The Ford Fiesta XR2 represents an important part of many early petrolheads stories – Those first forays into making their cars truly unique and stand
Our 1976 Triumph Spitfire has continued to make progress through the Bridge Classic Cars workshop. Rob has fitted the vinyl trim around the screen frame
Yesterday, Lydia was preparing the seat backrest that Darin, from Ashbocking Joinery has kindly made for us. This involved replacing the springs back to their
Technician Chris has been busy with his work on our 1951 Austin Devon Pickup. He welded a repaired panel as well as fabricated the floor
We have recently welcomed our 1985 Austin Mini Mayfair Berkeley into the Bridge Classic Cars workshop. Since its arrival, technician Neil has been completing some
Jonn has continued his work on our 1987 Mercedes 500SL. He cleaned and repaired the heater box assembly. He bonded the broken fan mating surface
Lydia has upholstered the base seat of our 1905 Riley 9HP. She used a 2-inch foam for the base to provide a firm seat so
The humble Mini served as both a way to get from A to B as well as the first steps out onto the open road
This is the story of John Piper and his 1938 Morgan F Super, told in John’s own words. “My first car was a 1938 Morgan
We recently welcomed this beautiful 1970 MGB Roadster into our Suffolk HQ for our trim team to take a look at the hood of this
We’ve recently welcomed one of the most capable off-roaders into our Suffolk workshops – a 1994 Toyota Land Cruiser. This has come in for our
Former competition car, our 1975 MGB GT V8 has returned to Bridge Classic Cars. However, rather than returning to the workshop, it has actually gone
Recently we welcomed back an old friend to our Pettistree workshops, our old 1992 Rover ‘Italian Job’ Mini. This car, played a part in the
We have recently welcomed our stunning 1955 MG TF 1500 back into the Bridge Classic Cars workshop. Tony collected the car from its owner and
The reassembly of our 1976 Triumph Spitfire is making good progress. Rob has now fitted the rear seat pan sound deadening aswell as fitting new
Paint Technician Chris has begun the process of fitting up our 1969 MGC GT. While doing this, he also added new rubber in the front
Classic Car Technician Neil has been prepping the chassis of our 1953 Aston Martin DB2/4. Alongside this, Clinton has been pulling dents out of the
Recently, Lydia has been making the pattern for the base part of the seat of our 1905 Riley 9HP. She has been working with Steve
Neil has been refurbishing the wood trim in our 1993 Bentley Turbo R.
The Bridge Classic Cars PaintShop has been home to our very special 1939 Jaguar SS100. While in there, Chris and Mauro have been working on
Our 1975 Jensen Interceptor Mk3 has been in the fabrication bay with technician Chris. He has been welding the front bumper as well as cutting
Classic car technician Paul has been working on our 1956 Jensen 541. He fitted the heater box and fabricated various parts before fitting the handbrake
Jonn has been inspecting our 1992 Mercedes SL300 in preparation for it to be won next week through Bridge Classic Cars Competitions. His notes were:
The Morgan 4/4 is undeniably and unapologetically British. It is one of the most timeless and nostalgic designs to grace the roads across not only
A few months ago our director, Craig, got a 2010 Land Rover Defender 90. Not only is it Craig’s everyday car but we’ve been using
Over the last week, we’ve welcomed two loads of cars to our Suffolk HQ to be safely put into storage with ourselves. The first batch
Our 1953 Aston Martin DB2/4 has arrived back at our Suffolk HQ following its appointment with the media blasters. The body was carefully removed from
Along with the beautiful 1960’s Fiat, we’ve also welcomed this 1977 Triumph 2500TC to our Pettistree workshops for the team to take a look at
Part of our new arrivals at our Suffolk HQ is this beautiful 1960 Fiat 1500! This car has arrived to us from Europe for our
Recently, Jon and John have been working on our 1987 Mercedes 500SL. Jon stripped the heater box and removed the blend flap and directional air
The Ford Fiesta XR2 represents an important part of many early petrolheads stories – Those first forays into making their cars truly unique and stand out from the crowd in the battle of who would be king of the car park.
