The Ultimate Barn Find
June 23, 2023
RM Sotheby’s have recently announced that a once-in-a-generation collection of “barn find” Ferraris will be going to auction on 17th August 2023. The 20 Ferraris,
barn find
A Rare Aston Martin DB4 Found After 30 Years
December 7, 2022
Imagine walking into an old barn and finding a classic car. Now imagine walking into an old barn and finding an extremely rare 1962 Aston
New arrival: 1960 Rover 80
September 16, 2022
Mary who we have known a few years loves her Triumph Spitfire and we have looked after it ever since our first encounter. Unfortunately for
Possible Future Projects: Renault 5 GT Turbo, Triumph 2000
August 30, 2021
We are currently in discussion on a couple of exciting projects that may be entering the Bridge Classic Cars workshops in the not too distant
Barn Find E-Type In For Work
June 8, 2021
This 1968 Jaguar E-Type Series 1.5 4.2 has come in for a re-commission and possible restoration. We’re evaluating the extent of the work as we
Early Ford Model T Barn Find In For Recommission
April 20, 2021
This barn find Ford Model T is a turn of the 20th Century classic. Dating back to 1926, this unique green Ford is part of
Barn Finds Take Us Back To The Early 20th Century
March 17, 2021
We’ve come across a very interesting barn find that has provided us with a handful of interesting motors to gawk at! Photographed below are three
Friday Snapshot
November 13, 2020
As ever, it’s been a busy week here at Bridge Classics. We’ve had new cars arrive like the Mini Clubman, we’ve had a new winner
1960 AC Aceca
May 22, 2020
John and Paul have arrived to our Rendlesham hangar with our latest addition to the workshops, our 1960 AC Aceca barn find. First things first,
The Ultimate Barn Find
June 23, 2023
RM Sotheby’s have recently announced that a once-in-a-generation collection of “barn find” Ferraris will be going to auction on 17th August 2023. The 20 Ferraris, which have been named “The Lost & Found Collection“, will be going under the hammer during Monterey Car Week held in Monterey, California.
Untouched for decades, the incredible group of Ferraris has been tucked up in a secure warehouse in downtown Speedway, Indiana since 2004. It seems somewhat fitting that cars of this pedigree have still been within touching distance of an icon of motor racing (Indianapolis Motor Speedway) despite being out of sight from collectors, restorers, and the general public.
A warehouse with 20 Ferraris inside is no doubt an impressive sight to behold. However, you’d be forgiven for not instantly recognising that some of these machines have been involved in some of the world’s most famous races such as Le Mans, the Targa Florio, and the Mille Miglia. Equally, it wouldn’t be immediately obvious that a Ferrari formerly owned by royalty has sat in a warehouse not getting the time and attention it so rightfully deserves.
Perhaps, the most pressing question is simply how did these 20 vintage Ferraris end up in an Indiana warehouse left to gather dust in the first place?
Hurricane Charley
Back in 2004, Hurricane Charley caused massive destruction along the coast of Florida. It was during the storm that this stunning collection of Ferraris first came into sight, after the barn they were stored in since 1990 partially collapsed. It was at this point that they were very carefully moved and placed in the warehouse in Indiana which is where they have been ever since.
The Lost & Found Collection is expected to attract car enthusiasts from all walks of life. In what must be the ultimate dream for any collector, this ultimate “barn find” will certainly generate lots of attention from potential buyers.
Rob Myers, the man behind RM Sotheby’s said:
“While a select group of Ferrari collectors knew about the existence of these extraordinary cars, the rest of the world remained unaware. This represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for enthusiasts to acquire these iconic Ferraris, some of which have participated in renowned races. Most of these lost Ferraris remain untouched, preserving their purity and original condition since the day they were acquired—a true embodiment of the ‘barn find’ concept. It is the first time that RM Sotheby’s has presented a barn find collection of this magnitude to the market.”
