News

Parts & Pieces – Painting the Panels and Doors of the 1969 Morris Minor Convertible

The doors and panels of the 1969 Morris Minor Convertible have been moved and set up inside the Bridge Classic Cars in-house paint booth to be finished in matching Snowberry White to the rest of the body.

Each of the pieces were carefully cleaned, set up and then cleaned again. This is crucial to achieving the best possible finish for the car. The specific shade of Snowberry White has been mixed to purposefully be uniform across the entire car as part of its restoration.

Her Majesty – The Jensen White Lady Has Been Restored

Close friend of Bridge Classic Cars, Joerg, has recently completed this absolutely beautiful restoration on a very special car.

He has recently completed the complete and total restoration of the Jensen White Lady. The White Lady is the very first prototype, car number 1. Not a prototype for a model, but for Jensen itself. The Jensen Brothers created the car in 1934/1935, an entirely handbuilt and beautiful touring body.

The car has had an amazing and storied past. Sold in 1936, it was recommissioned in around 1957 before being put up for sale around Bristol. It was then bought by a Canadian gentleman, who organised the White Lady to be transported over to Canada at the end of 1957 before arriving in early 1958 with the cold weather had damaged the engine block. The car was used in Canada throughout the 1960s and into the early 1970s, in the mid-1970s the car was stripped back to its bare aluminium with all intentions of being fully restored. There is sat until 2016 when it was bought by a collector and restorer.

The car then made its way back over the Atlantic into the hands of our friend Joerg, who is a world authority on the Jensen marque. He has been building up the car and putting it back to its original specification complete with Ford V8 and exquisite white paintwork which gave the car its original name.

And now, thanks to Joerg’s hard work and dedication, the White Lady is once again back in full splendour.

Behind the Scenes – Live Draw of the 1995 Dodge Viper RT/10

This week’s live draw was a very special one. Not only was it for our incredible 1995 Dodge Viper RT/10 but it was the first of a new format for our classic car live draws thanks to our amazing friends over at Bruizer.

The new way of doing the live draws means the ability to swap between multiple cameras during the live stream but also to play in some of our videos of competition cars and updates from our restoration workshop! We’re really excited and hope you are too!

The imposing Viper sat in the centre of our competition building, pride of place. This is one of the most exciting cars we’ve ever had the opportunity to bring to our amazing followers. Molly, Craig and Freddie showed our watchers around the eclectic mix we currently have at our Suffolk HQ. From a 1950 Land Rover Series 1 to a 200 MPH 2008 Bentley and everything you can imagine in between.

But, everyone wanted to know if they had the ticket which would mean they were going to take delivery of the iconic 1990s supercar. As always, our pre-published entry lists go live on our website after the tickets close at 7:10pm. We use Google Random Number Generator to spin the metaphorical wheel of fortune, and find the winner ticket number. After a test run using numbers not included in the entry list, it was time to find our winner.

Molly input the criteria of 1 to 9999 and with one swift touch of a button, the Viper had a new home. The winner was Mike Fairley with ticket number 3938. The ecstatic new owner of the legendary Dodge Viper!

Full-Size Fun – An Aston Martin DB5 Made from Lego

Video Credit: Metro.co.uk

How amazing is this! A full life-sized replica of an Aston Martin DB5 but made entirely of lego!

This unique creation will be sitting pride of place at the Lego flagship store in London for all to see. It’s made of nearly 350,000 individual pieces and took 67 days to complete with help from the Aston Martin Heritage department who provided all the necessary specifications to make it an exact 1:1 scale.

Take a look at the video from the Metro website!

Routing – Running the New Wiring Harness in the 1971 Bristol 411

The workshop team at Bridge Classic Cars has been working on routing the new wiring harness on the 1971 Bristol 411.

At our Suffolk HQ, the Bristol has come in to be rewired and with that, the team have paid careful attention to the routing of each individual wire and its placement/length. The team have used period correct ‘P’ clips to clamp the wiring runs and separate them into the various systems for the car. Along with that, the team have made up some new wires and added them into the harness for the temperature sensor and the ignition coil.

