News

Solving Rust Issues

After discovering that our 1999 Vauxhall Omega had some issues with rust, the workshop team got to work on resolving them. With rust beginning to

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Interior Work Continues

Classic car technician Brian has been giving the interior of our 1969 Morris Minor 1000 Convertible quite a bit of attention lately. He started by

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A New Carpet Goes In

Our 1969 Morris Minor 1000 Convertible has a new carpet! Lydia cut and shaped the underlay before glueing it into the car. She then cut

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More Fibreglass Work

Classic car technician Alan has once again been repairing and replacing parts of the fibreglass body of our 1956 Jensen 541. He ground back the

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Being Put Back Together

Our 1987 Volvo 240GL is being gradually put back together as each task is completed. Recently, the bumpers and the headlamps were cleaned before being

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The Wheels Are On

Our 1905 Riley 9HP looks very different to how it looked when it first arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop. Working from photos, drawings,

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New Door Panels

Our 1966 Ford Cortina GT 1500 may have only been in the workshop for a day or two but Brian has already given it some

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Primed And Ready

After undergoing recent work to resolve rust issues, our 1999 Rover BRM has had its primer applied and is now ready for its top coat

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Progressing Nicely

As our 1978 MGB GT continues to move through the restoration process, things are progressing well and more tasks have been ticked off the checklist.

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An Electric Rolls Royce Is Coming

A big name is entering the world of electric vehicles, with Rolls-Royce saying that delivery of the all-electric Spectre will begin towards the end of 2023.

Don’t be fooled into thinking this is a lightweight, less luxurious Rolls-Royce though. The Spectre has a kerb weight of 2975kg and comes with all the style and luxury we have come to expect from the brand. It’s also 5 metres long and 2 metres wide with 23-inch wheels. This is certainly not the type of car you might imagine as being all-electric.

With Spectre, Rolls-Royce is joining the electric world in an emphatic way. They aren’t just joining to be a small-time player, the brand wants to make an immediate impact. Rolls-Royce says that its entire range of vehicles will be electrified by 2030. If that’s the case, it can certainly be said that they have hit the ground running.

Luxury And Style

When it comes to luxury and style, there is a lot to talk about with Spectre. The doors, for example, are the largest doors on any Rolls-Royce model measuring an impressive 1.5 metres in length. These can be opened with the simple press of a button and provide plenty of room to make a comfortable entrance and exit.

For those who want to add a unique luxury car to their collection, Spectre can be made in the colour Chartreuse. This has never been an exterior option for any previous Rolls-Royce model. The colour is meant to replicate that of the French liquor with the same name.

Inside the car, you have woodwork, leather, illuminated fascia, and the recognisable starlight headliner.

Some Numbers

When it comes to numbers, Rolls-Royce says that the Spectre has a range of 520km (323 miles). It has 10 driver assistance systems, and the highly intelligent onboard system has more than 141 thousand send/receive functions, 25 thousand sub-functions all made possible by 7km of cabling.

In terms of power, it has 576hp, offers 900Nm of torque, and is expected to be able to cover 0-60mph in a little over 4 seconds.

While all this might sound a little much, it perfectly fits with the Rolls-Royce lifestyle of exuberance and total luxury.

Rolls Royce At Bridge Classic Cars

We have worked on some fantastic classic Roll-Royces before (see the below photos). That’s why we know that the Spectre will be an inspiring car to see. It’s safe to say that we are very excited to see it when it gets on the road next year.

Win Our 1981 MGB GT LE – Entry Is Now Open

Your chance to become the new owner of our 1981 MGB GT LE is here. Entry has just opened for this classic car and you can now get your tickets for the draw.

Our last MGB GT LE proved to be extremely popular so it’s probably best not to wait too long to get your tickets.

All the information you need is available at Bridge Classic Cars Competitions.

Winner Of Our 1970 MG C Roadster

At our live triple draw on Thursday 6th October, Chris Mann was randomly selected as the lucky winner of our 1970 MG C Roadster.

It must have been a great feeling for Chris when he heard his number, 3027, being announced as the winning ticket.

We delivered this very special classic car to its new owner today and everyone looked very happy to jump in and get on the road.

We wish Chris and his family many miles of happiness and adventure in their new car.

Delivering Our 1994 Ducati 750 SuperSport

On Thursday 6th October, we held a live triple draw at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop. We had an audience in attendance as well as musical entertainment, food, and drink.

During the live draw, ticket number 146 was randomly selected as the winning ticket. Clive Thompson was the lucky ticket holder who won our 1994 Ducati 750 SuperSport.

Today, we delivered the bike to its new owner and both Clive and Alfie the dog look very pleased with it.

