A Classic Christmas Advert
December 11, 2023
A few weeks ago, I threw the idea out to the team here at Bridge Classic Cars that we should make our very own Christmas
bridge classic cars
Coming soon – 1989 Daimler Double Six
December 11, 2023
This may be the first time you have seen our 1989 Daimler Double Six. The car has in fact been with us, in storage, for
Battery Box Framework
December 8, 2023
The battery box metal frame is almost complete and will eventually have an ash wood box for battery to sit in.
Fabricating various small components for our Jensen 541
December 8, 2023
Rob returns to work this week, having taken a extended break to recover from some recent surgery. He gets straight back on to our Jensen
Final Look – Photo Shoot with our 1974 Volkswagen Beetle 1303
December 7, 2023
As our 1974 Volkswagen Beetle nears the end of its restoration, with only a few small bits to do, we though we would take it
This Just In – 1974 Mini 850 Van
December 7, 2023
This morning, along with a few other new deliveries, we welcomed this gorgeous 1974 Mini 850 Van! As we mentioned with our 1982 Bedford HA,
Ring Ring – 1982 Beford HA Panel Van arrives
December 7, 2023
Here at Bridge Classic Cars, we love a panel van. A solid, dependable and utilitarian workhorse for generations, the humble van at some point has
A Special Delivery and a Unique Collection
December 7, 2023
This morning we took delivery of a collection of new cars destined to be won by lucky winners for our competitions as well as our
New Arrival – 1972 Morgan Plus 4
December 7, 2023
Today, we welcomed a few newcomers to our Suffolk HQ including this beautiful 1972 Morgan Plus 4. Shortly, it will be assessed and worked on
A Thoroughbred Awaits You – Our 1984 Ferrari 308 GTSi is now ready to be won!
December 6, 2023
The symbol of the prancing horse is an icon of power, elegance, and poise throughout the sporting world. The perfect representation of perfection from the
Aston Martin DB2/4 Seat Bases Rebuild
December 6, 2023
Yesterday and today, Lydia has been working on the rear seat of the Aston Martin DB2/4. ‘Chris has kindly painted the seat tray black for
Work Begins – Tear Down of the 1969 MGC GT
December 6, 2023
Chris has been working on stripping down the our 1969 MGC GT in the main workshop. He has been working his way around and in
Tear down – Stripping back our 1975 Cobra Project
December 6, 2023
The Bridge Classic Cars team have begun working on stripping down the internals and wiring of our 1975 Cobra Project. This has been headed up
Just in time for Christmas – Win our 1968 Morris 1000 Pickup
December 4, 2023
It has charm, character, and nostalgia. It’s been a workhorse, a celebrated classic and a family friend – The Morris Minor. In any configuration, from
New Arrival – 1969 MGC GT
December 1, 2023
We’ve got a new arrival at our Suffolk HQ today, with this beautiful 1969 MGC GT. The car is just beginning its journey here at
Auction Results – H and H
November 30, 2023
Yesterday, Bridge Classic Cars Directors, Gordon and Craig went to Derbyshire for the latest auction hosted by H and H. They arrived early to make
Interior Trim – Bridge Classic Cars
November 29, 2023
Here at Bridge Classic Cars, our interior trim team of Brian and Lydia can bring the interior of your car back to life. We know
Molly – Bridge Classic Cars And Beyond
November 28, 2023
Our very own Molly has been busy outside of her presenting duties here at Bridge Classic Cars. She spent some time singing to the residents
Three of a Kind – Our 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Drophead Coupe
November 24, 2023
Over the past few weeks, we’ve welcomed a very special addition to the workshop. The third in a line of Aston Martin DB2/4’s which are
Nostalgia – 1977 Mini 850
November 24, 2023
This is the story of Joe Collett and his Mini 850. From Joe, in his own words… “My first mini, 850, off the road we
Aston Martin DB5 Going To Auction
November 24, 2023
H&H Classics is set to auction a stunning 1966 Aston Martin DB5, previously owned by motoring correspondent Andrew English from the Daily Telegraph. Widely rated
Looking At The Bridge Classic Cars Van
November 24, 2023
Although the technicians who work in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop normally spend their days restoring classic cars, every now and again, one of our
Work Begins On Our Promotional Trailer
November 24, 2023
Monty has started building the framework for our new mobile sign trailer. As you can see from the photos below, progress is being made on
Just Passing By – Our friend Chris brings over his BMW 1M
November 24, 2023
Hailed as the modern successor to the legendary BMW E30 M3, the 1M took the world by storm on its release. This rare, straight-six powered
A rare chance – Photographing our 1953 Aston Martin DB2/4 ‘Claret’
