The Bridge Classic Cars paint team have been working on getting several components of the 1951 Austin Devon Pickup refinished. After prepping them thoroughly, the
Our technician Steve has been turning his attention recently back onto the reassembly of our Mk2 Ford Transit Tipper. This time, Steve has been stripping
Our fabricator, Christian, has been working on our 1975 Jensen Interceptor. Today, he has been working on finessing a patch panel on the left-hand wing
In the early 1960s, Jaguar would create one of the most iconic and sought-after sports cars of all time – The E-Type. For nearly 20
Various parts of our 2005 Honda S2000 were in the Bridge Classic Cars paint shop recently. Technician Chris stopped the paint on the engine cover
We’ve got a new arrival at our Suffolk HQ today, with this beautiful 1969 MGC GT. The car is just beginning its journey here at
Classic car technician Steve has been completing various tasks on our Ford Transit MKII Tipper. The hand brake pivot bolt and rear brake load valve
Our 1975 Jensen Interceptor Mk3 is back in the Bridge Classic Cars fabrication bay with technicians Chris and Monty. They have been fabricating new wing
Jonn has been finishing his inspection on our 1984 Ferrari 308 GTSi. He checked the brakes, refitted the wheels, inflated the tyres and torqued the
Brian and Lydia have continued their work on our 1953 Aston Martin DB2/4. Using the new plywood panels that Brian had cut out for her,
Yesterday, Bridge Classic Cars Directors, Gordon and Craig went to Derbyshire for the latest auction hosted by H and H. They arrived early to make
Steve has continued his zinc plating lately. He has been focussing on the front and rear suspension nuts, bolts, and washers. As well as the
Brian and Lydia have been working on our 1953 Aston Martin DB2/4, specifically the centre console and rear panels. Using the existing material from the
Part of our 1959 Jensen 541R has been undergoing some work in the Bridge Classic Cars fabrication bay. Technician Monty has been straightening the front
Now that the brake callipers and carriers have been painted, classic car technician Jonn has been refitting them to our 2005 Honda S2000. Jonn also
Bridge Classic Cars workshop manager John has been sorting out the routing and assessing the condition of the wiring in our 1987 Mercedes 500SL.
Here at Bridge Classic Cars, our interior trim team of Brian and Lydia can bring the interior of your car back to life. We know
Our very own Molly has been busy outside of her presenting duties here at Bridge Classic Cars. She spent some time singing to the residents
Restoring classic vehicles, like our 1951 Austin Devon Pickup, can be extremely challenging when a hard-to-find piece, like the Austin badge, seems to be impossible
At our Suffolk HQ, our team of classic car technicians like to expand their skills and try new techniques out. For example this week, our
Jonn has been fitting new callipers and pads along with a new fitting kit and braided flexi hose to the nearside front of our 1987
Classic car technician Jonn has been continuing his work on our 1979 Reliant Scimitar GTE. He cleaned the mating surfaces and put the new inlet
We recently welcomed our 2001 Jaguar XKR back into the Bridge Classic Cars workshop. While it was here, Brian made some repairs to the carpet
Our 1976 Triumph Spitfire has been in the Bridge Classic Cars paint shop with technician Alan. Alan has been applying polyester primer to the doors,
Over the past few weeks, we’ve welcomed a very special addition to the workshop. The third in a line of Aston Martin DB2/4’s which are
Before our 1984 Ferrari 308 GTSi is taken out to film in preparation for it to go live on Bridge Classic Cars Competitions, classic car
It’s been a little while since our 1996 Nissan Patrol left the Bridge Classic Cars workshop. Since then, it has undergone quite a transformation. With
This is the story of Joe Collett and his Mini 850. From Joe, in his own words… “My first mini, 850, off the road we
H&H Classics is set to auction a stunning 1966 Aston Martin DB5, previously owned by motoring correspondent Andrew English from the Daily Telegraph. Widely rated
Although the technicians who work in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop normally spend their days restoring classic cars, every now and again, one of our
The Bridge Classic Cars paint team have been working on getting several components of the 1951 Austin Devon Pickup refinished.
