In what could easily be confused as a prank, Suzuki made something of a major announcement regarding the future of daily transportation.
Suzuki has signed a basic agreement with SkyDrive that brings the two companies together in a collaboration to manufacture flying cars. To make this happen, SkyDrive will establish a 100% owned subsidiary to manufacture the flying cars, while both Suzuki and SkyDrive will make use of a plant owned by the Suzuki Group in Shizuoka Prefecture, with the aim to start manufacturing the airborne motors around Spring 2024. Suzuki will also cooperate with SkyDrive’s manufacturing subsidiary in preparing for the start of manufacturing, including securing of human resources. Both companies are still in discussions about other specific terms.
Signing Ceremony (Hidetoshi Kumashiro, Executive General Manager, Suzuki, and Tomohiro Fukuzawa, Chief Executive Officer, SkyDrive)
The President of Suzuki said: “I’m very excited to be working together with SkyDrive. We will make ambitious strides toward the development of products of superior value so that we can contribute to the realisation of air mobility, which utilises the sky for daily transportation.”
We currently have two attention-grabbing sportscars in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop in the form of our 1980 MGB GT and our 2007 Porsche Cayman S.
These two cars are finished in great colours. Our MGB is finished in Vermillion Orange while our Cayman is finished in the rare PTS 8C6 Orange (RS Orange). After both vehicles had been valeted, we thought it would be a great opportunity to take a photo of them next to each other.
As you can see, the Atelier proved to be a great environment to catch the cars in all their orange glory.
Today, we have welcomed a new member to the Bridge Classic Cars workshop team.
Sam Lucas has joined us as a Workshop Assistant. This means that he will be spending lots of time around classic cars, helping the technician team as they restore some very special projects. In addition to this, Sam will also be training to be part of our vehicle delivery team so, if you’re lucky enough to win one of our cars through Bridge Classic Cars Competitions, you could very well see Sam up close and personal.
Despite today being his first day as an official member of the team, this isn’t the first time Sam has worked with us, as he played a big part in our live draws and other events where he put his skills as a cameraman to great use!
Everyone here at Bridge Classic Cars would like to welcome Sam to the team and we are looking forward to working with you.
We recently welcomed Geoff Haviland into the Bridge Classic Cars workshop, so he could take a close look at our 1905 Riley 9HP.
Geoff was the individual who reached out to us after seeing our Riley project online. He noticed that our car looked different to how it should, and seemed to be a year or two older than it should have been. It was from his information that it now appears that our 1905 Riley 9HP could very well be a prototype of the very first car to have removable wheels.
The level of knowledge that Geoff has about Riley cars is extraordinarily high. In fact, he was one of the main people involved in a project to build a replica of the first Riley car ever made. What makes this even more impressive is that there was almost no information at all about the original car when the project began but, with a lot of hard work, the replica project got underway.
It was great to have Geoff come and see us and our Riley 9HP. Classic car technician Steve, who has been working on the vehicle, spoke at length to Geoff to help confirm some details he will need to finish our project in the near future.
Everyone here at Bridge Classic Cars would like to thank Geoff for taking the time to visit us and for sharing so much of your knowledge and experience.
On the 15th of June 1913, the first-ever Spanish Grand Prix was held, and two Rolls-Royce Silver Ghosts took first and third place. This was a huge success in both technical capabilities and tactical planning and would go on to set the template for the brand’s iconic triumph at the 1913 Alpenfahrt the following week.
Now, 110 years later, the accomplishments of the day are credited to three points – the overwhelmingly superior engineering of the Silver Ghost, perfect team tactics, and the self-sacrifice of one of the marque’s most experienced and loyal employees.
Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Racing
Back in the early 20th Century, car manufacturers used endurance trials as the main way to show off the capabilities of their vehicles. Rolls-Royce was no exception to this and the brand had something of an enviable record in this type of event thanks to their cars dominating in a series of trials, including the 15,000-mile Scottish Reliability Trial in 1907, and the London to Edinburgh in 1911, in which the Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost won the epic race where all cars had to be locked in top gear.
At the same time, motor racing was getting more popular and more sophisticated and, in 1906, France staged its first Grand Prix. This was held with the support of the Automobile Club de France, which the Hon. Charles Stewart Rolls had been a member of since he was just 18 years old.
By the time 1913 came around, Charles had sadly died and the Managing Director of Rolls-Royce, Claude Johnson wanted to boost sales in Europe, so the inaugural Spanish Grand Prix seemed like a fantastic promotional opportunity for the brand. As a result, two Silver Ghosts were entered into the race that was taking place on the 15th of June.
The First-Ever Spanish Grand Prix
The Spanish Grand Prix was a real test of endurance and reliability and not just raw speed. These two things were key strengths of the Silver Ghost so hopes were high.
The race covered 192 miles over three laps, including two passes of the formidable Guadarrama mountains, northwest of Madrid. It was an exclusive event that could only be entered by four-seater touring cars which all had to be fitted with mudguards, lamps, hoods, and two spare tyres. The bonnets were sealed and no water could be added to the radiator once the race had begun. Considering the temperature in the shade was well above 30°C when the cars made their way to the start line – it was obvious that this would be a very demanding challenge.
17 vehicles started, including the two modified Silver Ghosts – one owned and, against the company’s wishes, driven by Don Carlos de Salamanca y Hurtado de Zaldivar, who had recently become Rolls-Royce’s new agent in Madrid. The second Silver Ghost was company-owned and driven by Eric Platford, who was one of the brand’s most experienced and dedicated engineers. In fact, he had been responsible for many of the previous trial successes.
A Winning Strategy
After three hours of racing, Eric Platford was leading the race by more than 20 minutes and was heading for a commanding win. However, he was a loyal employee and understood that this was as much a commercial undertaking as it was a race he personally wanted to win. Following strict instructions, Eric pulled over and let Don Carlos de Salamanca overtake him. Don Carlos went on to win the debut Grand Prix of his home nation with a time of 3 hours, 34 minutes, and 12 seconds – averaging a speed of 54mph.