November 23, 2023
Although it has been in a workshop for a little while now, and our restoration teams have begun the process of bringing this wonderful early
A 70’s icon… with a twist! Our 1970 Lotus Europa
November 23, 2023
Our 1970 Lotus Europa is now live! The Lotus Europa is without doubt one of the quirkiest and individual sports cars of the 1970s. A
Top Gear Is Cancelled
November 22, 2023
Top Gear is cancelled! At least for the ‘foreseeable future’ anyway. The decision to pause production of one of the top money makers and most
Riley 9 Restoration Progress
November 22, 2023
The restoration of our one-of-a-kind 1905 Rilep 9HP has been something of a labour of love and dedication. With very little reference material to work
Lapland UK
November 21, 2023
This past weekend, Bridge Classic Cars‘ Director Craig took his family to Lapland UK. Set in an enchanted wood in Berkshire, this immersive experience creates
Our Mince Pie Drive In The Local News
November 21, 2023
The Bridge Classic Cars Mince Pie Drive has been featured in some local news outlets. Living In Suffolk has created a great post about the
A Classic Christmas Advert
December 11, 2023
A few weeks ago, I threw the idea out to the team here at Bridge Classic Cars that we should make our very own Christmas advert. With the likes of John Lewis, Aldi, Coca-Cola, and numerous other big names putting out some incredible festive ads over the last few years, I thought we had the capability to do the same.
As great as the popular Christmas Adverts are, we felt that there was one thing missing from pretty much all of them – a classic car. After a bit of time brainstorming, our 1968 Morris 1000 Pickup caught our eye and, alongside Molly, was chosen to be the star of our festive film.
The Story Of Our Christmas Advert
In our Christmas advert, Molly goes on an adventure into a wintery forest to find the perfect Christmas tree for The Atelier at Bridge Classic Cars.
As Molly walks through the forest, she explores her surroundings, searching for that one special tree that would stand amongst our classic cars throughout December. Once she finds one that fits her criteria, she calls upon the help of our classic Morris Pickup.
After loading the tree into the back of our Morris 1000 Pickup, Molly drives away from the forest on her way back to the workshop, where we were all patiently waiting for her arrival so we could officially start our Christmas celebrations.
Classic Cars At Christmas
Beyond the stunning visuals of our Christmas advert lies the love and passion we all have for classic vehicles. We believe that Christmas is about family and spending time with those that you love. We thought we would show you how, to us at least, a car isn’t just a machine to get you from A to B; it can be a big part of your family and they can have their very own personality.
With the release of our festive film, Christmas has begun at Bridge Classic Cars. There are only a couple of weeks left before the big day, so the entire team would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and we look forward to seeing even more of you in 2024.
Coming soon – 1989 Daimler Double Six
December 11, 2023
This may be the first time you have seen our 1989 Daimler Double Six. The car has in fact been with us, in storage, for a number of years now but recently we handed the car over to our good friends at Motts Body Repair in Colchester to push forward with the body restoration of this beautiful machine.
This will eventually return to us for a full recommission before we decide what we will do with the car.
If you would like to see our Double Six as a future competition car then do let us know.
Battery Box Framework
December 8, 2023
The battery box metal frame is almost complete and will eventually have an ash wood box for battery to sit in.
Fabricating various small components for our Jensen 541
December 8, 2023
Rob returns to work this week, having taken a extended break to recover from some recent surgery.
He gets straight back on to our Jensen 541R as we finish off this fantastic restoration. He has fabricated a bracket for mounting a battery cut off switch in the boot. Fitted a bracket and switch to car. Made new earth leads to run from the battery to the switch and the switch to the chassis. Make up a wire to connect the horn button to the steering column. Fit steering wheel and horn push and test. Fit an extra throttle return spring and make and fit a bracket to attach the spring to the engine.
Final Look – Photo Shoot with our 1974 Volkswagen Beetle 1303
December 7, 2023
As our 1974 Volkswagen Beetle nears the end of its restoration, with only a few small bits to do, we though we would take it into the Atelier and set up a photo shoot for the car before it leaves our Suffolk HQ to head back home to its excited owner.
