Stripped Back – Teardown of the 1954 Bristol 405 Interior Begins
May 26, 2022
The interior team at Bridge Classic Cars is starting the journey of stripping back the interior on the 1954 Bristol 405 as it begins its
News
Inside Out – Raptorguard on the Inner Wings of the 1987 Daimler Double Six
May 26, 2022
The paint and body team at Bridge Classic Cars have sealed the inner wings of the 1987 Daimler Double Six which is in for restoration.
The Once Over – PDI and Work on the 1985 Porsche 911
May 26, 2022
The 1985 Porsche 911 has been in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop to have the last small bits and pieces done on the car before
Headed Out – Our 1995 Dodge Viper R/T10 on Its Way to Silverstone Auctions
May 25, 2022
The Bridge Classic Cars 1995 Dodge Viper RT/10 has been collected from our secure storage facility, The Hangar, on its way to Silverstone Auctions at
Areas of Interest – Finding Corrosion on the 1986 Daimler DS420
May 25, 2022
During the inspection of the 1986 Daimler Double Six, the Bridge Classic Cars workshop team have found some corrosion areas that they would like to
For Reference – Carefully Removing the Trim from the 1986 Daimler DS420
May 25, 2022
The workshop team at Bridge Classic Cars have begun the process of removing the trim and brightwork from the 1986 Daimler DS420. As part of
Bolted Down Tight – Seatbelts Installed on the 1959 Jensen 541R
May 25, 2022
The workshop team have fitted and secured the new seatbelts into the mounts for the beautiful 1959 Jensen 541R at our Suffolk HQ. Dave, one
Trimmed – Foaming the Seat Base of the 1955 Jensen 541
May 25, 2022
The trim team at Bridge Classic Cars have been working on completely revamping the seats for the 1955 Jensen 541. Beginning with the bases… Lydia,
Touch Up – Paint Repairs on the 2013 Porsche Boxster
May 25, 2022
The Bridge Classic Cars paint team have carried out the paint repairs to the 2013 Porsche Boxster in with us at our Suffolk HQ. The
Boots On – Replacing the Steering Rack Boots on the 1959 Triumph TR3
May 25, 2022
The Bridge Classic Cars workshop have welcomed back this beautiful 1959 Triumph TR3 to our Suffolk HQ to carry out a series of small jobs
Coming Soon – 2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee
May 25, 2022
This 2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee will soon be arriving at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop. Once it arrives, the team will carry out the full
Closer Look – Fibreglass Repairs on the 1956 Jensen 541
May 24, 2022
The paint and body team at Bridge Classic Cars have given us a closer look at the fibreglass repairs on the 1956 Jensen 541 in
Metalwork – Further Body Repairs to the 1978 MG B GT
May 24, 2022
The restoration teams in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop have been carrying on with the metal repairs to the bodyshell of the 1978 MG B
Perfect Fit – Retrimming the Rear Seat of the 1969 Morris Minor Convertible
May 24, 2022
The Bridge Classic Cars interior trim team have worked on refurbishing the rear seat of the 1969 Morris Minor Convertible. The team stripped the original
Hard and Fast – Fitting the Bulkhead Cover to the 1970 Bristol 411
May 24, 2022
The interior trim team at Bridge Classic Cars have finished the brand-new bulkhead cover on the 1970 Bristol 411. The team have handmade this piece
Progress – Updates on the 1979 Arrow Ferrari Daytona
May 24, 2022
The workshop team at Bridge Classic Cars have been working on making progress on the beautiful 1979 Arrow Ferrari Daytona in our Suffolk HQ. The
Coming Soon – 1932 Lagonda
May 24, 2022
Arriving soon to the Bridge Classic Cars workshop at our Suffolk HQ is this stunning 1932 Lagonda. Once it arrives with us, we can’t wait
Good as New – 1905 Riley 9HP Radiator Refurbished
May 24, 2022
The original radiator for the 1905 Riley 9HP has been with our friends at Newquay Radiators to be completely refurbished and rebuilt for the project.
