A New Shade – Our C-Type Gets Painted
The paint team here at Bridge Classic Cars have been hard at work getting our 2022 C-Type Replica into paint. The team have meticulously prepared
The paint team here at Bridge Classic Cars have been hard at work getting our 2022 C-Type Replica into paint. The team have meticulously prepared
Christian modified the sill step of our 1975 Jensen Interceptor Mk3. He also cleaned the car out and sprayed it ready for storage.
We’ve welcomed a new arrival to our Pettistree HQ recently in the shape of our 1989 Alfa Romeo Spider Series 3. This low slung, Italian
One of our storage cars, a 1968 Triumph Spitfire was looked at by technician Steve recently. He cleaned the washer bottle as the pump was
Our 1992 Rover Mini Italian Job has been with technician Jonn. He has stripped the rear brakes, fitted new rear shoes and nearside rear wheel
Jonn has been making some repairs on our 1989 Ford Fiesta XR2. His notes are below: Check brakes for any issues. Bleed full system and
Classic car technician Neil has been servicing our 1979 Triumph Spitfire in preparation for it to eventually be won through Bridge Classic Cars Competitions.
Our 1956 Jensen 541 has made a lot of progress recently. Paul has finished the dash mounts and has started work on the wiring. After
Our 1985 Austin Mini Mayfair Berkeley has been in the care of technician Neil. He has been investigating why the lights of this rare classic
Alan has been adding colour to the wheel arches of our 1976 Triumph Spitfire after it had raptor applied. As well as the arches, the
Here is a full run down on the works carried out recently on our Ford Transit Mk2. Tony has collected a new/old stock prop shaft
The beloved panel van formed a core moment in the automotive lives of so many. Maybe it was your first role of responsibility at work
…and it’s a beauty! Our 1000 mile 2011 Morgan 4/4 is now safely tucked away at our new storage facilities. As well as a larger
Probably to most people, this wouldn’t be considered the garage of dreams but to me, this is the start of exactly that. At the age
After being safely hold up at our storage facility for the last few months, this 1968 Triumph Spitfire has patiently been waiting its turn at
The Bridge Classic Cars Competitions team have got something to โblow your doors offโ! In the early 1990โs to celebrate the cult classic 1969 film,
Parts of our 1953 Aston Martin DB2/4 have been in the paint shop with technician Mauro where he has been painting them black. While Mauro
Christian has continued making modifications to our 1975 Jensen Interceptor Mk3. He has modified the top of the door panel to get the panel gap,
Jonn has been doing some work on our 1989 Ford Fiesta XR2 in preparation for it to be won through Bridge Classic Cars Competitions very
The old roof panel on our 1972 Morgan 4/4 was badly damaged and beyond repair. The hood was also very tight, making it hard to
The manifold has been fitted to our 1955 MG TF 1500, along with the carbs and fuel lines. James also checked the brakes. They were
Mauro has been polishing our 1992 Toyota MR2 and, as you can see from the photos below, it’s looking fantastic!
Our 1992 Rover ‘Italian Job’ Mini has been in the hands of technician Jonn as he has begun his initial inspection of the car. Once
Our 1992 Mercedes SL300 has undergone its pre-delivery inspection with technician Jonn and is now on its way to its new owner who was lucky
As much as we love classic cars, sometimes, a more modern car comes into the workshop and we can’t help but admire it. The memories
We recently welcomed our 2011 Morgan 4/4 into the Bridge Classic Cars workshop. As much as we love a classic Morgan, this modern take is
Our 1988 Vauxhall Belmont has recently arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop. Once it has been looked at by the workshop team, a plan
As the restoration of our 1905 Riley 9HP is moving into its final stages, the time has come for it to be painted. For this
The newly remanufactured 2-litre Pinto engine is being fitted in our Ford Transit MKII Tipper.
The Bridge Classic Cars van – our 2005 Mercedes Vito has been having a check-up with technician Jonn. He stripped, cleaned, and adjusted the handbrake.
The paint team here at Bridge Classic Cars have been hard at work getting our 2022 C-Type Replica into paint. The team have meticulously prepared the body and primer to get to the stage of laying down the first shades of pale green across the iconic silhouette of the car.
