Our Lotus Europa – Delivered
December 21, 2023
Earlier this week, we delivered our 1970 Lotus Europa to lucky winner Timothy Chapman. Timothy was randomly selected as the winner during the live draw
Projects
Brake Pipes
December 21, 2023
After completing even more zinc plating on several more components of our Ford Transit MKII Tipper, Steve fitted the brake servo and master cylinder under
Run Up And Finish
December 21, 2023
Our 1970 MGB Roadster is coming to the end of its time here at Bridge Classic Cars. Jonn has been refitting parts to the engine
Wheel Arches
December 21, 2023
Rob has welded the inner wheel arches back onto the bonnet of our 1976 Triumph Spitfire. He did this before the outside of the bonnet
541 Progress
December 21, 2023
Paul has been working on our 1956 Jensen 541. He made and fitted the fuel tank before fabricating parts for the driver’s side footwell and
Replacing Wheels
December 21, 2023
Our 1970 Jaguar E-Type Series 2 recently made a short return to the Bridge Classic Cars workshop. It came in to have its wheels replaced
Undersealing
December 21, 2023
Our 2005 Honda S2000 has continued its stay in the Bridge Classic Cars paintshop. While in there, Chris has been undersealing the underneath of the
More Parts Removed From DB 2/4
December 21, 2023
The floors and interior of our 1953 Aston Martin DB2/4 were completely stripped, along with the front end and bonnet. Then the body fixings were
Cobra Strip And Interior
December 21, 2023
Classic car technician Mauro has removed the gearbox and fuel line from our 1975 AC Cobra Project. Brian has also been working on the interior
MGB Engine
December 20, 2023
After the engine of our 1970 MGB Roadster had its engine prepped and painted in the Bridge Classic Cars paintshop, classic car technician Jonn reassembled
Front Bonnet Flap
December 20, 2023
As the restoration of our 1959 Jensen 541R is coming toward its end, Rob has fitted new studs into the front grille badges and trim
Springs And Differential
December 20, 2023
Our 1976 Triumph Spitfire has continued to make good progress at the hands of technician Rob. Rob has built up both front spring/shock absorber assemblies
A Big Delivery
December 20, 2023
This morning, we were very excited to see the latest batch of vehicles arrive at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop. After Craig and Gordon’s successful
The Bridge Defender
December 19, 2023
Our 2010 Land Rover Defender has officially become part of the Bridge Classic Cars team. Since it has been in the workshop, it has proven
Engine Rebuild
December 18, 2023
Our 1939 Jaguar SS100 is currently with our friends at Rushton Engineering having its engine rebuilt. The head and crank are now finished so the
Home At Last
December 18, 2023
Our 1974 Volkswagen Beetle, affectionately known as Delilah, is back home with her very pleased owner. After spending quite a while in the Bridge Classic
Transit Engine And More
December 18, 2023
Steve has been stripping down the seized wiper linkage and of our Ford Transit MKII Tipper and fitted it to the front bulkhead after reassembly.
Seat And Roof
December 18, 2023
Brian has been fitting the brackets to hold the roof frame when it’s folded back, cutting the inner seat frame wood to fit around the
Making seat foam and cardboard
December 18, 2023
After cleaning up the seat of our 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Drophead Coupe, Lydia has spent some time making the foams fit. Unfortunately, the original
Rear driveshafts
December 18, 2023
Classic car technician Rob has built up the left-hand front disc/hub with new bearings and fitted it to our 1976 Triumph Spitfire. He has also
Magnum PI – Forty Years Of Cool
December 18, 2023
Earlier this month, on December 11th, we passed 43 years since the debut of the iconic ’80s detective show, Magnum PI. Tom Selleck starred as
DB 2/4 Doors and Windows Stripping
December 15, 2023
After removing the body of our Aston Martin DB2/4 yesterday, classic car technician James has continued his work on the strip down of this classic
Welcome Back – Our earliest Jensen 541 project returns home
December 15, 2023
As many know, we have become somewhat of a Jensen 541 specialist. But today, was a special day at our Suffolk HQ as our very
Prepping For Paint
December 15, 2023
Our 1969 MGC GT has spent some time in the Bridge Classic Cars paintshop. While in there, it has been prepped for primer before going
A Rare Sight – Our 2002 Alpina B10 V8S is now live!
