bridge classic cars
Dick and Phil Roper
Just a quick note to thank you for a great evening on Friday. Both Philip and I were ‘blown away’ by the new Members Club and
David Chenery
Just to say thank you for the invite and for an enjoyable evening to see the cars on display, the workshop, the food and music
Bentley Unveils Fourth-Generation Continental GT Speed at Goodwood Festival of Speed
Bentley introduced the fourth-generation Continental GT Speed on the first day of this year’s Festival of Speed. The car is being presented twice, once in
P1 Fuels At Vintage Bentley
Last night, Craig and I were invited to Vintage Bentley as part of an evening hosted by P1 Fuels. We also had a great stay
Final Check Over – 1971 MGB Roadster
Our 1971 MGB Roadster is in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop for its final check over before it heads off to its new owner. During
New Arrival – 1974 Jaguar E-Type Series 3 V12 Roadster
Earlier this week, we welcomed a new arrival to our Suffolk HQ in the shape of this 1974 Jaguar E-Type Series 3 V12 Roadster. The
Our 2003 MG ZT V8 Stripped and Ready for Paint
Our 2003 MG ZT V8 has been getting into shape ahead of its repaint under the watchful and skillful hands of our painter Alan. He’s
Ready to Go – 1970 Morris Minor 1000
Our 1970 Morris Minor 1000, which found itself stranded outside our Suffolk HQ has been worked on by the team here and ready to hit
Working on our 1981 Austin Vanden Plas
The 1981 Austin Vanden Plas is in the workshops at our Suffolk HQ for the team to get a few jobs done on the classic
Stripping Back the Dash of the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Drophead Coupe
Our technician Rob has been methodically working his way through stripping the dashboard of our 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Drophead Coupe. Each individual piece that
Our 1966 Daimler 250 V8 finds a new home
Our 1966 Daimler 250 V8 has found its way to its new home with Paul. Paul recently won our classic saloon through Bridge Classic Cars
Cleaned and Ready – Our 1954 Daimler Conquest Roadster is ready for a date with destiny
Our 1954 Daimler Conquest Roadster has been moved from our restoration workshops, across our site to its new home in the Classic Lounge. This unique,
Repairing our 1986 Fiat X1/9
To begin with, Jon has taken over the preparation of our 1986 Fiat X1/9. He is carrying on with repairing this rare and quirky sports
Repainting our 1973 Porsche 914
Our paint and body team here at the Bridge Classic Cars HQ have been busy at work with our 1973 Porsche 914. Although the car
Stripping the centre console of our 1979 Ferrari 400
Workshop manager, and electrical guru, John has been working on stripping down the centre console of our 1979 Ferrari 400. The wood itself will be
Run Up and Final Checks on our 1954 Daimler Conquest Roadster
Jon has been working on getting our 1954 Daimler Conquest Roadster back into tip top condition. This handbuilt, unique and rare example of the car
Back Home – Our 1959 Jensen 541R Returns Home After a Checkover
Our 1959 Jensen 541R, which was recently restored, came back to our Suffolk HQ for its first check up after being used and enjoyed by
1952 Austin A40 in Storage
Our barn-find 1952 Austin A40 Sports Carbiolet has been moved by our transport team to its new home in our safe and secure storage facility,
Working on the Dashboard and Gearbox of our 1956 Jensen 541
Paul, one of our restoration technicians, has been working his way through the list of finishing jobs on our 1956 Jensen 541 project. With the
Safe and Sound – Our 1939 Jaguar SS100 safely in storage
Our 1939 Jaguar SS100 has had quite the summer! Completing the Mille Miglia and then going on tour around Europe, its time for the car
The Potential of AI in the Automotive Industry
The automotive industry is going through some big changes right now. This seems to have coincided perfectly with the huge growth and continued development of
Working on the sills of our 1973 Ferrari 246 GTS
The fabrication team at the Bridge Classic Cars HQ have been working on getting our 1973 Ferrari 246 GTS ‘Dino’ back into tip-top condition. Christian,