‘Delilah’, as the car is affectionately known, came to us at the beginning of 2023 to begin its restoration journey. This wonderful piece of automotive sentiment has received the love and car from each and every department here at our Suffolk HQ like any of our restorations to make sure that we deliver a car which will last well into prosperity for its owner to enjoy and Delilah is one of those. The team have also tried to preserve her unique and personal history with the retention of the window stickers and other original pieces which make ‘Delilah’ a one-off to her owner.
From the sympathetic and careful metalwork done by Chris and Monty in the fabrication shop, to the fastidious and meticulous preparation and execution of Chris, Alan and Mauro in the paint department. Brian and Lydia turning their expert skills and attention to detail on the bespoke cream leather interior and handmade roof in the trim workshop all the way down to James getting the engine set up to run just how it should, Little Jon working on getting each system working correctly in the cabin and Big John installing the wonderfully subtle RetroSounds stereo unit into the original dash. Each department has proudly worked on Delilah to bring her back to life and back to being able to be enjoyed by her owner for many many years to come.
Now, it was up to me to try and capture in photos what the team here at Bridge Classic Cars have worked so hard on over the past 11 months – I hope I managed to show just how beautiful this Beetle turned out from the talented and skilled work our amazing team have put into this classic Volkswagen.
Take a look at the full gallery here:
This Just In – 1974 Mini 850 Van
December 7, 2023
This morning, along with a few other new deliveries, we welcomed this gorgeous 1974 Mini 850 Van!
As we mentioned with our 1982 Bedford HA, we love a panel van here at Bridge Classic Cars and this is one of the nicest ones we’ve seen. Like the others, soon this pint sized workhorse will be headed into our workshop were our skilled technicians can inspect and assess the car to make sure it is ready for its lucky new owner.
Ring Ring – 1982 Beford HA Panel Van arrives
December 7, 2023
Here at Bridge Classic Cars, we love a panel van. A solid, dependable and utilitarian workhorse for generations, the humble van at some point has played a role in everyone’s life.
This one though, is a 1982 Bedford HA Panel Van. And its previous owner has had commissioned to look like one of the original early 1980s British Telecom work vans.
The team will be bringing this into our workshop very soon to assess and inspect the entire car so keep an eye out on the Bridge Classic Cars news page for more updates very soon.
A Special Delivery and a Unique Collection
December 7, 2023
This morning we took delivery of a collection of new cars destined to be won by lucky winners for our competitions as well as our 1938 Vauxhall Wingham Cabriolet being brought back to us safe and sound.
The new cars included a Morgan Plus 4, a Mini 850 Van and a very yellow 1982 Bedford HA Panel Van safely tucked away in the trailer of our friends at EM Rogers.
One by one, these classics were unloaded and taken round to our usual photography spot for us to capture them before they begin their journeys. But, we do like to grab photos of the action!
Along with delivering our classics back to us, EM Rogers were also here to collect a very special car destined for its new owner.
The team have been readying the Riley Stelvio ahead of its journey and today was the day where it would leave our Suffolk HQ bound for a new life since arriving from South Africa earlier in the year.
New Arrival – 1972 Morgan Plus 4
December 7, 2023
Today, we welcomed a few newcomers to our Suffolk HQ including this beautiful 1972 Morgan Plus 4.
Shortly, it will be assessed and worked on by the team to make sure everything is up to scratch and looking the best it possibly can.
A Thoroughbred Awaits You – Our 1984 Ferrari 308 GTSi is now ready to be won!
December 6, 2023
The symbol of the prancing horse is an icon of power, elegance, and poise throughout the sporting world. The perfect representation of perfection from the vision of one man, Enzo Ferrari. Commendatore Ferrari would use this symbol to announce to the world that his cars meant performance and prestige.
Through the decades, the artisans at Maranello would craft some of the most elegant and striking road and race cars the world would ever see.
In the mid-1970’s, the design language would change to adopt the more angular and aggressive styles seen in motorsport throughout the world and give birth to a series of icons from the Ferrari family such as this, the Ferrari 308.
Bridge Classic Cars is giving you the chance to join the Scuderia with our 1984 Ferrari 308 GTSi.
Finished in the Ferrari signature colour of Rosso Corsa and recently retrimmed back to its original Crema leather, this 308 GTSi combines elegance and timelessness into a true 1980s icon.