Dozens, if not hundreds, of hours have gone into getting the car to this stage with a large proportion of those being in the Bridge Classic Cars bodyshop.
Alan and the team have gone through every square inch of the car through every single stage to ensure the cars final finish is nothing short of perfection.
Christian modified the sill step of our 1975 Jensen Interceptor Mk3. He also cleaned the car out and sprayed it ready for storage.
We’ve welcomed a new arrival to our Pettistree HQ recently in the shape of our 1989 Alfa Romeo Spider Series 3.
This low slung, Italian icon will be thoroughly inspected by the workshop before becoming a future competition car.
One of our storage cars, a 1968 Triumph Spitfire was looked at by technician Steve recently.
He cleaned the washer bottle as the pump was blocked and the hand brake had a broken pivot. Steve also noted that the rear shoes were wearing thin.
Our 1992 Rover Mini Italian Job has been with technician Jonn. He has stripped the rear brakes, fitted new rear shoes and nearside rear wheel cylinder. He then cleaned the hub centres and wheels before securing both door mirrors and steering column cowling.
He fitted the offside rear wheel cylinder before bleeding the rear brakes. After adjusting the handbrake, Jonn checked it for operation and leaks before refitting the wheels and torquing them up.
Jonn has been making some repairs on our 1989 Ford Fiesta XR2. His notes are below:
Check brakes for any issues. Bleed full system and found lots of air in rear circuit’s. Pedal feel definitely improved. Top up reservoir. Refit rear wheels and torque up. Check auto choke mechanism. Looks OK. Refit and adjust. Choke now on as car cold. Take outside run up and carry out road test. Temp gauge only goes to top of cold section and drops again when driven. Return to workshop as choke still not coming off. Car also has a flatspot under hard acceleration. Strip and remove carb and clean out. Check diaphragms etc. Reassemble and refit. Set choke housing. It suddenly dawned on me that choke will not come off as carcisnt getting hot enough, suspect thermostat. Drain coolant. Strip and remove thermostat housing. Found thermostat broken and permanently open. Clean mating surfaces ready for new thermostat. Adjust steering as wheel was out to right when in straight line.
Carry out pdi whilst in workshop. Still waiting for rear wiper motor and thermostat.
Fit new thermostat to housing and refit housing to engine with new gasket. Connect pies and refill system with saved coolant. Are outside and run up to temperature. Check auto choke coming off when warm. Set idle and mixture. Set fast idle speed. Refit air filter and carry out road test. Stop to adjust steering twice and return to workshop.
Go into competition workshop and fit new rear wiper motor. Connect and test, ok. Secure mounting and refit wiper arm. Test, all ok. Refit boot lid trim panel with new clips.
Classic car technician Neil has been servicing our 1979 Triumph Spitfire in preparation for it to eventually be won through Bridge Classic Cars Competitions.
Our 1956 Jensen 541 has made a lot of progress recently.
Paul has finished the dash mounts and has started work on the wiring. After fitting the loom, he began work wiring some of the electrical components into it.
The headlining has been fitted on our 541 too. Lydia made it from a cream vinyl with an embossed pattern. New holes for the roof bars had to be drilled as the previous holes had been repaired and filled in. Lydia then heated the vinyl and pulled it into place, making sure to remove all the creases as she went. She trimmed the excess away and tidied up the edges to make sure that the rubber for the front and back windscreens fit as they should.
Lydia then moved on to the side panels. She first covered the panels in a layer of scrim foam as the fibreglass was very bumpy. This helps to smooth out the thin headlining material. She then covered them in headlining material.
Christian got involved in the recent work too by fabricating a steering column spacer.
Our 1985 Austin Mini Mayfair Berkeley has been in the care of technician Neil. He has been investigating why the lights of this rare classic aren’t working.
Alan has been adding colour to the wheel arches of our 1976 Triumph Spitfire after it had raptor applied. As well as the arches, the last few small components were painted too along with the headlight bowls and bonnet corners.
Alan then flatted and polished both sides of the bonnet.
Technician Rob has also been working on our Spitfire. He has fitted the boot lid and the lid stay was blasted and painted before being fitted to the car too.