Each of the wires was then prepared and tightened down into the power blocks in advance of the car being tested soon.

Replaced – New Hazard Light Switch on the 1987 Daimler Double Six

The workshop team at Bridge Classic Cars have completed the final job on the 1987 Daimler Double Six which has been with us for restoration.

The hazard light switch, located on the steering column on the Daimler Double Six, was found to have an issue. So, the workshop team have carefully removed the shrowding on the steering column to remove the old switch. With the old unit removed, the team could replace it with a new piece and then test to confirm everything worked as it should.

With everything being given the green light, the car was loaded up and taken over to our secure storage facility, The Hangar, to be stored for its owner.

Coming Along – Body of the 1969 Morris Minor Convertible in Colour!

Recently, the Bridge Classic Cars paintshop has been getting various panels and parts for the 1969 Morris Minor Convertible finished in its original colour of Snowberry White.

Now, it was time for the team to bring the bodyshell into our paint booth and bring it all together, with the bodyshell finished in the classic off-white colour.

After thoroughly cleaning down the bodyshell and bootlid, our partner Alan could begin laying down the layers of colour. These are built up carefully to produce the best finish possible for the car and also to have enough paint to sand back in preparation for the polishing.

Wiring Repairs – Fixing Some Wiring Issues with the 1968 Triumph TR5

The next step on the 1968 Triumph TR5 in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop was to resolve a few wiring issues.

Our technician Dave went through several of the systems and found a continuity issue with some of the wiring around the gearbox. The team traced it to a broken connector which was replaced and tested.

In Colour – Inside of the Bonnet for the 1969 Morris Minor Convertible Painted

The paint shop at Bridge Classic Cars have been working on getting the underside of the bonnet for the 1969 Morris Minor Convertible into colour as part of its restoration.

The paint and body team have methodically cleaned down and prepared the bonnet for this step of the paint which first involves a layer of epoxy primer before laying down the Snowberry White paint onto the panel.

Update – Working on the 1971 MG B Roadster

Our 1971 MG B Roadster, which was won last week through our Bridge Classic Cars Competitions, has been in the workshop to have a few of the final jobs done on the classic roadster before it heads off to its new home.

The team have swapped out the brake master cylinder for a brand-new replacement due to not being able to bleed the system. Once this was all fit up and plumbed in, our technicians could then work on replacing the wheel cylinders and resetting the pistons back into the front calipers correctly.

Finally, it was time to get the steering wheel realigned while also replacing the rubber boots on the track-rod ends.

Fitted – New Tonneau Cover on the 1962 Morris Minor Convertible

The trim shop at Bridge Classic Cars has fitted the brand new tonneau cover to the 1962 Morris Minor Convertible which recently arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars Suffolk HQ.

Our trimmer, Brian, carefully cut the necessary holes for the fasteners to go through after carefully measuring out the cover over the lowered hood on the car. This was to achieve the best possible fit for the classic Morris Minor and enhance the amazing condition this wonderful vintage Morris is in.

Final Stage – The 1958 Jensen 541R in Final Primer

The 1958 Jensen 541R has been in the Bridge Classic Cars paint booth to have its final stage of primer laid down onto the bodyshell.

The team have been working hard to prepare the bodywork of the classic GT car. Every surface has been carefully sanded, worked and primed several times over to make sure everything is perfect.

Then the final glass-like primer could be sprayed onto the bodyshell and left to cure properly in our in-house oven.

Out Back – Repairing the Rear Hatch on the 2005 Suzuki Everyvan

The paint and body team at Bridge Classic Cars have been working on addressing a small crack in the rear hatch of the 2005 Suzuki Everyvan.

The team have carefully stripped back the area to expose the bare metal for our fabrication team to weld back up before grinding the area as smooth as possible. From there, the paint and body team took over finessing the area further in order to get it perfectly flat and smooth with minimal filler work needed.