With a 2.9-litre fuel-injected V8 and the signature ‘dogleg’ manual gearbox, our 1984 Ferrari 308 GTSi has the beating heart of a thoroughbred to match its sporting Pininfarina designed good looks.
Originally delivered to UK Ferrari dealer Modena Engineering Ltd through the legendary Maranello Concessionaires in Surrey in January of 1984, this 308 GTSi was built at the legendary Ferrari workshops in Maranello, Italy in November of 1983 after being ordered in July of that year– confirmed by Tony Willis of the Maranello Concessionaires Archive.
Included in the beautiful Burgundy leather bound history file (which has a highly polished plaque proudly displaying the cars chassis number) includes a copy of the cars original order form which includes the car being specified with optional air conditioning. Along with this wonderful piece of the cars story, is a detailed service history print out from the Ferrari Owners Club. The folder includes correspondence and invoices dating back to the earliest days of the cars life.
In 2023, various works were carried out Haynes Heritage Engineering which included repairs to the sills and several areas of paintwork being rejuvenated.
Enter now for your chance to win this sensational 1980’s supercar with our 1984 Ferrari 308 GTSi.
Full Gallery & Video:
Aston Martin DB2/4 Seat Bases Rebuild
December 6, 2023
Yesterday and today, Lydia has been working on the rear seat of the Aston Martin DB2/4.
‘Chris has kindly painted the seat tray black for me, and stone chipped the underside, as this part actually forms the bottom of the car and is exposed to all the elements the road can throw at it. Firstly , I re-attached the foam that we removed, and this needed some remedial repairs as the top surface was uneven. Should I have left this, it would have shown through the new leather cover, and it would also have been possible to feel the imperfections beneath. I filled in the deepest dents with some thing scrim foam and then laid a complete piece on top before adding a layer of polyester wadding to ensure that the seats remained soft and comfortable. This also works well at hiding any last imperfections that may remain! Then, I applied the new leather piece which forms the part that the passengers sit on.’
The next part to complete was the backrests, which were a little more tricky. These have to have the fabric half fitted, then they get riveted to the seat tray, then the rest of the fabric is stretched up and over and glued to the seat tray.
Brian has already repaired the foam on these so Lydia added a layer of wadding to make them softer. The leather was cut in 2 parts and sewn together, then fitted to the seat with contact adhesive.
Using heat really helped to soften the leather and made it a lot easier to fit the covers on these.
The final piece is the board that rests on top. This is a simple piece of cardboard, with a thin layer of foam on , then covered in leather. Finally, a piece of piping is applied to the edge to close the gap between the board and the seat underneath.
Work Begins – Tear Down of the 1969 MGC GT
December 6, 2023
Chris has been working on stripping down the our 1969 MGC GT in the main workshop.
He has been working his way around and in the car to remove all of the various pieces of trim and mouldings to get the car ready to head into our body shop. The team use this time to evaluate and analyse all of the parts removed from the car to check for condition or any breaks/damage to items which can be recorded and if neccesary, replaced.
Chris has got the car back to a point where other members of the Bridge Classic Cars team can now help get this fantastic sports car ready for the next step of its journey.
Tear down – Stripping back our 1975 Cobra Project
December 6, 2023
The Bridge Classic Cars team have begun working on stripping down the internals and wiring of our 1975 Cobra Project.
This has been headed up by our technician Mauro ahead of the body and paint team beginning to work on the car in our in-house paint and body shop. The team have carefully gone through each system in the car to make notes for the cars reassembly after the work has been completed, such as wiring connections, as well as to make a note of any missing items for the project.
Just in time for Christmas – Win our 1968 Morris 1000 Pickup
December 4, 2023
It has charm, character, and nostalgia. It’s been a workhorse, a celebrated classic and a family friend – The Morris Minor. In any configuration, from Traveller to Convertible, the humble Morris Minor is beloved by generations. From school carol concerts, sleepy nighttime drives after spending time with family or bringing home the Christmas tree, the Morris Minor has played a part in so many lives. The most practical and seldom seen, is the Pickup.
This charming Morris 1000 Pickup could be yours just in time for Christmas. Our 1968 Morris 1000 Pickup is the perfect classic Christmas gift for you or a loved one this year.
