lever has been stripped, polished and rebuilt. The pedal box has also been cleaned up and is now ready for refit.

We have also now fitted up the bonnet catch which holds the bonnet and also the fuel filler cover.

4 New Arrivals: Jaguar XJ6, Daimler XJ6, Jaguar XJR Supercharged, MGRV8

May 27, 2019

New in to the Bridge Classic Cars showroom this week we have four wonderful British classics. Firstly we have our truly stunning, award winning 1990 Jaguar XJ6.

We also have our 1989 Daimler XJ6.

Next up, we have our 1998 Jaguar XJR Supercharged.

And finally, the very rare, British model, RHD, head turner that is the 1994 MG R V8.

Full information and new photographs will follow shortly but if you can’t wait til then and you’d like more information please call the office on 01473 742038 or drop us an email.

Work begins on Bridge Classic Cars new showroom

May 25, 2019

Friday 24th May we got the keys to the new Bridge Classic Cars showroom. Work will now commence this week on the sympathetic internal decorations ready for the collection.

Previously home to one of the many iconic air crafts stored at Bentwaters Parks our showroom will soon be home to a large collection of classic cars and motorcycles, all available to buy.

Our new ‘by appointment only’ showroom will display everything from DIY projects, barn finds through to unquestionable perfection.

So if you share our passion for classics, if have the ambition to own your dream classic, maybe you want to build on your already wonderful collection then we would love to hear from you.

Alternatively, if you have a classic to sell, we can offer this service for very modest commission rates. The commission will cover point of sale, liaising and front of house with all potential buyers, marketing and advertising worldwide and any warranty claims that may come out of the sale.

Email or call the office now on 01473 742038 if you wish to discuss.

A week away in Devon

May 24, 2019

Craig and the family have been away for the week in Devon exploring some of the beautiful sights and of course, seeing some classics out enjoying the sunshine too.

Thurlestone, Bantham, Malborough, South Milton, Salcombe, Kingsbridge,

Unexpected issues on our E-Type

May 23, 2019

What we assumed would be a relatively straight forward diff upgrade on our 1965 Jaguar E-Type has unfortunately turned to be much more serious.

We have discovered rust coming through which will need to be addressed before we do anything else.

This has turned the project into something much larger but although the picture seems gloomy at present, once the work is complete it is reassuring to know that the car is as it should be.

Building up some E-Type Back Axles

May 23, 2019

Building up a couple of Jaguar E-Type rear set ups at the same time this week. First up, we have our E-Type race car back axle.

Secondly we have our up rated back axle with adjustable shocks, all new bushes and bearings.

Our E-Type shell is now in primer

May 23, 2019

We have now preserved our 1967 Jaguar E-Type body shell by applying a thin layer of primer. The restoration will eventually commence but until then we know that the body shell is safely inside and not open to the elements.

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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