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1968 Jaguar 240

June 7, 2018

Having been stored locally in a garage in Ipswich for many years our latest addition is our 1968 Jaguar 240. At present she’s a non runner

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Correcting the running issues on our 1979 Ford Escort

June 11, 2018

The original task was to install new, upgraded carbs to our 1979 Ford Escort but having seen the carbs that Mr B was hoping to have fitted we advised that this would not be a suitable choice.

Whilst in, we decided to correct the running issues that had occurred. We carried out a cylinder leakage test and adjusted the valve clearance. we replaced the spark plugs and the gaskets.

We were also informed of a stop light issue on the rear so whilst in our workshops we fixed the fault.

Riley Redwing History

June 10, 2018

About the little ‘Redwinger’

Here we have some old cuttings relating to the origins of our little 1925 Riley Redwing.

A Very Special Car: 1925 Riley Redwing Coming Soon

June 8, 2018

The Riley Redwing (or Red Winger) was one of the most desirable light cars of its period.

This particular model is believed to be 1 of only 4 ever produced. Currently en-route to join the Bridge Classic Cars family, this very special car will soon be with us and available to buy.

Bridge Classic Cars Is Recruiting

June 7, 2018

Would you like to join one of the most successful car restoration companies in the U.K?

As the move to our new bespoke premises in Pettestree near Woodbridge is nearing completion we are looking for new stars to join us.

If you have the experience we have the facilities…

Time served motor mechanics and restorers required to join our amazing team.

Our website will give you the standards we work to and the exciting cars we get to work on.

We are currently looking for talented people to join our journey.

Your preferred skills are in general mechanics, welding, auto electrics, engines, braking systems, body preparation and paint.

We are not looking for one person who can do it all, we are looking for an experienced team of exceptional talent that can work together to do it all.

One of the most exciting prospects will be our new purpose built paint shop and vehicle preparation area.

If you think you have the talent to compliment our team then email your CV to info@bridgeclassiccars.co.uk or call us on 01473 742038 for a chat.

1968 Jaguar 240

June 7, 2018

Having been stored locally in a garage in Ipswich for many years our latest addition is our 1968 Jaguar 240.

At present she’s a non runner with the brakes completely seized but after a little TLC we’ll have her back up and running in no time.

Due to our current workload we are considering selling her on as a restoration project but we’ll see.

New arrival: 1971 Bedford J Type Truck

June 7, 2018

New arrival to Bridge Classic Cars, our 1971 Bedford J Type Truck is in with us a future project. At this early stage we are unsure what the end result could be as the owner has many ideas for her new life.

All we know is that she has spent the majority of her life in New Zealand before landing on UK shores a few years back and has since been stored with little to no use.

The brand new windscreen is manufactured

June 7, 2018

The order was placed at the back end of 2017 so it has been a long wait for the production of our Jensen 541S windscreen but the wait is over.

Due to the rarity of the car itself there are very few, if not any, brand new screens still in existence.  We therefore commissioned for a brand new screen to be manufactured in Finland and due to complications in the factory a 4 week lead time ended up being 7 month lead time but the wait is finally over.

The screen has arrived and along with the brand new rubber is now fitted and in position.

Refurbishing the XJR Wheels.

June 7, 2018

Our wheels have returned fully refurbished thanks to the guys at Wheelworx in Bury St Edmunds.

Now fitted on brand new Continental 225 45 17R tyres supplied by Ken and the team at Fast-Fit next door.

We are now on the final stages of the restoration with just the finishing touches to complete. The paint imperfections are now being completed and then it’ll be a trip back to Demand Engineering for the exhaust tailpipes to be fitted and then we are looking at a final once over before she heads back home.

British Heritage, Classic and Sports Cars

June 5, 2018

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]We had an amazing day at Sandown Park Race Course for Barons British Heritage, Classic and Sports Cars auction.

In the auctioneer’s words the ‘star of the show’ was our stunning 1975 Maserati Merak, generating a huge amount of attention on the day with many admirers speaking to us personally to learn about the journey we took with the restoration of this car.

With a guide price of between £65000 and £80000 someone got themselves a fantastic deal when the hammer dropped at £69000. Not the result we were looking for with our expectations being more in the region of £95000 but the deal has been done. She’s now off to enjoy her new life with her new owners.