This Just In – 1962 Humber Hawk
May 24, 2022
A recent arrival at the Bridge Classic Cars restoration workshop deep in the heart of Suffolk was this awesome 1962 Humber Hawk. This particular classic
Inspection – Assessing the 1986 Daimler DS420
May 24, 2022
The 1986 Daimler DS420, which arrived recently at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop from America, has been up on the ramp for our teams to
The Suffolk Military Show
May 24, 2022
The Suffolk Military Show is set to become the best military event to visit within the East Anglian region. The family friendly 2 day extravaganza
This Just In – 1979 Pontiac TransAm
May 23, 2022
The Bridge Classic Cars workshop has had another new arrival recently, this iconic 1979 Pontiac TransAm for the restoration workshop to carry out several jobs
Devil in the Detail – Detailing the 2013 Porsche Boxster
May 23, 2022
The 2013 Porsche Boxster has been in the capable hands of our go-to valeter Viper Auto Valet. The front end of the Boxster is being
Out & About – The Long Shop Pre-’60s Rally at Bentwaters
May 23, 2022
On Sunday the 22nd of May, the Bridge Classic Cars team welcomed The Long Shop Museum Pre-’60s Rally to our secure storage facility, The Hangar,
In Colour – The 1987 Daimler Double Six Now in Colour
May 23, 2022
The 1987 Daimler Double Six has been taken into the in-house paint booth at Bridge Classic Cars once again to carry on its journey into
Winners Circle – Our 1989 TVR S2 at Home with its New Owner
May 23, 2022
The 1989 TVR S2, which was donated by previous winner Jar Joyce, has been delivered to its new owner Brian Swain. This classic TVR was
This Just In – 1993 Land Rover Defender 90
May 23, 2022
Recently, this imposing 1993 Land Rover Defender 90 arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars Suffolk HQ. The classic Land Rover will soon be headed through
Out & About – Cars & Caffeine at Type 2 Detectives
May 23, 2022
Our friend Mark headed over to air-cooled Volkswagen specialists, Type 2 Detectives, over the weekend for their Cars & Caffeine event. The guys over at
Check Over – Coltec Inspecting the 1940 Morris Gun Tractor
May 23, 2022
Our friends at Coltec came over to the Bridge Classic Cars workshop at our Suffolk HQ to inspect and assess the engine for the 1940
Full Glass – Fibreglass Repairs on the 1956 Jensen 541
May 23, 2022
The Bridge Classic Cars body team have turned their attention to some all-important fibreglass repairs to the rear section of the 1956 Jensen 541. The
Stripped Back – Teardown of the 1954 Bristol 405 Interior Begins
May 26, 2022
The interior team at Bridge Classic Cars is starting the journey of stripping back the interior on the 1954 Bristol 405 as it begins its restoration across our various departments.
Brian, one of our trimmers, has been working on carefully picking apart the hundreds (if not thousands) of small brass tacks which hold the material to the frames of the classic Bristol seats. Inch by inch, the material is freed from its bindings and once it has been completely undone, it is folded and stored ready to be catalogued and stored for reference.
Once each piece is stripped back, the team can assess the condition of the foam and adhesives, also inspecting any of the delicate frameworks which make up the seats for the rare saloon car. Every single piece of the interior is being carefully looked at and noted to build up the best picture for the plan moving forward during the car’s restoration.
Inside Out – Raptorguard on the Inner Wings of the 1987 Daimler Double Six
May 26, 2022
The paint and body team at Bridge Classic Cars have sealed the inner wings of the 1987 Daimler Double Six which is in for restoration.
The team sealed the inner wings using a product called Raptorguard. This is a hard wearing urethane which will protect the inner arches and wing of the car from absorbing moisture from any dirt collected inside the panel. This is something we do on most of our restorations to protect the longevity of the pieces and ultimately the car itself.
The Once Over – PDI and Work on the 1985 Porsche 911
May 26, 2022
The 1985 Porsche 911 has been in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop to have the last small bits and pieces done on the car before it is delivered to its new owner.
The workshop team have gone through the process of removing the original dust covers from the back of the brakes on the classic 911. These had corroded and begun to split, and are not a safety-related item for the car so the team have worked on getting them removed from the car. Replacement dust covers have been ordered and will be fitted to the car before it leaves our workshop bound for its new home.