December 15, 2023
Some marques offer rarity, luxury, or performance but very few offer all of these in one single form. One of those, is Alpina. Combining comfort,
Seeing Your E-Type For The First Time
December 15, 2023
When Robert Alfonso was drawn as the lucky winner of our Jaguar E-Type through Bridge Classic Cars Competitions, its restoration wasn’t quite finished. As the
The Wheels Are On
December 15, 2023
The wheels have been put on our Ford Transit MKII Tipper. Once they were back on, a team of technicians (and some marketing folk too!)
Stephen Norman Talks about Our MGB Roadster Restoration
December 14, 2023
We recently had a visit from a long-term friend and customer of Bridge Classic Cars, Stephen Norman, the ex-boss of Vauxhall and a walking encyclopedia
2 Competition Cars
December 14, 2023
Two of our competition cars have been under the care of classic car technician Jonn recently. First up is our 1984 Ferrari 308 GTSi, which
Suspension And Plating
December 14, 2023
Classic car technician Rob has been refitting the front suspension to our 1976 Triumph Spitfire. Rob has also cleaned, sandblasted, and replated all of the
Our Lotus Europa – Delivered
December 21, 2023
Earlier this week, we delivered our 1970 Lotus Europa to lucky winner Timothy Chapman.
Timothy was randomly selected as the winner during the live draw with his ticket number 784.
Everyone here at Bridge Classic Cars loved this car and we are very happy to see it at home with its new owner. We all hope that Timothy enjoys it for many years to come.
Brake Pipes
December 21, 2023
After completing even more zinc plating on several more components of our Ford Transit MKII Tipper, Steve fitted the brake servo and master cylinder under the bonnet, along with all of the brake pipes.
Run Up And Finish
December 21, 2023
Our 1970 MGB Roadster is coming to the end of its time here at Bridge Classic Cars.
Jonn has been refitting parts to the engine now the engine is fitted. After filling it with oil, he removed the spark plugs and coil lead. He then cranked the engine over until oil pressure was made.
The spark plugs were refitted and the coil lead. The oil level was checked and topped up and Jonn attempted to start the car.
After charging the battery, the car wouldn’t fire. The spark plugs were checked and found to be ok. Fuel to the carbs was checked and found to be ok too.
Jonn removed the rocker cover to align the timing marks. He removed the distributor cap and checked the timing was ok. After resetting the distributor, the cap was refitted and a small amount of petrol was poured into the carbs which let the engine fire on cranking.
Jonn stripped the carbs and found the jets were set too high, and running a very weak mixture. He set the jet depths to approx 2 1/2 turns down (0.090″). The car then started and ran fine so Jonn refitted the radiator and fan.
After finishing checking over the engine and finding no leaks upon inspection this morning, the bonnet was fitted and adjusted. The car was taken outside and ran up to temperature. A leak from the top radiator hose was found so Jonn tightened the jubilee clip but still noticed a leak. A second jubilee clip was fitted behind first and secured, (it had 2 clips on when it came in) which resolved the leak.
Jonn noted that the fan cuts in ok so a road test was carried out. The road test was successful after Jonn stopped to secure the distributor and adjust the idle speed.
Our MGB Roadster was tested at all speeds up to 65mph in stop/start traffic conditions and all was fine.
Wheel Arches
December 21, 2023
Rob has welded the inner wheel arches back onto the bonnet of our 1976 Triumph Spitfire. He did this before the outside of the bonnet was painted.
More parts are being cleaned and blasted before Rob electroplated them.
541 Progress
December 21, 2023
Paul has been working on our 1956 Jensen 541.
He made and fitted the fuel tank before fabricating parts for the driver’s side footwell and welding these in place.
Replacing Wheels
December 21, 2023
Our 1970 Jaguar E-Type Series 2 recently made a short return to the Bridge Classic Cars workshop.
It came in to have its wheels replaced as the original wheels had fractured.
Undersealing
December 21, 2023
Our 2005 Honda S2000 has continued its stay in the Bridge Classic Cars paintshop. While in there, Chris has been undersealing the underneath of the car.