Having loaded her up the day before from our new Pettistree premises, we set off on the road early and it was great that we did as we got a fantastic position within the auction hall on the day.

[/vc_column_text][vc_gallery type=”image_grid” images=”19894,19892,19891,19890,19889,19888,19881,19874,19875,19882,19883,19884,19885,19886,19887,19880,19879,19878,19877,19876,19871,19872,19873″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]She even made the front cover, looking lovely outside Priory Park.

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The Ickworth Hotel Photoshoot – 1967 Jaguar E-Type

June 5, 2018

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The photo shoot of one of our most popular restorations was held on 23rd May 2018 at the stunning setting of The Ickworth Hotel.

A huge thank you to Viv, Faye and the team down at the hotel for welcoming us so warmly on the day.

The perfect back drop for one of our most beautiful restorations. We couldn’t have asked for a better time to complete the project, just one week after the famous pictures of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on their wedding day driving away in a Series 1.5 roadster.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery type=”image_grid” images=”19939,19938,19937,19936,19935,19934,19933,19932,19931,19930,19929,19928,19927,19926,19925,19924,19923,19922,19921,19920,19919,19918,19917,19916,19915,19914,19913,19912,19911,19910,19909,19908,19907,19906″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Repairing the broken XJR seat

June 4, 2018

Tommy has successfully completed the welding repair of our 1996 Jaguar XJR seat. Once finished, he coated the brackets in gloss black ready for Pete to refit.

Jaguar 240 – Leaking Clutch

May 31, 2018

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Our 1967 Jaguar 240 is in with us this week to investigate an issue with the clutch leaking.

Upon further inspection the slave cylinder looks to be almost new, however, the master cylinder is in need of replacing.

Thanks to SNG Barratt as always for supplying us with a brand new master cylinder and now that it’s fitted up its time for a few test runs.

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1996 Jaguar XJR complete with new exhaust system

May 30, 2018

A huge thank you to the guys down at Demand Engineering as we now have a brand new, custom made stainless exhaust system fitted to our 1996 Jaguar XJR Supercharged.

The mufflers and tailpipes are yet to be fitted as the rear bumper need to be attached. Once attached we will be able to line up the rear of the exhaust system.

 

1965 Amphicar stripped of all existing filler

May 30, 2018

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Whilst preparing the body for paint we discovered that the car had a large quantity of filler in places (see previous article)

This all needed to be removed so we could fully investigate the extent of the work required.

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Replacing the roof lining

May 30, 2018

The ceiling cloth has been removed so that we can make up a brand new one. It is a common issue for the Jaguar XJR ceiling cloth to drop as a result of the adhesive that was originally used not functioning as it should.

A new ceiling cloth is being produced as we speak and will be reinstall later in the week.

We can then look to refit the interior and finish off the final parts of the rebuild.

1928 Hillman 14 re-commission

May 30, 2018

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Tucked away, not too far away from our Ipswich workshops, is our gorgeous 1928 Hillman 14. As you can, the car is very well looked after but unfortunately, to the owner’s own admittance, she is not used half as much as she should be but it may be time to find a new home.

In with us for a general check over and re-commission, the car will go through a series of checks to ensure the engine is running right and all levels are accurate. Replacement seals and gaskets will be fitted all round.  The braking system will be assessed fully, stripped, cleaned and replaced where necessary.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery type=”image_grid” images=”19808,19809,19810,19811,19812,19813,19814,19815,19816,19817,19818,19819,19820,19805″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

1992 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 MOT

May 29, 2018

Today, we were greeted with the beautiful, raw tones of our 1992 Porsche 911 Carrera 4.

A classic that appeals to everyone, our Porsche is in our workshops today for the annual MOT.

We’ll also need to look into a slight oil leak that has developed. This will be a future project and one that will take a little more time to rectify.

For now, she’s MOT’d and ready to go home for the summer.

Repairing a stone chip

May 29, 2018

We see the return of our 1981 Triumph Tr7 today. A small stone chip on the bonnet needs address. Unfortunately the entire front panel will need to be re-painted in Persian Aqua to blend in the tones.

 

Official property of the UK once again

May 25, 2018

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]It’s official, our 1966 Jaguar E-Type is now fully UK registered.