Heading Home – Our 1976 Triumph Spitfire leaves our HQ
Goodbye’s are always bittersweet. Our team spent so much time invested passionately in each and every project that we do, that we develop significant relationships
Festival Of Speed 2024
The Festival of Speed, presented by Mastercard, is happening this weekend. Starting today (11th July), and running until Sunday (14th July), FOS 2024 is going
Craig On Suffolk Sounds
Recently, Craig was on Suffolk Sounds talking to Jenna Ackerly about his career, Bridge Classic Cars, his future plans, and, as expected, classic cars. Listen
The Honda Prelude Is Back
At this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, Honda is bringing back the Prelude! The original Prelude made its European debut 45 years ago and was
Transported – 1974 Jaguar E-Type Series 3 Roadster Arrives at our HQ
Our transport team have been incredibly busy in the last few weeks with multiple classics being moved all around the country alongside their work shuttling
Press Release – New Bar and Members Club Opens at Bridge Classic Cars in Pettistree
Pettistree, Woodbridge – July 2024 – Bridge Classic Cars is excited to announce the opening of their new bar and members club. Based in The
Bridge Classic Cars Members Club Launch Party
On Friday night, we celebrated the opening of The Classic Lounge, the home of the exclusive members’ club by Bridge Classic Cars. The event, held
Dick and Phil Roper
Just a quick note to thank you for a great evening on Friday.
Both Philip and I were ‘blown away’ by the new Members Club and by the warm welcome and generous hospitality extended to us.
We wish you every success with this venture.
David Chenery
Just to say thank you for the invite and for an enjoyable evening to see the cars on display, the workshop, the food and music and the enthusiastic attendees. I was given a copy of the Rare and Unique Vehicles magazine by the author as a memento.
Bentley Unveils Fourth-Generation Continental GT Speed at Goodwood Festival of Speed
Bentley introduced the fourth-generation Continental GT Speed on the first day of this year’s Festival of Speed. The car is being presented twice, once in the hillclimb and the second in an innovative ‘underwater’ display.
The Continental GT Speed, available in both coupe and convertible models, is the most powerful road-going Bentley ever. Equipped with an all-new Ultra Performance Hybrid powertrain, it delivers 782 PS and 1,000 Nm of torque, surpassing the previous W12 engine. Despite its enhanced performance, the new powertrain achieves a reduction in CO2 emissions to just 29 g/km.
Complementing its powerful engine, the GT Speed features a sophisticated new chassis system. This includes two-chamber air springs, dual-valve dampers, Bentley Dynamic Ride (48V active anti-roll control), eLSD, and torque vectoring. These advancements result in exceptional body control and the most comfortable ride in a Continental GT to date, with a 49:51 rear-biased weight distribution for the first time.
The exterior design marks the most significant revision to the Continental GT’s appearance in 20 years, embracing a new design direction for Bentley. Notably, it is the first mainstream Bentley since the 1950s to feature single headlamps.
Inside, this new model introduces advanced wellness seat technology, air ionisation, three-dimensional leather textures, modern quilting, and technical finishes such as dark chrome.
In addition to the two Continental GT Speed models on the Hill Climb, a third example is uniquely displayed near the Kinrara Enclosure, celebrating the unofficial ‘Underwater Speed Record’—the fastest a car has ever travelled through a tunnel, reaching 208 mph (335 km/h).
The ‘FOShtank’ display is a bespoke adaptation of Bentley’s glass ‘Toy Box’ units from their Dream Factory campus in Crewe. This version includes a custom-built fish tank, a tongue-in-cheek nod to the underwater theme.
P1 Fuels At Vintage Bentley
Last night, Craig and I were invited to Vintage Bentley as part of an evening hosted by P1 Fuels. We also had a great stay in the De Vere Horsley Estate Hotel.