Hailed as the blue ovals first attempt at a hot hatch, the XR2’s production would run from June of 1984 until April of 1989.
Fitted with the 1.6-litre engine from the Escort XR3, the XR2 would bring a new sense of performance to the smallest car in the Ford range thanks to nearly 100hp and the XR2’s lightweight of only 840KG alongside new more aggressive styling – Allowing many budding petrolheads to put their own personal stamp on their cars in the 1990’s.
Our 1989 Ford Fiesta XR2 is finished in the classic shade of Diamond White with its signature ‘rainbow’ cloth interior and has just completed a recent nut and bolt restoration bringing the car back to the style of the early to mid-1990’s.
First registered by Trimoco Ford in Chelmsford on the 7th of April 1989, our XR2 is one of the final cars to be delivered to customers before the change over to the Mk3 Fiesta later that year – The history file contains an early Ford assurance certificate dated 7th of April 1989 as well as the cars original handbooks and service records.
This is your chance to relive those glory days for just a few pounds!
But hurry! The launch sale price of just £4.50 ends at 3pm Friday 26th January 2024… Don’t miss out and get yours now.
Our 1976 Triumph Spitfire has continued to make progress through the Bridge Classic Cars workshop.
Rob has fitted the vinyl trim around the screen frame and fitted the windscreen and top capping. He then fitted the lower steering column and the RH door.
While Rob was doing that, Alan was prepping, sealing and raptoring the bonnet, wheel arches, and lower bonnet panels ready for colour.
Yesterday, Lydia was preparing the seat backrest that Darin, from Ashbocking Joinery has kindly made for us.
This involved replacing the springs back to their original position and hand sewing them into place. Next came various layers of cotton and horsehair padding, and then working out her fabric allowance with a scrap piece of fabric. This meant that Lydia could then cut the leather.
Technician Chris has been busy with his work on our 1951 Austin Devon Pickup.
He welded a repaired panel as well as fabricated the floor sections for this classic vehicle.
We have recently welcomed our 1985 Austin Mini Mayfair Berkeley into the Bridge Classic Cars workshop.
Since its arrival, technician Neil has been completing some repairs as well as looking at the brakes and the exhaust.
He also investigated an oil leak.
There is quite a story behind this car so we are looking forward to it joining our collection.
Jonn has continued his work on our 1987 Mercedes 500SL. He cleaned and repaired the heater box assembly.
He bonded the broken fan mating surface and sanded it back flat. He then stuck foam to the directional and air blend flaps inside the box and refitted.
Lydia has upholstered the base seat of our 1905 Riley 9HP.
She used a 2-inch foam for the base to provide a firm seat so that the driver doesn’t slip out of the seat. She then placed a layer of horse hair on top to give it the correct finished look and feel. This is a tightly woven material which has been needled into hessian sheets.
After this, Lydia cut the face fabric and piping and sewed these together. She used a period-correct paper piping. Then was the border which was made in 2 pieces, and sewed onto the seat face.
Lydia chose to do a border all around so that the seat would have a plump look.
The humble Mini served as both a way to get from A to B as well as the first steps out onto the open road for a generation of would-be petrolheads.
From its earliest days in the late 1950’s all the way to its retirement in the early 2000’s, the classic Mini holds a special place in the classic car world – Just like this one, our 1976 Mini Clubman 1100.
With beautiful Antique Gold paintwork over a Black interior, with colour matched piping, our 1976 Mini has been lovingly looked after and cherished by its previous owners. Fitted with a 1098cc 4-cylinder engine and 4-speed manual gearbox, this bite-sized piece of gold has all the right feel for a classic Mini experience.