More Parts Removed From DB 2/4
December 21, 2023
The floors and interior of our 1953 Aston Martin DB2/4 were completely stripped, along with the front end and bonnet. Then the body fixings were removed and the body was carefully taken off for blasting/paint removal.
Cobra Strip And Interior
December 21, 2023
Classic car technician Mauro has removed the gearbox and fuel line from our 1975 AC Cobra Project.
Brian has also been working on the interior of our Cobra. He has been making and working on the glovebox lid and the dashboard. Brian made good progress on the dashboard and was able to fit the dials and lights to the dash.
Lydia also made the cushion part of the seat base from tan leather.
MGB Engine
December 20, 2023
After the engine of our 1970 MGB Roadster had its engine prepped and painted in the Bridge Classic Cars paintshop, classic car technician Jonn reassembled it.
He refitted the painted parts and ancillaries and refitted the oil pump with new gaskets (pump filled with engine grease to avoid cavitation). He then fitted the new main bearing nuts and washers and retorqued to 95nm. Jonn went on to pre-oil all moving parts before fitting the sump and securing it.
To get the engine back into the car, Jonn mounted the engine on the engine crane so he could rub it down and paint the steering rack and column. The engine was then put back into the car.
Front Bonnet Flap
December 20, 2023
As the restoration of our 1959 Jensen 541R is coming toward its end, Rob has fitted new studs into the front grille badges and trim ring. He marked the positions of the new fixing holes and drilled them before bolting the badges to the grill. He then refitted the flap to the car and adjusted it to achieve correct operation.
Springs And Differential
December 20, 2023
Our 1976 Triumph Spitfire has continued to make good progress at the hands of technician Rob.
Rob has built up both front spring/shock absorber assemblies and fitted them to the car. He also fitted the poly bushes to the rear trailing arms.
He then went on to fit the poly bushes to the differential rear case and fit the differential to the chassis with poly front mounts. The rear spring and rear driveshaft assemblies were fitted before Rob built up the heater box and water control valve. He then built up the right-hand front disc/hub assembly with a new wheel bearing and fitted it to the chassis.
A Big Delivery
December 20, 2023
This morning, we were very excited to see the latest batch of vehicles arrive at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop.
After Craig and Gordon’s successful day at the Classic Car Auctions Christmas Sale, we welcomed our 1963 Vauxhall Victor, 1989 Ford Fiesta XR2, 2000 Peugeot 306, and 1993 Bentley Turbo R.
1963 Vauxhall Victor FB Series
Our Vauxhall Victor will be assessed by the workshop team before it will eventually go live on Bridge Classic Cars Competitions.
1989 Ford Fiesta XR2 Mk2
Another fast Ford to come into the workshop, our Fiesta XR2 will soon be available to win through Bridge Classic Cars Competitions.
2000 Peugeot 306 Cabriolet S
This one won’t be a competition car, unfortunately. The reason for this is that this is now part of Craig’s collection. After always wanting a 306 Cabriolet when he first passed his test, but being unable to afford one, he can now say he has one of his own.
1993 Bentley Turbo R
Our Bentley Turbo R will be joining Gordon’s collection. It’s a great looking car and we are looking forward to seeing it out on the road around the workshop.
The Bridge Defender
December 19, 2023
Our 2010 Land Rover Defender has officially become part of the Bridge Classic Cars team.
Since it has been in the workshop, it has proven itself to be a true workhorse, so we had no choice but to make it a Bridge vehicle.
Now that it is all branded up, you might just see it on the road soon.
Engine Rebuild
December 18, 2023
Our 1939 Jaguar SS100 is currently with our friends at Rushton Engineering having its engine rebuilt.
The head and crank are now finished so the rebuild can continue making good progress.
Home At Last
December 18, 2023
Our 1974 Volkswagen Beetle, affectionately known as Delilah, is back home with her very pleased owner.
After spending quite a while in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop, this classic Beetle is now back where it belongs.
Transit Engine And More
December 18, 2023
Steve has been stripping down the seized wiper linkage and of our Ford Transit MKII Tipper and fitted it to the front bulkhead after reassembly. He then refitted the newly painted peddle box and cleaned and serviced the heater box.
The brakes were cleaned and the steering rods and joints were reassembled ready to be fitted.