Unfortunately for Platford, his selfless act inadvertently allowed another driver to pass him too. The Marqués de Aulencia, in a Lorraine-Dietrich, finished in second place just three minutes ahead of him.
Third Place Rewards
Despite finishing third, it was clear that Eric Platford was a catalyst for the success of the Grand Prix. After the race, he drove to Madrid where he received a congratulatory telegram from Claude Johnson. He was also given a holiday to Venice, and two gold watches – one from the directors of Rolls-Royce, and one from the very grateful Don Carlos de Salamanca!
Further Success For The Silver Ghost At The Alpenfahrt
A week after the Spanish Grand Prix was the 1913 Alpenfahrt – a 1,600-mile trial through the Alps. Eric Platford was the team manager at the event and led his team to even more success as Rolls-Royce took the four top spots.
This was enough to seal the Silver Ghost’s reputation and was described by the media as ‘The Best Car In The World’. Eric’s team spirit, dedication, selflessness, courage and constant pursuit of excellence is the perfect nod to the marque’s ethos to this day of inspiring greatness.
Earlier today, Maserati introduced the first Fuoriserie Essentials collection. The collection features a special group of cars that have been curated by a chosen team of tastemakers and friends of Maserati. The global brand ambassador, David Beckham, designed this debut collection which has the aim to inspire car lovers to put their own personality and personal touch into their vehicles making each unit the ultimate Italian luxury sports car.
Two distinctive cars are in the Fuoriserie DB Essentials collection and come from David Beckham’s Savile Row wardrobe and his love and interest in classic Maseratis. The first car in the DB range, inspired by the 1967 Maserati Ghibli Coupe is finished in ‘Night Interaction’ Blue with a tan-shade leather interior.
The second car pays tribute to the 1986 Maserati Quattroporte Royale, which was only produced in 51 units and has been painted ‘Verde Royale’ (dark green) with a warm brown leather interior. Each of these special vehicles includes an exclusive metal plate celebrating the collaboration between Maserati and David Beckham which can be applied to the central tunnel between the front seats or between the two headrests.
Klaus Busse, Maserati’s Head of Design said “Fuoriserie means “custom-built” in Italian, and our Trident’s customization program is conceived to create singular experiences for our clients. Our wish here is for them to express their personality and passion by creating their very own Maserati. Just like David, everyone can choose from a wide range of personalization features from our Fuoriserie Corse collection, inspired by Maserati’s glorious racing heritage, and from our Fuoriserie Futura collection, dedicated to lovers of technology and new materials,”
Both Fuoriserie DB Essentials configurations are now available upon request on the MC20 super sports car, combining performance, sportiness and luxury to its racing soul, and the new ‘everyday exceptional’ SUV Grecale, striking the right balance between versatility, elegance and performance.
From the front, there are some similarities in the look of these two cars that are just two years apart in age but, from the rear, it’s a very different story!
Our Riley 9 Tourer and our Delage DI Sport Boat Tail are stunning on their own but, when seen together, the resulting picture is something very special indeed.
Our workshop was the meeting point for the group before they headed off for a photo shoot in the local area. While they were with us, they enjoyed a drink and some cake, as well as taking a look at some of the current restoration projects the team are working on.
It was great to meet a group of enthusiasts who have a passion for Jensens as much as we do (and their cars looked incredible too!)
More than 150 supercars and hypercars were on show for those in attendance to admire. An auction also took place where items such as road trip packages, artwork, luggage, and hot air balloon flights could be purchased.
The event raises money for Chorley-based Derian House which provides 24/7 palliative, specialist respite and end-of-life care for over 400 children and young adults throughout the North West. Seeing supercars up close is exciting enough but knowing that you are helping to raise vital funds for a special charity like this makes the day even more important.
Friend of Bridge Classic Cars Malc, and his grandson Owen, went to Supercar Showtime and were kind enough to send us a whole load of photos. As you can see, there were some very interesting and exciting cars on display and it looked to be a successful event.
Classic car technician, and workshop manager, John has been rebuilding the dash of our very special 1968 Jaguar E-Type Series 1.5 competition project.
Once this iconic classic car has been fully rebuilt, it will be the biggest competition we have ever launched through Bridge Classic Cars Competitions as the car will be available to win.
Before that though, work will continue on the rebuild of our E-Type project.
Our brand new trailer was put to use almost immediately recently when it was used to collect our special competitions car – our 1973 Triumph Spitfire from its stay at the Suffolk Show.
Since then, it has continued to put itself to good use and we have no doubt that it will be a great member of the Bridge Classic Cars team for a long time to come.
Today marks the day that the first publically available sustainable petrol, specifically designed for classic vehicles, goes on sale in the UK.
Made by fuel specialist Coryton, the SUSTAIN Classic range is plant-based and allows classic car owners to fuel their cars without any modifications needing to be made to the engines. There are currently three types of fuel available, and the fuel with the highest sustainable content in the range promises a minimum of 65% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions when compared to fossil fuels.
Advanced second-generation biofuel, manufactured from agricultural waste such as straw and by-products from crops which wouldn’t be used for consumption, is used to create this potentially ground-breaking fuel. This means that the new fuel utilises the carbon already in the atmosphere (which the plants absorb as they grow). Contrastly, when using fossil fuels, additional CO2 currently locked underground is released.
Despite SUSTAIN Classic being designed for classic vehicles, it can be used for any vehicle that runs on standard forecourt petrol. With an octane number greater than 98 and bio-ethanol content of less than 1%, it also contains a premium additive package which stabilises and extends the life of the fuel and helps clean and protect the engines.
Per litre, the price is currently £3.80 – £5.24 (depending on the variant) and is available from distributor Motor Spirit at Bicester Heritage from 13th June. However, more stockists are launching throughout the UK in the coming months.
