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.
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.
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.
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.
December 6, 2023 12:29 pmPublished by Craig Ranson
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.
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.
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.
One response to “Just in time for Christmas – Win our 1968 Morris 1000 Pickup”
Patricia Greenwood
I would absolutely love this pickup . My dream from being a young girl . Fab x
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!
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.
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).
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.
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.
November 24, 2023 4:20 pmPublished by Nick Skinner
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.
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.
Image: H&H Image: H&H
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.
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.
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.
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.
November 23, 2023 4:16 pmPublished by Nick Skinner
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:
November 23, 2023 3:57 pmPublished by Nick Skinner
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.”
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.
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!
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.
For many drivers, a personalised number plate adds an extra bit of character and charm to their car. While most personalised plates tend to be special to their owner, sometimes, a number plate becomes available that appeals to drivers, collectors, and historians from all walks of life. One such number plate is ‘AU 1’, as seen in the James Bond film, ‘Goldfinger’.
‘AU 1’ is for sale through Primo Registrations. Including the chemical symbol for gold (AU), it was the plate on the Rolls-Royce featured in the film which was the car of choice for villain Auric Goldfinger.
A Personalised Number Plate With A James Bond Connection
The James Bond franchise is a global phenomenon and is still as relevant today as it was when Goldfinger first hit the screens back in 1964. A perfect example of this is the new Amazon Prime Show, ‘007: Road to a Million’ which is a reality competition show based on the James Bond films. This was released on 10th November, so the sale of ‘AU 1’ coincides beautifully with the re-emergence of James Bond on TV.
With an expected sale price of more than £300,000, ‘AU 1‘ certainly fits the bill for the growing popularity of collecting number plates as investment pieces. With other similar two-letter, number 1 plates selling for anywhere between £100,000 and £500,000, the buyer of ‘AU 1’ could see a substantial return on their investment in the future, especially if you take its connection to such a well-known film into account.
Image: Primo RegistrationsImage: Primo RegistrationsImage: Primo Registrations
Peter Johnson, Primo Registrations’ managing director, said “As iconic number plates go, this one has to be right up there with one of the best, not least of all because of the plate’s association with the famed car used by Goldfinger and Oddjob to smuggle gold out of the country! It’s also nothing new that short number plates are fast becoming increasingly popular, not only because of their aesthetically pleasing stature on any vehicle but because of their investment potential, too. The last time ‘AU 1’ sold, it realised a huge return on investment for its then-owner, and we anticipate the trend will only continue, especially with shorter plates. We can’t wait to see where this one will go in the future – maybe it’ll go onto another Rolls-Royce!
The Details
Primo Registrations offers ‘AU 1’ number plate for sale, famed for adorning the Rolls-Royce of ‘Goldfinger’ in the James Bond film of the same name
Primed to sell for in excess of £300,000, this number plate offers the opportunity for someone to own a piece of film history
Fast-becoming investment pieces in their own right, cherished number plates, especially three-digit derivatives, are now a popular addition to any portfolio
‘AU 1’ has the benefit of no age limitations on the age of the car it can go onto, and all prices are inclusive of VAT and transfer fee
With over 20 years of expertise, Primo Registrations is a leading personalised car number plate dealer in the UK and currently has over 60 million registration plates available to purchase
Here is another incredible story from Keith Belcher, in his own words, about his Ford Capri 2000 GT XLR:
“50 odd years ago Bristol Street Motors, Birmingham’s Ford dealer had a superb display of the sporty, rakish full four-seater coupé, it was seen as Europe’s answer to the Mustang. Launched in Brussels, it was somewhat of a departure from Ford’s standard fare. It was aimed squarely at younger drivers being billed as “The car you always promised yourself.” Initially sold with 1300cc, 1600cc and 2000cc engines [the 3000cc came later the same year]; there were more powerful GT options along with “X” “L” and “R” option packs so it could be customised to your taste.
Ford boasted that they could build 1¼ million Capris in the 26 basic models without any one of them being precisely the same! A GT gained extra power, instrumentation and better tyres. The “L” pack included extra exterior bright trim and dummy air scoops. The “X” pack gave you luxurious internal upholstery; horns and reversing lights. The “R” pack included Rostyles; leather-trimmed steering wheel; spot lamps etc. You need never visit an accessory shop again. It soon became a best seller.
