The Bridge Classic Cars paint and body team have been working on the 1969 Bentley T1 before it heads into our restoration workshop for some
The in-house paint and body team here at Bridge Classic Cars have begun work on the 1987 Mercedes 500SL. Mauro, one of our paint team,
The Bridge Classic Cars in-house trim team have been working on getting the final pieces finished in the interior of the 1977 MGB Roadster which
The in-house Bridge Classic Cars fabrication team have been working on the rust repairs to the 1987 Daimler Double Six. Monty, one of our amazingly
The latest arrival into the Bridge Classic Cars Suffolk HQ is this stunning 1954 MG TF. The classic MG will soon go into the workshop
Bridge Classic Cars have a history with the fabled Ford Escort RS2000. We have restored a couple of these amazing Fast Fords for customers and
The Bridge Classic Cars in-house restoration team have worked on removing the entire fuel system out of the 1978 MGB GT that is in our
The in-house restoration technicians at Bridge Classic Cars have been working through the final parts and pieces for the 1987 Mercedes 500SL restoration which is
At Bridge Classic Cars, we always try and help out our neighbours. So, when one of their trucks had a starter motor fail we stepped
The Bridge Classic Cars trim shop have put a new rear screen into the original convertible hood for the 1977 MGB Roadster. The use of
The 1977 MGB Roadster which is in the in-house Bridge Classic Cars trim shop has been under the care of our master trimmer, Brian. Brian
The in-house trim team here at Bridge Classic Cars have finished off the last pieces of sound deadening in the 1977 MGB Roadster which is
During the refit and testing of the 1977 MGB Roadster, our in-house restoration technicians here at Bridge Classic Cars have noted that none of the
The wonderful 1965 Porsche 912 that is in the Bridge Classic Cars in-house paint and body shop at our Suffolk HQ has been being worked
Our former 1974 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow 1, now owned by The Man with The Golden Roller, has been on its travels recently. The car
Every car has a story. Some have been places, some of them have done incredible things but some, have just been adored by their owners.
Bridge Classic Cars have welcomed the newest arrival to our workshop here in Suffolk. This beautiful 1952 MG TD, finished in glossy black with a
The wonderful 1965 Porsche 912 is currently in with Bridge Classic Cars for paint and bodywork, so it has been moved into our state of
The in-house restoration technicians at Bridge Classic Cars have been busy dismantling the blaze orange 1978 MGB GT. Mauro and Tom have stripped the entire
The Bridge Classic Cars team have managed to source a set of tyres for the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III known as Fern Grey.
Our friend, SuffolkandFast, shared this a little while ago and it got us feeling all nostalgic about our 1967 Jaguar E Type Series 1 Racer
Our recent 1976 Mercedes 350SL was featured on the Mercedes Benz Classic Facebook page as part of our draw for this car! Always nice to
The 1969 Bentley T1 is currently in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop for our in-house restoration technician, Dave, to begin work on the rust repairs
Brian, our master in-house trimmer here at Bridge Classic Cars, has been working on the next phase of the interior of the 1977 MGB Roadster.
The 1969 Mercedes 280SL Pagoda in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop at our Suffolk HQ has hit a milestone! The engine and gearbox are now
The very rare and unique 1969 Audi 70L is now safe and sound at the Bridge Classic Cars secure storage facility, The Hangar. Once it
Our in-house technicians here at Bridge Classic Cars have been methodically working through the beautiful straight-six and gearbox of the 1969 Mercedes 280SL to get
The 1977 MGB Roadster which is currently in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop for restoration has begun the first phase of its interior installation. The
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
The annual Ipswich to Felixstowe Classic Vehicle Rally is going ahead this year! Last year, due to Covid19, it had to be cancelled. But this
The Bridge Classic Cars paint and body team have been working on the 1969 Bentley T1 before it heads into our restoration workshop for some body repairs.
The Bentley has been completely taken apart by the in-house teams and while the body is going into the workshop, other panels and pieces will be kept in the paint shop and prepared for their repaint. The paint and body team have also been carefully preparing the interior of the car for the workshop team like moving back carpets etc which will be close to the cutting and welding areas.