Finished in that timeless and festive shade of deep and glossy Almond Green, the perfect colour to compliment that festive jumper you always want to wear. With a simple cabin featuring a pair of soft newly reupholstered black seats, our Morris 1000 Pickup is as useful as it is stylish and charismatic with a wood lined cargo bay (with a beige hardwearing canvas tie-down cover) which as seen, can comfortably fit an 8ft Christmas Tree.
Having recent work carried out Morris Minor masters, Charles Ware, in 2018 – ‘The Pickup’ as it is aptly named in the postcard hidden in its glovebox had been meticulously cared for and restored since its reimagining in 2018.
During its time at the Bristol based experts, the car was upgraded with an uprated heater, electronic ignition, cut-off switch, halogen headlamps as well as a reconditioned engine and gearbox being carefully rehomed in the front of this nostalgic work truck.
Now, as you sit back and think about what you really want for Christmas this year, why not enter now for your chance to win our 1968 Morris 1000 Pickup, the ultimate Christmas classic.
And, just to give you a little bit extra this Christmas – we’re giving you £1000 in cash!
From all of us here at Bridge Classic Cars Competitions, a merry Christmas to all! And to all… Good luck!
Take a look at a couple of the films that we’ve done with our very own Molly and our 1968 Morris 1000 Pickup.
And then, have a look at our very special Christmas film that we’ve made.
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New Arrival – 1969 MGC GT
December 1, 2023
We’ve got a new arrival at our Suffolk HQ today, with this beautiful 1969 MGC GT.
The car is just beginning its journey here at our restoration workshop so keep an eye out on the Bridge Classic Cars news page for more updates very soon!
Auction Results – H and H
November 30, 2023
Yesterday, Bridge Classic Cars Directors, Gordon and Craig went to Derbyshire for the latest auction hosted by H and H.
They arrived early to make sure they got a good look at all of the cars available to buy and, as you can see from the photos below, there were some fantastic vehicles on offer. There were several highlights to admire including a 1966 Aston Martin DB5, said to be one of the UK’s best driving DB5s and a 1927 Delage DI Sport Boat-Tail Tourer which you may recognise as a previous resident of the Bridge Classic Cars workshop.
As well as the incredible range of cars at the auction, there were also some famous faces including John Fury, former boxer and trainer and father of now legendary boxer Tyson Fury.
Yesterday’s classic car auction was the last in-person sale that will be hosted by H and H in 2023. Both Gordon and Craig said that it was a great way to end their auction season and they are looking forward to going to even more in the new year. We are always on the lookout for classic cars to add to our growing collection and these auctions are always a fantastic way of finding several all under one roof.
Gordon and Craig bought multiple vehicles and, once they have been checked over in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop, they will be available to win through Bridge Classic Cars Competitions. Can you guess which ones they are?
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Interior Trim – Bridge Classic Cars
November 29, 2023
Here at Bridge Classic Cars, our interior trim team of Brian and Lydia can bring the interior of your car back to life. We know that for a lot of people, your car isn’t just a mode of transportation; it’s where you spend a lot of time, and something that you want to show off in all its glory.
Lydia and Brian understand that every detail counts and are committed to making your car or bike look as if it has just rolled off the production line.
Interior Trim Services Offered at Bridge Classic Cars
Our skilled team can undertake almost any automotive interior trim work. Services include:
- Seat cover repairs
- Full car re-trim
- Rock n Roll beds / camper interior / insulation/carpet lining
- Steering wheels
- Carpet sets / over mats
- Motorbike seats
- Tool bags / spare wheel covers
- Dashboard centre consoles/handbrake and gearstick gaiters
- Headlining
- Hood bags / tonneau covers
- Door cards / panels
Testimonials
Your vehicle deserves the best, and at Bridge Classic Cars, our interior trim team deliver excellence in every detail. Here is what some of our previous customers have said about Brian and Lydia’s work:
“I’m enjoying every update. I’m impressed with what Lydia and Brian are doing. I like the leather and vinyl combo very much. So pleased with the rear seat now. The paintwork looked great as well and I’m sure when it gets its final touch-up, alignment and the few flaws attended to that it is a real work of art. I would appreciate it if you can complement the staff that is doing this great work for me.”