Headed Out – Our 1995 Dodge Viper R/T10 on Its Way to Silverstone Auctions
May 25, 2022
The Bridge Classic Cars 1995 Dodge Viper RT/10 has been collected from our secure storage facility, The Hangar, on its way to Silverstone Auctions at Supercar Fest this weekend.
Our 1995 Dodge Viper is due to go across the block as part of the auction event at the weekend long festival of iconic cars.
Check out what they have had to say about our stunning red and white Viper by clicking the link below:
Click here to check out the Silverstone Auctions write up of our 1995 Dodge Viper
Areas of Interest – Finding Corrosion on the 1986 Daimler DS420
May 25, 2022
During the inspection of the 1986 Daimler Double Six, the Bridge Classic Cars workshop team have found some corrosion areas that they would like to look more in-depth at.
The team noticed a few areas on the underside of the classic Daimler during the process of inspecting the trims, this pushed the team to begin getting to the root cause and seeing just how far the corrosion goes into the sills and several substructures.
With that, the team began to carefully take apart the sills and loose corrosion on the underside of the car to then start to formulate a plan for repairs.
For Reference – Carefully Removing the Trim from the 1986 Daimler DS420
May 25, 2022
The workshop team at Bridge Classic Cars have begun the process of removing the trim and brightwork from the 1986 Daimler DS420.
As part of the inspection and assessment of the classic Daimlers restoration, the team take hundreds of reference photos involving the trims for every classic car which comes into our workshops. This is important to log and catalogue the condition and fitment of each piece that has come off the car.
Also, it allows us to use these photos to check against parts diagrams and other reference materials to see if anything is missing or misaligned.
Bolted Down Tight – Seatbelts Installed on the 1959 Jensen 541R
May 25, 2022
The workshop team have fitted and secured the new seatbelts into the mounts for the beautiful 1959 Jensen 541R at our Suffolk HQ.
Dave, one of our technicians, has been busy preparing the classic Jensen to have the brand-new seatbelts fitted into the 1950s GT car. Before, the team worked on replacing the threaded amounts throughout the car to make sure that the fixings that secure them can be properly tightened and torqued down to spec.
With this completed, the team ran the various belts through the openings in the interior pieces of the car and check their latching to ensure everything operated smoothly and properly for the car’s owner.
Trimmed – Foaming the Seat Base of the 1955 Jensen 541
May 25, 2022
The trim team at Bridge Classic Cars have been working on completely revamping the seats for the 1955 Jensen 541. Beginning with the bases…
Lydia, one of our trimmers at Bridge, has carefully wrapped the stripped back and refurbished seat base for the 541 ahead of the team making the new leather covers.
Touch Up – Paint Repairs on the 2013 Porsche Boxster
May 25, 2022
The Bridge Classic Cars paint team have carried out the paint repairs to the 2013 Porsche Boxster in with us at our Suffolk HQ.
The small stone chips and minor marks have been filled with colour matched dark grey paint to make them less conspicuous when looking at the car. Although, still lightly visible they are less obvious than before and a more cost-effective solution than an entire sand-down and respray of the panels.
The team have also refinished the calliper bolts to a stunning glossy black at the customer’s request.
Boots On – Replacing the Steering Rack Boots on the 1959 Triumph TR3
May 25, 2022
The Bridge Classic Cars workshop have welcomed back this beautiful 1959 Triumph TR3 to our Suffolk HQ to carry out a series of small jobs on the classic sports car.
Firstly, the team have replaced the cracked and split steering rack boots from the car. Whilst the old boots were removed, the team took the opportunity to inspect and regrease all the necessary parts and to check the full operation of the rack in the car. Then, the new boots were put into place and the system rechecked for any binding or interference.
Lastly, the team gave the beautiful TR3 a full check over for the customer before we sent it on its way back home to its owner just in time for summer.
Coming Soon – 2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee
May 25, 2022
This 2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee will soon be arriving at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop.
Once it arrives, the team will carry out the full inspection and then… this may become our new tow vehicle!
