Work Begins On Our Promotional Trailer
November 24, 2023
Monty has started building the framework for our new mobile sign trailer. As you can see from the photos below, progress is being made on
News
Inlet Manifold Gasket
November 24, 2023
Classic car technician Steve has been continuing his work on our 1979 Reliant Scimitar. He removed the inlet manifold so he was able to replace
Preparing For Zinc Plating
November 24, 2023
Classic car technician Steve has been getting various parts of our Ford Transit MKII Tipper ready for zinc plating. These parts included components from the
Jensen Front Suspension
November 24, 2023
Classic car technician Paul has been working on the front suspension of our 1956 Jensen 541. After removing the worn bearings, new parts were fitted.
Alpina Repairs
November 24, 2023
Jonn has been continuing his repairs of our 2002 Alpina B10. He has fitted new screw bolts to the under shields and secured them on
Rebuilding And Improving
November 24, 2023
After being painted, our 2005 Honda S2000 was put back together by technician Chris. Once Chris had put the majority of the bodywork back together,
Just Passing By – Our friend Chris brings over his BMW 1M
November 24, 2023
Hailed as the modern successor to the legendary BMW E30 M3, the 1M took the world by storm on its release. This rare, straight-six powered
In Paint
November 24, 2023
Our 1970 MGB Roadster has been in the Bridge Classic Cars paintshop with technician Mauro. Mauro has been rubbing down the car after primer before
More Repairs For Our Devon
November 24, 2023
Our 1951 Austin Devon Pickup has continued its stay in the fabrication bay with technicians Chris and Monty. They have been repairing the wing, stone
Finishing Off The Interior Of Our Amphicar
November 23, 2023
Lydia has finished off the rear seat back that she was making for our 1964 Amphicar 770 and fitted this to the seat. Next, she
A rare chance – Photographing our 1953 Aston Martin DB2/4 ‘Claret’
November 23, 2023
Although it has been in a workshop for a little while now, and our restoration teams have begun the process of bringing this wonderful early
Raising the roof!
November 23, 2023
The paintwork on the roof of our 1980 Volvo 245 Estate has been revitalised by the Bridge Classic Cars paint and body team. The team
A 70’s icon… with a twist! Our 1970 Lotus Europa
November 23, 2023
Our 1970 Lotus Europa is now live! The Lotus Europa is without doubt one of the quirkiest and individual sports cars of the 1970s. A
We love a container…or two!
November 23, 2023
We have some very exciting changes afoot at Bridge Classic Cars in early 2024. In preparation for these changes, 4 new containers have arrived on
Top Gear Is Cancelled
November 22, 2023
Top Gear is cancelled! At least for the ‘foreseeable future’ anyway. The decision to pause production of one of the top money makers and most
Riley 9 Restoration Progress
November 22, 2023
The restoration of our one-of-a-kind 1905 Rilep 9HP has been something of a labour of love and dedication. With very little reference material to work
A Fresh Coat Of Paint
November 22, 2023
Chris has been working on our 2005 Honda S2000 in the Bridge Classic Cars Paint Shop. After prepping it for paint, he then gave the
Cambelt Damage
November 22, 2023
Steve is showing here our old cambelt with damaged teeth causing the belt to slip. He has now fitted a new belt, tensioner and spring.