Everyone at Bridge Classic Cars hopes Clive enjoys his new motorbike.

New On MyClassics.co.uk – 2005 Suzuki Every

If you are looking for a truly interesting vehicle, then you’ll love our 2005 Suzuki Every.

Don’t be fooled by the bright colours and the Volkswagen branding, this really is a Suzuki Every that has been highly customised to be a replica of the legendary VW campervan.

With air-conditioning, a reversing camera, and an extremely well-finished interior, our Every would make for an ideal road trip vehicle or even a great addition to your next camping holiday.

Information about this eye-catching car can be found on MyClassics.co.uk

Also available on eBay.

Removing An American Emissions System

Our 1972 Jaguar E-Type V12 Series 3 had an American emissions system installed which classic car technician Paul has been working to remove.

He also serviced the car to make sure it will be in the best condition possible when it gets back out on the road.

Mud Flaps Repair And Paint

Our workshop team think about every part of the vehicle they are restoring. For example, classic car technician Alan has been giving his attention to the mud flaps of our 1987 Volvo 240GL.

Alan repaired the mud flaps before painting them in textured satin black.

Our classic Volvo has come a long way since it first arrived at the Bridge Classic Car workshop and progress continues to be made.

Just Arrived – 1959 Jaguar XK150

Another beautiful classic car has arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop. This time it is our 1959 Jaguar XK150 that has come in to be prepped for an MOT.

While classic cars older than 40 years are exempt from needing an MOT, it can be reassuring to have them put through their paces to make sure everything is as it should be.

This looks to be a fantastic example of an XK150 and we are excited to get to work on it.

Off To The Sandblasters

The body of our 1956 Jensen 541 has been carefully removed ready to be sent for sandblasting.

While the body of this rare vehicle is out of the workshop, classic car technician Alan has been doing some work on the bonnet, boot lid, and bonnet flap. These have all had a coating of epoxy primer ready for the final coats to be added later on.

New On MyClassics.co.uk – 1969 Mercedes 220

As much as we don’t particularly want to sell our 1969 Mercedes 220, unfortunately, our storage facility is about to undergo some changes so a lot of our personal projects need to find a new home.

This is a beautiful classic car that will no doubt be a lot of fun for its new owner.

The car looks great inside and out and we are sure that we will, at some point in the future, regret selling it.

Our 1969 Mercedes 220 has recently been listed on MyClassics.co.uk so more information about this classic car can be found there.

It’s also listed on eBay too.

Interior Work Continues

Classic car technician Brian has been giving the interior of our 1969 Morris Minor 1000 Convertible quite a bit of attention lately.

He started by making a new parcel tray and covering it in vinyl to fit in with the rest of the car. He then made a wood insert which would fit the damaged area of the rear wood rail. This insert was fitted into the damaged area and sanded smooth.

Brian went on to staple the cover to the wood rail which, again, perfectly matches the rest of the interior.

Once this was complete, he could then install the new parcel tray before moving on to fitting the rear quarter panels and front kick panels.

A New Carpet Goes In

Our 1969 Morris Minor 1000 Convertible has a new carpet!

Lydia cut and shaped the underlay before glueing it into the car. She then cut and fit the new carpet on top of this.

She also did some work on some of the components that will hold the front seats in place. Lydia sandblasted these to remove the rust and old paint before spraying them with primer. Once they were properly prepared, she then finished them off in a beautiful gloss black.

While she was in the car, Lydia also installed the door cards into the car so lots of progress has been made as work continues.

More Fibreglass Work

Classic car technician Alan has once again been repairing and replacing parts of the fibreglass body of our 1956 Jensen 541.

He ground back the cracks in the bonnet before covering it in a new sheet of fibreglass.

In addition to this, Alan also reinforced all the bonnet supports as they were weak and loose. Once this had been done, the bonnet went on to be prepped on both sides ready for its coat of epoxy primer.

Straight From America – 1976 Aston Martin AMV8

Another classic car has arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop. All the way from America comes our 1976 Aston Martin AMV8.

As always, it will now be checked over by our classic car technicians before a plan of action is put in place to get it back out on the road.

Just Arrived – 2008 Mercedes SL63

We always love a new arrival at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop and this one seems to be generating quite a bit of interest.

Our 2008 Mercedes SL63 arrived earlier today and is now being prepared for its inspection and assessment by our classic car technicians.

Once it has been looked at, a plan for the future will be put together for this exciting car.

Being Put Back Together

Our 1987 Volvo 240GL is being gradually put back together as each task is completed.

Recently, the bumpers and the headlamps were cleaned before being refitted to the car.

As everything is being reassembled and refitted, this classic car is starting to look as good as we knew it would.