The V5 has arrived and the new UK registration has been issued LKE354E.

She left us for the states in 1967 and remained property of the USA up until recently.

Welcome home!!

With the new plates fitted up she’s ready to get back out on the road. Next stop…Harwich…her new home.

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It’s official: Suffolk now has one more ambulance on the road

May 25, 2018

That’s right…the lights, sirens and beacons are all up and running and working just like they did in the 70’s.

Our very unique 1976 German Red Cross ambulance is now ready to leave our workshops and enjoy some summer outings across Suffolk.

The running and power drain issues were due to a blown fuse caused by worn wiring. The wiring has been repaired and now the charge is operating as it should with a brand new battery installed.

The Ickworth Hotel Photoshoot – 1967 Jaguar E-Type

May 23, 2018

Behind the scenes of today’s shoot.

We were lucky enough to have unlimited access to one of the most beautiful locations in Suffolk. The Ickworth Hotel is a luxury family friendly hotel nestled in 1800 acres of Suffolk National Trust parkland; the perfect venue for family holidays, weddings, celebrations, cycling bikes, strolling on foot or clambering up ancient trees. While the kids play in the crèche, swim in the indoor pool or sip champagne in the historic walled gardens. Family time or me time – you’ve got all the time in the world.

We quite often receive lovely feedback from locals when we arrive for our shoots but no car has generated as much attention as our E-Type did today. With lots of onlookers stopping by to have a chat and many guests sneaking some phone pictures from their hotel windows.

We love bringing people together with our builds. Classic Cars are truly stunning and should be appreciated by everyone, enthusiasts and admirers alike.

One gentleman popped over from his DB9 to have a chat with us. Once an E-Type owner himself he has dreamt of owning a DB9 for many years and has finally got his wish with this stunning machine.

Germany Yesterday – Bridge Classic Cars Today

May 23, 2018

Leaving Germany yesterday was our latest ‘soon to arrive’ additon to the Bridge Classic Cars restoration family, a 1960 Jensen 541R.

It is the last 541R that to be built by Jensen Motors (#493) and is in need of a little TLC.

Upon arrival to the office this morning we were all greeted by one very large trailer (and a sleeping driver! He had arrive with us at 3am this morning)

 

Refurbishing the rear suspension of our racing E-Type

May 23, 2018

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Andy has been busy stripping back the rear suspension components. He’s blasted each individual unit and prepared ready for paint.

Once back from the paint shop the rear suspension can be rebuilt ready for the imminent return of the painted body.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery type=”image_grid” images=”19779,19780,19781,19782,19783,19784,19785,19786,19787,19788,19789,19790″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Coming Soon: 1957 Jensen 541R

May 22, 2018

A very unique car is currently on it’s way to us from the US. Say hello to our 1957 Jensen 541R!!!!!!

Source: Jensen Owner’s Club – capecodjensen541 – The original story (please note, the vehicle is no longer for sale, it has found it’s new owner and we are delighted to be restoring her back to her former glory…complete with the Corvette 327)

Hello Jensen enthusiasts,

I’m new to the club and I’ll start with stating that I joined this club with the intent of finding a buyer whose affinity for Jensens will hopefully restore this one to its former glory. I stumbled into the opportunity to buy it 2 years ago by chance while I was working. Basically the previous owner died and he had been storing it in a garage bay since the 1970’s. The owner of the garage bay obtained the Jensen as a form of debt settlement from the family. The moment I saw it I knew it was a rare car and bought it and started renting the garage bay it’s currently stored in. I would not have considered purchasing it had it not been for the amount of restoration that had been done to it. Once I uncovered the chassis number it led me to this clubs site and ultimately the back story of how it ended up in Harwich, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA.

After a year or so of searching for a way to obtain a title I’ve given up my dream of restoring it. I’ve reached out to a few potential buyers in the states but I feel like this car would be in better hands if it went to someone who truly appreciates Jensens. The only downside is the car is completely apart and looks like the engine mounts were moved when it was converted to american muscle in the 1960’s. From what I can tell the majority of the parts in my garage bay are from the original build. The upholstery is in rough shape but it does say London on it so it looks pretty authentic to me. Most of the trim is intact but it is missing a front and rear windshield and one of the side glass pieces. The gauges and wiring harness are original and there are many totes and crates containing things I don’t even recognize. I was thinking of keeping the engine because its’ a 1960’s corvette 327 which is rare on its own. I figured if someone was going to restore this Jensen they would probably want to put in its original stock engine, but if the price is right I would be willing to let it go.