On Its Way To Scotland
November 21, 2023
When Ross Coats was randomly selected as the lucky winner of our 1979 Ford Escort MK2 through Bridge Classic Cars Competitions, preparations were made to
Lapland UK
November 21, 2023
This past weekend, Bridge Classic Cars‘ Director Craig took his family to Lapland UK. Set in an enchanted wood in Berkshire, this immersive experience creates
Our Mince Pie Drive In The Local News
November 21, 2023
The Bridge Classic Cars Mince Pie Drive has been featured in some local news outlets. Living In Suffolk has created a great post about the
A Special Personalised Number Plate
November 21, 2023
For many drivers, a personalised number plate adds an extra bit of character and charm to their car. While most personalised plates tend to be
Checking Our Jeep
November 20, 2023
As well as looking after and restoring a huge range of classic cars, the workshop team sometimes have to give the Bridge Classic Cars fleet
Lots Of Progress For Our Amphicar
November 20, 2023
Our 1964 Amphicar 770 has made great progress as of late. Brian has been fitting the roof and roof cover. After glueing the floor side
First Inspection
November 20, 2023
As our 2002 Alpina B10 is new in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop, classic car technician Jonn has started work on its initial inspection and
ABS Bracket
November 20, 2023
Our 1987 Mercedes 500SL has been the focus of classic car technician Monty recently. He has had the car in the fabrication bay and has
Devon Progress
November 20, 2023
Several technicians have been working on our 1951 Austin Devon Pickup recently. The wing has been repaired along with the headlight bowl. Multiple components have
Beetle Wheel Trims
November 20, 2023
We have sourced some original VW wheel trims for our 1974 Beetle. These have now been sent off for re-chroming before they will eventually go
Inspection And PDI
November 20, 2023
Before our 2007 Aston Martin V8 Vantage got delivered to its new owner (who was lucky enough to win it through Bridge Classic Cars Competitions),
Jensen Water Pump
November 20, 2023
Bridge Classic Cars workshop manager, John found that the hose was not sealing on the water pump of our 1959 Jensen 541R, so he found
Work Begins On Our Promotional Trailer
November 24, 2023
Monty has started building the framework for our new mobile sign trailer.
As you can see from the photos below, progress is being made on the frame and things are starting to take shape.
Once this project is complete, you will likely see it out and about with the Bridge Classic Cars teams at numerous events throughout next year!
Inlet Manifold Gasket
November 24, 2023
Classic car technician Steve has been continuing his work on our 1979 Reliant Scimitar.
He removed the inlet manifold so he was able to replace the leaking gasket. He also noticed that the coolant passage was blocked so this was unblocked and cleaned too.
Preparing For Zinc Plating
November 24, 2023
Classic car technician Steve has been getting various parts of our Ford Transit MKII Tipper ready for zinc plating.
These parts included components from the suspension and the brake wheel hub nuts. To prepare them for zinc plating, Steve made sure each part was clean and ready to go.
Jensen Front Suspension
November 24, 2023
Classic car technician Paul has been working on the front suspension of our 1956 Jensen 541.
After removing the worn bearings, new parts were fitted. The components that make up the suspension were then checked and cleaned ready to be assembled.
Paul then put the front suspension and brakes back together.
Alpina Repairs
November 24, 2023
Jonn has been continuing his repairs of our 2002 Alpina B10.
He has fitted new screw bolts to the under shields and secured them on the offside. He has also removed the front undershield and cleaned it. Jonn then moved on and cleaned down the engine.
A nail was removed from the nearside rear tyre and, after an inspection. was found not to be punctured.
New rubber cotton reel mounts were fitted to the oil filter housing and the undershield was refitted. Finally, Jonn removed the front wheels and drilled out disc holes to clear. He then sanded down the disc edges to get rid of rust buildup.
The wheels were then refitted and torqued to 130nm.
Rebuilding And Improving
November 24, 2023
After being painted, our 2005 Honda S2000 was put back together by technician Chris.
Once Chris had put the majority of the bodywork back together, Brian worked on fitting the roof and interior trim. To do this, Brian connected the electrical cables, fitted trim around the rear edge of the roof, and fitted the rear tray and centre console. He then fitted the plastic trims around the roll bars, fitted trims behind the seats, and fitted the seats before using mastic to bond the plastic trims together around the roll bars.
Just Passing By – Our friend Chris brings over his BMW 1M
November 24, 2023
Hailed as the modern successor to the legendary BMW E30 M3, the 1M took the world by storm on its release. This rare, straight-six powered miniature meanie is a rare sight to see, especially in the UK and in all black.