Our Mini Clubman has recently been restored inside and out, with all parts sourced from marque specialists such as Mini Spares and Mini Sport Ltd – as evidenced in the extensive history file which also includes the original Austin Morris ‘Passport to Service’ which details all the way back to the cars original PDI in August of 1976 at Melrose Garages in Norwich, where the car appears to have spent its first 20 years before migrating to the Northwest.
In its 48 years, the car is showing to have covered just under 63,000 miles. It is believed the engine was refreshed around 2018 with sales invoices for a piston ring set and new water pump.
Also included in our Mini’s file is a Best in Show award from the St Helens Classic Car Club dated April 2019, with this, we believe any restorative or restoration works were carried out prior to the award supported by parts invoices dating back to 2017/2016.
Some of you may be thinking ‘haven’t I seen this Mini before?’ and the answer is yes, but Bridge Classic Cars Competitions is giving you another chance to win this incredible 1976 Mini Clubman 1100 for just a few pounds.
Don’t miss out and get your tickets now!
This is the story of John Piper and his 1938 Morgan F Super, told in John’s own words.
“My first car was a 1938 Morgan 3-wheeler, an F-Super with an inboard Ford Ten engine, reg GPG 539.
I bought her for £15 in 1964 when I was 16. She had been run into a Keep Left island in Bloomsbury, so she was a bit sad. The owner had bought her because she looked so ‘cute’ but had not considered the performance of a Ford Ten engine in a car that weighed almost nothing, nor the difficulty of manoeuvring in Central London with direct steering.
Anyway, his loss was my gain. Then I returned on the Sunday with my sister and my mum in her Austin Metropolitan, to tow my purchase home from Woburn Square. Sunday was a good day to choose because there was only minimal traffic. I had not been able to test drive, so it was a surprise to discover there were very little brakes and no handbrake! However, to the amusement of American tourists, we set out. The lack of handbrake was alleviated by the fact that she was so low to the ground, I could put my hand flat on the ground to hold her at traffic lights!
Her first port of call was Albion Mews in SE25 (long since gone) and the workshop of Major L T N (Larry) Barlow who was going to straighten out the front chassis bars and fix the radiator. In his opinion, when he had finished, they were probably straighter than when she had been pushed out through the famous hole in the hedge in Malvern Links. Larry had served his apprenticeship with the Riley company building Riley 9s.
Although I was sixteen, I was legally allowed to drive a three-wheeler since I had a full motorbike licence and she counted as a motorbike and sidecar. So I had the exciting opportunity of driving her home, having never driven a car before! I taught myself to drive in her, with a fully crash gearbox, mostly by trial and error.
On attaining seventeen years, I bought a 1949 2200 cc Triumph Roadster, so the Moggie had to go. I sold her to a colleague at art school so I was able to follow her fortunes for a while. A few years ago, during an attack of nostalgia, I contacted the Morgan Three-Wheeler Club. What a marvellous and helpful organisation! It turned out that my Morgan was still in use (save a temporary engine issue). She had travelled to the Nurburgring and to Brooklands and been raced at both venues.”
If you have memories of a special vehicle, we’d love to share them. Simply email rob@bridgeclassiccars.co.uk with some photos and why your vehicle means so much to you.
I bought a 1934 F4 in 1963 for(I think£15) & drove it in all weathers always with the hood down wearing a Belstaff motobike jacket & don’t recall ever getting wet or feeling cold.I had a full motorcycle licence but had not yet passed my car test.She would cruise happily at 50+ mph.She finally met her end(but luckily not me!) at Swiss Cottage when side swiped by a Mini that had jumped the lights.I received a £20 payout with which a bought a later F Super that I could not get running so,for reasons best known to myself,returned to motorcycling with an Ariel Square Four combination which was a disaster & did;nt pass my car test until some time later.Happy(mostly!) days.
We recently welcomed this beautiful 1970 MGB Roadster into our Suffolk HQ for our trim team to take a look at the hood of this classic drop-top sports car.