The paint and body team have turned their attentions to the doors and rear decklid to get them in the best shape possible in preparation for the body returning.
The in-house paint and body team here at Bridge Classic Cars have begun work on the 1987 Mercedes 500SL.
Mauro, one of our paint team, has been getting some of the panels and pieces ready for paint. The team is working on getting the boot lid and fuel cap have been getting worked on to match it up to the rest of the car in terms of its body lines and panel match.
After this is done, it will all be cleaned down thoroughly and stored while the rest of the car is being worked on.
The Bridge Classic Cars in-house trim team have been working on getting the final pieces finished in the interior of the 1977 MGB Roadster which is with us for aesthetic restoration.
Brian, our head trimmer, has been working on getting the brand new wood kit into the dash and centre console of the classic convertible. Each piece has to be carefully test-fitted and trimmed to fit perfectly into the recesses before it is evenly glued down into the car.
With all of the wood pieces now in the car and setting up, Brian could turn his attention to getting the seats into the finished interior. The recovered seats and refurbished frames were gently placed into the car and if any adjustment needed to be made, the whole seat was lifted in the car and moved to avoid any snags or marking of the interior.
The in-house Bridge Classic Cars fabrication team have been working on the rust repairs to the 1987 Daimler Double Six.
Monty, one of our amazingly talented fabricators, has been hand-making patch pieces for the front end of the Daimler.
Monty began work by replacing a section of the windscreen frame which had corroded. Using the original piece as a template, Monty hand-formed the replacement piece and refined it perfectly to get the patch the perfect shape and size to fit in the windscreen.
After that, Monty turned his attention and skill to the front wings of the Double Six. The wings needed multiple repairs to them, both on the inside and the outside.
Monty has had to remake several brackets and pieces for the car. These pieces have to be precisely bent and shaped to allow the wings to fit back onto the car while also allowing the panel to be adjusted. After this, Monty began to work on the headlights of the 1980s luxury saloon.
Nearly the entire headlight surround had to be cut out of the car but this gave Monty the opportunity to hand-make a replacement piece and have the best fit and finish on the whole piece. The welds were then carefully ground down and some small adjustments made to the piece.
The latest arrival into the Bridge Classic Cars Suffolk HQ is this stunning 1954 MG TF.
The classic MG will soon go into the workshop for our in-house restoration teams to inspect, assess and report on the car. It will go through each of the teams individually for them to cast their expert eye over the car.
Keep a look out on the Bridge Classic Cars news page for more updates on the car very soon.
Bridge Classic Cars have a history with the fabled Ford Escort RS2000. We have restored a couple of these amazing Fast Fords for customers and a pair of them have popped up on an enthusiast Facebook page.
The orange 1977 Ford Escort RS2000 featured in the first image was restored by our in-house team. And the white car is also a 1977 Ford Escort RS2000 which was sold at Auction by ourselves but cared for the car for its new owner. The top car in the 2nd photo is that 1977 RS2000 outside the turnstiles at the home of Ipswich Town Football Club, Portman Road.
The Bridge Classic Cars in-house restoration team have worked on removing the entire fuel system out of the 1978 MGB GT that is in our Suffolk HQ workshop.
Paul, one of our technicians, worked on removing everything from the fuel tank, fuel pump and all the fuel lines to be carefully drained, inspected and assessed for this project. This is a critical part of the project as it is very high up on the safety list of each restoration project undertaken in our workshop.
Now with the whole system out of the car, the team can move forward on this amazing 1970s sportscar.
The in-house restoration technicians at Bridge Classic Cars have been working through the final parts and pieces for the 1987 Mercedes 500SL restoration which is in our Suffolk HQ workshop.
Tom, one of our in-house restoration technicians, has been going through parts for the 1987 Mercedes R107 500SL to check their condition and to make sure anything missing can be sourced ahead of time.
Each piece has been carefully photographed and noted for the car.