BMW M, or M Division, was created in the mid-1970s as BMW’s in-house performance wizards. They took ordinary, everyday road cars and created some of the most sought-after and legendary performance cars until today – with the likes of the M1, M3, M4, M5, M6 etc. In the late 2000’s, M would take the humble 1 series coupe and essentially grafted in elements from the M3 and M4 to create the 1M (not to be confused with the late 70s supercar, the M1).
With only a few hundred of these rare coupes arriving in the UK, most were ordered in colours like Orange and Blue. But this one was ordered in Black with Black leather, making it one of only a handful of cars to be specified like this – making it even closer to its forefather, the fabled E30 M3, whose most common colour was black.
Although we mainly work on classic and vintage vehicles, all of us at Bridge Classic Cars have an appreciation for modern cars which try to rekindle that old-school analogue feel – the 1M being one of those rare machines. Thank you to Chris for bringing it over and lighting up our late afternoon here at the Suffolk HQ.
What’s your thoughts on the BMW 1M?
In Paint
November 24, 2023
Our 1970 MGB Roadster has been in the Bridge Classic Cars paintshop with technician Mauro.
Mauro has been rubbing down the car after primer before prepping it for paint. Once the prep had been completed, the body of the car went into the paint booth for a new coat of paint.
More Repairs For Our Devon
November 24, 2023
Our 1951 Austin Devon Pickup has continued its stay in the fabrication bay with technicians Chris and Monty.
They have been repairing the wing, stone guards, and the cab body. They have also fabricated a new cab brace that was welded in too.
Repair work has also taken place on the lower A and B pillar.
Finishing Off The Interior Of Our Amphicar
November 23, 2023
Lydia has finished off the rear seat back that she was making for our 1964 Amphicar 770 and fitted this to the seat. Next, she has remade the full set of door cards, using the new grey fabric that we have purchased.
Unfortunately, the front cards were damaged and one was completely the wrong size and shape! Lydia took the time to cut new cards and test fit them to each door individually and then fitted the clips to hold them in place. The next job was to cut the cover for these and fit them.
As Lydia was using the previous white section, she had to warm it with a heat gun and stretch it, which was a delicate procedure to do. She then re-attached the pockets on the front and then cut the holes for the handle and winder.
Brian also helped fit the interior trim back into the car before Lydia helped him finish off the interior of our Amphicar.
A rare chance – Photographing our 1953 Aston Martin DB2/4 ‘Claret’
November 23, 2023
Although it has been in a workshop for a little while now, and our restoration teams have begun the process of bringing this wonderful early DB2/4 back to its former glory, we never did get to take some of usual arrival photos with the car.
On a Friday evening, our entire Suffolk HQ down tools to clean up all of our workshop and offices ready for the week ahead. This involves moving some, if not all, of our incredible restoration projects outside to safely clean our restoration workshop.
So, I took the chance to grab some photos with this stunning GT car. This is one of the cars that not only cemented the Aston Martin name into automotive history as one of the most illustrious and well-respected names, but also would bring the fabled DB name into the limelight and on wards into the future of the brand.
All of us, both in the workshop and in the team behind them, see it as an absolute pleasure and honour to be able to preserve and cherish these wonderful piece of automotive history and document their rebirth.
Raising the roof!
November 23, 2023
The paintwork on the roof of our 1980 Volvo 245 Estate has been revitalised by the Bridge Classic Cars paint and body team.
The team masked up the roof on the car to begin the process of laying down the correct colour to this classic Swedish hauler. First, the team sanded and primered the roof.
After this, the team could move on to returning the Volvo to its former glory with its shining and glossy bright blue paintwork across its entire bodywork.
A 70’s icon… with a twist! Our 1970 Lotus Europa
November 23, 2023
Our 1970 Lotus Europa is now live!
The Lotus Europa is without doubt one of the quirkiest and individual sports cars of the 1970s. A low slung, mid-engined, racecar inspired drivers’ cars which has garnered a following amongst marque enthusiasts and classic car fans across the world.