After prepping them thoroughly, the team have finished the pieces in a rich, glossy and hard wearing black to match the fit and finish of this vintage truck when its finished.
Our technician Steve has been turning his attention recently back onto the reassembly of our Mk2 Ford Transit Tipper.
This time, Steve has been stripping apart the original handbrake mechanism ahead of its being put into our blasting cabinet before being refinished and put back on the vintage worktruck.
Our fabricator, Christian, has been working on our 1975 Jensen Interceptor.
Today, he has been working on finessing a patch panel on the left-hand wing of the V8 GT car. This patch panel holds the side vents in place but has need some careful tweaking and a steady hand on the welder to make sure the piece lays just right to work with the flowing and sophisticated lines of this British muscle car.
In the early 1960s, Jaguar would create one of the most iconic and sought-after sports cars of all time – The E-Type. For nearly 20 years, the long-legged GT car would be seen as the pinnacle of luxury and performance combined.
After this, the world would sit in wait for the better part of 40 years for its successor.
In 2013, the world would take its first look at a modern take on this timeless classic – the F-Type.
Bridge Classic Cars Competitions is giving you the chance to win the answer to the question ‘What would be a modern E-Type?’ with our 2015 Jaguar F-Type.
With stunning Polaris White bodywork, contrasted by a rich black cabin with accents of orange stitching, our F-Type personifies class and sophistication.
Under its clamshell bonnet lies the full-blooded beating heart of this sports GT car thanks to a 3.0-litre supercharged V6. It’s paddle shift, automatic gearbox allows this sleek, modern car to transform from a mild-mannered gentleman to a ready to go brawler with the pull of a paddle making our F-Type truly the ultimate everyday performance car.
The car’s history file includes a print-out of the electronic service record which shows services by mostly main JLR dealers (from 2016 onwards) as well as some trusted independent garages whilst the car was spending time in Malta early in its life.
Various parts of our 2005 Honda S2000 were in the Bridge Classic Cars paint shop recently.
Technician Chris stopped the paint on the engine cover before painting in wrinkle paint and sanding it down to expose the writing. The headlights were also sanded down with 800 1000 1500 3000 and 6000 sandpaper and then it was polished up.
Brian then refitted the plastic trims back into the car.
We’ve got a new arrival at our Suffolk HQ today, with this beautiful 1969 MGC GT.
The car is just beginning its journey here at our restoration workshop so keep an eye out on the Bridge Classic Cars news page for more updates very soon!
Classic car technician Steve has been completing various tasks on our Ford Transit MKII Tipper.
The hand brake pivot bolt and rear brake load valve adjuster were both seized and had to be cut off and removed using oxygen and acetylene torch. A new hand brake pivot bolt was fabricated using a high tensile bolt.
While Steve was doing this, Mauro was painting various components of our classic Transit in the paint shop.
Our 1975 Jensen Interceptor Mk3 is back in the Bridge Classic Cars fabrication bay with technicians Chris and Monty.
They have been fabricating new wing patches and started the process of welding them in.
Jonn has been finishing his inspection on our 1984 Ferrari 308 GTSi.
He checked the brakes, refitted the wheels, inflated the tyres and torqued the wheel nuts.
Jonn then tightened the screws in the nearside rear light and cleaned and tightened the connection to the nearside number plate light and tested.
The door mirror switch was glued in before Jonn adjusted the tangs inside the cigarette lighter, to get the lighter to stay in. He also dropped the rear anti-roll bar, taped up the bar where it was worn and refitted the bushes.
Brian and Lydia have continued their work on our 1953 Aston Martin DB2/4.
Using the new plywood panels that Brian had cut out for her, Lydia covered them in leather at the top. The bottom part is a piece of carpet with bound edges, so she also cut and sewed this , then attached it to the panel with staples.
The wooden-shaped pieces are simply covered directly with leather, so Lydia cut the material out and glued it straight onto them.
Parts of the interior were painted black before Brian repaired the tailgate top trim panel as well as the headliner.
Lydia then covered the pre-made wooden panels in headlining fabric. Some panels required a small amount of padding, so she added some scrim foam to these before covering them in wool headlining material.