The front side lamps were fitted to the quarter valances before these were also fitted to the car. Rob then made the brake pipes and fitted them to the brake master cylinder and pressure valve.
Here is a full run down on the works carried out recently on our Ford Transit Mk2.
Tony has collected a new/old stock prop shaft whilst on his travels and it is now safely back with us here at Bridge Classic Cars HQ.
Mauro has been working on some of the smaller components to get them black up and ready for refit.
Steve has been fitting up the windows and quarter lights. We have replaced the lower mounting point for the offside quarter light frame. He has also blasted the mirror casings.
Meanwhile, Lydia in the trim-shop has cut out the plastic liner for the door cards and stuck this to the door. She has then made some minor adjustments to the door card to allow it to fit correctly under the top rail, and then put the door card clips in.
The fuel tank is in need of repair so Steve has photographed the unit to send over in preparation for the repairers.
The beloved panel van formed a core moment in the automotive lives of so many. Maybe it was your first role of responsibility at work or it was an early runaround filled with friends and laughter, either way it was always there but have become a seldom sight in the UK classic car scene.
Just like this one, our 1982 Bedford HA.
Using the Vauxhall Viva as a base, the HAโs were first let loose on British roads in 1964 and would continue to play a key role in the high-street landscape up until production ended in the early 1980โs. A favourite with utility companies, the HAโs would wear a multitude of liveries throughout their production run including the Royal Mail, British Gas, British European Airways and the famous yellow and blue British Telecom livery like our van.
After their working life was over, many of these vans would find themselves on the driveways of young petrolheads across the UK as some of their first forays onto the open road, and into a special place in their automotive hearts.
Our 1982 Bedford HA has been subject to a comprehensive restoration by a previous owner who transformed KTS 92X into the beautiful panel van that you see today and pay tribute to the bright and eye-catching British Telecom vans of the 1970s/1980s as documented in the wonderful photos of the cars transformative journey.
…and it’s a beauty! Our 1000 mile 2011 Morgan 4/4 is now safely tucked away at our new storage facilities. As well as a larger space for car storage we now have a room dedicated to the storage of motorcycles. Our secure location is based in the heart of the Suffolk countryside but transport to and from any UK location is available. If you wish to discuss your storage needs please feel free to get in touch.
Probably to most people, this wouldn’t be considered the garage of dreams but to me, this is the start of exactly that.
At the age of 17 I passed my test, in just under 4 weeks. I had booked my theory for my birthday itself and then went on to book my practical for the next available time. That time was 4 weeks and as Ipswich was booked up well beyond 4 weeks the closest slot I could get was Clacton. With the help of my amazing instructor I passed my test 1st time.
Aside from the little Mini I had to drive around the fields in as a kid I bought my first actual car 6 months prior to my 17th birthday and although it never moved I would often spend my weekends pushing it in and out of the garage to give it a clean. That car was my 1998 Citroen Saxo VTR.
Fast forward now to 2021 and I took a call from my friend Luke who just so happened to see an advert for a matching Citroen Saxo VTR, same colour, same interior…even the same year! I took a trip up north to view this 20,000 mile, totally original example and it brought back so many amazing memories. Even smelt like my old car. There began the start of my small but sentimental car collection.
Then came the purchase of my 1998 Lotus Elise, the car that many 17 year olds dreamt of owning but extortionate insurance costs put a stop to that ever happening! I found my Lotus in H&H Auctions for sale as part of the race driver Jeff Ward collection.
Having covered just 11,000 miles from new and still boasting a 100% factory specification this little Lotus was just too good to be true.
Finally, well I should I say ‘next up’ because hopefully this won’t be the final car is my 2000 Peugeot 306 Cabriolet.
Believe it or not, as a 17yr old the Peugeot 306 Cabriolet was the car I wanted to own but again, due to insurance and the cost of the car at the time, this was beyond my reach. 22 years on I see this incredible 13,000 mile example go through CCA (Classic Car Auctions) in Warwick and as we planned on a trip there for the auction I thought I’d give it a go and guess what…I won!
So now I’m the proud owner of 3 cars from my past and hopefully I’ll continue to find good examples of the cars I wished I’d have owned.
Thanks to our good friend Alan Kenny, the incredibly talented man behind the majority of the Silverstone, Iconic, CCA photographs for letting me have a copy of all of his images.