Underneath – Repairing the Rear Valance on the 1986 Daimler DS420

The fabrication shop at the Bridge Classic Cars restoration workshop have been continuing to work on the 1986 Daimler DS420 in for restoration.

This time, the team have been handmaking several patch panels to the inner structure of the rear wings which were then plug welded into the body for strength. Then, they could move on to hand making one of the bigger patch panels needed.

This piece runs along the entire bottom edge at the back of the car. From a flat sheet of steel, the team have shaped and tweaked the panel into shape for a direct replacement. Shrinking and stretching the bottom edges to match the curve of the panel. Once in shape, the team could weld and smooth in the end caps which have been completely made by hand by our fabricator Monty.

Then, the whole piece could be test fit to see if any areas needed clearancing the bodywork to accept the new piece.

Topped Off – Repainting the Hood Frame on the 1969 Morris Minor Convertible

The paint and body team at Bridge Classic Cars have been working on refurbishing and refinishing the convertible hood frame on the 1969 Morris Minor Convertible in for restoration.

The part was stripped back, cleaned and inspected before being primered and then finished in matching snowberry white to the rest of the car.

Back Together – Points & Condenser and Refitting the Radiator on the 1984 Lada 1200

The Bridge Classic Cars workshop have been working on getting the 1984 Lada 1200 back together to begin testing the classic estate.

To begin with, the team replaced the points and condenser in preparation for road testing the next stage of the work.

The radiator of the classic Lada had been sent off to a local, trusted specialist to be repaired before being delivered back. The team could then put it back into the core support and begin to refit the various hoses in the engine bay before refilling the coolant and checking for any leaks or issues. All was ok on inspection.

The team then took the car out on a road test after correcting the timing and came back with the all-clear.

Behind the Scenes – Shooting the 1981 Alfa Romeo Giulietta

The Bridge Classic Cars team have been working behind the scenes to bring you this, our latest competition car. Our 1981 Alfa Romeo Giulietta.

After being checked over by our in-house workshops and given the all-clear for filming, it was taken over to our filming location at The Hangar. There, it was handed over to Freddie and Molly to get ready for its competition debut.

The stunning Shahini blue paintwork contrasted against the evergreen backgrounds of the former airforce base. Its characterful Alfa Romeo twin-cam 4-cylinder engine gave every sense of personality and music to the occasion. As Molly took it round the loop, the Alfa behaved beautifully. With the windows down, the sunroof open and the sun beaming down, there weren’t many better places to be at that moment in time.

And, all of this could be yours. You could become the lucky new owner of this stunning 1981 Alfa Romeo Giulietta with Bridge Classic Cars Competitions! Head over to the website by clicking here and get your tickets now.

Stopping Power – New Discs, Pads and Calipers on the 1968 Triumph TR5

The workshop team at Bridge Classic Cars have been addressing some issues with the 1968 Triumph TR5, starting with the brakes.

The team have removed the old pads, discs and calipers from the classic Triumph for brand new units to help with the stunning convertible stop properly. Once the old units were off the car, the team could also thoroughly inspect all the suspension and running gear on the car.

Strip Down – Cleaning Out the Carburettor on our 1961 Morris Mini Deluxe ‘Little Eva’

As part of getting our 1961 Morris Mini Deluxe ‘Little Eva’ in perfect running order, the Bridge Classic Cars team have stripped and cleaned the carburettor.

Our technician Jon has been carefully taking apart the part and clearing out every passage and venturi to make sure the fuel and air can pass through unchallenged by any dirt or debris that may have built up during its time in storage.

Clean Look – Parts of the 1978 MG B GT Refinished

Some of the pieces of the 1978 MG B GT have been refurbished by the team before being handed over to our paint team at the Bridge Classic Cars Suffolk HQ.

The paint team have refinished the parts in hard-wearing and durable black as part of the restoration.

Final Drive – Getting the 1958 Jensen 541R Ready for Final Primer

The 1958 Jensen 541R has been having its final stages of sanding finished before it is taken into the Bridge Classic Cars paint booth for its last stage of primer.