Yesterday, Bridge Classic Cars Directors, Gordon and Craig went to Derbyshire for the latest auction hosted by H and H.
They arrived early to make sure they got a good look at all of the cars available to buy and, as you can see from the photos below, there were some fantastic vehicles on offer. There were several highlights to admire including a 1966 Aston Martin DB5, said to be one of the UK’s best driving DB5s and a 1927 Delage DI Sport Boat-Tail Tourer which you may recognise as a previous resident of the Bridge Classic Cars workshop.
As well as the incredible range of cars at the auction, there were also some famous faces including John Fury, former boxer and trainer and father of now legendary boxer Tyson Fury.
Yesterday’s classic car auction was the last in-person sale that will be hosted by H and H in 2023. Both Gordon and Craig said that it was a great way to end their auction season and they are looking forward to going to even more in the new year. We are always on the lookout for classic cars to add to our growing collection and these auctions are always a fantastic way of finding several all under one roof.
Gordon and Craig bought multiple vehicles and, once they have been checked over in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop, they will be available to win through Bridge Classic Cars Competitions. Can you guess which ones they are?
Steve has continued his zinc plating lately.
He has been focussing on the front and rear suspension nuts, bolts, and washers.
As well as the zinc plating, Steve has also fitted the front springs as well as the front and rear axles.
Brian and Lydia have been working on our 1953 Aston Martin DB2/4, specifically the centre console and rear panels.
Using the existing material from the original, Lydia remade the centre console to match the new leather choice. This involved cutting and making new piping, new top and side sections, and also covering the wooden base section. The paintwork underneath was looking a bit tatty, so Lydia cleaned this off and then re-sprayed it with a fresh coat of black.
As for the rear side panels, the old ones had all but disintegrated. Lydia cut new ones from plywood, checking the shape in the car as she went. Then she cut new fabric and binding for the cover, sewed this together, and glued the new piece to the board.
Part of our 1959 Jensen 541R has been undergoing some work in the Bridge Classic Cars fabrication bay.
Technician Monty has been straightening the front crash bar before it goes back onto this beautiful (and nearly finished) classic Jensen.
Now that the brake callipers and carriers have been painted, classic car technician Jonn has been refitting them to our 2005 Honda S2000.
Jonn also lubricated the pads and all sliders before bleeding all of the brakes. He then carried out a pressure check and topped up the brake fluid.
Bridge Classic Cars workshop manager John has been sorting out the routing and assessing the condition of the wiring in our 1987 Mercedes 500SL.
Here at Bridge Classic Cars, our interior trim team of Brian and Lydia can bring the interior of your car back to life. We know that for a lot of people, your car isn’t just a mode of transportation; it’s where you spend a lot of time, and something that you want to show off in all its glory.
Lydia and Brian understand that every detail counts and are committed to making your car or bike look as if it has just rolled off the production line.
Our skilled team can undertake almost any automotive interior trim work. Services include:
Your vehicle deserves the best, and at Bridge Classic Cars, our interior trim team deliver excellence in every detail. Here is what some of our previous customers have said about Brian and Lydia’s work:
“I’m enjoying every update. I’m impressed with what Lydia and Brian are doing. I like the leather and vinyl combo very much. So pleased with the rear seat now. The paintwork looked great as well and I’m sure when it gets its final touch-up, alignment and the few flaws attended to that it is a real work of art. I would appreciate it if you can complement the staff that is doing this great work for me.”
“Absolutely delighted with the renewed headlining – superb job displaying tremendous skill and the considerable care taken not to harm the vulnerable materials of this 80-year-old unrestored Alvis“
“The replacement biscuit-coloured leather in my BMW has matched well with the original colour, it all fits well“
No matter what interior trim work you are looking to have completed, please contact us via info@bridgeclassiccars.co.uk or give us a call on 01473 742038 (Tuesday – Friday 0800 – 1700).
Our very own Molly has been busy outside of her presenting duties here at Bridge Classic Cars.
She spent some time singing to the residents at Henley House care home. During her performance, the residents were clearly enjoying themselves and thought Molly was amazing.
It’s always nice to see members of the team doing things they enjoy in their spare time, and Molly is always kept busy with her singing.