The Lost & Found Collection
The Lost & Found Collection includes some very special vehicles including:
1956 Ferrari 250 GT Coupe Speciale by Pinin Farina – One of four 250 GT Coupes built by Pinin Farina in 1956 with Superamerica-style coachwork, this car was sold brand new by the factory to its first owner, King Mohamed V of Morocco. Traces of its breathtaking original colour combination of Celeste with a Nero roof over a Naturale Connoly leather interior, as well as the presence of its numbers-matching V-12, make this Speciale a tantalizing restoration candidate Estimate: $1,700,000 – $2,300,000 (approx £1.3 – £1.8 million)
1965 Ferrari 275 GTB/6C Alloy by Scaglietti – Making its debut on the Ferrari stand at the XLVII Torino Motor Show, this 275 GTB participated in the 1966 Targa Florio with Luciano Conti (publisher of Italy’s Autosprint magazine) and co-driver Vittorio Venturi. Notably, this was the first “long-nose” 275 GTB to be fitted with a low-weight alloy body and six carburettors. Estimate: $2,000,000 – $2,500,000 (approx £1.6 – £1.9 million)
1954 Ferrari 500 Mondial Spider Series I by Pinin Farina – If an automobile could talk, the weathered chassis of this Ferrari 500 Mondial would have an incredible story to tell—in no small part because it has the most extensive racing history of the 20 cars offered. Originally clothed in Pinin Farina Spider coachwork, it was sold new to Scuderia Guastalla principal Franco Cornacchia for the use of ex-Scuderia Ferrari driver Franco Cortese. Significantly, Cortese and co-driver Perruchini achieved 4th in class (14th overall) at the 1954 Mille Miglia. Subsequently rebodied by Scaglietti, further notable races include a Benzoni-Naust effort at the 1956 Targa Florio. Estimate: $1,200,000 – $1,600,000 (approx £944,00 – £1.2 million)
1978 Ferrari 512 BB Competizione – This Ferrari 512 BB Competizione is one of three factory-specified examples prepared for the 1978 24 Hours of Le Mans. Entered by Luigi Chinetti Sr./ NART as race #87 and driven by Jacques Guérin, Jean-Pierre Delaunay, and Gregg Young, the car managed an impressive showing, completing over 19 hours and 232 laps before retirement. Appearing largely as it did when it left the Circuit de la Sarthe, this Ferrari boasts a short ownership chain of just two private caretakers. Estimate: $1,800,000 – $2,800,000 (approx £1.4 – 2.2 million)
Darin Schnabel ©2023 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s
Darin Schnabel ©2023 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s
Darin Schnabel ©2023 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s
Darin Schnabel ©2023 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s
The full Lost & Found Collection
1978 Ferrari 512 BB Competizione
1965 Ferrari 275 GTB/6C Alloy by Scaglietti
1956 Ferrari 250 GT Coupe Speciale by Pinin Farina
1956 Ferrari 410 Superamerica Coupe Series I by Pinin Farina
1967 Ferrari 330 GTS by Pininfarina
1954 Ferrari 500 Mondial Spider Series I by Pinin Farina
1965 Ferrari 275 GTS by Pininfarina
1964 Ferrari 250 GT/L Berlinetta Lusso by Scaglietti
1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Berlinetta by Scaglietti
1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Berlinetta by Scaglietti
1968 Ferrari Dino 206 GT by Scaglietti
1960 Ferrari 250 GT Coupe Series II by Pinin Farina
1972 Ferrari 365 GTC/4 by Pininfarina
1966 Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 Series II by Pininfarina
1976 Ferrari 308 GTB ‘Vetroresina’ by Scaglietti
1969 Ferrari 365 GT 2+2 by Pininfarina
1965 Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 Series I ‘Interim’ by Pininfarina
1980 Ferrari 512 BB
1991 Ferrari Testarossa
1977 Ferrari 400 Automatic
A Rare Aston Martin DB4 Found After 30 Years
December 7, 2022
Imagine walking into an old barn and finding a classic car. Now imagine walking into an old barn and finding an extremely rare 1962 Aston Martin DB4.
With only 1100 DB4s ever made, finding one in a barn is not something most of us will ever even dream of being fortunate enough to do.
However, that is exactly what happened recently when a barn find turned out to be a very special car!