P1 Fuels are synthetic e-fuels that act as a drop-in solution to fossil fuels. Any petrol car can be run on P1 without any need for modification or changes in driving behaviours.
The evening was all about the future of the automotive industry and the huge part that synthetic fuels, like P1, can play in that. It was incredible to hear about the progress that P1 Fuels have made over the last 12 months and their extremely exciting plans for the next couple of years.
I have always championed synthetic fuel as the most logical and realistic solution to sustainable transport so I was extremely happy to be invited to hear about the company in person.
Richard Hammond gave a short talk on his experience using P1 Fuels in his cars and he was also on hand to have a chat about how he sees the future of the automotive industry.
We plan on having much more involvement with synthetic fuels. We want to keep classic cars on the road while still taking our green responsibilities very seriously too…this could very well be the answer!
Final Check Over – 1971 MGB Roadster
Our 1971 MGB Roadster is in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop for its final check over before it heads off to its new owner. During the checks, Jon found out that the stop light had stopped working so a new one was placed on order.
New Arrival – 1974 Jaguar E-Type Series 3 V12 Roadster
Earlier this week, we welcomed a new arrival to our Suffolk HQ in the shape of this 1974 Jaguar E-Type Series 3 V12 Roadster. The car was transported over to our Pettistree workshops for our team to take a look at the car for its owner and appraise its overall condition.
It’s always nice to welcome new classics into the family here, and we seem to be working on a lot of E-Type’s recently!
Our 2003 MG ZT V8 Stripped and Ready for Paint
Our 2003 MG ZT V8 has been getting into shape ahead of its repaint under the watchful and skillful hands of our painter Alan.
He’s worked on getting the car back to bare metal in places and then reworked certain areas so when he does lay down that stunning dark blue, everything will look absolutely sensational.
Ready to Go – 1970 Morris Minor 1000
Our 1970 Morris Minor 1000, which found itself stranded outside our Suffolk HQ has been worked on by the team here and ready to hit the road again!
But, before it left our workshop. Tony gave the car a once over to make sure she looked her best before her excited owner came to pick her back up.
Working on our 1981 Austin Vanden Plas
The 1981 Austin Vanden Plas is in the workshops at our Suffolk HQ for the team to get a few jobs done on the classic hatchback. First up, Jon has been working on the lift pump which he noted was leaking so he made up some new gaskets and sealed them back onto the car.
Next up, Jon began working on getting the rear end of the car back into shape. He realigned the bumper to make it even and square to the body before removing the rear axle mounts for them to be cleaned and refurbished.
Stripping Back the Dash of the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Drophead Coupe
Our technician Rob has been methodically working his way through stripping the dashboard of our 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Drophead Coupe. Each individual piece that is removed was carefully inspected and evaluated before being bagged and labeled. The dash itself, which is wooden, will be repaired and restored by a local specialist while the clocks and gauges will be sent away to be completely refurbished for this stunning piece of sports car history.
Along with working on the dashboard, Rob has also been working on stripping back some of the controls such as the throttle pedal assembly and handbrake, getting them to where they can be carefully sandblasted and then painted.
Our 1966 Daimler 250 V8 finds a new home
Our 1966 Daimler 250 V8 has found its way to its new home with Paul. Paul recently won our classic saloon through Bridge Classic Cars Competitions and we want to wish him many happy miles with the car.
Cleaned and Ready – Our 1954 Daimler Conquest Roadster is ready for a date with destiny
Our 1954 Daimler Conquest Roadster has been moved from our restoration workshops, across our site to its new home in the Classic Lounge. This unique, handbuilt roadster was loaded in by the team to be kept safe ahead of the marketing team taking it out on a very special photo/video shoot.
But, since the car has been moved into its new home – Tony gave the car a one over and got it looking majestic surrounded by our other dream classic in the new home of the Members Club.