The three variants currently available are Super 80, Super 33, and Racing 50. All of these are suitable for year-round use.
Super 80
Created at least 80% renewable content.
Delivers a GHG saving of more than 65%, compared to fossil fuels.
98RON (Super Unleaded) EN228 Compliant.
Multifunctional deposit control additive package reduces existing deposits and maintains engine cleanliness and performance with regular use.
Priced from £4.65 per litre.
Super 33
Created at least 33% sustainable content.
Delivers a GHG saving of more than 25%, compared to fossil fuels.
98RON (Super Unleaded) EN228 Compliant.
Multifunctional deposit control additive package reduces existing deposits and maintains engine cleanliness and performance with regular use.
Priced from £3.80 per litre.
Racing 50
High-performance sustainable petrol ideal for performance and racing use in vehicles that require a higher-octane fuel.
Created at least 50% renewable content.
Delivers a GHG saving of more than 35%, compared to fossil fuels.
102RON, for high octane applications, EN228 Compliant.
Premium deposit control additives reduce existing deposits and maintain engine cleanliness and performance with regular use.
Priced from £5.24 per litre.
Sustainable Fuel
The three fuel types range from at least 33% sustainable content to at least 80%. David Richardson, Business Development Director at Coryton explains why: “Every kilogram of CO2 we avoid adding to our atmosphere, by replacing fossil fuel with sustainable fuel, is a win. We don’t instantly have to go for the full switch to start making a genuine impact. As more feedstocks become available, these fuels will start to contain even higher levels of traceable sustainable elements. However, we want to keep things as affordable as possible for consumers and be open about what’s actually achievable at the moment.
“The availability of true fossil-free fuel components is limited. So, we’re setting truthful and realistic goals, producing fuels that have a meaningful impact whilst meeting the demands of the user. While we could use ‘mass balancing’ techniques to certify this fuel as 100%, we believe that it is important to be open about technology readiness and traceability. The industry will get there with the right support – which is why we think it’s important to start getting these products into the hands of consumers so they can see how easy and effective the switch could be.”
SUSTAIN Classic has performed brilliantly in the testing centre but also on the track too. It has been certified by Coryton’s fully accredited lab and meets ISCC sustainable protocols. In fact, during the recent Rally For The Ages event at Bicester Heritage, more than 70 cars used the Super 80 variant of the fuel to complete the course. This will also be available at Flywheel 2023 too.
Guy Lachlan heads up Motor Spirit at Bicester Heritage, which will be one of the distributors of SUSTAIN Classic. He said: “We’re very excited to be the launch partner for Coryton’s SUSTAIN Classic fuel. It is vital for the future of Classic Cars and Motorcycles that environmentally-friendly liquid fuels are commercially available, and Motor Spirit’s facility at Bicester Heritage is the perfect location to start an environmental revolution! SUSTAIN Classic represents the best available combination of usability, sustainability and quality: exactly in line with Motor Spirit’s ethos.”
Andrew Willson, CEO at Coryton, said: “We believe that SUSTAIN Classic is the world’s first-ever sustainable fuel catering for classic vehicles, providing a credible and convenient way to run vintage vehicles without the need for fossil fuels. It’s fully certified, tested, and developed right here in the UK at our world-class blending facility.
“It’s estimated that there are almost half a million classic cars in the UK, each one with its own unique purpose, build and history. By creating a collection of second-generation biofuels that are compatible with their needs, as well as those of other vintage vehicles, we hope to provide these much-loved motors with a more sustainable future and preserve them for years to come.”
Another Specialist Fuel
The SUSTAIN Classic fuel is actually the second specialist fuel from Coryton’s SUSTAIN range. Last year, SUSTAIN Racing was launched and took the motorsport sector by storm by claiming titles in events such as the Dakar Rally.
Stockist information can be found on the Sustain Classic website sustainclassic.com, where distributors can also register their interest.
Jaguar Classic is celebrating the iconic race-winning E-Types by creating seven exclusive pairs of E-Type ZP Collection vehicles. The luxury (and highly collectable) cars pay homage to the first E-types used in competition. These racing E-Types were originally produced under the project name “ZP” and, within months of their introduction in 1961, they picked up their first victories.
Each of the commemorative pairs includes a drophead coupe and a fixed-head coupe, both finished in liveries paying tribute to the original race-winning cars. The two cars that provided inspiration for this incredible project were referred to by their registration numbers ‘ECD 400’ and ‘BUY 1’ and were driven by Graham Hill and Roy Salvadori.
Paul Barritt, Director of Jaguar Classic, said: “The E-type ZP Collection is the ultimate tribute to the E-type’s triumphant racing debut, in itself part of Jaguar’s rich motorsport history. Each pair tells a fascinating, and often untold, story of the E-type’s history. The ZP Collection honours not only the vehicles but the racers who drove them to victory on the track. With 2,000 hours lovingly spent on each vehicle by the craftspeople at Jaguar Classic, our discerning clients will be able to enjoy a unique tribute to two of the greatest cars in the E-type’s history.”
If this E-Type project wasn’t special enough, later this year, the personalisation team at Jaguar will be unveiling a limited-edition production run of matching F-Type ZP Editions. These will be inspired by the E-Type ZP collection and will also only have seven pairs available. The fourteen 5-litre supercharged V8 F-Types will be reserved for E-Type ZP Collection clients meaning that each client could own an unrepeatable and historic quartet of very special vehicles. It’s worth keeping in mind that, from 2025, Jaguar will become a pure electric modern luxury brand so this looks to be something of an unforgettable swan song.
Indigo Blue E-Type Drophead Coupe
In honour of Graham Hill’s Indigo Blue E-Type drophead coupe, the E-Type in the ZP collection will be finished in Oulton Blue and will have a black hood along with bonnet roundels finished in white with matching front ‘lipstick’ around the inside of the front airtake.
