Still Turning Heads – Our 1959 MGA Twin Cam
October 14, 2022
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.
1959 MGA Twin Cam
Delivering the Dream – The 1959 MG A Twin Cam at Its New Home
April 12, 2022
The team at Bridge Classic Cars Competitions have delivered the 1959 MGA Twin Cam to its excited new owner, Peter. Peter won the MGA Twin
Behind the Scenes – Live Draw of the 1959 MGA Twin Cam & 1979 Triumph Spitfire
March 4, 2022
Our 1959 MGA Twin Cam and 1979 Triumph Spitfires have found their very lucky new owners in last night’s live draw. Let’s go behind the
What’s the Story – The Life and Times of our 1959 MGA Twin Cam
February 2, 2022
Bridge Classic Cars Competitions thought you might like to know a bit of the back story on our 1959 MGA Twin Cam that is currently
Behind The Scenes – Shooting the 1959 MGA Twin Cam
February 1, 2022
It was a cold and damp January morning as the 1959 MGA Twin Cam fired into life outside the Bridge Classic Cars hangar. As the
Clear Out – Rebuilding the Carburettors of the 1959 MGA Twin-Cam
January 14, 2022
The 1959 MGA Twin-Cam that is currently in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop in our Pettistree, Suffolk HQ isn’t running quite right. So, our incredible
Handed Down – 1959 MGA Twin Cam
October 4, 2021
There are certain things that get handed down through the generations. Something sentimental that have a certain connection to a person or place. This is
Still Turning Heads – Our 1959 MGA Twin Cam
October 14, 2022
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!
Delivering the Dream – The 1959 MG A Twin Cam at Its New Home
April 12, 2022
The team at Bridge Classic Cars Competitions have delivered the 1959 MGA Twin Cam to its excited new owner, Peter.
Peter won the MGA Twin Cam through Bridge Classic Cars Competitions and as part of every competition, we deliver their dream classic directly to their door. With such a special car, the team wanted to go along and capture the moment where the enclosed trailer ramp was dropped, and Peter saw his classic MGA Twin Cam for the first time.
You could be just like Peter! Head over to the Bridge Classic Cars Competitions website and enter now for any of the competitions.
Behind the Scenes – Live Draw of the 1959 MGA Twin Cam & 1979 Triumph Spitfire
March 4, 2022
Our 1959 MGA Twin Cam and 1979 Triumph Spitfires have found their very lucky new owners in last night’s live draw. Let’s go behind the scenes…
For this live draw, it was just the Bridge Classic Cars Competitions team. At the closing time for tickets of 630pm, there were still 1100 tickets remaining on the MGA Twin Cam and around 400 on the Spitfire – which means incredible odds for those who had entered. But, none of us knew just who the new owners would be.
After the customary walk around of the cars in our new competition building, talking to our incredible audience on our live stream, it was time to find out who lady luck was smiling on last night. As always, we use a Random Number Generator in order to select the ticket numbers from the pre-published entry lists which are available to view before the draw.
First up was the stunning Inca Yellow 1979 Triumph Spitfire, one of the best sounding cars that we have ever had in with its upgraded stainless steel system, the sound matches its striking good looks. As the numbers were loaded into the random number generator, anticipation built. Then, with a wiring flash on the new big-screen monitor, the number appeared. 2170. This particular ticket was allocated to Neil James. The new, very lucky owner of the 1979 Inca Yellow Triumph Spitfire.
Without holding up proceedings, everyone wanted to know who was going to win the 1959 MGA Twin Cam. A car with possibly one of the best backstories we have ever had in. A true race car from its earliest days and then a classic sports car connection between a father, a son and a racing team. XLE40, the 1959 MGA Twin Cam has got an incredible history (which you can read about here). But, we were here to find out who its latest custodian was. Hayley input the numbers into the generator, and with a single click, the fate of the MGA Twin Cam had been decided. The screen showed 3476. The ticket number bought by Peter Leyland. The MGA Twin Cam’s new owner.
As a custom, we call the winners on the live stream. Unfortunately, Neil didn’t answer the phone. But Peter did. Hayley and the team had a chat with him, a true MG enthusiast at heart. He was overwhelmed with his new addition.
Soon, these two will be heading off to their new lives away from us with their wonderful new owners to adore.
Remember, you too could join the list of over 70+ people who have won with us. Head over to the Bridge Classic Cars Competitions website and enter now!
What’s the Story – The Life and Times of our 1959 MGA Twin Cam
February 2, 2022
Bridge Classic Cars Competitions thought you might like to know a bit of the back story on our 1959 MGA Twin Cam that is currently live and waiting to be won!The 1959 MGA Twin Cam ”XLE 40” was first owned by the son of world famous composer, Annunzio Paolo Mantovani. Kenneth had ordered the car in the late 1950s and in the period it had been used in several sprints and races to some success. In 1963, Mantovani put the car up for sale in order to fund his new car, an Austin Healy 3000. He later went on to say that he preferred the handling of the MGA Twin Cam to the big Austin Healey.
After Mantovani owned the car, it was then in the care of Jo Krygier of Birmingham who owned and ran the car until 1965. At this point, the owner decided the car need a refresh. This is where the story of XLE 40, our 1959 MGA Twin Cam really begins.