If that wasn’t enough, Molly can also be seen on the cover of the 95th Bomber Magazine.
Restoring classic vehicles, like our 1951 Austin Devon Pickup, can be extremely challenging when a hard-to-find piece, like the Austin badge, seems to be impossible to find. Second-hand car parts can be a great solution, and with a range of online marketplaces like eBay, that missing piece might just be found!
Gordon was looking for a replacement Austin badge for our classic Devon. The original was broken and in poor condition. However, finding a replacement proved much more difficult than expected. After eventually finding one on eBay, we were shocked at how good the new one looked. If it wasn’t for someone keeping this badge (potentially for decades), we wouldn’t have been able to replace the old one.
This is a fantastic example of how passionate people can be about their cars. Not only that, but the story behind each classic car adds to its character, making it much more likely for parts to be kept and sold as second-hand car parts.
What makes these discoveries even more exciting is their affordability. Rare parts often cost a fortune when new or might not even be available at all. In the second-hand market, these otherwise unobtainable parts are much more accessible without compromising quality or authenticity.
While it can take longer to find the part you need, websites like eBay and MyClassics can be where you find exactly what you are looking for to get your classic car back on the road.
As well as the new badge, our Austin Devon Pickup has also had new interior door panels made by the Bridge Classic Cars interior trim team. After removing the old covers and metal trims from the door panels, Brian used the old panels to mark out the new ones on hardboard. He then cut out the new panels, cutting all the necessary holes out too.
At our Suffolk HQ, our team of classic car technicians like to expand their skills and try new techniques out. For example this week, our technician Steve has been working on perfecting his technique at zinc plating.
With the help of a kit and some good old-fashioned experimentation, Steve has been working on refinishing and replating several pieces of hardware from our Mk2 Ford Transit.
These are purely for experimenting and learning new techniques, but the results are impressive.
Through multiple baths of acid and alkalies, Steve has refinished several bolts and using the guide as a beginning point before moving onto working on getting the best results on these specific parts.
Steve is meticulous with everything he does, so this is the perfect pastime for his particular skill set.
With our zinc plating experiment done, we’ll soon be working on refining this method and how we can apply this to our restoration projects in small batches.
Jonn has been fitting new callipers and pads along with a new fitting kit and braided flexi hose to the nearside front of our 1987 Mercedes 500SL.
He then fitted a new shock absorber and secured it.
Classic car technician Jonn has been continuing his work on our 1979 Reliant Scimitar GTE. He cleaned the mating surfaces and put the new inlet manifold gasket in position.
Both rocker covers were fitted and all pipes were connected and a new heater hose was fitted to the rear inlet manifold.
After vacuum filling the cooling system, Jonn tested it and found that there still is a slight miss at idle on cylinder 4.
We recently welcomed our 2001 Jaguar XKR back into the Bridge Classic Cars workshop.
While it was here, Brian made some repairs to the carpet and the roof system was looked at. To do this, several components had to be removed from the car.
When Brian was done, Jonn hoovered out the car before refitting the seats. He then reconnected and tested the seat operation. The roof system was topped up with hydraulic fluid before Jonn ran the roof through the full sequence again.
After wiping over the car, Jonn noticed that the airbag light was flashing. When Jonn tried to clear the code, he was unsuccessful. The code was B2291 – passenger seat occupancy sensor. The connections under the seat were checked but the code would still not clear.
As a result, more investigative work will be required.
Our 1976 Triumph Spitfire has been in the Bridge Classic Cars paint shop with technician Alan.
Alan has been applying polyester primer to the doors, boot lid, and bonnet. The first stage of this was to reapply epoxy primer to give them corrosion protection. Then all of the parts were sprayed with polyester primer.
Over the past few weeks, we’ve welcomed a very special addition to the workshop. The third in a line of Aston Martin DB2/4’s which are being completely restored by our classic car restoration technicians at our Suffolk HQ.
This particular car, is a 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Drophead Coupe and one of a rarefied few which remain. This car, which has yet to be named, has been commissioned by its owner for our highly-skilled teams to bring back to its former glory alongside the sister cars of ‘Claret’ and ‘Moonshadow‘.