The interior is finished in red leather by Bridge of Weir and in-period Hardura trim.
Unlike the original E-Type, driven by Graham Hill, though, the ZP collection hasn’t been developed for just racing so the engineers at Jaguar Classic have reworked and hand-finished the nose of these very special cars.
Like the Oulton Blue version, the Crystal Grey fixed-head coupe comes with white roundels and similar exterior detailing, including the removal of the motif bar and Jaguar badge across the grille. The Crystal Grey coupe also has the same chrome bumpers as the drop-head, along with the welded bonnet louvres and unique side graphic detail.
The interior features a Dark Navy Bridge of Weir leather with matching Hardura trim and a Beechwood steering wheel.
The most significant mechanical upgrade to these stunning tributes is the specially developed five-speed manual transmission for quieter, more comfortable cruising. It features synchromesh on all ratios, helical cut gears and a reinforced cast aluminium casing for enhanced reliability and durability, with closer gear ratios for smoother changes.
An Extra Tribute With The E-Type ZP Collection
Every vehicle in the collection undergoes 2,000 hours of work by the experts at Jaguar Classic to make sure each and every one is a perfect tribute. Each one comes with a tailor-made car cover with ZP logo and a bespoke jack with a unique storage bag to be stored beneath the boot floor.
A period helmet to match those worn by Hill and Salvadori is also included. These have been crafted by British expert Bill Vero of Everoak and are a beautiful display piece that can be worn, and hand adjusted for each client. The helmets are provided with a tailored leather storage bag crafted from the same leather as the interiors and made onsite by the expert in-house trimmers at Jaguar Classic. The helmet bag also complements the leather pouch for the vehicle handbook, which is made with the same leather by the same team.
Each year Twinwood Festival hold a pageant where men and women are invited to apply to become Mr or Miss Vintage and I am so delighted to be in the running for Miss Vintage 2023!
We are currently in the voting stage with the final to be held over the festival weekend.
It’s a great opportunity for me to showcase my love of historic dress as well as spread awareness of sustainable fashion.
All you have to do to vote for me is go to the Facebook Post and like my photo.
A huge milestone was recently passed by the team at the Nissan Plant in Sunderland, as they have been celebrating the 11 millionth vehicle being built there, since production started in 1986. As car number 11 million leaves the factory, this means that, on average, a new car has been built every 2 minutes for the last 37 years!
The incredible achievement was reached when a Blade Silver Qashqai e-POWER, one of three electrified models currently built at the plant, rolled off the line. Each one of these cars takes about 8.5 hours to build. In comparison, the very first car built at the plant in 1986 was a Nissan Bluebird and took around 22 hours to produce.
Nissan Sunderland’s mammoth car production numbers were achieved through the building of nine different models, with 22 variants. Four of these models – Qashqai, Micra, Primera, and Juke have all surpassed seven-figure production numbers. In fact, the Qashqai was the UK’s best-selling new car in 2022 with more than four million being built.
6000 people work at the Sunderland Plant where around 5 million parts arrive at the facility every day! Nissan also supports 30,000 UK jobs in the supply chain.
The Qashqai e-POWER and the Juke Hybrid both began production at the Sunderland Plant last summer and, already, 50,000 Qashqai e-POWERs have been made along with 20,000 Juke Hybrids. To make sure this incredible level of production is maintained, the plant is moving forward with its EV36Zero project, which consists of three main elements: a new electric vehicle, a 12GWh gigafactory with the company’s battery partner Envision AESC, and a microgrid to deliver 100% renewable energy to Nissan and suppliers.
Adam Pennick, Vice President, Manufacturing, at Nissan Sunderland, said: “This milestone reflects the vast experience that our world-class manufacturing team has in delivering the quality cars that our customers love.”
“We’ve come a long way since production first started with some iconic models on the way. But we’re always looking forward, and our fully electrified range and EV36Zero plan mean we have an exciting and sustainable future ahead.”
On May 20th, Silverstone Auctions hosted their Supercar Fest Sale at Sywell Aerodrome, Northampton. Among all of the lots available was a very special car – a unique 2000 TVR Cerbera Speed 12. As the winning bid was announced, a new world record for both any TVR model and also the highest price paid for a TVR by any UK bidder was set.
The Car
The 2000 TVR Cerbera Speed 12 is a unique vehicle in that it is the only TVR-built road car of its kind. When it was announced that it would be going to auction, it generated a huge amount of interest from potential bidders all over the world.
As one of the rarest and most admired supercars of the last 25 years, the TVR Cebera Speed 12 was used as a model for ‘Gran Turismo’ – one of the most popular and best-selling computer game franchises.
During the auction, there were plenty of interested parties bidding for the chance to own this one-of-a-kind car. Bidders from Switzerland, New Zealand, Australia, and America all tried to become the new owner but, in the end, it was a UK bidder who won with the astonishing bid of £601,500
Known as the TVR Project 7/12, the Cerbera Speed 12 was introduced at the 1996 Birmingham Motor Show. The number “7” referred to the 7.7 litre (actually 7.73 L) engine, and “12” for the number of cylinders in the engine. TVR claimed that the engine would have a power output of more than 800bhp and that it would be faster than the McLaren F1.
The record-breaking supercar was prepared by TVR engineers over two years and has been heavily featured in many motoring publications.
The design for Project 7/12 was based on two Cerbera Speed 6 straight-sixes spliced together, utilising a steel block. This was further developed by TVR’s John Ravenscroft creating a 7.7-litre V12. It has been said that the powerful engine snapped the input shaft of the 1,000bhp-rated dynamometer so the engineers had to measure each bank of cylinders separately. When this happened, an output of 480bhp was measured on each side, suggesting a total output of 960bhp! However, TVR said that, when set up for road use, the total figure was 800bhp.