If anyone is interested or knows someone who would be interested in purchasing please feel free to email me at capecodjensen541@gmail.com Based on the amount of restoration that has been done to the Chassis, front and rear suspension, brakes, and body prep I figure you folks would know its worth better then anyone.

Here are a few pictures of the condition it’s in and I can post more on request.

 

 

Introducing Porsche: Mission E

May 21, 2018

Source: LinkedIn – Jennifer Sullivan – Founder/Owner at Luxury Car Girl.com

LuxuryCarGirl.com

Luxury CarGirl offers you a turnkey automotive buying process for both new and pre-owned cars. They can also assist with leasing, finance, transportation, accessories and more. Their services are ideal for busy professionals and anyone not wanting to hassle of the typical dealership experience.

With over fifteen years in the luxury automotive industry, Jennifer Sullivan, aka ‘Luxury CarGirl’, has represented some of the most prestigious brands in the world.

She has been a sales professional for luxury makes such as Mercedes Benz, Land Rover, Jaguar and Porsche with over six years with the ultra-exclusive brands, Bentley, Rolls-Royce, Lamborghini, Bugatti and Saleen.

Introducing the future of Bridge Classic Cars! Porsche: Mission E – Tribute to tomorrow

The idea: The Porsche of tomorrow? A sports car, naturally.

What do we at Porsche think of when we look to tomorrow? Sports cars, naturally. Our Mission Future Sports Car. But we also look for sustainable mobility, and consider trends for digitisation and urbanisation. Because in the future our sports cars will tackle these routes too – in pole position – bringing new technologies from the race track to the road.

With Concept Study Mission E we take our next step towards the future. With an all-electric sports car that defines our vision of e-mobility. The time is ripe for this study. It shows that, in addition to our plug-in hybrids, all-electric drive systems can truly meet our standards of intelligent performance. For us, this declaration is distilled into one clear philosophy: Porsche E-Performance.

Our Concept Study Mission E is still just an idea but it embodies our complete vision of all-electric driving. Four individual seats, four doors, two luggage compartments. Electric drive. E-Performance, Porsche style. Integrated in a harmonious overall concept. Concept Study Mission E sets the stage for tomorrow. With its design and its technology, it provides answers to the question of the sports car of the future.

Prototype confirmation from Jensen Car Company

May 21, 2018

Original documentation from the Jensen Car Company to confirm our 1960 Jensen 541S was indeed one of the prototypes.

‘Congratulations on your acquisition. Your car was one of the three experimental chassis built to prove the 541S, and they were numbered JM/EXP, JM/EXP/101 and JM/EXP/102. Only EXP/101 had the automatic gearbox.

There are a few remaining records of the 541S, but we can supply the following on your car:

Chassis number: JM/EXP/101

Engine number: 40/A/11058

First registration: 750 CEA

Colour: Pearl Grey, Black Roof

Trim: Red

Invoiced: 11 January 1963

First owner: E.D Robinson

The car was used for road tests, demonstration purposes and, as an experimental car, was no doubt driven by the Jensen brothers and carefully looked after by the engineering department.

In addition to three experimental cars, 124 production examples of the 541S were built. Most appear to survive.

You might like to contact Keith Cerrino of the JOC for any further information on this car. His address is: “Dalkeith”, Village St, Harvington, nr Evesham, Worcs, WR11 5BQ (tel. 0386.871009)’

Removing the large quantity of filler

May 21, 2018

As you can see from the images below, we have had to remove a large quantity of filler from our 1965 Amphicar.

At some stage in it’s previous life someone had applied filler excessively which is not ideal and in order to carry out the repair and preparation work correctly we will look to remove it all. Once the body preparation is complete we can then look to re-paint.

Although the car arrived with us in red we will carry out the re-spray to match the original factory specifications of it being Beach Strand White. (Ditzler Code 8703 = DAR offset 90113)

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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