Keep a look out on the Bridge Classic Cars news page for more updates.
Closer Look – Fibreglass Repairs on the 1956 Jensen 541
May 24, 2022
The paint and body team at Bridge Classic Cars have given us a closer look at the fibreglass repairs on the 1956 Jensen 541 in for restoration.
In these photos, you can see the thinness of the material in areas which had developed some severe checking and in some areas, cracks had begun to appear. So, the team not only strengthened the outside face of the panel but also reset the inside of the piece with modern hard-lasting resins and glass sheets. Carefully, these were built up in specific areas before being left to cure and harden.
Metalwork – Further Body Repairs to the 1978 MG B GT
May 24, 2022
The restoration teams in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop have been carrying on with the metal repairs to the bodyshell of the 1978 MG B GT.
The team have methodically been cutting out any form of corrosion from the classic sports car for it to be replaced with high-quality panels that we have sourced for the project. Each piece of the car is carefully inspected and assessed to see just how far the corrosion has gone into the bodyshell which is then removed and replaced.
Perfect Fit – Retrimming the Rear Seat of the 1969 Morris Minor Convertible
May 24, 2022
The Bridge Classic Cars interior trim team have worked on refurbishing the rear seat of the 1969 Morris Minor Convertible.
The team stripped the original seat base all the way back to its metal springs in order to rebuild it from the ground up. The team have made brand new foam sections which were glued to the underlays and wrapped around the spring bases.
Then, it was ready to be refinished in glorious bright red.
Hard and Fast – Fitting the Bulkhead Cover to the 1970 Bristol 411
May 24, 2022
The interior trim team at Bridge Classic Cars have finished the brand-new bulkhead cover on the 1970 Bristol 411.
The team have handmade this piece to work alongside the work the restoration technicians have done as part of the car’s custom left-hand drive conversion. The edged bulkhead cover had to have its fasteners accurately placed onto the piece and then lined up with the pre-installed locks that hold the cover down.
Progress – Updates on the 1979 Arrow Ferrari Daytona
May 24, 2022
The workshop team at Bridge Classic Cars have been working on making progress on the beautiful 1979 Arrow Ferrari Daytona in our Suffolk HQ.
The team have completed the final installation of the fuel pump into the classic Daytona replica. This was a key part of the project as the team worked towards the first fire up and testing. Along with this, the team have worked on securing the centre console into the car and bolting it down with the new carpet sets.
The team also worked on fitting the new reverse lamp, which required accurate and precise cutting into the rear valance of the GT car. Alongside this, the windscreen and rear glass have been installed into the car.
Coming Soon – 1932 Lagonda
May 24, 2022
Arriving soon to the Bridge Classic Cars workshop at our Suffolk HQ is this stunning 1932 Lagonda.
Once it arrives with us, we can’t wait to show you more on this stunning pre-war tourer so make sure you keep a look out on the Bridge Classic Cars news page for more updates.
Good as New – 1905 Riley 9HP Radiator Refurbished
May 24, 2022
The original radiator for the 1905 Riley 9HP has been with our friends at Newquay Radiators to be completely refurbished and rebuilt for the project.
This is an important part of the restoration project being down by our in-house team at Bridge Classic Cars. It looks absolutely incredible and we love to see the craftsmanship that goes into jobs like this by the best specialists we know.
This Just In – 1962 Humber Hawk
May 24, 2022
A recent arrival at the Bridge Classic Cars restoration workshop deep in the heart of Suffolk was this awesome 1962 Humber Hawk.
This particular classic Humber is owned by our painter Chris’s dad. Chris’s dad has owned the car since before Chris was born and was always destined to become a British street rod. In recent years, it lay dormant at a body shop awaiting its journey but it has now been moved to our site for the team here to keep an eye on it and keep it safe.
In the 1970s and 1980s, the Humber Hawks were popular with British hot rodders and drag racers alike. Fitting more powerful Rover V8s and occasionally the odd American small-block. With their styling akin to the ”shoebox” Chevys of the mid-1950s, they hold a certain appeal to those into nostalgic drag racing and street rodding here in the UK.