About 3/4 of the way through XLE 40’s refresh in the mid-1960s, it was bought by Roger Andreason. For those who are into classic and vintage motorsport, you will know that Roger Andreason was the managing director of Chevron Cars from 1983. But before then, he used to club race. With this, his 1959 MGA Twin Cam ”XLE 40”.Roger set about creating a serious club racer out of XLE 40. Gathering all manner of hard to find spares and pieces to finish off its mechanical refresh. From there, it was to the track.
A newspaper clipping included in the cars history file from 1968 says:”On lap four they [race leaders] were joined by Roger Andreason in his twin-cam M.G.A. By completely mastering the tricky double apex of Camp Corner, Andreason managed to get a classical fast exit from the bend each time round, which brought him closer to, and then by the side of his opponents.”
But it wasn’t just here in England the car was raced during its 50-year life through Roger and then his son Chris. There are stories of XLE 40 racing in Europe and in Florida. A true racer at heart, the MGA Twin Cam was the perfect car for the job.
After its life of racing and the unfortunate and sad passing of Roger, his son Chris commissioned the car to be restored back to its original condition which is how you see the car today. Only its beautifully louvred bonnet gives any hint to its competition past. The restoration of the car was handled by a team from the original TVR factory who painstakingly worked the car back to its original specs. The only things not standard is the front grille (which is the same grille it wore throughout its racing career)and the rear lights.
Bridge Classic Cars Competitions want to give one lucky winner the chance to own this incredible piece of history. A beautiful and mechanically exceptional example of the MGA Twin Cam but add on to that the history and the story which is engrained into the very metal of its being.
Could you be the next chapter of this car’s amazing story? Head over to the Bridge Classic Cars Competitions and enter now for your chance to become part of the history of XLE 40. The 1959 MGA Twin Cam.
Behind The Scenes – Shooting the 1959 MGA Twin Cam
February 1, 2022
It was a cold and damp January morning as the 1959 MGA Twin Cam fired into life outside the Bridge Classic Cars hangar. As the 1600cc 4 cylinder thumped away to warm up, the Bridge Classic Cars team got ready to capture just how beautiful this little sports car really was.
As Freddie got his camera gear ready to film, Nick gave Hayley the rundown on the car. The engine was snappy and responsive and this car had disc brakes all around. That was the only thing that our presenter needed to know because it was about as perfect as an MGA Twin Cam can be.
Hayley got in the bright blue, low slung sports car. And with a simple push forward on the gearstick, it slipped straight into 1st. The car began rolling down the runway towards our filming location with the camera car in hot pursuit. The now 62-year-old ex-race car wanted to stretch its legs…
Once the convoy had reached the outskirts of the airbase, the team went through the plan. All the while, the B series engine sat there idling perfectly. Throughout the whole time, it never missed a beat. It put the biggest smile on Hayley’s face despite the sub-zero temperature.
From every angle, the car looked fast. It had grace, it had presence and it had a purpose. The dark, black, all business interior just went further to compliment the stunning pale blue exterior in the mid-winter sun.
And best of all? You could win this very car. Just head over to the Bridge Classic Cars Competitions website for your chance to be part of the next chapter in our 1959 MGA Twin Cam’s story.
Clear Out – Rebuilding the Carburettors of the 1959 MGA Twin-Cam
January 14, 2022
The 1959 MGA Twin-Cam that is currently in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop in our Pettistree, Suffolk HQ isn’t running quite right. So, our incredible team of in-house technicians have been working on the beautiful light blue sports car.
Jon, one of our in-house restoration technicians, has been working on the car along with our other John (workshop Manager). During the inspection and assessment of the car, John noted that there was a misfire when the engine was under load. It was time to look into the issue.
Jon, as a matter course, decided to check the carburettors on the MGA. These aren’t the easiest to get out of a Twin-Cam due to the two large banks on the cylinder heads. Finally, Jon managed to release the set of carburettors from the engine bay and get them onto the workbench. After carefully pulling the units apart, he found quite a few valves and galleys to be full of sediment and sludge. So, with new rebuild kits in hand, Jon began the process of carefully clearing and cleaning each of the carburettors ready to put them back together and back on the car.
Once he had cleared out any form of dirt or sediment from every part of the carburettors, Jon put them back together on the bench. With these carburettors, there is a very specific way of putting them back onto the car. The top bolts for the carbs to fix to the manifold have to be put in off the car or else it is a nightmare to get them in the designated holes. Once the top bolts were in place with their nuts in place behind the flange on the manifold, Jon could use the inspection cover in the front wheel well to get the bottom bolts onto the carburettors.
Now that the units are back on the car, it can be roadtested by John, our workshop manager, to see if the misfire has been cured.
Handed Down – 1959 MGA Twin Cam
October 4, 2021
There are certain things that get handed down through the generations. Something sentimental that have a certain connection to a person or place. This is true with his fabulous 1959 MGA Twin Cam that we currently have at Bridge Classic Cars for storage.
We are looking after the car for a customer at our Bentwaters storage facility for a while. This car was originally owned by the customer’s father who at one time was the manager of the Chevron racing team. A nice connection between Bridge Classic Cars and Chevron was the recent 1972 Chevron B20 Formula 2 car we auctioned on Collecting Cars.
This beautiful pale blue Twin Cam car has been rebuilt and restored from the ground up. It also appears to have had somewhat of competition history, with several newspaper cuttings from club races. The current owner has sent over some wonderful images of the recommission that was undertaken on the car to show the extent of what has been completed on the car.
Here they are in the gallery below:
