Ferrari Stone Guards
August 12, 2024
Christian has been repairing the stone guards on our 1979 Ferrari 400 GT.
Projects
Engine Reassembly
August 12, 2024
Jonn has been reassembling the engine of our 1963 Fiat 500. Here are his notes: Start to reassemble engine. Clean all parts not already cleaned
Another Competition Car Delivered
August 12, 2024
Last week, Tony loaded up our 1986 Bertone X1/9 and delivered it to its new owner Colin. Colin won the car through Bridge Classic Cars
Rebuilding Our Dino
August 12, 2024
Our 1973 Ferrari Dino has been making some good progress through its restoration as of late. Christian has been installing new parts with the right
541 Progress And Repairs
August 12, 2024
Paul has been working on our 1956 Jensen 541. He fabricated a cover to protect the wiring to the fuel pump and checked over the
Devon Progress Continues
August 8, 2024
As our 1951 Austin Devon is a commercial vehicle, it has unfortunately had a tough life and the seats are certainly showing this. The driver’s
Transport And Investigation
August 8, 2024
After Tony transported our 1968 MGB GT from its home to the workshop, John began his investigation into why it was losing coolant. John’s notes
Pre-Delivery Inspection
August 8, 2024
Our 1958 Austin Healey 100/6 has been undergoing its pre-delivery inspection with technician Jonn. Here are his notes: Adjust handbrake cable and rear shoes. Remove
Ferrari Inspection And Repairs
August 8, 2024
Classic car technician Jonn has been inspecting our 1979 Ferrari 400 GT and has started making some of the repairs it requires. Jonn stripped the
M3 Evo Air Con Fan
August 7, 2024
Technician Jonn has been working on our 1998 BMW M3 Evo. Here are his notes: Remove front bumper. Remove lower vents and ducting to gain
DB7 Radiators And Repairs
August 7, 2024
Here are Jonns notes on his recent work on our 2002 Aston Martin DB7 Vantage. Continue to fit radiator. Fit intake pipes and arch liners,
Win a Classic 1990 Jaguar XJ6 and Support an Important Cause!
August 6, 2024
Our latest competition for our 1990 Jaguar XJ6 is now live on the Bridge Classic Cars Competitions website! This is your chance to own an
Bridge Classic Cars at the Festival of Classic & Sports Cars at Helmingham Hall
August 5, 2024
We had the privilege of being the headline sponsors of the Festival of Classic & Sports Cars at Helmingham Hall this past weekend, and it
Dino Progress
August 5, 2024
Christian has been repairing the sill and fabricating new sill parts for our 1973 Ferrari 246 GTS.
DB2/4 Oil Change
August 5, 2024
Here are Jonn’s notes for his recent work on our 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4: Drain oil. Remove oil filter. Clean top edge and inside. Remove
X1/9 PDI
August 5, 2024
Jonn has been completing the pdi on our 1986 Bertone X1/9, in preparation for it to be delivered to its new owner, who won it
P5 Work Continues
August 5, 2024
Workshop manager John has been continuing to work on our 1973 Rover P5B Coupe. Here are his notes: Looking into fuel and temperature gauge not
2024 Festival of Classic & Sports Cars set up and take down.
August 4, 2024
Set up began early for us on this year’s stand at the Festival of Classic & Sports Cars at Helmingham Hall Gardens. The week prior
DB7 Radiator
August 2, 2024
Jonn has been fitting the fans to the new radiator of our 2001 Aston Martin DB7 Vantage. He cleaned the pipe flanges before dropping the
C Type Adjustments
August 2, 2024
The two Johns have been working on our 2022 Bridge C-Type Replica. New torsion bar adjusters were fitted and the undershields were removed along with
Austin Devon Progress
August 2, 2024
Our 1951 Austin Devon has had its panels stripped off its front end and prepped for epoxy primer. A small repair was made to the
Our Zephyr Looks Great
August 1, 2024
We recently welcomed our 1959 Ford Zephyr into the Bridge Classic Cars workshop. As it was going through its initial inspection and assessment, we couldn’t
MGA In Paint
July 31, 2024
Our 1960 MGA has been in the paint shop with Chris. The holes have been welded and the panel has been painted.
Aston Martin Suspension
July 31, 2024
Rob has been assembling the front suspension stub axle cross member along with the rear axle of our 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Drophead Coupe.
GT6 Wheel Bearings
July 31, 2024
The left-hand rear drive shaft of our 1972 Triumph GT6 has been removed by technician Rob as the wheel bearing has collapsed. He needed to
Rover P5 Welding And Rust Repairs
July 31, 2024
Christian has been completing some welding repairs on our 1973 Rover P5 Coupe before investigating some rust issues. Paintshop manager Chris then applied schutz undercoat
Jensen Window Regulators
July 31, 2024
New window regulators have been fitted on our 1956 Jensen 541. Before they were fitted though, Paul had to modify the new regulators and the
DB5 Running Issues
July 31, 2024
Classic car technician Jonn has been looking at our 1965 Aston Martin DB5 to find out why it is running poorly. Here are his notes:
Austin A40 Transport
July 31, 2024
Tony has recently transported our barn find 1952 Austin A40 from our storage facility to the Bridge Classic Cars workshop.
Tuning Our 914
July 31, 2024
Jonn has been working on our 1973 Porsche 914, in preparation for it to go live on Bridge Classic Cars very soon. Here are his
Ferrari Stone Guards
August 12, 2024
Christian has been repairing the stone guards on our 1979 Ferrari 400 GT.
Engine Reassembly
August 12, 2024
Jonn has been reassembling the engine of our 1963 Fiat 500. Here are his notes:
Start to reassemble engine. Clean all parts not already cleaned during build process. Use manual for torque settings.
Continue engine assemble. Fit new rear main oil seal and fit flywheel and clutch. Adjust valve clearances and fit rocker cover. Start refitting fan housings. Found 1 exhaust elbow cracked and welded so order new.
Continue fitting covers. Make and fit new studs for dynamo pulley. Fit gearbox but 1 starter motor holt hole not quite aligned where weld repair is. Remove gearbox and elongate hole and refit. Fit new starter and ducting for fan.
Another Competition Car Delivered
August 12, 2024
Last week, Tony loaded up our 1986 Bertone X1/9 and delivered it to its new owner Colin. Colin won the car through Bridge Classic Cars Competitions.
We hope Colin enjoys his new car – we certainly loved having it here!
Rebuilding Our Dino
August 12, 2024
Our 1973 Ferrari Dino has been making some good progress through its restoration as of late.
Christian has been installing new parts with the right door gap as well as rebuilding the left-hand side and welding in the bushes to the control arms. He then sorted out the gaps from the door to the wing. Christian then fabricated a new front lower valance.
While that was going on, Steve sandblasted the suspension arms and fitted new bushes.
541 Progress And Repairs
August 12, 2024
Paul has been working on our 1956 Jensen 541. He fabricated a cover to protect the wiring to the fuel pump and checked over the engine.
He removed one of the runners from the glass and repaired it before he started assembling the door chrome work and fabricating a bonnet support.
Paul then built up the door windows and quarter light before drilling the doors ready to fit the mirrors.
We also had our friends from Coltec in the workshop as they were setting up the engine of this rare classic.
Devon Progress Continues
August 8, 2024
As our 1951 Austin Devon is a commercial vehicle, it has unfortunately had a tough life and the seats are certainly showing this. The driver’s side base has been bolstered with additional springs to try and prolong its life, but the outer frame has broken on both sides and required welding.
The same for the back, which had also broken. Lydia has covered the seat in new backing cloth, which provides a stable base for the horse hair to be put on top. Once the horsehair arrives, Lydia can continue fitting the seat covers she has made.
While Lydia was doing that, the bonnet and some of the other components were having epoxy primer applied.
Transport And Investigation
August 8, 2024
After Tony transported our 1968 MGB GT from its home to the workshop, John began his investigation into why it was losing coolant.
John’s notes are below:
Top up coolant level and observe where the coolant is leaking from. Hose from water pump to bottom hose has perished and split. Replace hose and add anti freeze and run up to temperature, check for leaks. Looked at other hoses and noticed both heater hoses have started to crack. Replace both hoses as a precaution.
Pre-Delivery Inspection
August 8, 2024
Our 1958 Austin Healey 100/6 has been undergoing its pre-delivery inspection with technician Jonn.
Here are his notes: Adjust handbrake cable and rear shoes. Remove windscreen and frame ready for replacement. Clean contact areas and polish top dash pad. Order new gaskets for screen to body. Hoover out mess inside car and under both seats.
Tony then took the windscreen to be replaced.
Ferrari Inspection And Repairs
August 8, 2024
Classic car technician Jonn has been inspecting our 1979 Ferrari 400 GT and has started making some of the repairs it requires.