Our trimmer Lydia will work here magic on soft-top of the car.
We’ve recently welcomed one of the most capable off-roaders into our Suffolk workshops – a 1994 Toyota Land Cruiser.
This has come in for our trusted engine specialists to take a look at the truck for a couple of issues raised by the owner.
Keep a look out on the Bridge Classic Cars news page for more updates on our 1994 Toyota Land Cruiser.
Former competition car, our 1975 MGB GT V8 has returned to Bridge Classic Cars.
However, rather than returning to the workshop, it has actually gone into our brand-new secure storage facility.
Tony collected the car and it is now safe and secure surrounded by other stunning classics.
Recently we welcomed back an old friend to our Pettistree workshops, our old 1992 Rover ‘Italian Job’ Mini.
This car, played a part in the very early history of Bridge Classic Cars before going off to live its own life out there within the UK Mini community. Now, it has found its way back to us!
Soon, it will be headed into our workshops for the team to assess.
We have recently welcomed our stunning 1955 MG TF 1500 back into the Bridge Classic Cars workshop.
Tony collected the car from its owner and delivered it safely to the workshop. Now that it is here, it will be looked after by our experienced team of technicians.
The reassembly of our 1976 Triumph Spitfire is making good progress. Rob has now fitted the rear seat pan sound deadening aswell as fitting new trim in the rear of the cockpit area.
While Rob was doing this, Alan was prepping the doors and bonnet for colour. He then applied colour and lacquer.
Paint Technician Chris has begun the process of fitting up our 1969 MGC GT. While doing this, he also added new rubber in the front quarter lights.
Classic Car Technician Neil has been prepping the chassis of our 1953 Aston Martin DB2/4. Alongside this, Clinton has been pulling dents out of the car and repairing them.
Once the chassis was fully prepped, Tony took it to be powder coated.
Recently, Lydia has been making the pattern for the base part of the seat of our 1905 Riley 9HP. She has been working with Steve to make sure that the seat is adequately secured when placed in the vehicle. They have decided to make a metal dowel/peg affixed to a metal plate, which will locate into a hole in the body of the car. Lydia added a wedge of wood at the front of the seat to provide a bit more stability for the peg beneath and also as a bit of a leg bolster.
Steve also made new gear lever selector pin and fitted it to the car as the old one was worn causing inaccurate gear selection.
Neil has been refurbishing the wood trim in our 1993 Bentley Turbo R.
The Bridge Classic Cars PaintShop has been home to our very special 1939 Jaguar SS100.
While in there, Chris and Mauro have been working on the rear wing. Mauro prepped and primed the rear wing before fixing the dent on the wing.
Chris then painted the rear wing.
Our 1975 Jensen Interceptor Mk3 has been in the fabrication bay with technician Chris. He has been welding the front bumper as well as cutting the bumper mount holes.
He then went on to fit up and make the mounts for the rear bumper before fitting up the stone guards and fabricating and welding the mounts.
Classic car technician Paul has been working on our 1956 Jensen 541. He fitted the heater box and fabricated various parts before fitting the handbrake cable and welding the bracket in place.
He then modified the chassis to enable the fitting of the wiring loom.
Jonn has been inspecting our 1992 Mercedes SL300 in preparation for it to be won next week through Bridge Classic Cars Competitions.
His notes were:
The Morgan 4/4 is undeniably and unapologetically British. It is one of the most timeless and nostalgic designs to grace the roads across not only this island, but the world at large. From its earliest days, the company’s DNA has run strong through each of the models combining a beautiful blend of craftsmanship, style, and nostalgia.
From its introduction in 1936 and onwards to the modern day, the 4/4 has been a mainstay of the Malvern master’s arsenal – Just like this one, our 1972 Morgan 4/4.