After a short-lived racing chapter, the Speed 12 was seemingly finished. That all changed in 1999 though when TVR decided that they would develop a new car to race in the GT2 class, but there was a lot of interest in a road version and, in 2000, the Cerbera Speed 12 was ready.
Despite the excitement and the huge interest (including paid deposits), the road car never moved into production. When TVR boss Peter Wheeler took one of the prototypes home, he said it was too powerful and too wild to ever be used on the road. It was at this point that production plans were scrapped, all deposits were returned, and all the remaining prototypes were broken up for spares to be used for the race cars. There was one exception to this though – the now record-breaking TVR Cerbera Speed 12 that sold at auction a few weeks ago.
In August 2003, TVR advertised a Cerbera Speed 12 for sale. At this point in time though, a complete car didn’t exist so TVR started the process of creating a road-going Cerbera Speed 12. Three race engineers worked on the project for two years, using the best components from the race development program and the 7.7-litre ‘bucket-head’ V12 to make a road-legal supercar for the ages.
After new components such as the gearbox, transmission and brakes, and carbon-fibre/kevlar bodywork were added, the engine was remapped and the finished product was a car that weighed 1000kg and produced 850bhp, and over 900lb/ft of torque.
A Record-Setting Auction
£7.5 million worth of bids were successful at Silverstone Auctions Supercar Fest Sale. In addition to the impressive TVR Cebera Speed 12, a 1996 Ford Escort Cosworth Lux 2.0 sold for £163,125. This set a new world record for a standard production car sold at auction.
Another exciting sale was the last regular production Jaguar E-Type to leave Browns Lane Production Line – a 1974 Jaguar E-Type Series 3 V12 Roadster which sold for £180,000.
Auctions like this tend to be full of very exciting cars and the new owners are no doubt extremely happy with the new additions to their garage.
We recently said goodbye to two of the Bridge Classic Cars team, Lydia and Scott. They joined us as a couple and they left us as a couple too.
Lydia has done some incredible work in our trim shop and we are sure that she will continue to put her skills to good use in the future.
Scott has played a huge role in the restoration of several classic cars during his team here and we are sure that many more cars will be the focus of his attention over the next few years.
Everyone here at Bridge Classic Cars would like to wish Scott and Lydia all the best and we hope to see you both again.
This event is a celebration of all things Italian with an Italian menu (being served from 5 pm) and Italian special cocktails. There will even be live music from the Italian Jazz band, That’s Amore.
In addition to the Italian food and entertainment, there will be Mille Miglia cars in attendance and you are more than welcome to bring your own Italian car too. Steven O’Leary’s race cars which have just returned from this year’s Mille Miglia will also be on show for you to admire.
For more information and to make a booking, please contact The Marquis directly.
After being with us from almost the start of it all, the time has come for the Bridge Classic Cars trailer to move on and for us to upgrade to a bigger and better option.
Despite the excitement the new trailer is bringing, there is certainly a sense of sadness to see such a longstanding part of the business leave us. Our trailer has covered thousands of miles collecting and delivering classic cars all over the country. Many of our restoration projects come into the workshop in our trailer and many leave in its protective shell on their way back to their happy owners. Since the launch of Bridge Classic Cars Competitions, the trailer has also delivered more than 100 cars to the lucky winners wherever they are in the UK.
Starting its life with us in a nice shade of grey, it was emblazoned with the Bridge Classic Cars logo and transported some true classic, vintage, and special vehicles before undergoing something of a transformation. Going from grey to black, the new look trailer had a new style while still carrying a huge variety of vehicles to and from the Bridge Classic Cars workshop.
As the list of our current projects continues to grow, a bigger trailer is needed to keep up with the flow of vehicles needed to be brought into the workshop…and that’s where the new Bridge Classic Cars trailer comes in.
As you can see from the photos below, our new trailer is quite a bit bigger than the previous one and certainly looks to be up for the job of moving classic vehicles wherever they need to be.
It’s not entirely the end for our old faithful trailer though. It now moves on to be part of a race team and will, no doubt, cover many more miles, and carry some equally as important cars in the next chapter of its life.
The Bridge Classic Cars trailer – a loyal workhouse. The new trailer – soon to be seen collecting and delivering classic vehicles all over the country.
Rolls-Royce has very recently announced an extremely limited line known as the Black Badge Cullinan ‘Blue Shadow’ Private Collection. As this stunning line was inspired by the Kármán Line (the invisible boundary where Earth’s atmosphere ends and space begins) there will only be 62 examples of the Blue Shadow made. Why? Because the Kármán Line is 62 miles above Earth’s surface!
Once the Kármán Line is reached, the familiar blue of Earth’s atmosphere fades into the blackness of space. This creates a powerful dark-blue zone that very few people will ever get to see for themselves. It is this mysterious region that Rolls-Royce say perfectly encapsulates the essence of Blue Shadow.
This new Bespoke interpretation of Black Badge Cullinan is available exclusively through the marque’s Private Offices and is strictly limited to just 62 examples globally.
Exterior Of Blue Shadow
Blue Shadow is finished in Stardust Blue which aims to capture the deep blue colour of the upper atmosphere and the satin-tinted grille surround and aero bumper insert sets are recognisable nods to former Space Shuttle designs. The Spirit of Ecstasy has been created from titanium using 3D printing techniques and finished with a thin layer of blue-tinted lacquer which adds pearlescence while revealing the titanium’s grained texture.
You will also find the Black Badge infinity logo and ‘Blue Shadow’ Private Collection name engraved on the Spirit of Ecstasy base and infilled with Charles Blue. Even Blue Shadow’s wheels are subtly darkened using a translucent lacquer.
If you were to ever make it to the Kármán line, you would see the edge of Earth’s atmosphere as a beautiful blue halo. The powerful impact of the transition from the blue sky of Earth into the darkness of space has been beautifully captured on Blue Shadow’s painted fascia and door panels. Six layers of paint were used to combine five different shades of blue with a deep black hue which creates a three-dimensional effect inside Blue Shadow. A clear coat is the final touch and it incorporates blue and clear glass particles to add another level of depth. The fascia is finished with a bespoke clock which is completely unique to the Private Collection.