Repairing our 1986 Fiat X1/9
To begin with, Jon has taken over the preparation of our 1986 Fiat X1/9. He is carrying on with repairing this rare and quirky sports car, beginning with getting the bonnet releases to work correctly.
Jon had to remove the catch and latch out of the car to modify it in order to accept the new cable. In order to get everything routed correctly through the car, he had to dismantle the scuttle panel. But with everything now in place, he could work on getting everything back in place and move onto the next job on the list.
First up was an inspection of the brakes on the car. After clearing the disc of any surface rust, Jon could them back onto the car but not before inspecting all brake lines, hubs and bearings. He then inflated all tyres to the correct pressure before refitting them to the car, except for the offside rear which must be left off in order to replace the cambelt.
He then sorted out a few small jobs on the car such as repairing a battery terminal and make new wooden shims for the battery tray of the car and stripping the air cleaner to clean it out and fit to the car.
While Jon was busy working on the X1/9, our workshop manager John has been working on getting the headlight motor to work correctly. The nearside motor would go up and down on its own and the offside one wouldn’t return into its storage space. John stripped out the motors, and had to replace the brushes and diodes in the offisde motor. Once he got everything back into the car, he replaced the fuses with fresh unit and everything worked perfectly.
Back on the car, Jon worked his way through and replaced the fuel filter and also rubbed back and cleaned down the brake pipes in order to check everything was ok. The next step was a common issue with the X19 series of cars, the ignition coil kept heating up. So, Jon actually fitted a new coil to confirm this was a general problem and not an issue with the original coil. The new one also heated up, so the original was put back on the car and John regapped the spark plugs, check all of the earthing straps and anything else he could. Ran the car up to temperature and the coil still kept getting hot, so after the cambelt is changed – he will continue investigating.
Whilst replacing the timing belt/cambelt on the X1/9, Jon began by taking the timing cover off to align and set the timing marks before removing the belt. Then, as a matter of course, Jon removed the tensioner and backing plate. After pulling the old pulley off of the backing plate, he could press the new tensioner pulley onto the plate and refit to the car. Whilst everything went back together, when Jon began to refill the coolant the engine began to leak.
Looking into it further, Jon discovered that the tensioner backing plate was leaking coolant. So, he removed the engine mount (which also uses the tensioner backing plate) and then could work on cleaning the surfaces up before making a new gasket for the plate. Along with the gasket, Jon could begin work on getting the tensioner pulley back on the plate and then align the timing marks before refilling the coolant system and thoroughly checking for any leaks.
Now, the car is ready to head off for its MOT very soon.
Repainting our 1973 Porsche 914
Our paint and body team here at the Bridge Classic Cars HQ have been busy at work with our 1973 Porsche 914. Although the car looked good, the paintwork had become tired. So, the team have made the decision to revitalise this beautiful aircooled sports car. The team worked on getting the body in perfect condition before our technician Mauro took it into the booth to lay down several lays of the stunning light blue paint.
After the paint had completely cured, it could be taken out of the booth/oven for the team to go through the various stages of flattening the paint and the polishing the paint work to a mirror finish like you see it here.
Stripping the centre console of our 1979 Ferrari 400
Workshop manager, and electrical guru, John has been working on stripping down the centre console of our 1979 Ferrari 400. The wood itself will be refurbished for the car, but while it is out John is testing all the switches and making any repairs that are needed. Another part which is being worked on by John is the choke cable which wasn’t connected upto the lever which controls it.
Run Up and Final Checks on our 1954 Daimler Conquest Roadster
Jon has been working on getting our 1954 Daimler Conquest Roadster back into tip top condition. This handbuilt, unique and rare example of the car needed some expert attention to get it running and driving just as it should.
The final part of the work, is to sort out the last few little leaks and adjustments needed. Jon sorted out the steering box leak and then ran through all the gears on the ramp, adjusting the shift rods, before bringing the car down and outside to run the car up to temperature and checking for any coolant leaks.