“Absolutely delighted with the renewed headlining – superb job displaying tremendous skill and the considerable care taken not to harm the vulnerable materials of this 80-year-old unrestored Alvis“
“The replacement biscuit-coloured leather in my BMW has matched well with the original colour, it all fits well“
Contact Us For Interior Trim Work
No matter what interior trim work you are looking to have completed, please contact us via info@bridgeclassiccars.co.uk or give us a call on 01473 742038 (Tuesday – Friday 0800 – 1700).
Molly – Bridge Classic Cars And Beyond
November 28, 2023
Our very own Molly has been busy outside of her presenting duties here at Bridge Classic Cars.
She spent some time singing to the residents at Henley House care home. During her performance, the residents were clearly enjoying themselves and thought Molly was amazing.
It’s always nice to see members of the team doing things they enjoy in their spare time, and Molly is always kept busy with her singing.
If that wasn’t enough, Molly can also be seen on the cover of the 95th Bomber Magazine.
Three of a Kind – Our 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Drophead Coupe
November 24, 2023
Over the past few weeks, we’ve welcomed a very special addition to the workshop. The third in a line of Aston Martin DB2/4’s which are being completely restored by our classic car restoration technicians at our Suffolk HQ.
This particular car, is a 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Drophead Coupe and one of a rarefied few which remain. This car, which has yet to be named, has been commissioned by its owner for our highly-skilled teams to bring back to its former glory alongside the sister cars of ‘Claret’ and ‘Moonshadow‘.
Although work has already begun on this incredible piece of Aston Martin history, there is still a long way to go. But, like the sister cars, our team are excited and eager to get this wonderful restoration on the move and all of us are lucky enough to have 3 of these stunning DB2/4’s in the workshop.
Nostalgia – 1977 Mini 850
November 24, 2023
This is the story of Joe Collett and his Mini 850.
From Joe, in his own words…
“My first mini, 850, off the road we drove it around my grandad’s farm.
£30 and my dad taught me to drive in it!
The photo shows me, my brother Greg standing, my brother Tom and my friend Matthew in the back!
Really the best of times circa 1995.”
Share Your Story
If you have memories of a special vehicle, we’d love to share them. Simply email rob@bridgeclassiccars.co.uk with some photos and why your vehicle means so much to you.
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Aston Martin DB5 Going To Auction
November 24, 2023
H&H Classics is set to auction a stunning 1966 Aston Martin DB5, previously owned by motoring correspondent Andrew English from the Daily Telegraph. Widely rated as one of the UK’s best-driving DB5s, ‘GBO 500D’, will be available for sale at The Pavilion Gardens in Buxton on November 29th after being in Mr English’s possession for nearly three decades.
With an estimated value of £500,000 to £550,000, this DB5 carries a rich racing history. It has been registered with both the FIA and MSA, participating in numerous sprints, hill climbs, and rallies, and has been meticulously cared for by experts specialising in the marque.
Details
Chassis DB5/2035/R has the preferred ZF 5-speed manual gearbox and retains its original matching numbers, a detail authenticated by the factory build sheet. From its initial registration, it has displayed the UK number plate ‘GBO 500D’.
Undergoing a substantial refurbishment during the 1990s, the car received a Dark Navy Blue repaint and care from Nigel Barker at Davron Engineering. Enhancements include the tasteful addition of a Harvey Bailey handling kit and considerable recent investments to elevate both its performance and aesthetics. Its 4.2-litre engine delivers a lively drive and is complemented by an interior upgrade using premium materials valued at over £20,000.
Julian Pinkster, motorcar specialist at H&H Classics, said: “The DB5 is an iconic symbol of British automotive heritage, thanks to its association with James Bond. The performance and history of this particular model, place it among the nicest driving examples of the DB5 to come to auction. It represents a rare opportunity for collectors to own a vehicle that for decades, has captivated the imagination of car enthusiasts and film fans alike.”
“Few cars can match the DB5’s heritage and cultural significance. We’re expecting strong interest and competitive bidding for this quintessential example of British motoring excellence.”
The DB5 comes with an extensive history file, including a current V5C, past registration documents, a comprehensive collection of MOT certificates, detailed invoices for both parts and services, and other important paperwork.
H&H Auction Of The 1966 Aston Martin DB5
This DB5 will be part of an auction featuring 150 classic, collectable, and performance cars. Viewing for all lots will be open from midday until 8pm on Tuesday, November 28th, and from 9am on the day of the sale.