After being safely hold up at our storage facility for the last few months, this 1968 Triumph Spitfire has patiently been waiting its turn at our Pettsitree HQ.
This 60s British roadster will be handed over to our technician Steve to begin his work on getting the car back on the road.
Make sure to check in very soon on the Bridge Classic Cars news page for more updates on our 1968 Triumph Spitfire.
The Bridge Classic Cars Competitions team have got something to โblow your doors offโ!
In the early 1990โs to celebrate the cult classic 1969 film, The Italian Job, the Longbridge company began a small, limited edition run of cars to pay homage to the Peter Collinson film.
Featuring unique and special graphics packs, adorning this bite size classic with its namesake, the Italian Job Minis would be available in the classic Red, White and Blue paint schemes of the hero cars in the film as well as celebrating their homeland with a timeless British Racing Green option.
Our 1992 Rover Italian Job, based on the Red Mk1 Mini driven by stunt driver David Salamone with Michael Caine as his passenger, is finished in stunning Flame Red with more modern Black bonnet stripes and a classic set of double rally lights on the front.
Powered by the quintessential 1275cc 4-cylinder engine paired with a manual gearbox, this classic Mini really doesโฆ โโget its skates onโโ to quote the film.
Included with the car is a history file which contains the original grey vinyl booklet pack alongside numerous invoices dating from June 2023 all the way back to the 19th of May 2000.
Also included is a valuation certificate from the British Mini club from 2015 confirming the car as one of the 1750 Italian Job Miniโs built with the inspector noting the car was โA nice example of a Mini Italian Job LEโ.
So, whether youโre looking at doing a โbig jobโ with some gold bullion or a tranquil Sunday drive our 1992 Rover Italian Job Mini ticks all those boxes.
Join that famous โself-preservation societyโ and enter now to win our 1992 Rover Italian Job Mini.
Full Gallery & Video:
Parts of our 1953 Aston Martin DB2/4 have been in the paint shop with technician Mauro where he has been painting them black.
While Mauro was doing this, Clinton was fabricating new parts and repairing the driver’s side front sill.
Christian has continued making modifications to our 1975 Jensen Interceptor Mk3. He has modified the top of the door panel to get the panel gap, and he has also modified the cast front side lights to fit the valance nicely.
He then cut out the quarter panel grille holes to fit correctly, marked out where the seat belt mounts go, and welded in the mount bosses.
Jonn has been doing some work on our 1989 Ford Fiesta XR2 in preparation for it to be won through Bridge Classic Cars Competitions very soon.
He stripped the boot before manufacturing a mounting bracket for the rear washer bottle. This was riveted together and then riveted in place in the boot.
Jonn then cut to size and fit the heat exchange pipe between the exhaust manifold and air filter. He then fitted a grommet to hole in the dash under switches. Next was fitting the edging trim to the engine mount to protect the coolant hoses from chaffing.
A cable tie clip was fitted to the offside inner wing to secure coolant hoses before Jonn removed the nearside rear fog light to investigate why it was not working. He found that the wires and holder had completely corroded away. As a result, Jonn stripped the light and tested the bulb before soldering the wires directly to the bulb and refitting.
Next, our XR2 was raised on the ramp so Jonn could finish his inspection and report. He painted the frame for the rear washer bottle in position in the boot. He then checked and inflated the spare tyre and secured it in the boot.
Jonn then went on to strip the rear brakes so he could check and adjust the shoes. The drums were refitted and regreased and both rear wheel bearings were adjusted.
The old roof panel on our 1972 Morgan 4/4 was badly damaged and beyond repair. The hood was also very tight, making it hard to put up, especially on your own. Lydia inserted a new panel and added an inch onto the depth, making it much easier to put onto the hood frame now.
The manifold has been fitted to our 1955 MG TF 1500, along with the carbs and fuel lines. James also checked the brakes. They were stripped, cleaned and checked – the friction material is good, the rear hub seals are dry and no leaks were found from any of the wheel cylinders.
An underside checkover was then carried out and all was well. The only points to note are the front bumper has some damage and is misaligned and the workshop team are now waiting for a thermostat so the coolant can be added and the car run up and tested.