Like any red-blooded petrolhead, I was well impressed. I remember going to see The Italian Job at the Futurist and seeing the 5-minute advert, I definitely wanted one. Later that year I saw the film Bullitt, with McQueen, my hero, my desire went up a notch, so my aim was a metallic dark green car. After smashing up my new Company Escort I had been reduced to driving the oldest worst cars the company could find. I soon resolved to use my savings to buy my own car and take an allowance to run it.
I had a trio of soft tops, Vitesse, Sprite and then fell for MGB’s. The MGB was driving enjoyment on another level, but I was seduced by the hype and dreams of being this dapper executive in a Ford. I thought long and hard before parting with my B.
A year or so later I discovered that employees could buy company cars that were going for exchange if you offered a few pounds more than Bristol Street Motors offered. Another plant hire company had been purchased and one of the directors had been forced to toe the company line and take a new Granada so his very expensively tuned Broadspeed Ford Cortina 1600E was going for a song. Too good to miss, that 1600E was a superb car bar for the usual Ford cold starting problems. Then one day the transport manager rang me and told me of a….wait for it….Ford Capri 2000GTXLR in dark metallic green, a year old, was due in for P/Ex and I could buy it at a much-reduced price. I didn’t need telling twice, my Cortina was sold for a thumping profit. With my blond hair and blue eyes, I was going to be Keith McBelcher, driving ace.
I recall sitting on the front step at home gazing at my highly polished baby Mustang WOE 322J not quite believing I had achieved my dream. I didn’t mind the high mileage but I soon discovered why it was so cheap. It was a dreaded “Friday afternoon car”.
Contrary to popular belief Ford were not immune to quality problems. Aside from the tail hopping loose lurchy rear end, hard ride, and high noise levels with poor wet grip; the V4 was harsh and gave nowhere near the performance of my Broadspeed 1600E. The large doors rattled and clanged shut. The headlamps were poor and the spotlights useless. The fake wood interior looked awful, trim bits loosened and fell off. Then it started to run rough sometimes. I was less Keith McBelcher and more Reginald Molehusband.
Then the final straw, the engine died 100 miles from home. It turned out to be a holed piston. No doubt caused by the fitting of hotter plugs. Gladly a piston was sourced and fitted, engine in situ, in a few hours. It was advertised the next day and sold within a week.
The downside – I was back to driving an old Bedford HA van purchased for £25 and hand painted. On the upside, I had made enough profit on the two Fords to order a brand-new MGB GT. A few months later, I was driving a proper sports car.
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.
19 responses to “Nostalgia – 1960s Ford Capri”
S Egginton
I was a teenager when the Capri came out but I really fancied one. All those different “packs” seemed amazing but sales orders must have been complicated! I would have loved a GT XLR think you get it with a black bonnet and sills but sadly it was way beyond my means to say nothing of the insurance costs! Years later I had a drive in a late Mk3 1.6 Laser. Pretty car but a bit disappointing to drive not much performance! Would have liked to try a 2.8 injection though 🤔
I used to tune the 2 and 3 litre versions. Got some good hp out of both using piper cams electronic ignition systems and carb upgrades, along with exhaust systems and other mods. Beautiful lines and the drive was something else, will never forget them.
My best car, A 1992 Ford Sierra 1.8TD Estate Blue, ex Mars UK reps car with 26,000 miles on clock, a very comfortable and lovely car to dive full tow pack even a built in phone, (not working) So I had this car for a few years looked after it well, as I do any car changed break flued and antifreeze every 3 years, engine oil and filter, fuel filter, air filter, cheque gearbox and axle oils yearly, among other things, then came to the time to change as now had 2 horses so needed something diff to pull a horse box so changed it to a Landrover disco, and by this time the sierra had done 137,000 miles and the only thing new had been fitted was 2 new front break dices, still had the original exhaust, and I don’t drive that fast ether but one night or early one morning at 1 am coming home down the A14 thorough I would see what it would do, and took my foot of at 115 and she still had more to give, beast car I’ve ever had.
My favourite car was a Citroën CX easy drive good enough power, very comfortable and also futuristic. I owned three of them so must have enjoyed the experience. Great vehicle great drive. CITROËN PLEASE BRING THIS TYPE OF CAR BACK hey ho.
When my Dad purchased a Capri Mk I 3000 GT, he very kindly offered me his 1970 Capri Mk I 1600 GT XLR as my first car. Pulling up at art college in it, I felt like the cat with the cream! It is true to say that it was a lesson in handling when pushing it into corners (especially when wet), but I loved it regardless.