Back Home – Our 1959 Jensen 541R Returns Home After a Checkover
Our 1959 Jensen 541R, which was recently restored, came back to our Suffolk HQ for its first check up after being used and enjoyed by its new owner.
Along with a check up and oil change, the team had to do a couple of little revisions for the owner. But, after being given the green light by the workshop – our transport team loaded the car into our enclosed trailer and took the classic GT car back home for its excited owner.
1952 Austin A40 in Storage
Our barn-find 1952 Austin A40 Sports Carbiolet has been moved by our transport team to its new home in our safe and secure storage facility, The Hangar. Since coming out of its slumber, the team have worked very hard to get this car back to its former glory whilst also preserving the cars originality.
Now, it will be kept safe and dry for years to come.
Working on the Dashboard and Gearbox of our 1956 Jensen 541
Paul, one of our restoration technicians, has been working his way through the list of finishing jobs on our 1956 Jensen 541 project. With the car now moved into the finishing room of our workshop, the team are full speed ahead on getting this classic GT back on the road.
To begin with, Paul has worked on getting some of the wiring sorted behind the dashboard. Then, he could move on to reworking the drain plug for the gearbox. Along with having to reprofile the position, Paul also had to repair several threads in the gearbox case with a helicoil.
Safe and Sound – Our 1939 Jaguar SS100 safely in storage
Our 1939 Jaguar SS100 has had quite the summer! Completing the Mille Miglia and then going on tour around Europe, its time for the car to get a bit of TLC and some rest.
Since arriving back, the car has been looked over by the team and cleaned up ahead of our transport team moving the car over to our safe and secure storage facility. There, it was safely moved into its protective carcoon and put on charge to be kept safe and sound.
The Potential of AI in the Automotive Industry
The automotive industry is going through some big changes right now. This seems to have coincided perfectly with the huge growth and continued development of artificial intelligence (AI). As a result, it should be no surprise that AI is finding its way into the automotive industry in a number of ways. If the use of AI in the automotive world continues, there could be even bigger changes still to come!
Enhancing Vehicle Safety
One of the most significant potential contributions of AI in the automotive industry is improvements in vehicle safety. Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) are a prime example, utilising AI algorithms to improve road safety by monitoring the environment and making real-time decisions. Features such as adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance, automatic braking, and pedestrian detection rely heavily on AI to process data from sensors, cameras, and radar systems.
AI-powered safety systems can reduce human error, which is obviously a leading cause of accidents. For instance, Tesla’s Autopilot and General Motors‘ Super Cruise use AI to enable semi-autonomous driving, assisting drivers with steering, braking, and lane changes under certain conditions.
While I think there is still a long way to go, as AI technology evolves, fully autonomous vehicles could become a reality and be driving on our roads in the not-too-distant future.
Manufacturing Processes
AI isn’t just being used in driving cars, it is also changing how they are made. In manufacturing, AI systems can optimise production lines, ensuring higher efficiency and precision. Predictive maintenance powered by AI can accurately predict equipment failures before they occur, reducing downtime and reducing maintenance costs. Robots equipped with AI can perform complex tasks with higher accuracy and speed than humans, improving overall productivity.
AI-driven analytics can also optimise supply chain management by predicting demand and managing inventory more effectively. This ensures that manufacturers can respond swiftly to market changes, reduce waste, and lower operational costs.
Personalised Driving Experience
AI enables a more personalised driving experience by learning and adapting to individual driver behaviours and preferences. AI-powered infotainment systems can suggest routes, and music, and even control in-car climate settings based on the driver’s past behaviour and preferences.
Additionally, AI can offer accurate maintenance schedules based on the vehicle’s usage patterns and the driver’s habits. This goes a long way in making sure the vehicle remains in optimal condition and reduces the likelihood of unexpected breakdowns.