The iconic Starlight Headliner has been taken further into space with the addition of an intricate moon embroidery. The moon has been given a three-dimensional appearance and is made from five different colours of thread with each one being applied with a different stitching technique. The result is a stunning multi-textured space scene. 250,000 separate stitches are needed to create the headliner and the whole process takes 2 days to complete.
In a first for Rolls-Royce, the front and rear seats feature a unique perforated artwork. This has been inspired by the view of Earth from space and is formed by making tiny perforations in the leather.
A selection of accessories is available to add to the Blue Shadow. These include an exclusive indoor car cover that has the same pattern as the seats, and a luggage set. An exact 1:8 scale replica of the Blue Shadow can also be commissioned if the owner chooses to do so.
Black Badge Cullinan ‘Blue Shadow’ is available exclusively via the Rolls-Royce Private Office. However, all 62 examples have already been allocated to clients worldwide.
MG hosted a special preview event where the brand showed off a pre-production design model of its brand-new all-electric roadster – The Cyberster. With a release expected in the summer of 2024, a new chapter in the MG story is being written as the iconic manufacturer returns to its roots with this exciting new sports car.
The Cyberster made its debut at the event held at the MG Motor UK headquarters in Marylebone, London. It was there that advanced design director, Carl Gotham and team – who played a key role in creating the Cyberster – introduced the model for the first time.
Carl said “It is a special moment for all of us who have played a part in designing this unique car. The Cyberster will offer MG customers a striking, all-electric roadster which will be as exciting as MG sports cars of the past.”
To mark the upcoming release of the Cyberster, MG has released a film which helps tell the story of the work that went into designing and creating a sports car that is set to be the very first all-electric roadster on the market.
Inspired by MGs heritage, the Cyberster has the distinctive long bonnet, a low nose, and plenty of curves. In addition to the recognisable features that indicate the car’s MG lineage, new features such as scissor doors and a Kammback rear design bring a classic design into a stylish new future.
The creation of the Cyberster marks MG’s return to sports car production. Not only does the Cyberster do this in attention-grabbing fashion, but it also brings the MG story right up to date and allows for another generation of drivers to enjoy this iconic British brand.
Bridge Classic Cars Director, Gordon, has been spending some time in France lately in order to attend the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix.
Our good friend, Jack, was also at the event; between them, they shared some incredible photos and videos of the race.
The Monaco Grand Prix is considered one of the most challenging of the racing calendar. The iconic street circuit includes narrow lanes, sharp turns, and unforgiving barriers that can make a seemingly small error have potentially catastrophic consequences.
From Gordon making his arrival by sea to the impressive view that Jack had, the weekend looked to be a fantastic experience for all in attendance.
Soon to be arriving at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop is a 1967 Austin Healey.
We are looking forward to its arrival so we can get to work on resolving the issues that the owner has reported and get it back out on the road to be enjoyed as it should be.
Our events space, The Atelier, has continued to be improved upon with some more additions to the bar area.
This time, Christian has made some metal panels to cover the ends of the workspace behind the bar and, as you can see from the photos below, even this relatively small change has made the bar look even cooler than it already did.
The Atelier continues to develop and evolve and it is very quickly becoming the perfect venue for petrolhead events.
100 years ago, the first Bentley and, in fact, the first British car, competed in the first-ever Le Mans 24-hour race. This Bentley 3-litre has lived a storied life since that first race and has recently been sold to a British enthusiast for more than £3 million.
The sale was brokered by Kidston SA which was founded by Simon Kidston. Simon is the nephew of Glen Kidston who actually won the 1930 Le Mans race in a Bentley. It seems fitting that someone with a connection to the brand like this was involved in the sale of this special car that represents the beginning of the Bentley legend and the tradition of ‘The Bentley Boys’.
Kidston, Clement, Duff and others like Sir Tim Birkin, Dr Dudley Benjafield or one-time Bentley Chairman Woolf Barnato would become known as ‘The Bentley Boys’ for their hard-charging racing lifestyle. When speaking about ‘The Bentley Boys’, W.O Bentley, the founder of Bentley said “The public liked to imagine them living in Mayfair flats. Drinking Champagne in nightclubs, playing the horses and the Stock Exchange, and beating furiously around the racing tracks at the weekend. Of several of them, this was not such an inaccurate picture.”
The Car
The story of this car, Chassis 141, begins with Canadian World War 1 veteran (and Bentley dealer), John Duff. He drove the car at the British Double 12-hour Race at Brooklands and ended up setting 38 international records while driving the Bentley more than 2000 miles at around 86mph. After John felt that this was a successful outing, he asked W.O. Bentley to prepare the car for the debuting 24-hour endurance race that was to launch in Le Mans, France.
W.O. Bentley thought that this was a mad idea but, nonetheless, prepared the car and sent the factory test driver, Frank Clement, to co-drive for John. It was this pairing that resulted in the successful completion of the first-ever Le Mans race with a finishing position of joint 4th, along with the lap record of 66.69mph. This was all achieved in this very special Bentley that only had rear brakes and ended up running out of fuel due to stones from the unpaved track puncturing the tank!
The following year, Bentley and ‘The Bentley Boys’ returned to Le Mans but, this time, they won the 24-hour race. Bentley went on to win four successive times from 1927 to 1930 which created one of the most dominant runs in the history of the race. None of that would have happened if it hadn’t been for Chassis 141 proving to W.O. Bentley that his cars were very much capable of winning endurance races like this.
Chassis 141 and John Duff can be credited as playing a huge part in the long-term success of Bentley. If you follow the story of the brand’s success, it pretty much begins with Chassis 141!