The Europa, with its slab back design, would become a precursor to later performance cars like the Elise of the 1990s. But what if you took that classic style and gave it a modern performance heart? That question is answered with our 1970 Lotus Europa and it could be yours…
This beautiful pale yellow 2-seater has been retrofitted with a legendary Toyota 4AG-E engine, giving this retro silhouette modern day performance. Converted to be run on carburettors and then taken onto a rolling road to be fully set up ready for that backroad thrash or an easy cruise to your local car show.
Recently imported from South Africa, the car has been recommissioned for road use and registered in the UK.
Bridge Classic Cars Competitions is giving you the chance to win this unique and stunning sports car and experience all the classic cool with added modern performance – Enter now for your chance to win our 1970 Lotus Europa.
Watch the film with our unique 1970 Lotus Europa here:
We love a container…or two!
November 23, 2023
We have some very exciting changes afoot at Bridge Classic Cars in early 2024. In preparation for these changes, 4 new containers have arrived on site.
Not only do we love a container but we also watching the cranes lowering them into position…
Next up…paint the containers to smarten them all up.
Top Gear Is Cancelled
November 22, 2023
Top Gear is cancelled! At least for the ‘foreseeable future’ anyway.
The decision to pause production of one of the top money makers and most watched shows for the BBC, comes following a crash involving presenter Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff, during filming last December.
Back in the days of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May, Top Gear was extraordinarily successful for the BBC and became a true worldwide TV sensation. However, this current cancellation isn’t the first time Top Gear has been shelved. After Clarkson’s contract wasn’t renewed in 2015 due to an off-screen incident, the BBC went through several hosts before settling on Paddy McGuinness, Freddie Flintoff, and Chris Harris in 2019. They were in the middle of shooting the 34th series when Flintoff had his accident last year, and there haven’t been any new episodes since then.
Bridge Classic Cars Director, Craig worked on Top Gear several years ago and he has fond memories of the show. He said “Working on Top Gear was such a great experience for me. The people were friendly, the atmosphere was very positive, and it was so much fun being around fellow petrolheads during filming. It’s a bit sad to hear that Top Gear is no more but, hopefully, we will see a revival in the years to come.”
The Official BBC Statement On Top Gear
“Given the exceptional circumstances, the BBC has decided to rest the UK show for the foreseeable future. The BBC remains committed to Freddie, Chris and Paddy who have been at the heart of the show’s renaissance since 2019, and we’re excited about new projects being developed with each of them. We will have more to say in the near future on this. We know resting the show will be disappointing news for fans, but it is the right thing to do.”
“All other Top Gear activity remains unaffected by this hiatus including international formats, digital, magazines and licensing.”
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Riley 9 Restoration Progress
November 22, 2023
The restoration of our one-of-a-kind 1905 Rilep 9HP has been something of a labour of love and dedication. With very little reference material to work from, bringing this piece of automotive history back to life has been challenging, to say the least. However, the project has made even more progress recently, as its wooden body has been trial-fitted to the 118-year-old chassis.
Our 1905 Rilep 9HP is a great example of the craftsmanship and innovation of early automobile engineering. Its uniqueness lies not only in its design but also in its rarity as a prototype for the first car to ever have fully removable wheels. The workshop team has worked extremely hard to find any kind of record of how this one-off car should be put back together to honour its legacy throughout the restoration process.
After the wooden body recently returned to the workshop, following its time with Ashbocking Joinery, classic car technician Steve temporarily put the body back onto the chassis in a trial fit to make sure everything goes together as he would like it to. As well as the body going back on the chassis, the impressive radiator has also taken its place on the front end of this incredible classic car.
The Restoration Of Our Riley 9 Isn’t Done Yet
While our Riley 9HP may look much more car-like than it has since it first arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop, it will still need to be stripped down again once Steve is happy that the trial-fitting has been a success. Once stripped, it will then be painted before going back together for the final time. The next big milestone to reach though is getting the car to start. Although we have seen that it can start (we fired up the engine for a very short period of time last year), it has never been run without assistance and in its current configuration.
If all goes to plan, our 1905 Riley 9 restoration will be complete and the finished car will drive out of the workshop in the early part of 2024. Until then though, we are very excited to see it continue to make great progress in its restoration.