Still Turning Heads – Our 1959 MGA Twin Cam

When we launched our 1959 MGA Twin Cam on Bridge Classic Cars Competitions earlier this year, we knew that it was an extremely special car.

The story of this classic car has been an interesting one from the start but it’s not quite over yet.

Since being won by Peter Leyland, the car is still turning heads and is still being recognised for the truly impressive classic car that it is.

Peter got back in touch with us recently and shared some news about the car along with some extra history he has discovered since becoming the new owner.

In September 2022, it was awarded car of the month in the MGA Register News which is a publication by the MG Car Club and it was also the featured MGA in a newsletter from the MG Car Club following the MG Live event held at Silverstone in July.

The photos below show the MGA Twin Cam in all its glory along with some of the great information Peter was able to share with us.

Our 1959 MGA Twin Cam – always a very special car!

The Wheels Are On

Our 1905 Riley 9HP looks very different to how it looked when it first arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop.

Working from photos, drawings, and a whole lot of skill, our classic car technicians have been making progress on the restoration of this ultra-rare car.

Recently, the wheels have been attached to our 9HP making it look just a little bit more car-like. While there is still a long way to go before it can be driven out of the workshop, the addition of the wheels certainly does a good job of showing how far things have come with this classic car.

Behind The Scenes – 1981 Volkswagen Scirocco Storm

Our 1981 Volkswagen Scirocco Storm is currently available to win in our latest Bridge Classic Cars Competitions. If you head over to the competitions website, you will see that there is a video, presented by Molly, and several photos showing this classic car in all its glory.

What you won’t see though, is the hard work and the creativity that goes into making the video and getting the best photos of the car.

The photos below will give you just a little insight into what happens behind the scenes of these classic car shoots.

The team always have fun (driving classic cars around an old air base is always exciting), and do their very best to show every aspect of the cars being offered in our competitions.

The final video and photos can be seen here.

New Door Panels

Our 1966 Ford Cortina GT 1500 may have only been in the workshop for a day or two but Brian has already given it some attention by replacing the door panels.

It’s jobs like this that can make a big difference to the overall look and finish of a car. Our Cortina is in great shape as it is, but with the old door panels removed and new ones fitted, it’s now looking even better than before.

From Your Desk To Rome And Back Again

Colin Chapman, the late founder of Lotus, once came up with a great idea to put any lotus to the ultimate test. The idea was simple yet provided a challenge to both the car and the driver. You leave your desk when you finish work on a Friday afternoon and drive to Rome and back again, in time for work on Monday morning.

To make things more interesting, if anyone did the route and was able to provide a photograph of the car outside the colosseum, Colin would pay the expenses of the trip.

This trip was recently recreated in a Lotus Exige 410 Sport, albeit over a slightly longer period of time. The idea of doing the journey between leaving your desk on a Friday afternoon and being back in time for work on Monday morning is just the type of micro-adventure that can bring excitement to many car lovers’ weekends.

Of course, doing it in a car like a lotus makes it even more appealing. We wouldn’t mind giving it a go in any one of the classic lotuses that we have restored here at Bridge Classic Cars.

More Carpet, Side Panels, And Some Cleaning

Classic car technician Brian has continued his work on the interior floor of our 1958 Jensen 541R. After attaching the transmission tunnel cover, he then refitted the tunnel into the car before fitting the carpet.

He then went on to fit the side panels, and refit the rear seat, before giving the new carpet a good clean.

While Brian was working on the carpet, Lydia was re-covering one of the panels that had to be adapted following an adjustment made to the fibreglass frame underneath it. She covered this with carpet before binding the edges with vinyl.

Just Arrived – 1966 Ford Cortina GT 1500

There aren’t many people out there who haven’t owned or know someone who has owned a Ford Cortina. With millions of units sold during its production between 1962 and 1982, this car really is one to bring feelings of nostalgia and memories of good times.

This is why we are excited that our 1966 Ford Cortina GT has just arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop. It will now be thoroughly inspected and assessed by our classic car technicians before being available to win through Bridge Classic Car Competitions.

Classic Car Storage – How To Store Your Classic Car

Looking after a classic car brings some additional responsibilities than looking after a modern car. Something that you may not have considered is classic car storage.

With a newer car, you’ll likely be driving it on a regular basis. However, with a classic, it may be parked up for extended periods of time – over winter for example. Leaving a classic car to sit unprotected can have some very negative consequences. Issues such as rust, corrosion, parts seizing, dead batteries, and locked brakes to name just a few are fairly common.

If you are looking for ways to properly store your classic car, there are some things to keep in mind.

Store Your Classic Car In Your Garage

If you are fortunate enough to have a brick garage at home, then this is likely to be a very good place to store your classic car.