Jonn stripped the interior and removed the boot and pedal release lever mountings. He then removed the boot cable from the boot lock. A new cable was fitted.
M3 Evo Air Con Fan
August 7, 2024
Technician Jonn has been working on our 1998 BMW M3 Evo. Here are his notes:
Remove front bumper. Remove lower vents and ducting to gain access to air con fan. Remove fan. Clean out rads and coolers and hoover up mess.
Attempt to fit new fan but housing different and won’t align with fixings. Remove fan. Swap new fan into old housing and modify to fit. Fit to radiator and secure. Refit vents and ducting and refit bumper. Fixings for arch liners to bumper broken so secure offside as best as I can and move onto nearside.
Finish refitting nearside arch liner. Raise in the air and align and fit front lip. Refit mouldings. Test fan, a/c button illuminates but doesn’t work. Set radio code and reset clock.
DB7 Radiators And Repairs
August 7, 2024
Here are Jonns notes on his recent work on our 2002 Aston Martin DB7 Vantage.
Continue to fit radiator. Fit intake pipes and arch liners, pipe up and secure. Refill cooling system with vacuum fill . Charge battery. Refit and torque wheels.
Refit bonnet. Run up and select all gears. Requires top up with correct oil. Order oil for auto box.
Run up on ramp and select each gear in turn for approx 5 seconds. Warm up to 35 degrees and put in park with engine idling. Raise in air and check gearbox level. Top up accordingly until fluid comes out. Refit bung and clean area. Carry out road test, all seems ok.
Load and take to storage, put on chargers and cover.
Win a Classic 1990 Jaguar XJ6 and Support an Important Cause!
August 6, 2024
Our latest competition for our 1990 Jaguar XJ6 is now live on the Bridge Classic Cars Competitions website! This is your chance to own an XJ6 and support a very worthy cause.
The 1990 Jaguar XJ6 is a beautiful car, known for its elegant design, luxurious interior, and smooth performance. It’s a car that perfectly demonstrates British automotive craftsmanship and offers a unique driving experience.
Supporting Cancer Support Suffolk
All proceeds from this competition will go to Cancer Support Suffolk, a charity dedicated to providing care, support, and services to those affected by cancer in the Suffolk area. By participating in this competition, you are directly helping individuals and families in your community who are navigating the challenges of cancer. Your contribution will aid in offering counselling, therapy, support groups, and other vital services.
Why This Matters
Cancer touches many lives, and organisations like Cancer Support Suffolk play a crucial role in offering comfort, resources, and hope to those in need. By entering this competition, you’re not just trying your luck at winning a classic car; you’re also making a positive impact on countless lives.
For more details and to enter the competition, head over to the website.
Bridge Classic Cars at the Festival of Classic & Sports Cars at Helmingham Hall
August 5, 2024
We had the privilege of being the headline sponsors of the Festival of Classic & Sports Cars at Helmingham Hall this past weekend, and it was a huge success. As the main sponsors, we wanted to make a big impression, and we’re thrilled to say we think we did just that!
A Stand to Remember
Our stand proved to be very popular with visitors to the show. Thanks to the incredible canvas setup from Events Under Canvas, we had a comfortable and inviting space. The seating area was perfect for people to relax, chat, and enjoy the cars. It wasn’t just about the vehicles for us; it was about creating a great atmosphere where everyone could share their love for classic cars.
Interesting & Unique Vehicles
The real stars of our stand were the rare and interesting classic cars and bikes we had on display. Each one had its own story such as our 1905 Riley 9HP, 1939 Jaguar SS100, 2022 C-Type Replica, or our beautiful 1959 Ford Zephyr.
All of the cars on our stand generated a lot of interest and got lots of attention. The whole team were very excited to talk to people about each one and tell their stories.
The Live Draw
One of the highlights of the day was our live draw to find the winner of our stunning 1958 Austin Healey 100/6. As it ended up being a local winner, we were hopeful he might be in attendance at the show but, unfortunately, it wasn’t to be and we had to settle with speaking to him on the phone.
A Day of Fun and Team Spirit
The whole day was great fun for both the visitors and our team. We enjoyed every moment, from setting up the stand to chatting with fellow enthusiasts.
Very simply…it’s days like these that remind us why we love what we do.
Looking Forward to Next Year
As we packed up at the end of the day, we were already excited about next year’s event. We’re eager to build on this year’s success and bring even more excitement to the Festival of Classic & Sports Cars at Helmingham Hall. We’re brainstorming ideas to make our stand even bigger and better and can’t wait to share our plans.
Why We Love Being Part of the Classic Car Community
Being part of the classic car community is more than just a business for us; it’s a passion and a privilege. Events like these allow us to connect with fellow enthusiasts, share our love for these beautiful machines, and contribute to the preservation of automotive history. We’re proud to support and sponsor events that bring people together and celebrate the artistry and craftsmanship of classic cars and the Festival of Classic & Sports Cars certainly does that.
Helmingham Hall
For those who’ve never been, the Festival of Classic & Sports Cars at Helmingham Hall is an amazing event. The stunning backdrop of Helmingham Hall adds to the huge range of cars on display. With its beautiful gardens and historic architecture, it’s the perfect setting for a day dedicated to appreciating the beauty and history of classic vehicles.
Thank You
We want to extend a huge thank you to everyone who visited our stand, participated in the live draw, and shared their stories and passion with us. A big shoutout to Events Under Canvas for providing such a fantastic setup. And, of course, congratulations to the lucky winner of the 1958 Austin Healey 100/6, Jeremey, we hope you enjoy many miles with it.
See You Next Time
If you missed out this year, don’t worry—there’s always next year! We’re already counting down the days and planning how to make our presence at the Festival of Classic & Sports Cars at Helmingham Hall even more memorable.
In the meantime, keep an eye on our website and social media for updates on upcoming events.
Thank you for making the Festival of Classic & Sports Cars at Helmingham Hall such a wonderful experience for us at Bridge Classic Cars. Here’s to many more successful events.
See you next year!
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Dino Progress
August 5, 2024
Christian has been repairing the sill and fabricating new sill parts for our 1973 Ferrari 246 GTS.
DB2/4 Oil Change
August 5, 2024
Here are Jonn’s notes for his recent work on our 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4:
Drain oil. Remove oil filter. Clean top edge and inside. Remove filter housing from engine. Remove all sealer from inside and flush through. Clean mating surfaces and make new gasket. Refit to engine and secure. Pour another half litre of oil in and let drain to help remove milky creamy oil. Leave to drain. Refit sump bung and refill with new oil.
X1/9 PDI
August 5, 2024
Jonn has been completing the pdi on our 1986 Bertone X1/9, in preparation for it to be delivered to its new owner, who won it through Bridge Classic Cars Competitions.
Here are his notes:
Carry out pdi and road test. Secure gear knob with grub screw. Remove handbrake gaiter and remove switch space up with washers and refit and test, ok. Refit gaiter.
P5 Work Continues
August 5, 2024
Workshop manager John has been continuing to work on our 1973 Rover P5B Coupe.
Here are his notes:
Looking into fuel and temperature gauge not working. Wires not connected to voltage stabiliser trace wires and refit. Check gauges working. Working okay. Also check lights not working. Check operation. Side lights not working correctly. Remove switch.
2024 Festival of Classic & Sports Cars set up and take down.
August 4, 2024
Set up began early for us on this year’s stand at the Festival of Classic & Sports Cars at Helmingham Hall Gardens. The week prior to the event was glorious sunshine all week and the forecast looked good going in to the weekend so with that in mind we started the installation of the stretch tent from our friends at Events Under Canvas on the Thursday. That meant we were able to start transporting our vehicles over to site and start to lay out the display.
It was certainly less hectic this year having time on our side and the centre tent was a new feature for us this year which was an exciting new addition.
Sunday morning was a bit of a breeze to be honest. A few banners and flags to put up and then we could sit down as a team, grab a coffee and enjoy the surroundings.
The day itself is always so busy at the show that you don’t really get time to enjoy what else is there. This year especially, I didn’t even get to leave the stand so I didn’t manage to see any of the cars on display but Nick, Molly and Rob got to enjoy it a bit more when they were out and about filming the show.
You can check out the proper photos from the day here
And after a full on day which was a huge success, I think the part that was truly quite special was being the last to leave the site after clearing down. I dropped Tamas back off by his car on the top field and then had the opportunity to look back at the incredible all. A few hours previous to these photos the fields were bustling with thousands of cars and spectators all enjoying the atmosphere.
The Festival of Classic & Sports Cars is one of the best shows of the year for us and this year was one of the best of all time. Thank you so much to the team at Helmingham and we are so proud to be a big part of this show and hope to continue our relationship for many years to come.
DB7 Radiator
August 2, 2024
Jonn has been fitting the fans to the new radiator of our 2001 Aston Martin DB7 Vantage. He cleaned the pipe flanges before dropping the radiator into position. The pipes were then aligned and the transmission pipes were connected.