Mauro has been polishing our 1992 Toyota MR2 and, as you can see from the photos below, it’s looking fantastic!
Our 1992 Rover ‘Italian Job’ Mini has been in the hands of technician Jonn as he has begun his initial inspection of the car.
Once he is happy, the car will be able to go live on the Bridge Classic Cars Competitions website.
Our 1992 Mercedes SL300 has undergone its pre-delivery inspection with technician Jonn and is now on its way to its new owner who was lucky enough to win it through Bridge Classic Cars Competitions.
As much as we love classic cars, sometimes, a more modern car comes into the workshop and we can’t help but admire it. The memories it brings, the stories it tells, the way it makes you feel!
Recently, Bridge Classic Cars Managing Director Craig added a 2007 BMW E93 335i to his collection and, so far, it seems to be proving quite popular with many members of the team.
Craig’s BMW 335i is certainly nice to look at but it is so much more than that.
It’s black exterior with the striking red interior makes a statement while also looking stylish and cool.
The 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged inline-six engine delivers 300bhp and 300 lb-ft of torque. As a daily driver, you get more than enough power to go along with the comfort this car offers. However, if needed, you can quickly turn the 335i into a performance car with very little drama.
The previous owner of Craig’s car purchased the car from a very well known (within the communities in Suffolk) car enthusiast with 45,000 miles on the clock. He has spent more than ยฃ3000 on preventive maintenance to bring it up to the condition it’s in today. He even took it on a week-long adventure in Snowdonia, and it handled like a dream.
As it is still in its original specification, it’s not very often a car like this becomes available to buy. It’s for that reason that Craig felt even more inclined to add it to his collection. Back in 2007, its original bill of sales stated a price of ยฃ47,000 and in today’s market, a 335 cabriolet is becoming harder and harder to find. making this one to watch in the future!
It has recently undergone following service, carried out at Cecil and Larter Volvo who have known the car for many years.
In July they carried out a major service including spark plugs, oil and filter, pollen filter, air filter, gearbox service including automatic box filter and sump replacement. Spark plugs replaced at same time. The diff oil was changed and a new input seal replaced as this is an area that is prone to leaks. The vacuum hoses in the engine bay have been replaced as these are prone to failure, as are the boost control valves. The coolant has been changed prior to this winter to ensure reliability in colder temperatures.
The real rarity of this car, other than the specification is that it is entirely stock, there are no modifications at all.
Specification as followsโฆ
Black Sapphire with Coral Red interior
Upgraded to M sport seats at factory with full electric, lumbar and memory.
Heated seats
Professional navigation
Parking sensors front and rear
Upgraded hifi system
19inch 5 spoke alloys with matching Bridgestone runflats, all north of 5mm of tread and replaced within the last 3 years.
All Brakes replaced circa 12,000 miles ago, just prior to my ownership.
The original bill of sale at ยฃ48,000 in 2007 is also included in the paperwork.
We recently welcomed our 2011 Morgan 4/4 into the Bridge Classic Cars workshop.
As much as we love a classic Morgan, this modern take is certainly a fantastic nod to the older versions.
With just over 1000 miles on the clock, this is one car that we are excited to add to our personal collection.
Our 1988 Vauxhall Belmont has recently arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop.
Once it has been looked at by the workshop team, a plan for its future can be created.
As the restoration of our 1905 Riley 9HP is moving into its final stages, the time has come for it to be painted.
For this to happen, Tony and Gordon took the car to Joby Carter in Berkshire. This is so this special car can have traditional methods used to bring it fully back to life.
Once it returns to the Bridge Classic Cars workshop, our Riley 9HP will look as great as its story.
The newly remanufactured 2-litre Pinto engine is being fitted in our Ford Transit MKII Tipper.
The Bridge Classic Cars van – our 2005 Mercedes Vito has been having a check-up with technician Jonn.
He stripped, cleaned, and adjusted the handbrake. He then de-rusted all of the brake discs
The tyres were checked and inflated and the wheels were refitted and torqued up.
Bridge Classic Cars are award winning Classic Car Restoration and Maintenance specialists. Your pride and joy is in safe hands with our expert Classic Car Technicians. Take a look at our awards here.
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