The car in question belonged to a man who, after returning from the Vietnam war in the 1970s, returned to work at a local car body shop. After doing some work on his boss’s car, he was gifted the DB4. He towed it home and carefully parked this rare classic car in his barn with the plan of eventually restoring it.
Unfortunately, the restoration never happened and the car sat in the barn until it was found more than 30 years later.
The 1962 Aston Martin DB4 has a 3.7-litre straight-six petrol engine and, even in its current state, is valued at around £270 000. When fully restored, previous DB4s have sold for more than £1 million.
This DB4 is currently for sale in New York through Gullwing Motor Cars.
The full story can be found here.
We love Aston Martins here at Bridge Classic Cars and we have had a wide range of them in the workshop over the years. Below is just a small example of some of the beautiful Astons we have seen and, although they might not be as rare as the one found recently in an old barn, they are all equally as stunning to look at.
New arrival: 1960 Rover 80
September 16, 2022
Mary who we have known a few years loves her Triumph Spitfire and we have looked after it ever since our first encounter.
Unfortunately for husband Bill she is not so keen on the Rover 80 that has been taking up valuable space in the wood store and coming up to another winter of non-restoration it was definitely on borrowed time.
Mary contacted me (Gordon) and said would I consider buying the car as they really wanted to see the car restored. How could I say no?
Tomas and myself had a mammoth task of releasing the Rover from its comfortable home and onto a trailer that we doubted we could remove from the their small cottage garden and driveway.
2 hours of loading and constantly telling Mary that we may fail in our quest and with the reply that the winter logs were being delivered it was never a doubt that Bills Rover was destined for departure.
We managed to get a few pictures between, swearing, turning wheels with flat tyres and desperately not trying to destroy the pergola. You can see the joy on Mary’s face and the not quite so happy Bill.
I even got a message from Mary the following day thanking us for all our efforts and tell us that the logs had arrived.
Possible Future Projects: Renault 5 GT Turbo, Triumph 2000
August 30, 2021
We are currently in discussion on a couple of exciting projects that may be entering the Bridge Classic Cars workshops in the not too distant future.
Having been parked up for sometime we have our Renault 5 GT Turbo in need of some serious sill repairs. As you can see from the pictures, the areas underneath have suffered from corrosion and this will most certainly have affected the strength. These will need to be addressed in order to get the car successfully through an MOT and back on the roads.
It is most definitely a car worth saving and would bring a smile to many many faces if seen back on the road.
Next we have a dry stored Triumph 2000. Having been in the same family for many years the current owner would like to see phase 1 of the project being to get the car back on the Suffolk roads safely. A good, thorough clean will unveil what work will need to be carried out but we certainly expect a bit of welding and brake work to be key milestones on this one. Another great car to see back on the road and hopefully with us sometime in the future.
Barn Find E-Type In For Work
June 8, 2021
This 1968 Jaguar E-Type Series 1.5 4.2 has come in for a re-commission and possible restoration. We’re evaluating the extent of the work as we aim to first get it to MOT standard and work on enhanced reliability as the owners aim to take it around Europe.
We’re told its been sat in a barn for 4 years. Once it’s had a thorough clean and we’ve evicted the rodents, we’re sure it will look better.
Early Ford Model T Barn Find In For Recommission
April 20, 2021
This barn find Ford Model T is a turn of the 20th Century classic. Dating back to 1926, this unique green Ford is part of local history, with its life both beginning and being in Suffolk as an agricultural and taxi vehicle, hence the unique green. Henry Ford famously said that “Any customer can have a car painted any colour that he wants, so long as it is black.“, making this green unique to work vehicles.
This Model T has had quite the life, being owned or looked after by the Potters for the majority of its life. In 1915, this Ford was delivered by train from Old Trafford and was bought by A.G Potter, who then supplied it to Mr Funden Self of Marlseford who used it for deliveries, provisions and as a taxi service once a week to Ipswich Market, an exciting journey from Framlingham at the time. Mr Self used it until he died. In the early 1930’s this Ford became the property of Mr Walker, Sir Colin’s father. It then remained in a barn until 1954 when A.G Potter was employed to look after and restore the car with the agreement that he could use it as and when he wished. In 1963, the car was used in A.G Potters Golden Jubilee celebrations where it was used to collect Lord Cranbrook in Great Glemham to perform the opening ceremony.