The auction begins at 1pm on Wednesday, November 29th, offering various bidding options such as online, telephone, commission, or in-person bids.
Looking At The Bridge Classic Cars Van
November 24, 2023
Although the technicians who work in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop normally spend their days restoring classic cars, every now and again, one of our own vehicles needs some attention.
Recently Jonn spent some time investigating why our 2005 Mercedes Vito van was running poorly and had the glow plug light illuminated.
After visually inspecting the injectors and wiring, Jonn plugged in the diagnostic computer in and found 63 codes stored across all systems. These were cleared before he rechecked the van and carried out live data readings for various engine components and operations.
More work is needed to get our van fully operational again but, luckily, we have other vehicles we can use in the meantime.
Work Begins On Our Promotional Trailer
November 24, 2023
Monty has started building the framework for our new mobile sign trailer.
As you can see from the photos below, progress is being made on the frame and things are starting to take shape.
Once this project is complete, you will likely see it out and about with the Bridge Classic Cars teams at numerous events throughout next year!
Just Passing By – Our friend Chris brings over his BMW 1M
November 24, 2023
Hailed as the modern successor to the legendary BMW E30 M3, the 1M took the world by storm on its release. This rare, straight-six powered miniature meanie is a rare sight to see, especially in the UK and in all black.
BMW M, or M Division, was created in the mid-1970s as BMW’s in-house performance wizards. They took ordinary, everyday road cars and created some of the most sought-after and legendary performance cars until today – with the likes of the M1, M3, M4, M5, M6 etc. In the late 2000’s, M would take the humble 1 series coupe and essentially grafted in elements from the M3 and M4 to create the 1M (not to be confused with the late 70s supercar, the M1).
With only a few hundred of these rare coupes arriving in the UK, most were ordered in colours like Orange and Blue. But this one was ordered in Black with Black leather, making it one of only a handful of cars to be specified like this – making it even closer to its forefather, the fabled E30 M3, whose most common colour was black.
Although we mainly work on classic and vintage vehicles, all of us at Bridge Classic Cars have an appreciation for modern cars which try to rekindle that old-school analogue feel – the 1M being one of those rare machines. Thank you to Chris for bringing it over and lighting up our late afternoon here at the Suffolk HQ.
What’s your thoughts on the BMW 1M?
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A rare chance – Photographing our 1953 Aston Martin DB2/4 ‘Claret’
November 23, 2023
Although it has been in a workshop for a little while now, and our restoration teams have begun the process of bringing this wonderful early DB2/4 back to its former glory, we never did get to take some of usual arrival photos with the car.
On a Friday evening, our entire Suffolk HQ down tools to clean up all of our workshop and offices ready for the week ahead. This involves moving some, if not all, of our incredible restoration projects outside to safely clean our restoration workshop.
So, I took the chance to grab some photos with this stunning GT car. This is one of the cars that not only cemented the Aston Martin name into automotive history as one of the most illustrious and well-respected names, but also would bring the fabled DB name into the limelight and on wards into the future of the brand.
All of us, both in the workshop and in the team behind them, see it as an absolute pleasure and honour to be able to preserve and cherish these wonderful piece of automotive history and document their rebirth.
A 70’s icon… with a twist! Our 1970 Lotus Europa
November 23, 2023
Our 1970 Lotus Europa is now live!
The Lotus Europa is without doubt one of the quirkiest and individual sports cars of the 1970s. A low slung, mid-engined, racecar inspired drivers’ cars which has garnered a following amongst marque enthusiasts and classic car fans across the world.
The Europa, with its slab back design, would become a precursor to later performance cars like the Elise of the 1990s. But what if you took that classic style and gave it a modern performance heart? That question is answered with our 1970 Lotus Europa and it could be yours…
This beautiful pale yellow 2-seater has been retrofitted with a legendary Toyota 4AG-E engine, giving this retro silhouette modern day performance. Converted to be run on carburettors and then taken onto a rolling road to be fully set up ready for that backroad thrash or an easy cruise to your local car show.
Recently imported from South Africa, the car has been recommissioned for road use and registered in the UK.
Bridge Classic Cars Competitions is giving you the chance to win this unique and stunning sports car and experience all the classic cool with added modern performance – Enter now for your chance to win our 1970 Lotus Europa.
Watch the film with our unique 1970 Lotus Europa here:
Top Gear Is Cancelled
November 22, 2023
Top Gear is cancelled! At least for the ‘foreseeable future’ anyway.