I have own an 1982 capri for 32 years. When I first bought her it seemed like every other car on the road was a Capri. Now sadly I rarely see one on my travels. She is sky blue and turns heads everywhere she goes. I love having people come up to me of memories of their Capri. So many happy memories. She is now a 41 year old lady and still looking good. Can honestly say she has never let me down. She’s not just a car. She’s my friend.
I know what you mean, after many years of not owning a capri( I had three in the eighties) I this year bought a mk1 1600 gt xlr , one local owner , only 42000 miles , fern green, lovely, turns heads and random people just love it wherever I go .
September 15th 1971 my parents took delivery of a brand new Capri 1600 L, ODH 721 K, in Black Cherry with Tan trim. My dad had been driving us around the local Ford dealers for weeks “looking” so it was a complete suprise when he pulled onto our driveway during a supposed test drive. It was a beauty. Eventually I had supplemental driving lessons in the Capri and borrowed it when I had passed my test much to the delight and envy of friends. Dad kept it for 9 years, the longest he ever kept a car and replaced it with a Mk 3 Capri.
Back in the 70s I started a new job and was told my new boss would pick me up. So waiting outside for him to pick me up when this beautiful gleaming red sports car pulled up and WAM. It was a beautiful Ford capri.
I fell in love with it the second I saw it.
I hadn’t long left school when this all happened .
To me, the Ford Capri was, and still to this day. The best looking sports car ever built.
I still dream of owning my own Capri.
I had a mark 11 capri which I fitted with an rs2000 engine ,5 speed box uprated suspension and wide wheels.it had a mad panic job of blue white and yellow.it was used in local hill climbs,sprints and the odd saloon car race.an unforgettable motor,loved the laid out seating pose in my racing seat and quick action gearchange.those were the days
I had a Daytona yellow 1600 XL 2years old loved it never notice if the tail whip I was the envy had to sell it to buy a house ended up with a Ford classic
Picture this it was 1980 I was 19yrs old contracting underground I went to see a car pulled up and there was a 1.6 jps mk2 capri black with gold coach lines I fell in love immedeatly bought it loved it despite the compulsory rust problems that came with it several years of complete enjoyment passed a time I will never forget
I bought a 3 litre ghia auto in graphite grey in 1982 it was 12 months old and I still drive it to this day. It now has 113000 miles on the clock but thanks to a complete respray it looks like new. I t only ever let me down once and it still drives like a dream .
Over the years I have had 2, the first was a 1600 GT XLR in Sunset Red, drove absolutely great, while I had it I was rebuilding an old Mini MK2 and collected a rear subframe for it with the Capri- it actually fitted in the boot. The second only was a 3000 E that did go like the proverbial **** off a shovel – pity about the brakes that were definitely not up to the performance of the engine. Happy days.Fr
My Dad owned a 1970 Capri 3000 Gt Xlr in Sebering Red. At 17yrs and 3 weeks my driving instructor had a Mk1 Escorts 1300 he was away on holiday when I had chance to take my first driving test.
So I took it in the Capri I passed second time 4 weeks later wouldn’t change the decision.
Dennis
The MK1 was definitely the best looking out of the Capri family, the most striking I ever saw was in 69, a top of the range GTXLR in White with a Matt Pea Green bonett and rear panel between the lights, never ever saw another, so can not have been factory, possibly someone wanting to emulate a MK1 Lotus Cortina.
The other was bottom of the range 1300 in Daytona Yellow, not a single pack on it, so it didn’t even have the dummy vents on the side, but the owner, the man who also owned our local Chippy in North Leeds, had the panel indents where the vents should be outlined in silver pinstripes Looked Amazing!!!!
Unfortunately the Capri wasn’t big enough form my Dad, so he bought a Cortina MK3 1600 GT, 2 door, in Maize Yellow and Rostyle Wheels, Fabulous Car, BMW634J, I learnt to drive in it, followed by another in Sunset Red, White pinstripes, Black Vinyl Roof and (Ford’s version of) Minilite Wheels, OUG634L
Our secure storage facility, The Hangar, has a wide range of vehicles safely tucked away inside.
We recently welcomed a Dodge Challenger into storage but, before it arrived, we gave The Hangar an extra clean to make sure everything is pristine for the owners of this wide range of classics.
Once cleaning had finished, we took a few photos of the cars in their protective Carcoons which helps keep them all in the perfect environmental conditions.
The Historic Motoring Awards is an annual celebration of automotive excellence, honouring the best that the automotive industry has to offer. Bridge Classic Cars may not have been nominated this year but we would like to extend a huge congratulations to all of the deserving winners.