Although work has already begun on this incredible piece of Aston Martin history, there is still a long way to go. But, like the sister cars, our team are excited and eager to get this wonderful restoration on the move and all of us are lucky enough to have 3 of these stunning DB2/4’s in the workshop.
Before our 1984 Ferrari 308 GTSi is taken out to film in preparation for it to go live on Bridge Classic Cars Competitions, classic car technician Jonn has been giving it a once over.
After checking all levels, he attended to the broken nearside door mirror. He swapped parts from the donor mirror and mounted/secured it to the car.
Jonn then removed both number plates and attached the WIN ME plates before using panel wipes to remove excess glue.
It’s been a little while since our 1996 Nissan Patrol left the Bridge Classic Cars workshop. Since then, it has undergone quite a transformation.
With a new engine and a whole host of modifications, it is now a very capable off-roading machine.
We were impressed with our Patrol’s all-terrain ability in its past form, so we can only imagine just how incredible it is now!
The owner of the car has very kindly sent us some photos to show what our 1996 Nissan Patrol is up to nowadays.
This is the story of Joe Collett and his Mini 850.
From Joe, in his own words…
“My first mini, 850, off the road we drove it around my grandad’s farm.
£30 and my dad taught me to drive in it!
The photo shows me, my brother Greg standing, my brother Tom and my friend Matthew in the back!
Really the best of times circa 1995.”
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.
H&H Classics is set to auction a stunning 1966 Aston Martin DB5, previously owned by motoring correspondent Andrew English from the Daily Telegraph. Widely rated as one of the UK’s best-driving DB5s, ‘GBO 500D’, will be available for sale at The Pavilion Gardens in Buxton on November 29th after being in Mr English’s possession for nearly three decades.
With an estimated value of £500,000 to £550,000, this DB5 carries a rich racing history. It has been registered with both the FIA and MSA, participating in numerous sprints, hill climbs, and rallies, and has been meticulously cared for by experts specialising in the marque.
Chassis DB5/2035/R has the preferred ZF 5-speed manual gearbox and retains its original matching numbers, a detail authenticated by the factory build sheet. From its initial registration, it has displayed the UK number plate ‘GBO 500D’.
Undergoing a substantial refurbishment during the 1990s, the car received a Dark Navy Blue repaint and care from Nigel Barker at Davron Engineering. Enhancements include the tasteful addition of a Harvey Bailey handling kit and considerable recent investments to elevate both its performance and aesthetics. Its 4.2-litre engine delivers a lively drive and is complemented by an interior upgrade using premium materials valued at over £20,000.
Julian Pinkster, motorcar specialist at H&H Classics, said: “The DB5 is an iconic symbol of British automotive heritage, thanks to its association with James Bond. The performance and history of this particular model, place it among the nicest driving examples of the DB5 to come to auction. It represents a rare opportunity for collectors to own a vehicle that for decades, has captivated the imagination of car enthusiasts and film fans alike.”
“Few cars can match the DB5’s heritage and cultural significance. We’re expecting strong interest and competitive bidding for this quintessential example of British motoring excellence.”
The DB5 comes with an extensive history file, including a current V5C, past registration documents, a comprehensive collection of MOT certificates, detailed invoices for both parts and services, and other important paperwork.
This DB5 will be part of an auction featuring 150 classic, collectable, and performance cars. Viewing for all lots will be open from midday until 8pm on Tuesday, November 28th, and from 9am on the day of the sale.
The auction begins at 1pm on Wednesday, November 29th, offering various bidding options such as online, telephone, commission, or in-person bids.
Although the technicians who work in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop normally spend their days restoring classic cars, every now and again, one of our own vehicles needs some attention.
Recently Jonn spent some time investigating why our 2005 Mercedes Vito van was running poorly and had the glow plug light illuminated.
After visually inspecting the injectors and wiring, Jonn plugged in the diagnostic computer in and found 63 codes stored across all systems. These were cleared before he rechecked the van and carried out live data readings for various engine components and operations.
More work is needed to get our van fully operational again but, luckily, we have other vehicles we can use in the meantime.
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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