The decision to pause production of one of the top money makers and most watched shows for the BBC, comes following a crash involving presenter Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff, during filming last December.
Back in the days of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May, Top Gear was extraordinarily successful for the BBC and became a true worldwide TV sensation. However, this current cancellation isn’t the first time Top Gear has been shelved. After Clarkson’s contract wasn’t renewed in 2015 due to an off-screen incident, the BBC went through several hosts before settling on Paddy McGuinness, Freddie Flintoff, and Chris Harris in 2019. They were in the middle of shooting the 34th series when Flintoff had his accident last year, and there haven’t been any new episodes since then.
Bridge Classic Cars Director, Craig worked on Top Gear several years ago and he has fond memories of the show. He said “Working on Top Gear was such a great experience for me. The people were friendly, the atmosphere was very positive, and it was so much fun being around fellow petrolheads during filming. It’s a bit sad to hear that Top Gear is no more but, hopefully, we will see a revival in the years to come.”
The Official BBC Statement On Top Gear
“Given the exceptional circumstances, the BBC has decided to rest the UK show for the foreseeable future. The BBC remains committed to Freddie, Chris and Paddy who have been at the heart of the show’s renaissance since 2019, and we’re excited about new projects being developed with each of them. We will have more to say in the near future on this. We know resting the show will be disappointing news for fans, but it is the right thing to do.”
“All other Top Gear activity remains unaffected by this hiatus including international formats, digital, magazines and licensing.”
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Riley 9 Restoration Progress
November 22, 2023
The restoration of our one-of-a-kind 1905 Rilep 9HP has been something of a labour of love and dedication. With very little reference material to work from, bringing this piece of automotive history back to life has been challenging, to say the least. However, the project has made even more progress recently, as its wooden body has been trial-fitted to the 118-year-old chassis.
Our 1905 Rilep 9HP is a great example of the craftsmanship and innovation of early automobile engineering. Its uniqueness lies not only in its design but also in its rarity as a prototype for the first car to ever have fully removable wheels. The workshop team has worked extremely hard to find any kind of record of how this one-off car should be put back together to honour its legacy throughout the restoration process.
After the wooden body recently returned to the workshop, following its time with Ashbocking Joinery, classic car technician Steve temporarily put the body back onto the chassis in a trial fit to make sure everything goes together as he would like it to. As well as the body going back on the chassis, the impressive radiator has also taken its place on the front end of this incredible classic car.
The Restoration Of Our Riley 9 Isn’t Done Yet
While our Riley 9HP may look much more car-like than it has since it first arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop, it will still need to be stripped down again once Steve is happy that the trial-fitting has been a success. Once stripped, it will then be painted before going back together for the final time. The next big milestone to reach though is getting the car to start. Although we have seen that it can start (we fired up the engine for a very short period of time last year), it has never been run without assistance and in its current configuration.
If all goes to plan, our 1905 Riley 9 restoration will be complete and the finished car will drive out of the workshop in the early part of 2024. Until then though, we are very excited to see it continue to make great progress in its restoration.
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Lapland UK
November 21, 2023
This past weekend, Bridge Classic Cars‘ Director Craig took his family to Lapland UK. Set in an enchanted wood in Berkshire, this immersive experience creates a magical winter wonderland that transports families to the North Pole to see what Father Christmas and his Elves are getting up to in the run-up to Christmas.
From the moment they arrived, Craig and his family were greeted by the wide range of sights and sounds of the holiday season. The picturesque snowy landscapes, festive lights and wooden cabins, set the scene for an early start to the 2023 Christmas season.
The main event of a visit to Lapland UK is, obviously, meeting Father Christmas himself. With lots of other Christmas and wintery activities going on too, there was plenty to do for adults and children alike.
Craig had a great time at Lapland UK and it is somewhere that other members of the team with young families (me included) will definitely visit next year!
Our Mince Pie Drive In The Local News
November 21, 2023
The Bridge Classic Cars Mince Pie Drive has been featured in some local news outlets.
Living In Suffolk has created a great post about the event and Choose Woodbridge has also shared it on their Facebook Page.
The Mince Pie Drive will be a fantastic event where we will be spreading some early Christmas cheer to the residents and staff at four local care homes.
Full details of the event can be seen here.
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