Among the list of talented individuals recognised, we were especially pleased to see Georgia Peck win the Rising Star Award (individual). As the first-ever guest for Talking Classics, we are all excited to see Georgia continuing her success year after year.
As we move into the last few weeks of 2023, we are very much looking forward to 2024. Not only because of all the exciting plans we have here at Bridge Classic Cars, but also because we can’t wait to see how the automotive industry continues to change and grow.
Who knows…we might see you at the 2024 Historic Motoring Awards!
On 13th November, during the Contemporary and Modern Art sale, hosted by RM Sotheby’s in New York, a 1962 Ferrari 330 LM / 250 GTO became the second highest-priced car ever sold at auction, and the most valuable Ferrari ever sold at auction with the winning bid coming in at $51.7 million (approx £42 million).
Chassis 3765 has been in a private collection for almost forty years, until this week, when a select group of bidders met behind closed doors (and on the phone) to have the chance to own this exceptional car.
This 1962 GTO Tipo was the only one raced by Scuderia Ferrari and comes with a history that most cars could only dream of. During its racing years, accomplishments included a class win and a 2nd overall finish at the 1962 Nürburgring 1000 KM. Driven by Mike Parkes and Lorenzo Bandini at the 1962 24 Hours of Le Mans, it also took the runner-up spot in the 1965 Sicilian Hillclimb Championship.
Previously owned by a Ferrari Club of America chairman, it won an FCA Platinum Award, the Coppa Bella Macchina at the Cavallino Classic, secured 2nd place in the GTO class at the 2011 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, and earned a Best of Show Award at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance.
Gord Duff, Global Head of Auctions, said “Celebrating this sale during Sotheby’s marquee week highlights the unparalleled stature of this Ferrari as one of the world’s most desirable objects. The result, achieved through collaboration between Ferrari, RM Sotheby’s, and Sotheby’s, echoes our mutual pursuit of perfection—mirroring the very ethos Enzo Ferrari embodied when designing this car. Fetching $51.7 million, this transaction adds a new chapter to a vehicle with an unmatched legacy. Now, it ranks among the most expensive cars sold at auction, a true testament to its singular place in history.”
Our stunning 1932 Austin 7 ‘Ulster’ is now live to be won on the Bridge Classic Cars Competitions website.
The humble Austin 7 – The car which played a pivotal role in getting Britain on the move would form the basis of some of the earliest homegrown racing efforts across this green and pleasant isle.
In the early decades of motor racing, the only way to be competitive was to pay your way to the top. Granted, there were notable exceptions, but the pre-war years were dominated by the likes of Bugatti, Mercedes, Auto-Union, Alfa Romeo and Bentley. These were the playthings of the ultra-rich and the elite, seen to be out of the grasp of mere mortals. However, smaller firms who built ‘standard’ saloon cars decided to get involved in the blossoming sports of club-racing and hillclimbing. One of those, was Austin.
In 1929/1930, Austin would field a group of cars in the Tourist Trophy at the Ards Circuit in Northern Ireland. After their success, the Austin 7 Sports Special would gain their infamous name and inspire countless homages – the ‘Ulster’.
This beautiful example of an ‘Ulster’, with bodywork by Rod Yates Coachbuilders, is finished with the elegant and traditional boattail rear end and presented in its stunning combination of deep green with a saddle brown bench seat. Originally built as a box saloon in 1932, its conversion to an ‘Ulster’ was carried out in the late 2000’s along with its introduction to the fabled VSCC (Vintage Sports-Car Club). With the car being awarded its eligibility to compete, after a thorough and detailed inspection by the club in April of 2009.
In 2011, the 4-cylinder 747cc engine was sent to Vince Leek Specialised A7 Engineering for rebuild and upgrades which included a new Phoenix crankshaft along with upgraded Honda pistons (to which the block was rebored) and the cars connecting rods ‘remetalled’ and machined to fit the new crankshaft. Along with the internal work, the block was resurfaced and new guides, new seats cut and fit new valves.
The car features an extensive history file including multiple receipts for work undertaken on the car over the last nearly 20 years, as well as handbooks for the Austin 7, conversion manuals for the ‘Ulster’ specification racer, along with period promotion and maintenance materials.
All of this specialist and skilled work, combines to make one of the most charming and elegantly simple pre-war sportscars out there. And now, Bridge Classic Cars Competitions wants to give you the chance of experiencing what so many pioneers of motorsport lived with our 1932 Austin 7 ‘Ulster’.
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