Brick buildings are very good at maintaining a stable temperature and keeping the environment relatively moisture free. Both of these things are important if you want to prevent damage-causing condensation from forming during the colder months of the year.

Before storing your car in your garage, you will want to make sure any gaps are sealed. Big gaps under the door etc, should be covered to stop too much cold air from being able to make its way inside. You should also think about how secure your garage is. Upgrading your locks to a more robust system might be called for if you are worried about the security of your classic car in storage.

Storing your classic car in your garage is not always the best option for you though. Unless you have a window that you can open to improve air circulation, you might struggle to maintain a suitable storage environment. You will also need to look at the temperature. In particular, how much it fluctuates to avoid any heat/cold issues caused to your car.

Store Your Classic Car Outside

If you don’t have a garage to store your classic car in then you might choose to store it outside. If this is the case, you should ideally invest in a car cover that is perfectly suited to your vehicle. Finding the perfect car cover might not be possible though. If you are unable to find a cover that is the exact size of your car, then choose one that is slightly too big. You can use pegs (or similar) to secure it in place to make sure everything is suitably covered and protected.

When storing your classic car outside, it’s important to protect it from direct sunlight. It should also be protected from rain, bird mess, and pretty much any other form of moisture that could potentially damage it.

Lifting your car off the ground during outdoor storage can go a long way in protecting your tyres, wheels, and the underside of the vehicle too.

Use A Classic Car Storage Service

If you want to give your classic car the very best chance of being stored correctly, then using a classic car storage service will likely be your best option.

A professional car storage service can provide the best possible environment for safe and secure classic car storage.

If you’re looking for a car storage service, there are certain things that you should keep an eye out for:

  • Security – perhaps the biggest concern classic car owners have is the security of their vehicles. When in storage, ideally, the facility will offer 24-hour protection. This could be in the form of CCTV, manned patrols, and similar. If you can, full-time manned security will be something to look out for as a preferred method
  • Regular checks – it’s all well and good offering a secure facility to store your classic car but unless your storage provider is going to regularly check on your vehicle while it’s in their care, there’s still a real chance that you will get your vehicle back in a non-running state. Regular temperature, levels and pressures, as well as electrical and mechanical component checks, are the gold standard
  • Environment control – classic cars need lots of love and attention. Stable temperatures and humidity levels are needed, as are optimum air circulation and ventilation. Without this, your classic car could have to face less-than-ideal conditions while in storage.

Bridge Classic Cars Vehicle Storage Solutions

At Bridge Classic Cars, we are passionate about all things classic cars. That’s why we have a safe and secure vehicle storage facility. Situated on an old RAF base, The Hangar is in a prime location for classic car storage.

Not only is The Hangar monitored by 24-hour manned security, but we also use Carcoons to make sure your beloved car is stored in the best possible environment.

As experts in classic car restoration, we have a team of highly skilled classic car technicians who will perform regular checks on cars in our care. We can even collect your car, store it, and deliver it back to you, ready to drive, whenever you choose.

More information about Bridge Classic Cars vehicle storage can be found here. Or you can contact us directly at 01473 742038 or by email at info@bridgeclassiccars.co.uk

New on MyClassics.co.uk – 1967 Volkswagen Beetle

Perhaps one of the most recognisable cars out there, the Volkswagen Beetle is something of an icon selling more than 20 million units over its 80-year run.

Recently listed on MyClassics.co.uk is a 1967 VW Beetle in rubinrot red.

The current owner has had this classic car stored in their garage for the last couple of years but says it still runs, although it could benefit from some cosmetic work.

More information about the car can be seen here.

Primed And Ready

After undergoing recent work to resolve rust issues, our 1999 Rover BRM has had its primer applied and is now ready for its top coat of colour.

The car spent some time in our paint shop with classic car technician Chris as he prepared it for its primer before applying it too. As you can see from the photos below, lots of care and attention is given to this type of task to ensure high-quality paint work once work on the car has been finished.

Progressing Nicely

As our 1978 MGB GT continues to move through the restoration process, things are progressing well and more tasks have been ticked off the checklist.

Classic car technician Rob has painted and fitted the number plate backing panels, fitted the door trim and handles on the right-hand side of the vehicle, as well as making new backing panels for the C pillar trim.

Rob has been extra busy as he also assembled and fitted the rear anti-roll bar and fitted the rear roof trim too.

On The Way To The Workshop

The main body of our 1954 Bristol 405 has been transported to our workshop.

Now it is here with the team, it can begin the next phase of its restoration. With work already done on the seats, it’s time to get the rest of the car in order so it can be one step closer to being back out on the road.

There will be lots more updates coming soon as this classic car returns to its full former glory.