The rebuild of our Transit’s engine has also made good progress.
Seat And Roof
December 18, 2023
Brian has been fitting the brackets to hold the roof frame when it’s folded back, cutting the inner seat frame wood to fit around the brackets.
He then put the front inner seat frame into the car, adjusting the cutouts around the brackets before glueing the left-hand side of the frame back on, before fixing it with a metal bracket.
Making seat foam and cardboard
December 18, 2023
After cleaning up the seat of our 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Drophead Coupe, Lydia has spent some time making the foams fit.
Unfortunately, the original foam has been lost or destroyed, meaning that it was necessary to make new ones. Having recently seen some original ones, Lydia knew the basic shape that they needed to be and also the way that they were chamfered underneath. This meant that replicating them was not too difficult but still required a few test fits and alterations.
Once she was happy with the seat base, Lydia moved onto the backs. She had one back foam slither that was badly perished, but it gave her a base to work from. She made the backrest foams out of 100mm foam laminated together, then shaped them with the foam saw. After this, she made the cardboard piece that sits on the top of the seats to cover the raw edges of leather.
Rear driveshafts
December 18, 2023
Classic car technician Rob has built up the left-hand front disc/hub with new bearings and fitted it to our 1976 Triumph Spitfire.
He has also fitted the steering rack before he built up both rear driveshafts. The rear spring bushes were changed for poly ones and the spring mounting box was assembled.
Magnum PI – Forty Years Of Cool
December 18, 2023
Earlier this month, on December 11th, we passed 43 years since the debut of the iconic ’80s detective show, Magnum PI.
Tom Selleck starred as Thomas Magnum, quite possibly the coolest private eye of all time, as he solved cases in Hawaii, where the show was set. Hawaiian shirts, a legendary moustache, and, of course, that Ferrari all combined to make an extremely successful TV show.
Thomas Magnum clearly had style, but his personality was probably even more appealing to viewers of the show. The show portrayed his friendships, his desire to do what’s right, and the adventures he went on while successfully solving cases.
Magnum PI – The Car – Ferrari 308 GTS Quattrovalvole
Leonardo Fioravanti, from Pininfarina, was the mastermind behind the design of the 308. It had curved wing tops, attention-grabbing air intakes, and a fibreglass body crafted by Ferrari’s Scaglietti subsidiary before later being swapped out for steel.
The 308 also had removable roof panels that added even more coolness and style. Throughout the ’80s, this V8 mid-engine, two-seater was very well received and became a dream car for many. In fact, it was so popular that Ferrari built more than 12,000 308s between 1976 and 1985.
Following the success of Magnum’s 308 GTS, in 1982, Ferrari launched the 308 GTSi, which had four valves per cylinder, resulting in greater power and speed.
More Than Forty Years And Still Very Cool
It may have been more than four decades since Magnum, P.I. debuted on TV but, there is no doubt, it still has a huge fanbase.
As we recently launched our 1984 Ferrari 308 GTSi on Bridge Classic Cars Competitions, we couldn’t help but put something together as a nod to Magnum himself.
The video below was one that we filmed but, ultimately, didn’t use to promote the launch of the competition to win our 308 GTSi. However, we feel that Molly pulls off the coolness and style so well that we need to share it.
DB 2/4 Doors and Windows Stripping
December 15, 2023
After removing the body of our Aston Martin DB2/4 yesterday, classic car technician James has continued his work on the strip down of this classic Aston.
The front doors and windows have now been stripped out ready for refurbishment, all parts will be cleaned, sorted, painted or replaced where necessary before refitting the newly painted doors and body, when they are ready.
Welcome Back – Our earliest Jensen 541 project returns home
December 15, 2023
As many know, we have become somewhat of a Jensen 541 specialist. But today, was a special day at our Suffolk HQ as our very first Jensen 541 project made its way back to our workshops for the team to begin work on.
This 1961 Jensen 541S was the one of the first, if not THE first, restorations of the unique and rare sports car which was undertaken by our team in 2015, back in our original workshops in Deben Road, Ipswich.
This car, which played such an important role in the early history of our work, will be carefully assessed and then worked on by our talented team very soon. So, keep an eye out on the Bridge Classic Cars news page for updates very soon.