At Bridge Classic Cars, we always try and help out our neighbours. So, when one of their trucks had a starter motor fail we stepped in to help.
Jon found the stranded truck in their yard and got to work removing the starter motor from the truck. Thankfully, this being a cab-over truck, Jon could lift the bed out of the way for better access to the space he needed. Slowly but surely, he eased the starter motor out of the engine bay which will not be sent off to be rebuilt.
Once back, we can then go back out to the truck and get the starter motor back on the engine.
The Bridge Classic Cars trim shop have put a new rear screen into the original convertible hood for the 1977 MGB Roadster.
The use of the original hood was a request from the owner. But, the rear screen was very deteriorated and split in places. So, the trim shop replaced the rear screen and stitched it into the existing material.
With this now in place, the hood can be fitted onto the car.
The 1977 MGB Roadster which is in the in-house Bridge Classic Cars trim shop has been under the care of our master trimmer, Brian.
Brian has been finishing off the doors of the MGB Roadster as part of its interior refit. Brian carefully put the in-door webbing into the doors, which helps with sound deadening, and then began the process of fitting up the door cards into the 1970s roadster.
With the door cards firmly in place and looking phenomenal in the car, Brian could then attach the door caps to finish off the work on the doors that has been done by our incredible in-house trim team.
The in-house trim team here at Bridge Classic Cars have finished off the last pieces of sound deadening in the 1977 MGB Roadster which is currently in with us for restoration.
Brain, our lead trimmer, has fitted the sound deadening under the bonnet of the classic convertible. This will help absorb any sort of unwanted engine noise so that its driver can simply enjoy the wonderful exhaust notes coming from the rear. It also helps with the tactile quality of the car itself, when closing the bonnet it won’t have that hollow and tinny noise. Fitting with the fit and finish Bridge Classic Cars has worked on putting into the car.
During the refit and testing of the 1977 MGB Roadster, our in-house restoration technicians here at Bridge Classic Cars have noted that none of the dash lights were working.
After looking further into this issue, Paul who is one of our in-house technicians found that the bulbs for each of the dash lights were actually missing from the car. He has reported that by the looks of the connectors, the bulbs had been missing for some time.
The wonderful 1965 Porsche 912 that is in the Bridge Classic Cars in-house paint and body shop at our Suffolk HQ has been being worked on by our amazing painter, Alan.
Alan has been working on getting the car prepared for the beginning of its bodywork journey. The first step was to get the car all the way back to bare metal, and now the team have begun the second phase of its story with Bridge Classic Cars. The car is now in epoxy primer.
The car needed to be put into primer before its bodywork begins as it’s used as a guide coat. The majority of this will actually be removed from the car. The paint and body team then use it to find any places where the bodyshell will need adjustment or tweaking to make the entire car work and flow in terms of its lines and curves.
After Alan has prepared the car for primer, he began the delicate work of masking up the car. This is just as important as the paint itself. Then, after cleaning down the bare metal, Alan began laying down the coats of primer.
We’re excited to show you the next chapter for the 1965 Porsche 912 with Bridge Classic Cars.
Our former 1974 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow 1, now owned by The Man with The Golden Roller, has been on its travels recently.
The car has been photographed outside the gates of Buckingham Palace to commemorate the 70-year reign of HRH Queen Elizabeth II with this iconic Rolls Royce.
Head over to Instagram and take a look at the adventures of this beautiful 1974 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow 1 with The Man with the Golden Roller.
Every car has a story. Some have been places, some of them have done incredible things but some, have just been adored by their owners. That’s the case with this 1974 MGB GT.
This car had been owned by its previous owner for the better part of 30 years. Through meticulous record-keeping on the car, you can see its story with them. So, with that in mind, Freddie decided to give this car a special kind of photoshoot.
The early morning light at the airbase where we is something else. It comes up low behind the ridgeline and breaks across the frosty ground. Only the sound of deer in the trees keeps you company in the early hours of the dawn light. That is where we find out MGB, parked on a fighter jet turning pad.