It’s always nice to see something different and with such a connection a member of our close-knit team.
Inspection – Assessing the 1986 Daimler DS420
May 24, 2022
The 1986 Daimler DS420, which arrived recently at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop from America, has been up on the ramp for our teams to begin inspecting and assessing the classic limousine.
As part of its inspection, the team will build up a report on the overall condition of the vehicle along with any areas which need further assessment and a plan for repair or refurbishment. This time, the team were focusing on the underside of the classic Daimler to make sure it was structurally sound and safe before any further work is carried out.
The team turned their attention to suspension pickups and mounts, sections of frame, substructure mounts as well as the all-important body shell sills.
The Suffolk Military Show
May 24, 2022
The Suffolk Military Show is set to become the best military event to visit within the East Anglian region. The family friendly 2 day extravaganza will showcase the very finest selection of static military vehicles, multi-period living history re-enactment, arena live stage entertainment, military and vintage traders market, and quality food stalls.
All the awesome stuff to make this a perfect day out. The County Show Ground known as Trinity Park has a ‘second to none’ road network for accessibility.
Whilst Suffolk remains a key area for international active military bases within the UK which boasts both a depth and wealth of military history. Purpose built for top quality events the show ground will provide a fantastic backdrop to the range of multi-period military exhibitors from all over the United Kingdom and Europe which will include British, German, Russian and American re-enactment groups.
The Show will be the newest and freshest in the Military Show Annual events calendar and contain everything from Heavy Military Vehicles, Spontaneous Re-enactment, Explosive Battles, period specific display and RAF flypast. Not to mention the stage performances and guest star appearances by Herr Flick and Helga from the iconic hit series ‘Allo, Allo’!
Displaying all eras from modern day warfare, to way back in history, the Suffolk Military Show will take you on a journey through military history. This Show will be the whole military package to experience.
In the traders market place, a large range of goodies and charity stands will provide an interesting variety of shopping. The military merchandise on offer will provide you with great deals and information, whilst a comprehensive offering of local catering stands, fresh coffee, snacks, soft drinks, ice cream and a licensed bar will be easily to hand. Taking the hassle out of your day, the Suffolk Military Show also includes added extras to make your experience even more enjoyable; free on-site parking, lost children point, disabled access, informative show commentary, show programme and opportunities to meet the guest stars.
Offering fun for all the family, the Suffolk Military Show will take place at on Saturday 30th (09.00-17.00) and Sunday 31st July (10.00-16.00) 2022 at the Suffolk Show Ground, Trinity Park, Felixstowe Road Ipswich IP3 8UH. Tickets available to purchase now.
ALLO ALLO’S HERR FLICK & HELGA
Pay attention peasants! Herr Flick and Helga (the real ones!) are available for you to meet at The Suffolk Military Show 2022.
Kim Hartman and Richard Gibson are best known for playing Herr Flick and Helga in the wonderfully popular ‘Allo! ‘Allo! throughout the world, which, all though finished filming in 1992, is still highly regarded as one of the best British sitcoms ever!
For The Suffolk Military Show, Richard and Kim will be attending on both show days and will be showcasing on our main stage a 25-minute sketch, with laughter, music and magic, followed by question-and-answer sessions and anecdotes around the making of the series and the artists’ experiences in the entertainment world.
Kim and Richard will also make themselves available to be photographed in costume with members of the public.
This Just In – 1979 Pontiac TransAm
May 23, 2022
The Bridge Classic Cars workshop has had another new arrival recently, this iconic 1979 Pontiac TransAm for the restoration workshop to carry out several jobs on.
The teams will be getting this classic muscle car back in solid mechanical order while the paint and body team have a few small, sympathetic jobs to carry out on the car.
Keep a look out on the Bridge Classic Cars news page very soon for more on the 1979 Pontiac TransAm.
Devil in the Detail – Detailing the 2013 Porsche Boxster
May 23, 2022
The 2013 Porsche Boxster has been in the capable hands of our go-to valeter Viper Auto Valet.
The front end of the Boxster is being polished and cleaned before it goes into our in-house paint team to have its minor imperfections worked on to get it looking absolutely perfect for its owner.