Autonomous Vehicles and Mobility Services
I think that the ultimate potential of AI in the automotive industry lies in the development of fully autonomous vehicles. Self-driving cars could be an absolute game-changer in time-saving, safety, and overall stress levels. Autonomous vehicles could significantly reduce traffic congestion, lower emissions, and provide mobility solutions for those unable to drive, such as the elderly or disabled.
Challenges and Ethical Considerations
Despite the promising potential, the integration of AI in the automotive industry presents several challenges and ethical considerations. Ensuring the reliability and safety of AI systems is a priority, as failures could have severe consequences. Developing robust AI algorithms that can handle the vast array of driving scenarios is a complex task that requires significant investment in research and development.
Data privacy is another big concern. AI systems rely on huge amounts of data to function effectively, raising questions about how this data is collected, stored, and used. Ensuring that AI systems adhere to strict data protection regulations is essential to maintaining public trust.
Ethical considerations, such as decision-making in life-threatening situations, also need to be addressed. For instance, how should an autonomous vehicle prioritise safety in unavoidable accident scenarios? Establishing ethical guidelines and regulatory frameworks is crucial to navigating these complex issues.
The Potential of AI in the Automotive Industry
AI’s potential in the automotive industry is immense!
If used correctly, it could make big changes in how we travel, and how we look at cars in general.
In my opinion, AI isn’t a big, bad, scary thing that many see it as. I think there is still a long way to go until it is ready to be fully embraced but, I certainly think it could lead the way into our modern version of the industrial revolution!
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Working on the sills of our 1973 Ferrari 246 GTS
The fabrication team at the Bridge Classic Cars HQ have been working on getting our 1973 Ferrari 246 GTS ‘Dino’ back into tip-top condition.
Christian, one of our talented fabricators, has been working his way through the areas of corrosion on the car to make up new panels to perfectly fit this stunning classic sports car. Each individual piece that is cut off of the car is saved by Christian to use for templating and fitment of the new pieces giving the best results as each panel is tailored specifically for that part of the car.
Heading Home – Our 1976 Triumph Spitfire leaves our HQ
Goodbye’s are always bittersweet. Our team spent so much time invested passionately in each and every project that we do, that we develop significant relationships with the cars that we bring back to life. Case and point – our 1976 Triumph Spitfire.
This Java Green classic sports car arrived in our workshops in March of 2023 as a left-hand drive red rolling shell. Over the past nearly 18 months, each of our departments have poured their heart and craft into making this a perfect example of a car we feel proud to have built.
Every square inch of the car has been worked on by a member of our team in pursuit of the most perfect Spitfire for our client, who took delivery of the car yesterday at our Suffolk HQ before taking the car on a wonderful road trip to get to know their new pride and joy.
Although every one of our restorations is special, some of them just seem to take on a personality all of their own just like this one. We’re excited to see it leave but sad to say good bye – we want to wish our creation, and its owner, many happy miles together.
Festival Of Speed 2024
The Festival of Speed, presented by Mastercard, is happening this weekend. Starting today (11th July), and running until Sunday (14th July), FOS 2024 is going to be full of incredible cars and bikes with numerous new vehicles being revealed for the first time.
This year, MG will be a huge focal point, with a Central Feature to commemorate the brand’s 100th anniversary.
The theme, ‘Horseless to Hybrid: Revolutions in Power,’ will honour the technological innovations that have influenced motorsport and motoring from its beginnings to the present and beyond.