Freddie had got the car out from our secure storage facility, the hangar, as the first rays of light came above the horizon. You have to move quickly around here to get the light. So, Freddie made sure everything was warmed up and happy before pulling away from the hangar doors. MGB’s are some of the most practical and user-friendly classics around, but this one is definitely one of the easiest ones we have driven.
Once he had moved the car into its position and the light had just broken onto the curves of the car, the shoot began.
Bridge Classic Cars have welcomed the newest arrival to our workshop here in Suffolk. This beautiful 1952 MG TD, finished in glossy black with a contrasting green interior.
The car has come in to be assessed by our in-house restoration teams to find out what if anything this incredible little sportscar needs to be back in top shape for its future.
Keep a lookout here on the Bridge Classic Cars news page for more on this wonderful 1952 MG TD.
The wonderful 1965 Porsche 912 is currently in with Bridge Classic Cars for paint and bodywork, so it has been moved into our state of the art in-house paint shop for our technicians to begin working on it.
Alan, one of our amazing in-house paint experts, has stripped the iconic Porsche back to bare metal to begin the process of making the body perfect. Carefully and methodically, Alan has worked his way through the entire car to get rid of any old paint on the body.
We’re excited to bring you the next stages in the project of this 1965 Porsche 912 from Bridge Classic Cars.
The in-house restoration technicians at Bridge Classic Cars have been busy dismantling the blaze orange 1978 MGB GT.
Mauro and Tom have stripped the entire car back to a bare shell for its assessment by the other in-house restoration teams. As part of this process, the technicians have carefully been taking photos of each individual component that comes off of the car and cataloguing them separately as assemblies.
This will help not only with the assessment of the car (in terms of what can be refurbished) but also if any new parts/pieces need to be sourced for the project. With the car this far stripped back, crucial parts of the car can be fully inspected by the team.
Expect to see a lot more on the 1978 MGB GT in at Bridge Classic Cars here on the news page.
If you would like to see the full gallery of the teardown, have a look at the gallery below!
The Bridge Classic Cars team have managed to source a set of tyres for the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III known as Fern Grey.
Fern Grey will soon begin road tests and with that, we felt it needed a new set of tyres. At the request of the owner, we have sourced the closest we can get to the original tyres as possible but with a modern compound. Originally the tyres would have had a 215 section tyre but these tyres are a 205 section from Pirelli.
With tyres mounted thanks to Tyre Assist, our in-house restoration technicians can now move forward on the checklist before road testing this incredible one of a kind E Type.
Our friend, SuffolkandFast, shared this a little while ago and it got us feeling all nostalgic about our 1967 Jaguar E Type Series 1 Racer that we built in house.
Mike drove the racer for the photo and video shoot of the car. We at Bridge Classic Cars are massively proud of this project which was entirely built by our amazing in-house team from the ground up. To watch the video that we made to go along with the car, just click on the video below.
Our recent 1976 Mercedes 350SL was featured on the Mercedes Benz Classic Facebook page as part of our draw for this car!
Always nice to see it being shared out there in the wider world.
The 1969 Bentley T1 is currently in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop for our in-house restoration technician, Dave, to begin work on the rust repairs of this classic Bentley.
The state of the body on the Bentley wasn’t in the best shape once our in-house paint and body team took the car all the back to bare metal. Evidence of poor repairs and work done to the car which did not have the best interest or, the longevity of the car in mind.
So, it’s time to sort the T1 out properly. Dave is one of our most experienced technicians and fabricators. He is beginning by sorting out the front sills for the Bentley. These are crucial for the strength and rigidity of the car which our team can then work off of when tackling other areas.
With this process started in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop, keep a look out on the News Page for more updates soon on the 1969 Bentley T1 restoration.
Brian, our master in-house trimmer here at Bridge Classic Cars, has been working on the next phase of the interior of the 1977 MGB Roadster.