With the classic pairing of Midnight Blue paintwork alongside a black cabin, our 4/4’s beauty is highlighted by the limited use of chrome across the flowing, elegant lines of the car and its satin grey wheels. The car’s long and signature handmade bonnet, stretches out from the driver’s seat, with the tops of its rolled arches allowing you to perfectly place this sports car out on the open road, but some may have noticed that this bonnet is not like others – this one has a new intake and hints at the sportier life it has led.
Supplied new in 1972 by I & J Macdonald in County Durham, our 4/4 is fitted with the signature Ford 1600cc crossflow 4-cylinder engine and has been developed to make this nostalgic sports car feel more modern in terms of performance. With a set of twin Dell’Orto 40 carburettors working in conjunction with a sports cam and a 4-into-1 exhaust, and when set up on a rolling road in 2019 made 117bhp to the crankshaft and 91bhp to the wheels with 120 lb/ft of torque, between 30 and 50bhp more than it originally had.
Included in the vehicle’s history file, which dates back to 1978, are invoices relating to replacements of the aluminium wings and other items as well as the general maintenance of the cars 44 years.
A few months ago our director, Craig, got a 2010 Land Rover Defender 90. Not only is it Craig’s everyday car but we’ve been using it for our events towards the end of the summer and into the winter.
Recently, we’ve had a our signature logo put onto the sides of this 4-wheel drive workhorse to promote the work we do when we’re out and about but also to show people at events that they have indeed come to the right place!
Along with that, the Bridge Classic Cars team have been carrying out a few repairs on the car and at the same time our amazing trimmer Lydia worked on making the cabin of the truck a little bit lighter with all new door and cab cards in a lighter coloured material. With this all done, it is now time for our truck to be out and about as we roll into the warmer months as well as our packed 2024 events calendar.
Take a look at our video for our 2010 Land Rover Defender here:
Over the last week, we’ve welcomed two loads of cars to our Suffolk HQ to be safely put into storage with ourselves.
The first batch belong to longtime friend of Bridge Classic Cars, Karl. His classic sports cars, classic Jaguar and Land Rover were unloaded after being transported by EM Rogers to our workshops to await transit to our secure storage facility.
After being carefully unloaded, the cars were inspected and prepared for the next step in their storage journey.
Then a few days later, we welcomed a pair of classic cars which had made their way over to us from Europe for a customer. Again, the team at EM Rogers Transport handled the long-distance move before the cars were checked and then loaded up by the Bridge Classic Cars team for their journey to our storage facility.
The classic Triumph 2500TC as well as the beautiful patina’d Fiat 1500 will join the ranks of the other stunning and cared for classics in our storage space.
Our 1953 Aston Martin DB2/4 has arrived back at our Suffolk HQ following its appointment with the media blasters.
The body was carefully removed from the chassis of the 1950’s GT previously by our workshop technicians and carefully transported to a local blasting company to carefully remove the Claret paint as well as exposing any areas which will need attention by the team here at the Bridge Classic Cars restoration workshops.
The body arrived back at our workshops earlier this week and was taken straight into our in-house fabrication shop for our expert team of fabricators to work on getting this rare and unique GT car back into better than new shape.
The team have begun to get the body onto the framing jig to get it ready for the delicate and highly-skilled work of repairing the areas affected by 71 years of being used and stored.
Along with the beautiful 1960’s Fiat, we’ve also welcomed this 1977 Triumph 2500TC to our Pettistree workshops for the team to take a look at for the same owner!
Like the Fiat, this will be assessed by the restoration teams shortly.
Part of our new arrivals at our Suffolk HQ is this beautiful 1960 Fiat 1500!
This car has arrived to us from Europe for our team to have a look and assess very soon – keep an eye out on the Bridge Classic Cars news page.
Recently, Jon and John have been working on our 1987 Mercedes 500SL.
Jon stripped the heater box and removed the blend flap and directional air flap from one side. He left the other side as it was so he could use this as a guide for reassembly.
John trial-fitted the power steering pipes and servo before moving on to fit the indicators and side trim. The throttle linkage was also cleaned.
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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