Out & About – The Long Shop Pre-’60s Rally at Bentwaters
May 23, 2022
On Sunday the 22nd of May, the Bridge Classic Cars team welcomed The Long Shop Museum Pre-’60s Rally to our secure storage facility, The Hangar, as part of their tour.
It was an absolute pleasure to have so many classic and vintage cars, motorcycles and buses at our site and to learn more about the stories of each of the cars and their owners. Everything from the very early turn of the century European touring cars to 1950s American classics and everything in between.
During the stop at our site, Craig and Freddie did a walk-around to show all of our audience this amazing event which you can rewatch here:
To see the entire gallery have a look below!
In Colour – The 1987 Daimler Double Six Now in Colour
May 23, 2022
The 1987 Daimler Double Six has been taken into the in-house paint booth at Bridge Classic Cars once again to carry on its journey into full colour.
The team have spent countless hours making sure that each process and stage of the paint and bodywork for the classic Daimler is flawless and smooth. Each layer of paint is inspected and assessed even on the inside of the panels. With the inner panels now painted, the team masked up the bodyshell and could begin the process of laying down the dark blue onto the Double Six.
Patiently and methodically, the paint team swept layers of the deep blue across the body and wings of the car. One after another, the layers were built up to give the car its glossy and bright finish but to also build up the depth and contrast in the colour.
With this stage done, the Daimler is now curing before the paint and body team begin colour sanding.
Winners Circle – Our 1989 TVR S2 at Home with its New Owner
May 23, 2022
The 1989 TVR S2, which was donated by previous winner Jar Joyce, has been delivered to its new owner Brian Swain.
This classic TVR was donated by Jar back to Bridge Classic Cars Competitions to help support the DEC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal. Through everyone’s kindness and generosity, we managed to raise over £38,000 which was donated weekly directly to the DEC in order to help those first-hand affected by the invasion and subsequent destruction and displacement.
All of us here wish Brian many happy miles and years with the classic TVR and again, thank you to everyone for taking part in this amazing charity appeal.
This Just In – 1993 Land Rover Defender 90
May 23, 2022
Recently, this imposing 1993 Land Rover Defender 90 arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars Suffolk HQ.
The classic Land Rover will soon be headed through our various restoration workshops and their teams to be completely inspected and assessed aesthetically and mechanically. The Land Rover has had some tasteful and well-installed upgrades to modernise the 1990s off-roader that set it apart from its rivals.
Keep a look out here on the Bridge Classic Cars news page for more updates very soon on the 1993 Land Rover Defender 90.
Out & About – Cars & Caffeine at Type 2 Detectives
May 23, 2022
Our friend Mark headed over to air-cooled Volkswagen specialists, Type 2 Detectives, over the weekend for their Cars & Caffeine event.
The guys over at Type 2 Detectives opened their doors to friends and visitors on Sunday for a meet up of not just Volkswagens but Porsches, BMWs, Lotus and many many more. Type 2 Detectives are known for their sensational builds specialising in classic air-cooled Volkswagen’s and it’s always a pleasure to see their work and the pride they take in it!
Check Over – Coltec Inspecting the 1940 Morris Gun Tractor
May 23, 2022
Our friends at Coltec came over to the Bridge Classic Cars workshop at our Suffolk HQ to inspect and assess the engine for the 1940 Morris Gun Tractor.
The engine is reportedly running rough and has a few issues so we invited Coltec to come and cast their expert eyes and ears over the classic military transporter.
They will be coming back again soon to carry out a few more tests and try to get to the bottom of the issues which are affecting the classic Morris.
Full Glass – Fibreglass Repairs on the 1956 Jensen 541
May 23, 2022
The Bridge Classic Cars body team have turned their attention to some all-important fibreglass repairs to the rear section of the 1956 Jensen 541.
The entire rear clamshell of the classic Jensen had developed a few issues with the material, so the body team carefully re-glassed the area in order to strengthen the piece and add material in for correcting the shape of the piece.
With fibreglass, its important the layers are built up flat and evenly to make sure it perfectly followed the shape of the panel underneath but also around the area.