Prepping For Paint
December 15, 2023
Our 1969 MGC GT has spent some time in the Bridge Classic Cars paintshop.
While in there, it has been prepped for primer before going into the booth and having primer applied.
A Rare Sight – Our 2002 Alpina B10 V8S is now live!
December 15, 2023
Some marques offer rarity, luxury, or performance but very few offer all of these in one single form. One of those, is Alpina. Combining comfort, pace and exclusivity into a beautifully engineered road car is what Alpina have been doing for over 50 years in cars like this, our 2002 Alpina B10 V8S.
With just 145 2002 B10 V8S’s made worldwide this Bavarian Bruiser is a rare sight but with only 42 right hand drive cars made and believed to be one of only 6 remaining in the UK, this is car number 76 of the entire production run and is known within the Alpina Register.
Alpina have been connected to BMW since the early 1960s, gaining a reputation for crafting hand built, fast and sophisticated luxury cars. With bespoke packages for their clients, each car is individual and unique to their owner.
Not to be confused with the 4.6-litre ‘Standard’ B10, our V8S features a 4.8-litre V8 made specifically for this car. At Alpina’s facility in Buckloe, Germany their team of engineers increase the capacity of the base BMW engine for the B10 to produce more torque rather than making it a big horsepower car.
With stunning metallic silver paintwork and a sophisticated and luxurious grey leather interior, our B10 V8S has the good looks to match its performance completed with the signature 20 spoke ‘hollow’ wheels.
Supplied new by Sytner BMW in Nottingham on the 8th of July 2002, our B10 V8S’s history file contains multiple invoices from BMW main dealers throughout its life as well as some work being carried out by independent specialists.
Seeing Your E-Type For The First Time
December 15, 2023
When Robert Alfonso was drawn as the lucky winner of our Jaguar E-Type through Bridge Classic Cars Competitions, its restoration wasn’t quite finished.
As the competition sold out more than a month early, there was still some work to be done before the car was ready to be delivered. However, so Robert didn’t have to wait any longer, we invited him to the workshop so he could finally get to see his E-Type.
The video below shows the moment he saw his beautiful car for the very first time!
The Wheels Are On
December 15, 2023
The wheels have been put on our Ford Transit MKII Tipper.
Once they were back on, a team of technicians (and some marketing folk too!) moved it from one ramp to another, ready for the next stage of its restoration to begin.
Moving it wasn’t quite as simple as you might expect though, as the steering wheel was unable to be fitted, as Steve is still waiting for some parts to arrive before that can go back on.
As much as he would normally wait for the steering wheel to be fitted before moving the Tipper, unfortunately, the parts required are still a couple of weeks away so, despite being more challenging than we hoped, it was moved onto its new ramp and work will continue to bring this classic Transit back to life.
Steve has also started to fit up the front and rear brakes and suspension.
Stephen Norman Talks about Our MGB Roadster Restoration
December 14, 2023
We recently had a visit from a long-term friend and customer of Bridge Classic Cars, Stephen Norman, the ex-boss of Vauxhall and a walking encyclopedia of British automotive history.
We have been working on our 1970 MGB Roadster and, while having a closer look at the progress of his 1976 Triumph Spitfire that is currently in the workshop, Stephen spotted our MGB and had a few things to say about it.
As one of the people who actually saw the MG Midget and MGB rolling off the production lines at the Abingdon factory, Stephen’s thoughts are always amazing to hear.
Take a look at the video below and see what Stephen had to say.
2 Competition Cars
December 14, 2023
Two of our competition cars have been under the care of classic car technician Jonn recently.
First up is our 1984 Ferrari 308 GTSi, which is currently live on the Bridge Classic Cars Competitions website. Jonn has now fitted the new front and rear number plates in preparation for our classic Ferrari to be won in the new year.
Jonn has also been completing the pre-delivery inspection of our 2015 Jaguar F-Type which will soon be delivered to the lucky winner and new owner, after winning this beautiful car on Tuesday.
Suspension And Plating
December 14, 2023
Classic car technician Rob has been refitting the front suspension to our 1976 Triumph Spitfire.
Rob has also cleaned, sandblasted, and replated all of the parts for the steering and suspension that were initially plated. These are now ready for reassembly.
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