Festival Of Speed 2024 – Key Things To See Each Day
Thursday
- Alex Albon
- Kush Mani
Friday
- Logan Sargeant
- Kush Mani
- RB17 unveil
- Fernando Alonso and Aston Martin Valiant
- Richard Petty balcony moment
Saturday
- Michael Dunlop balcony moment
- Lia Block
- Jack Doohan
Sunday
- Oracle Red Bull Racing celebrations – Coulthard, Horner, Klien, Pérez, Ricciardo, Verstappen
- James Vowles
- Sophia Flörsch
How To Watch Festival Of Speed 2024
Livestream
Catch all the action – both on and off-track – across the Goodwood Road & Racing channels:
Livestream
Facebook
YouTube
Twitch
TV
The Festival of Speed Highlights programme will be available to watch on ITV1, showcasing some of the very best bits from the weekend:
Monday 22 July, ITV1, 22:45 BST
Tuesday 23 July, ITV1, 23:00 BST
All you need ahead of the event
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Craig On Suffolk Sounds
Recently, Craig was on Suffolk Sounds talking to Jenna Ackerly about his career, Bridge Classic Cars, his future plans, and, as expected, classic cars.
Listen here.
The Honda Prelude Is Back
At this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, Honda is bringing back the Prelude!
The original Prelude made its European debut 45 years ago and was produced until 2001. The new Prelude is aimed to be a fitting return for the nameplate, as it blends style with a hybrid powertrain.
The name “Prelude” refers to an introductory piece of music, and appropriately positions the car as a forerunner to future models that highlight Honda’s commitment to sports performance – an example of Honda bringing the “joy of driving” to customers across Europe.
Tomoyuki Yamagami, Chief Engineer and Large Project Leader, at Honda, said: “The new Prelude not only marks the latest chapter in our ever-evolving hybrid story, it is also the product of 25 years of pioneering hybrid research and development. Ensuring this model maintains its ‘sporty’ DNA by perfectly blending the efficiency and environmental advantages of electrified driving with an exhilarating experience behind the wheel – liberating users from their daily lives with increased driving pleasure.”
“In addition, the Prelude demonstrates the continued importance of hybrid powertrains as part of Honda’s automobile electrification strategy – a key step towards our commitment for 100% of new vehicle sales to be battery electric or hydrogen fuel cell by 2040.”
25 Years Of Honda
This year marks Honda’s 25th anniversary of hybrid technology, starting with the Insight coupe, which became Europe’s first mass-produced hybrid model in 1999. Since then, Honda has been at the forefront of developing petrol-electric powertrains.
After the Insight, Honda introduced the Civic IMA in 2003, featuring a continuously variable transmission (CVT) paired with a 1.3-litre i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine and a 20-horsepower electric motor for enhanced fuel efficiency. Seven years later, the CR-Z debuted, combining Honda’s unique IMA parallel hybrid system with a 1.5-litre petrol engine and manual transmission.
In 2011, the Jazz Hybrid continued to provide practicality, including “Magic Seats” and 300-litres of boot space, thanks to the compact Honda IMA hybrid system. The 2016 arrival of the NSX introduced the supercar segment to the most technologically advanced all-wheel-drive hybrid powertrain of its time.
Today, Honda’s entire mainstream range is fully electrified, with the Jazz, Civic, HR-V, ZR-V, and CR-V all featuring e-powertrains as standard. These advanced powertrains transition between EV, hybrid, and engine drive modes without driver input, offering ease of use, a rewarding driving experience, and highly competitive efficiency and emissions.
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Transported – 1974 Jaguar E-Type Series 3 Roadster Arrives at our HQ
Our transport team have been incredibly busy in the last few weeks with multiple classics being moved all around the country alongside their work shuttling restoration projects in and out of storage from our secure storage location, the Hangar, back to our main workshop in Pettistree.
One car that the team did move this week was this 1974 Jaguar E-Type Series 3 Roadster which has been in The Hangar for a little while waiting its turn on the ramp. Now that it is safe and sound at our Suffolk HQ, the team will begin assessing and checking over the car very soon.
Press Release – New Bar and Members Club Opens at Bridge Classic Cars in Pettistree
Pettistree, Woodbridge – July 2024 – Bridge Classic Cars is excited to announce the opening of their new bar and members club. Based in The Classic Lounge, right next door to the restoration workshop, this unique venue offers members the rare opportunity to enjoy socialising while being surrounded by some of the most desirable and rare classic cars.