The rear was the first port of call for Brian on the journey of getting the interior complete. The rear bulkhead panels and carpet had to be put in place before moving forward. Brian had to retrim a few of the pieces from the carpet kit as they were oversized, the fit and finish on the Roadster has to be 100% right which is the standard of all Bridge Classic Cars interiors.
Brian also had to fabricate and modify some panels to take into account the rear speakers. Carefully, Brian made a template for the speaker grille and cut it out of black perforated steel which will sit behind the quarter panels, now with their hand-cut and finished openings for the speakers.
With the rear bulkhead trimmed, Brian could then start fitting the base panels which have been trimmed in match black carpet. Then the flooring could be laid and glued down into the classic 1970s roadster. Each piece was first offered up by Brian and if the fit wasn’t right, using his huge experience and skill, it could be trimmed to get the perfect fit for the car.
The work is progressing quickly on the 1977 MGB Roadster in with Bridge Classic Cars so keep an eye out here on the News Page for more updates on this fantastic little sports car.
The 1969 Mercedes 280SL Pagoda in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop at our Suffolk HQ has hit a milestone! The engine and gearbox are now safely and securely in the car.
Jon and Paul have been working on the car for the past few days preparing everything for this moment. Carefully, the engine and gearbox were lowered into the nose of this iconic Mercedes sports car. The technicians lowered it inch by inch into the car, checking all the way that it wouldn’t snag or catch on anything. Thanks to the hard work and diligence of our technician Jon in prepping the engine bay, it all went in without a hitch.
With the engine and gearbox firmly in place by our in-house team, Jon could begin getting the wiring and the rest of the pipework all in place and ready to go. Then, the team begin the slow and important task of getting fluids into the new engine for its first start up very soon.
The very rare and unique 1969 Audi 70L is now safe and sound at the Bridge Classic Cars secure storage facility, The Hangar.
Once it arrived, the next day the car received a full valet inside and out. The car will then be kept at the storage facility while it is awaiting its slot in our restoration workshop at Pettistree. Until then, we all continue to monitor the car, collecting parts we need and look into the history of this wonderful piece of UK Audi history.
Keep a look out on the Bridge Classic Cars news page and social media channels for updates on the 1969 Audi 70L.
Our in-house technicians here at Bridge Classic Cars have been methodically working through the beautiful straight-six and gearbox of the 1969 Mercedes 280SL to get it ready to go back in the car.
Jon and Paul, our two in-house restoration technicians have painstakingly rerun every hose and wire that belongs to the engine and gearbox before it goes back into the engine bay of this iconic convertible. Using reference photos and catalogues made at the beginning of the project, the technicians were able to retrace each and every step to make sure that nothing has been missed off the engine.
Now with this complete and the gearbox attached to the back of the block, the guys will prepare the engine bay for the installation in the next couple of days. Ensuring that no hoses or metal lines are in the way which could be damaged during the installation.
Keep your eye out on the Bridge Classic Cars news page for updates very soon on the 1969 Mercedes 280SL Pagoda.
The 1977 MGB Roadster which is currently in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop for restoration has begun the first phase of its interior installation.
The classic 1970s has been handed over to our in-house head trimmer Brian, to begin work on the new interior of the car. The first step is to fit the new cabin sound deadening kit into the car. With Brian’s many years of experience in automotive trim work, he knows the best steps to take into making sure that all the panels fit perfectly from the very first layer being laid into the car.
Using the best quality sound deadening material, Brian began at the rear of the car. Panel by panel he worked his way from the rear of seats all the way to the very edge of the toeboards under the dash.
With these crucial pieces in place, Brian could then begin getting the beautiful black carpet pieces into the corners of the car and covering the transmission tunnel.
This is the first step in getting the brand new interior of the 1977 MGB Roadster back in by our in-house restoration team.
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.
The annual Ipswich to Felixstowe Classic Vehicle Rally is going ahead this year!
Last year, due to Covid19, it had to be cancelled. But this year, the organisers have said it is going ahead.
Also, if you notice the second car in the photo? Yes, that is indeed our 1970 Bristol 411.
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.