The classic Jensen has been worked on by the body team to perfect each curve and shape across the entire car as a whole. Then, some of the panels were taken into the booth to have their final coat of primer before the bodyshell is taken in soon.

First Up – Repairing the Hardtop of the 1991 Mercedes Benz SL300

The removable hardtop on the 1991 Mercedes Benz SL300 has been taken off of the car and brought upstairs for the Bridge Classic Cars trim team to work their magic on.

The headliner has separated from the edges of the roof. So, Brian and Lydia will go through the whole piece and assess if it can be repaired or will need to be replaced.

This Just In – 1991 Mercedes Benz SL300

Just arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop at our Suffolk HQ is this stunning 1991 Mercedes Benz SL300 R129.

The classic convertible Mercedes will be inspected by our restoration teams to check over the car and compile their condition report to see if anything needs doing to get this beautiful silver sports car in the best shape possible.

Keep a look out on the Bridge Classic News page for more on the 1991 Mercedes Benz SL300 very soon.

Out & About – 1960 Jensen 541S ‘Peony’ at a Car Show

The 1960 Jensen 541S ‘Peony’, which was restored by Bridge Classic Cars, has been to several recent classic car shows with its proud owner sending us over some photos of the gorgeous classic Jensen GT car in pride of place.

Nostalgia – Our 1966 Jaguar Mk2 in South Africa

The former owner of our 1966 Jaguar Mk2 3.8 has sent over some photos of its previous life in South Africa!

The photos show everything from the car taken back to a bare painted shell to being used as a wedding car and at the top of some of the amazing scenery that surrounded its hometown.

It’s always amazing to see the former lives of our cars!

Helmingham Hall Classic & Sports Car Festival 2022

This Sunday, the Bridge Classic Cars team were at the Helmingham Hall Classic & Sports Car Festival 2022.

The team had set up our stand the day before and carefully positioned our collection of competition and restoration cars to show off to everyone walking past.

Our stand was instantly busy as the gates opened at 10 am on Sunday. Crowds and lines of people waiting to get their tickets for our competition cars or to talk to the team about a project they have. In front of us, the rows of concourse cars laid out an incredible sight.

From an original Lamborghini Countach Anniversary to an Mk2 Jaguar with a leopard print interior. Included in those rows of incredible machinery was a 1960 Jensen 541S – It was Peony Red, the car we had restored for its proud owner on display and mentioned as a finalist in the Best in Show later that day.

In the multiple fields and paddocks, all manner of cars were on show. From new supercars to rarely seen and incredible classics from every corner of the automotive world. There was also amazing food, dancing, bands and stands for everyone to look at.

Families lined the shaded driveway, nestled under a long row of oak trees as the sun grew higher throughout the day as the concourse cars would do their exhibition runs. Filling the Suffolk countryside with every type of engine noise imaginable.

At the Bridge Classic Cars stand, the line of people didn’t stop. We love seeing our friends, new and old, so it was always a pleasure for the team to have a chat and enjoy the atmosphere.

As the afternoon went on, it was time to do our annual live draw from the Heveningham Hall Classic & Sports Car Festival. This time, it was for our beautiful 1971 MG B Roadster.

Molly and Freddie went live on our Facebook page to find out who the lucky new owner of the classic sports car. With the tickets having sold out several days before and the entry list being live, it was time to fire up the Google Random Number Generator. As Molly and Freddie hit the button, the future of the MG B was decided. The winner was Richard Hancox with ticket number 1027.

To check out the full gallery from the 2022 Helimgham Hall Classic & Sports Car Festival 2022 have a look below:

This Just In – 1992 Jaguar XJS V12

The latest arrival at the Bridge Classic Cars restoration workshop at our Suffolk HQ is this 1992 Jaguar XJS V12.

The classic Jaguar has come in for our restoration teams to look into and inspect. The teams will be assessing what is needed to be on the car which has been laid up in a garage nearby for a little while.

Keep a look out on the Bridge Classic Cars news page very soon for more updates.