100 Years On, First Ever Bentley to Race at Le Mans 24 Hours Sells for Over £3m
Things Slow Down For This Special Bentley
After the excitement of its racing life, Chassis 141 lived a slower life being used as a towing vehicle, an undertaker’s car, and it was even used to transport St.Bernard dogs to shows throughout the 1940s. It then disappeared until the 1980s when the owner of Donington Car Museum received a call from a 97-year-old lady saying she had 2 old cars in her barn if he wanted them.
The museum owner purchased both cars, not knowing just how special the Bentley was, so the car sat as a project for a while. It wasn’t until a motoring journalist identified it as the long-lost first Bentley to race at Le Mans that it became apparent the massively important piece of motoring history was in his possession. Eventually, Chassis 141 was sent to an Australian collector, Peter Briggs, who restored the car before making it the centrepiece of the Briggs’ York Motor Museum near Perth.
Now that it is back in Britain after a British collector became its new owner, the story of Chassis 141 has come full circle and it has come home to where it all began.
Bentley 141Bentley 141 with Simon KidstonDuff tending to the engine – Image Credit: Graeme Cocks – Clare HayBentley 141 with Simon KidstonBentley 141 when foundImage Credit: Motorsport Images & KidstonImage Credit: Graeme Cocks – Clare Hay
Simon Kidston said: “This week the most famous motor race in the world celebrates its 100th birthday and its pioneering early competitors remain as intriguing as ever. This Bentley isn’t just an old car, it’s a turning point in motor racing history and a cornerstone of the Bentley legend. And personally, having inherited a family passion for cars which was accelerated by my ‘Bentley Boy’ uncle, helping to bring this Bentley home feels really satisfying. It won’t be leading a quiet life: it’ll be lining up on the grid of the Le Mans 100th anniversary race for vintage cars next month. I hope its original drivers will be looking down and smiling.”
Chassis 141 – The First Bentley To Race At Le Mans
It’s not very often that a car with as much history and as much importance to motor racing history and, indeed, to motoring history, in general, is sold. It may have come with a whopping price tag of more than £3 million but, at last, Chassis 141, will return to Le Mans and get the recognition it deserves as a true legend of motoring.
The brand-new Aston Martin DB12 is here following its unveiling last night. Being advertised as delivering a quantum shift in sporting character and dynamic capability, this marks the beginning of the next generation of the DB breed. The brand has certainly not been shy in pushing just how special they see this car being as it comes with the very powerful label of the World’s First Super Tourer.
Aston Martin say that the DB12 has been engineered to deliver exceptional performance and handling while also coming with a whole new level of luxury and style. Its chassis is perfectly matched to a class-leading 680PS/800NM V8 Twin-Turbo powertrain which has resulted in a driving experience that even the most demanding of drivers will enjoy.
Fitted with Michelin Pilot Sport 5 S tyres which have been made to Aston Martin’s precise specifications and supported by an all-new suspension system featuring the latest adaptive dampers, the DB12 delivers incredible control and driver connection. An Electronic Power Assisted Steering (EPAS) system and an Electronic Rear Differential (E-Diff) further enhance the car’s handling and agility.
A new addition to the DB line would be exciting enough, but the DB12 comes at an extra special time, as 2023 marks 110 years of Aston Martin and 75 years since the introduction of the DB family. This new generation of Aston Martin sports cars takes us into a new era for the brand and is one that will bring heightened performance, technology, style, and craftsmanship.
Roberto Fedeli, Group Chief Technology Officer of Aston Martin said of the new DB12: “DB12 is a statement car. One that asserts Aston Martin’s position as a leader in performance, dynamics, engineering and technology. We have pushed every aspect of this car to be best-in-class. The result is more power and performance than its rivals. Combined with exceptional handling and an exciting soundtrack, it is a car with passion and a truly sporting character. Crucially, thanks to its breadth of capability we have achieved this without compromising refinement, comfort and luxury. Together with our use of industry-leading dynamic control and infotainment systems, DB12 is the start of Aston Martin’s most exciting new era.”
Aston Martin DB12 Performance
Not much needs to be said about the performance of the DB12 as the numbers do a great job of speaking for themselves. With a 0-60mph time of 3.5 seconds, a top speed of 202mph comes from its hand-built 4-litre Twin-Turbo V8 engine. Performance has increased by 34% from its DB11 predecessor with the DB12 generating 680PS/671bhp at 6000rpm and 800Nm/590 lb-ft between 2750-6000rpm
This big jump in performance comes from modified cam profiles, optimised compression ratios, larger diameter turbochargers, and increased cooling. In fact, as there is increased thermal demand for the DB12 to deal with, the cooling system has been completely redesigned, with an additional two auxiliary coolers added to the existing central main radiator. To ensure that desired engine intake air temperatures are achieved in all conditions, an additional low-temperature radiator has been fitted to the charge cooler water circuit too.
Also, the auxiliary outboard engine oil cooler now has over double the face area of the DB11 in order to manage the demands on the lubrication circuit. A 56% increase in open apertures allows more cold air to flow into the radiators while the centrally-mounted bonnet vents allow hot air to escape.
Image from Aston MartinImage from Aston MartinImage from Aston MartinImage from Aston MartinImage from Aston MartinImage from Aston MartinImage from Aston MartinImage from Aston MartinImage from Aston MartinImage from Aston MartinImage from Aston MartinImage from Aston MartinImage from Aston MartinImage from Aston MartinImage from Aston MartinImage from Aston Martin
Handling
8-speed automatic transmission and an Electronic Rear Differential (the first time this has been used on a DB model), deliver the vast power that the DB12 can unleash. This E-Diff can go from being fully open to completely locked in milliseconds which makes for precise and consistent handling.
