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‘I Don’t Believe It!’ – Our 1963 Vauxhall Victor FB is now live
It played an important role in many young petrolheads lives. Whether it be watching the roads pass by from the comfort of the bench back
It played an important role in many young petrolheads lives. Whether it be watching the roads pass by from the comfort of the bench back
The pursuit of power in the automotive world is not a modern phenomenon. Some say it happened the day after someone bought the second car
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
Our 1970 Lotus Europa is now live! The Lotus Europa is without doubt one of the quirkiest and individual sports cars of the 1970s. A
Our 1979 Ford Escort Mk2 is now live on the Bridge Classic Cars Competitions website for you to win! This legendary, rear-wheel drive fun machine
The classic Austin-Healey holds a special place in the dream garage of many petrolheads. From the humble Sprite to the suave and sophisticated 3000, the
Earlier today, Molly, Freddie, Craig, and Nick headed down to The Tide Mill in Woodbridge (just down the road from the Bridge Classic Cars workshop)
Our 1986 Golf GTI Cabriolet has been in the care of classic car technician Jonn, as he has been inspecting and assessing the car before
Classic car technician Brian has been working on the latest car available to win through Bridge Classic Cars Competitions, our 1963 Reliant Scimitar GTE. Brian
The reassembly of our very special 1968 Jaguar E-Type has well and truly begun. With the engine going into the future competition car, it has
Our very own Molly and our 2000 Toyota Regius Camper were recently featured on the Badass Customs International Facebook Page. It’s always nice to see
As part of our Drive It Day event, to raise money for the NSPCC, we held a competition for attendees to guess how many balloons
Last night, we held the live draw of our 1994 Rover 216 Cabriolet and our 1989 Rover Mini City 1000 E. As always, it was
Last week, we told you about the extremely lucky Roger Woodcock who has been fortunate enough to win 2 classic cars through Bridge Classic Cars
Little Eva is the name given to our charming 1961 Morris Mini Deluxe. Since its restoration, Little Eva has joined our personal collection of classic
We welcomed David and Bonnie to the Bridge Classic Cars Suffolk HQ to meet their new classic! The 1997 Rover Mini. We couldn’t wait to
Our 2008 Bentley Continental GT Speed has made its way from the Bridge Classic Cars HQ here in Suffolk all the way up to Scotland
After being fully inspected and checked over by the Bridge Classic Cars restoration workshop, the team were given the all-clear to get it ready to
The Alfa Romeo Giulietta – A legendary name in the automotive world for many different reasons. But, one thing the plucky 4-door Italian saloon has
Our 2020 Triumph Street Twin has been delivered to its new home! When we delivered the bike to Barry, he made an incredible gesture with
The Bridge Classic Cars team have been shooting our latest competition: the 203MPH, 600BHP 2008 Bentley Continental GT Speed. The absolute epitome of style and
This week’s live draw was a very special one. Not only was it for our incredible 1995 Dodge Viper RT/10 but it was the first
The Bridge Classic Cars team have been working behind the scenes to bring you this, our latest competition car. Our 1981 Alfa Romeo Giulietta. After
This was a very specialist live draw at Bridge Classic Cars Suffolk HQ. It was the first live draw of the newest member of our
The Dodge Viper – One of the most iconic, raw and visceral supercars of the 1990s. But, why was it so barebones and hardcore? Well,
The latest competition from Bridge Classic Cars, our 1995 Dodge Viper RT/10, has been featured in the East Anglian Daily Times recently. Previously, our 1948
The time had come. As the glorious 8-litre V10 fired into life, the rapturous noise bouncing off the walls of the legendary Bentwaters Hush House
After its full check-over by the Bridge Classic Cars workshop, the latest competition car was given the green light to go off for a very
Last night, the Bridge Classic Cars team found out who the lucky new owner of our stunning 1969 Sunbeam Rapier was! Let’s take a look
Last night the live draw of the 1957 MG A Roadster and the 1997 Rover Mini from Bridge Classic Cars. The Mini was so popular
It played an important role in many young petrolheads lives. Whether it be watching the roads pass by from the comfort of the bench back seat, or from behind the wheel with your first taste of automotive freedom, this classic perfectly captures a moment in time for so many of us.
Itโs our 1963 Vauxhall Victor FB and it could be yours for just a few poundsโฆ
Finished in period correct Limestone White with a matching, characterful patinaโd interior our Victor FB has been kept as a time capsule to preserve its originality.
Fitted with the classic Vauxhall 1.5-litre 4-cylinder and 4-speed manual gearbox, this time capsule is the perfect way to go back in time and relive days gone by.
Included in the cars history folder are invoices and receipts dating back to the mid-1980s.
Why not go back in time with our Vauxhall Victor FB? Enter now for your chance to win.
Take a look at the full gallery and video here:
The pursuit of power in the automotive world is not a modern phenomenon. Some say it happened the day after someone bought the second car ever built, and the owner of the first car found out it was faster.
For generations, petrolheads around the globe have been working on furthering the ever expanding horizon of performance. Whether that be horsepower, handling, lightness etc. it is a constant and headcharging crusade against the laws of physics, metallurgy and sometimes common sense.