The launch party, held last Friday night, was a huge success with a packed guest list of personally invited attendees. Guests were treated to a first look at the recently completed facility as well as live music, food, and drink.
One of the things that the Bridge Classic Cars team are proud of, with this new venture, is that the new bar promotes safe socialising and driving. The Classic Lounge offers a wide range of local non-alcoholic drinks, providing a responsible and enjoyable option for all guests.
“We are thrilled to finally open the doors to The Classic Lounge,” said Craig Ranson, Managing Director of Bridge Classic Cars. “Personally, private member’s clubs and bars have always fascinated me; the sense of intrigue and excitement of a member’s only community. I really hope that this same feeling can be created here. Members will have access to a curated calendar of unique experiences, including factory tours, wine tasting, live music, track days, special guests and more.”
Bridge Classic Cars has just entered its 20th year. Known for its award-winning restoration of classic cars and its weekly competitions, the addition of The Classic Lounge further enhances its reputation as a hub for automotive enthusiasts and an exciting new social venue.
Bridge Classic Cars Members Club is now open. For membership inquiries and more information about upcoming events, please visit https://bridgeclassiccars.co.uk/members-club/ or contact members@bridgeclassiccars.co.uk
High Res images can be downloaded here
About Bridge Classic Cars: Bridge Classic Cars is a classic car restoration workshop located in Pettistree near Woodbridge in Suffolk. With a passion for preserving automotive history, they specialise in the restoration of rare and desirable classic cars. Their commitment to excellence and attention to detail has earned them several awards for their work.
Media Contact: Rob Harvey
Marketing Manager
Bridge Classic Cars
rob@bridgeclassiccars.co.uk
01473 742038
www.bridgeclassiccars.co.uk
Bridge Classic Cars Members Club Launch Party
On Friday night, we celebrated the opening of The Classic Lounge, the home of the exclusive members’ club by Bridge Classic Cars. The event, held in The Classic Lounge itself, right next to our workshop, was a complete success. From the moment guests arrived, when they were greeted with a glass of champagne, there was an atmosphere of class, style, and exclusivity that made for a truly unforgettable evening.
As soon as our guests arrived, all of whom had been personally invited, they were met with our 1905 Riley 9HP, the only one in existence. After a quick photo opportunity with a car that genuinely changed automotive history, they walked through the main doors and into the heart of The Classic Lounge.
With live music from Miss Leeloo Saxophonist and canapés from Paul Thompson Events, our guests got to experience first-hand what life as a Bridge Classic Cars Member is like.
As well as the moody interior of the main bar and seating area, we had a covered outdoor area too (provided by Events Under Canvas). Despite the rain, this was extremely well-received with guests being able to enjoy the fresh air of an early July evening, without any worry of the rain ruining their evening.
The location provided another level of specialness though. There aren’t many places where you can spend the evening with a fully licensed bar, food, and live music, surrounded by some of the rarest, and sought-after classic cars ever to exist. Our 1905 Riley 9HP is the only one in existence so having a photo taken with this on arrival set our guests up for what was to come. We also had our 1939 Jaguar SS100 on display. Not only is this a super-rare car, but this one returned from the legendary Mille Miglia just a few days prior and even still had the dirt from the 1000-mile race on its body.
When there were short breaks in the rain, our invited guests had the opportunity to take a look inside our workshop buildings. This allowed them to see even more classic cars including rare Aston Martins, Ferraris, Jaguars, Austin-Healeys, and more.
As far as launch parties go, this one was incredible and the whole team are extremely proud of what we have created. We want to say a huge thank you to everyone who joined us, the entire bar team, catering team, entertainment, and suppliers who helped launch the Bridge Classic Cars Members Club in such a big way.
Full details of our Members Club can be found here.
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