When in GT mode, the Aston Martin DB12 is comfortable and incredibly refined but, change to Sport or Sport+ mode and the car hunkers down, responds even quicker and is even tighter in its level of control. Aston Martin has put a lot of effort into making sure that, despite the DB12’s responsiveness, it doesn’t respond aggressively. Instead, the car is intuitive and allows the driver to simply enjoy being behind the wheel of this very special car.
When it comes to the brakes, the standard option is cast-iron 400mm front discs and 360mm rear discs. However, these can be upgraded to Aston’s Carbon Ceramic Brake (CCB) option. Not only does this save 27kg compared to the standard brakes, but it also increases brake performance while reducing brake fade at temperatures of up to 800°C.
The DB12 is the first to use the new Michelin Pilot Sport 5 S tyres. This wasn’t quite good enough for Aston though so you will notice the tyres are marked with ‘AML’ codes to signify that they feature a bespoke compound, and have been tuned by the dynamics team at Aston Martin. They also feature noise-cancelling polyurethane foam inserts which reduce tyre ‘hum’ transmitted to the car’s interior by 20%.
To get the very best out of the DB12, the 21-inch forged alloy wheels are 8kg lighter than the previous 20-inch versions.
Exterior
The DB12 has a more muscular-looking body which is a clear nod to the power it can unleash. The front end is new and features a larger, re-shaped radiator aperture and splitter. Even the iconic Aston Martin wings badge on the nose is the latest evolution, further highlighting how the brand is moving into a new era of sports cars.
The aerodynamic profile of the car has also been improved thanks to the new smaller, and frameless wing mirrors, while the presenting door handles are the perfect way to enter the ultra-luxurious cabin.
Marek Reichman, Executive Vice President and Chief Creative Officer of Aston Martin said that the “DB12 is our design definition of a Super Tourer. Historically, the GT code among most contemporary enthusiasts meant some semblance of comfort, speed, and refinement. But since the Aston Martin customer is no ordinary motorist, and we no longer simply design objects in and of themselves, we’ve fused everything together on the DB12 — the handling, dynamics, powertrain, sense of space, and styling— and we’ve done it to the max through technology to deliver this new category of performance-design driving experience.
“We know that when the owner of an Aston Martin heads out for open-road driving at the upper limits, hoping to reach those exhilarating moments of perfection, they are seeking the thrills of speed and performance while safely commanding control of their experience. DB12 intuitively knows what the driver is wanting and effortlessly gives them that optimal combination at any driving moment. It’s this total experience that separates the DB12 as the first breed of Super Tourer”.
The latest addition to Aston Martin’s most illustrious bloodline, DB12 exemplifies the brand by boldly moving forward. That wholesale progression is reflected in the DB12’s styling, which features an all-new front-end treatment, wider stance and more muscular surfaces for increased presence. The interior has also been completely redesigned, with clean horizontal lines emphasising the sense of space and providing the perfect contemporary backdrop for new a new state-of-the-art infotainment system. Emphatically fresh yet unmistakably Aston Martin, DB12 defines the new breed of Super Tourer.”
What could be one of the most appealing offers from Aston Martin is the ability for customers to personalise their DB12 in pretty much any way they can think of. Whether a small detail is wanted all the way up to full-scale engineering and production of bespoke components, it will be possible to make your DB12 a completely unique 1-of-1 car.
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DB12 Interior
As you would expect from Aston Martin, the interior of the DB12 is something very special. It’s clean, and contemporary, and perfectly highlights the class-leading craftsmanship that the brand has become known for. Hand-stitched Bridge of Weir hides and stylish trim details create a driving environment that is meant to be enjoyed while your focus remains on getting the most out of your road trip. There are even new quilts that have been introduced with the DB12 to compliment the full leather or Alcantara interior.
The DB12 is all about evolution and moving into the next generation, so the infotainment system is entirely bespoke and has been designed and developed by Aston Martin themselves. This is actually the marque’s first in-house system and features a huge range of driving aids and entertainment options.
Image from Aston MartinImage from Aston MartinImage from Aston MartinImage from Aston MartinImage from Aston MartinImage from Aston MartinImage from Aston MartinImage from Aston Martin
Aston Martin DB12
Amedeo Felisa, Chief Executive Officer of Aston Martin, said of the new DB12: “When a brand has as much history as Aston Martin it is important to honour the past. Not by looking back, but by pushing on with the same energy and passion that propelled our founders 110 years ago. With the new DB12 we are reinvigorating the DB model line and reasserting Aston Martin as a maker of truly exceptional performance sportscars. By combining class-leading performance and exceptional chassis dynamics with cutting-edge technology, impeccable craftsmanship and immaculate design, DB12 leads Aston Martin into a new era of excellence.”
First deliveries of the DB12 are scheduled to begin during Q3 of this year so we don’t have long to wait to see the World’s First Super Tourer out on the road.
Bridge Classic Cars are thrilled to invite you to a very special event in the form of our very first Sunset Classic Car & Bike Meet.
The evening promises to be a relaxing and ambient environment where you can share your passion for classic vehicles with other like-minded enthusiasts. Meeting at sunset will create a stunning and picturesque backdrop that highlights the beauty of your classics.
Starting at 7 pm and taking place at The Atelier at Bridge Classic Cars, you will be able to enjoy food from Oscar’s mobile catering, drink, and live acoustic music to help bring your day to a chilled conclusion.
Whether you are a classic car owner, or simply an admirer of automotive artistry, our Sunset Classic Car & Bike Meet will have something for everyone. With plenty of opportunities to capture memorable moments against the backdrop of the setting sun, swap tips and advice with fellow enthusiasts, or simply admire the craftsmanship that has gone into each and every classic vehicle.
The Atelier bar will be open for drinks, and food will be available to make sure you have everything you need for an evening of automotive appreciation.
We would love it if you can join us in celebrating the timeless beauty of classic vehicles as the sun goes down over the Bridge Classic Cars workshop.
Attendance is completely FREE but please RSVP below to let us know you will be joining us.
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