C Type Adjustments
August 2, 2024
The two Johns have been working on our 2022 Bridge C-Type Replica. New torsion bar adjusters were fitted and the undershields were removed along with the speedo drive. The undershields were cleaned while the speedo drive was adjusted.
Austin Devon Progress
August 2, 2024
Our 1951 Austin Devon has had its panels stripped off its front end and prepped for epoxy primer. A small repair was made to the inner wing edges before the roof and scuttle panel joints were prepped, cleaned, and lead-loaded.
The panels then had epoxy primer applied on both sides.
Our Zephyr Looks Great
August 1, 2024
We recently welcomed our 1959 Ford Zephyr into the Bridge Classic Cars workshop.
As it was going through its initial inspection and assessment, we couldn’t help but notice just how well it has been restored over the last few years.
Usually, when the workshop team get underneath a car, there’s a surprise or two waiting for them. In this case, though, it was a very pleasant surprise as even the underside of this stunning classic seems to be in pristine condition.
6 responses to “Our Zephyr Looks Great”
My good friend John had a 1955 Mk1 Zephyr 6 that had been left in his Grandfathers will. It had 38k miles on it when we went out searching for Anglias and minis to burn off at the lights. We were 17 in 1971 and the police assumed we had stolen it when they often pulled us over in their Minor Panda Cars! I remember the lovely exhaust note and how flexible the engine was. Would pull away from 30mph in top gear with no fuss.
My Uncle Alan had a Mk2 Zodiac Automatic which seemed so exotic to me in 1966 when my fathers car was still the old Triumph Renown 1949 model. I would love this Zephyr and the gorgeous note it produces when double declutching down to 2nd. Fingers and Toes crossed!
Is it column change? Yes, it definitely is and you’d better be good with the clutch getting it away on a hill, as the 3 speed box has quiet a high ratio 1st gear. Ha ha!
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MGA In Paint
July 31, 2024
Our 1960 MGA has been in the paint shop with Chris. The holes have been welded and the panel has been painted.
Aston Martin Suspension
July 31, 2024
Rob has been assembling the front suspension stub axle cross member along with the rear axle of our 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Drophead Coupe.
GT6 Wheel Bearings
July 31, 2024
The left-hand rear drive shaft of our 1972 Triumph GT6 has been removed by technician Rob as the wheel bearing has collapsed. He needed to strip the drive shaft to reveal the total damage.
Rover P5 Welding And Rust Repairs
July 31, 2024
Christian has been completing some welding repairs on our 1973 Rover P5 Coupe before investigating some rust issues.
Paintshop manager Chris then applied schutz undercoat to the underside of the car.
Jensen Window Regulators
July 31, 2024
New window regulators have been fitted on our 1956 Jensen 541. Before they were fitted though, Paul had to modify the new regulators and the doors to ensure the perfect fit.
DB5 Running Issues
July 31, 2024
Classic car technician Jonn has been looking at our 1965 Aston Martin DB5 to find out why it is running poorly. Here are his notes:
Raise on ramp and check underneath for anything obvious regarding reported knock from rear. Found nothing of note at this point. Remove, clean and regap spark plugs. Lower to ground and run up to temp. Car w9nt idle even when warm. Strip and remove carburettor suction Chambers and pistons. Thoroughly clean and refit. Run up and car idles now. Put new fuel in 10ltrs. Carry out road test. Car better but under heavy acceleration it coughs occasionally. This maybe to do with extreme under bonnet temperature as its awful hot ambient temp today. Adjust cold start throttle stops and mixture. Lower idle speed. Carry out further road test, seems better now. Bounce Car rear end as I heard a knock when road testing. Found nearside rear shock unit linkage worn and has play when wheels on the ground. Requires new linkage.
Austin A40 Transport
July 31, 2024
Tony has recently transported our barn find 1952 Austin A40 from our storage facility to the Bridge Classic Cars workshop.
Tuning Our 914
July 31, 2024
Jonn has been working on our 1973 Porsche 914, in preparation for it to go live on Bridge Classic Cars very soon. Here are his notes:
Strip and fit new spark plugs. I dropped one plug inside engine covers so had to remove cover to retrieve plug. Refit covers and fit ht leads. Run and warm up. Set carbs at an equal setting for both and tune accordingly. Carry out road test. Recheck and adjust ignition timing. Reset carbs and balance all 4 chokes to approx 6 kg/hrs. Adjust air screws and set idle speed.
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