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A Fresh Coat Of Paint
November 22, 2023
Chris has been working on our 2005 Honda S2000 in the Bridge Classic Cars Paint Shop.
After prepping it for paint, he then gave the car a fresh coat of colour, along with various components that will eventually be put back onto the vehicle.
Cambelt Damage
November 22, 2023
Steve is showing here our old cambelt with damaged teeth causing the belt to slip. He has now fitted a new belt, tensioner and spring.
On Its Way To Scotland
November 21, 2023
When Ross Coats was randomly selected as the lucky winner of our 1979 Ford Escort MK2 through Bridge Classic Cars Competitions, preparations were made to deliver the car to him at his home in Scotland.
We have made many trips to Scotland transporting cars to and from the Bridge Classic Cars workshop so we were excited for another.
The vehicle was prepared for travel before going into the trailer and beginning its long journey north.
Now that it has arrived with Ross, we hope that it enjoys a long life on the Scottish roads.
Lapland UK
November 21, 2023
This past weekend, Bridge Classic Cars‘ Director Craig took his family to Lapland UK. Set in an enchanted wood in Berkshire, this immersive experience creates a magical winter wonderland that transports families to the North Pole to see what Father Christmas and his Elves are getting up to in the run-up to Christmas.
From the moment they arrived, Craig and his family were greeted by the wide range of sights and sounds of the holiday season. The picturesque snowy landscapes, festive lights and wooden cabins, set the scene for an early start to the 2023 Christmas season.
The main event of a visit to Lapland UK is, obviously, meeting Father Christmas himself. With lots of other Christmas and wintery activities going on too, there was plenty to do for adults and children alike.
Craig had a great time at Lapland UK and it is somewhere that other members of the team with young families (me included) will definitely visit next year!
Our Mince Pie Drive In The Local News
November 21, 2023
The Bridge Classic Cars Mince Pie Drive has been featured in some local news outlets.
Living In Suffolk has created a great post about the event and Choose Woodbridge has also shared it on their Facebook Page.
The Mince Pie Drive will be a fantastic event where we will be spreading some early Christmas cheer to the residents and staff at four local care homes.
Full details of the event can be seen here.
A Special Personalised Number Plate
November 21, 2023
For many drivers, a personalised number plate adds an extra bit of character and charm to their car. While most personalised plates tend to be special to their owner, sometimes, a number plate becomes available that appeals to drivers, collectors, and historians from all walks of life. One such number plate is ‘AU 1’, as seen in the James Bond film, ‘Goldfinger’.
‘AU 1’ is for sale through Primo Registrations. Including the chemical symbol for gold (AU), it was the plate on the Rolls-Royce featured in the film which was the car of choice for villain Auric Goldfinger.
A Personalised Number Plate With A James Bond Connection
The James Bond franchise is a global phenomenon and is still as relevant today as it was when Goldfinger first hit the screens back in 1964. A perfect example of this is the new Amazon Prime Show, ‘007: Road to a Million’ which is a reality competition show based on the James Bond films. This was released on 10th November, so the sale of ‘AU 1’ coincides beautifully with the re-emergence of James Bond on TV.
With an expected sale price of more than £300,000, ‘AU 1‘ certainly fits the bill for the growing popularity of collecting number plates as investment pieces. With other similar two-letter, number 1 plates selling for anywhere between £100,000 and £500,000, the buyer of ‘AU 1’ could see a substantial return on their investment in the future, especially if you take its connection to such a well-known film into account.
Peter Johnson, Primo Registrations’ managing director, said “As iconic number plates go, this one has to be right up there with one of the best, not least of all because of the plate’s association with the famed car used by Goldfinger and Oddjob to smuggle gold out of the country! It’s also nothing new that short number plates are fast becoming increasingly popular, not only because of their aesthetically pleasing stature on any vehicle but because of their investment potential, too. The last time ‘AU 1’ sold, it realised a huge return on investment for its then-owner, and we anticipate the trend will only continue, especially with shorter plates. We can’t wait to see where this one will go in the future – maybe it’ll go onto another Rolls-Royce!