Mr Potter, who handed his beloved Ford over to us today for recommissioning, owns a selection of other classics including Ford Popular, a Willies Jeep and another Model T, this one being a black 1926 model. All of which have been stored in his barn at his house, making these classics almost barn finds.
You can read more about the history of the car, here:
The black 1926 Ford was his fathers who acquired it from Rv. John Waller from Walderingfield, who had, in turn, bought it new in 1926. The Waller family still reside in Suffolk. Both of these Ford Model T’s have spent their whole life in Suffolk and mostly owned by the same family. Such a sentimental and personal link to these cars is always lovely to see as their history and their stories become more tangible.
The Ford Popular is unfortunately in a great state of disrepair and cannot be restored however the Willie’s Jeep is in running order.
Barn Finds Take Us Back To The Early 20th Century
March 17, 2021
We’ve come across a very interesting barn find that has provided us with a handful of interesting motors to gawk at! Photographed below are three ancient Fords; a Ford Popular and two Ford Model T’s, one being 1915 and the other a 1926 model. The 1915 Ford Model T may soon be coming in for a full restoration which we’re incredibly excited to start!
1926 Ford Model T:
1915 Ford Model T – likely to be restored with us soon:
Friday Snapshot
November 13, 2020
As ever, it’s been a busy week here at Bridge Classics. We’ve had new cars arrive like the Mini Clubman, we’ve had a new winner announced yesterday and lots of new developments with our current projects. Here’s what’s gone on throughout the week!
Peugeot 504
Our engine specialist Ady has been working on the 504’s engine by fitting the flywheel and couch before fitting it back into the Peugeot.
The Peugeot has also had a recent trim shop appointment, with new carpets being made and fitted by our expert, Brian.
1960 Black Jensen 514R
The Black Jensen has had new sills made and fitted to give the finishing touch to the bottom of its driver’s door.
1994 Nissan Micra Dot
The Nissan Micra has now been finished! The paintwork has been completed, bumps and scrapes were taken out and it’s pretty much ready to go again! This endearing little Micra would make the perfect first car for someone learning to drive!
1988 Nissan 300ZX
The Nissan 300ZX has come in recently and appears to have some rather severe rust issues on the lower door sills. Among other restorations, that rust and those holes will have to go! You can see the rest of the work here.
1963 Morris Minor 1000
One of our technicians, Scott has been working carefully on the Morris Minor’s dazzling red interior. The door cards, handles, and carpets have all been fitted.
1960 Lilac Jensen 541R
This Jensen actually belongs to Bridge’s director and founder, Gordon Ranson, and is now starting its restoration journey with us! There’s a lot to do but we can’t wait to see the final product!
One of our technicians Anthony has been working on the body, hand making a lot of the elements such as the boot floor.
Barn find Mercedes
Barn finds are like hidden treasures and we love them when they come in. Currently, we’ve got two prospective projects that need cleaning up and assessing before we know what needs to be done. We really hope we’ll be able to work on these two cars!
Over the Pond Austin Healey
This Austen Healey 100 BN1 is currently residing in America but could be ours soon! Keep an eye out on our website and social media pages for updates!
Craig’s new Gastron
When you work with classic cars all the time, sometimes you want to mix it up a bit. That’s exactly what our Director Craig has done! He’s recently acquired this 3 litre speed boat. Fingers crossed for nice weather soon then!
Red Jaguar E-Type
Another prospective project has been viewed recently and it’s a beautiful red e-type that needs some TLC!
1960 AC Aceca
May 22, 2020
John and Paul have arrived to our Rendlesham hangar with our latest addition to the workshops, our 1960 AC Aceca barn find.
First things first, we have been asked to carry out a full and thorough re-clean of the car, inside and out. The owner would like to remove 35 years of dust build up so we can get a good insight into what condition the car is currently in.
Once clean, the car will be transported to our Pettistree workshops where it will undergo a full assessment and to report on all of our findings.
We will also test the engine to see what, if any, damage was caused when the head gasket blew 35 years ago.