The Details
- Primo Registrations offers ‘AU 1’ number plate for sale, famed for adorning the Rolls-Royce of ‘Goldfinger’ in the James Bond film of the same name
- Primed to sell for in excess of £300,000, this number plate offers the opportunity for someone to own a piece of film history
- Fast-becoming investment pieces in their own right, cherished number plates, especially three-digit derivatives, are now a popular addition to any portfolio
- ‘AU 1’ has the benefit of no age limitations on the age of the car it can go onto, and all prices are inclusive of VAT and transfer fee
- With over 20 years of expertise, Primo Registrations is a leading personalised car number plate dealer in the UK and currently has over 60 million registration plates available to purchase
Checking Our Jeep
November 20, 2023
As well as looking after and restoring a huge range of classic cars, the workshop team sometimes have to give the Bridge Classic Cars fleet a check-up too.
That is what classic car technician Jonn has been doing lately as he has been checking over our 2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
While checking the vehicle, he found that the offside front tyre valve is cracked and will need some attention.
Lots Of Progress For Our Amphicar
November 20, 2023
Our 1964 Amphicar 770 has made great progress as of late.
Brian has been fitting the roof and roof cover. After glueing the floor side panels back down, he cleaned the main floorboards and fitted them into the car. He then cut out the new rear quarter panel boards, fitted new catches to the frame & car, and fitted stud fasteners to the hood cover & frame.
Unfortunately, Lydia found that the door cards and seats are in a mismatched and poor state, so we have decided to find a grey vinyl to replace the worst areas with. Lydia has taken the door cards apart to prepare for when the vinyl arrives, and she has also taken the time to laminate the rear backrest to give it a bit more life!
As well as interior work, classic car technician James has also been working on our Amphicar. He found more burnt/melted wiring and replaced it, all electrical circuits are now functioning. The headlamp switch was stripped and cleaned as the terminals were contaminated, and the faulty dim/dip switch was replaced and fitted to the floor. The final external parts such as the mirror and wipers were fitted after the windscreen and new seal were installed. He then removed the wheels and stripped off the brakes for refurbishment, the brake shoes were worn and the wheel cylinders were leaking badly.
First Inspection
November 20, 2023
As our 2002 Alpina B10 is new in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop, classic car technician Jonn has started work on its initial inspection and assessment.
Once Jonn is happy that the car is in good health, it will go on to be won through Bridge Classic Cars Competitions.
ABS Bracket
November 20, 2023
Our 1987 Mercedes 500SL has been the focus of classic car technician Monty recently. He has had the car in the fabrication bay and has been making the ABS bracket.
Devon Progress
November 20, 2023
Several technicians have been working on our 1951 Austin Devon Pickup recently.
The wing has been repaired along with the headlight bowl. Multiple components have also been sent off to be re-chromed, while others have been sent to the sandblasters.
The doors have also been repaired in the fabrication bay.
Beetle Wheel Trims
November 20, 2023
We have sourced some original VW wheel trims for our 1974 Beetle.
These have now been sent off for re-chroming before they will eventually go onto the car ready to go back home to its owner.
Inspection And PDI
November 20, 2023
Before our 2007 Aston Martin V8 Vantage got delivered to its new owner (who was lucky enough to win it through Bridge Classic Cars Competitions), Jonn put it through a pre-delivery inspection.
He applied a lockwire to the rear exhaust heatshield to tighten and stop a rattle. He then replaced the 20amp fuse for the cigarette lighter and tested it.
Jonn then wire-brushed all the flexi hose ferrules and anti-roll bar links.
Jensen Water Pump
November 20, 2023
Bridge Classic Cars workshop manager, John found that the hose was not sealing on the water pump of our 1959 Jensen 541R, so he found another pump and fitted it into the engine.
Our 541R is getting closer and closer to being completed and we are looking forward to seeing it leave the workshop very soon.
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