Certain names become established at being particularly talented for getting the most ‘potential’ out of a certain brand or model. For instance, Burton Performance in the Ford world or the legendary name of Coombs within the classic Jaguar-sphere.
In Europe, the tidal wave of fast, comfortable and relatively agile performance cars would begin in the 1960’s. In Germany especially, the reconstruction and reconnecting of road networks after the devastation of the second World War would pave the way for the legendary ‘bahn-stormers’ that would follow in the next 40 years.
The likes of brand-external companies such as AMG, Brabus, RUF, Kremer, AC Schnitzer, Hartge and Alpina would flourish in this environment and combine outrageous performance with careful, purposeful and immaculately executed engineering.
Each one of these companies would be connected to a certain brand. In the BMW world, the most legendary of these names is arguably Alpina – the infamous tuners that we are going to talk about today.
Burkard Bovensiepen began his connection to BMW in the early 1960s – initially developing a way of running a larger set of Weber carburetors on the then very popular BMW 1500 giving it more power for those who wanted it. This carburetor package would become sought-after in the BMW world, with both the press and BMW themselves commenting on how well thought out the package was but the real performance advantages that it offered.
After having various cars run this 1500 carburetor package for several years (including one allegedly being fitted to BWM sales director Paul G. Hahnemann’s personal car) the Bavarian manufacturer actually certified the set-up for use on their cars, meaning if your BMW had the new Alpina/Weber carburetor combination it was fully ok’d by the manufacturer.
Going back, where did Alpina come from?
Well, let’s go back. Originally, the company had been founded to produce typewriters but then it decided to move into the textiles business before in 1965 officially being registered as a BMW tuning company with 8 official employees. The company, as a BMW tuner, was established by Burkard Bovensiepen whose family were part of a industrial dynasty in Germany. The family, although originally dutch, had been involved in manufacturing and commerce for generations. Burkard’s father had been involved in manufacturing typewriters and other office equipment which the BMW tuning company of his son would take of the factory from.
Once they had established themselves as a trust worthy and certified supplier of speed and performance to the BMW community with their carburetor packages, the company would expand into developing and reworking BMW production cylinder heads, camshafts, crankshafts, piston sets etc. to gain the most out of the production line pieces. These core beginnings, would actually go on to influence the crest which sits at the heart of the Alpina badge, one half of which is made up of a set of velocity stacks from the early Weber carburetors and the other an early Alpina crankshaft. In just a few short years, the firm would need to expand the workspace thanks to their reputation and demand. By 1970, the company had relocated to Kaufbeurenย to their long term home at Buchloe.
One thing which will push innovation and performance harder than any other, whilst also driving sales, is motorsport. From it’s earliest days, cars which performed the best – sold the best. In Europe at the time, as was the case in the UK, motorsport gripped the public. Herculean efforts of strength, endurance and tenacity would make gladiators of mere mortals in a weekend only for them to fall foul of their adoring crowds the next week.
Alpina realised the potential of motorsport early on. Not just as marketing tool, but as moving and dynamic test bed for their parts.
Beginning in 1968, Alpina would enter the pantheon of racing. Not just in one particular discipline, they wanted to prove that their parts and their know-how could perform in any situation. Between 1968 and 1977, Alpina would win multiple championships in saloon/touring cars, rallying, club racing, hillclimb racing as well as proving their incredible durability with endurance racing. The best year for Alpina’s motorsport division was 1970, when the team would rack up championship wins in European touring cars, the German Hillclimb championship, the Germany rally championship and then to top it all of would win the legendary 24hrs of Spa in Belgium to win the European Touring Car Championship with their own Alpina-prepared BMW 2800CS. The team would attract some of the best drivers of the day such as Gรผnther Huber, Helmut Koinigg, Jackie Ickx, Hans Stuck, Niki Lauda, Derek Bell, James Hunt and a host more.
At this time, Alpina were an aftermarket provider and tuner for BMW products – creating various parts and performance packages for the likes of the 2002Tii, 2800CS, E9 3.0CSL, 1500 and a host of others.
In 1983, Alpina became recognised as a stand-alone manufacturer by the German Federal Ministry of Transport. Meaning no longer would it be a BMW tuned by Alpina. It was now an Alpina however was bought through the BMW dealer network and could be serviced and warrantied by BMW beginning with the E21 based C and B models. In 1988, Alpina would leave motorsport and focus on the production of their high-performance road cars.
Since the beginning, the process of building an Alpina has been personal. The team would handbuild the engines for their production cars to the various performance packages available, which would then be delivered to the BMW factory. There, the BMW technicians would fit the engine into the bodyshell of the car.
Then once the painted bodyshells with the engines installed were ready, they would transported back to Buchloe for the small, and talented team at Alpina to go through the process of making the car truly an Alpina. The interiors for the car are bespoke as well as the fitting of the Alpina specific parts are all installed at this point in the cars journey. Each step of the cars transformation, both on and under the skin, is entirely handbuilt – this means that each model of Alpina is purely a limited edition and exclusive.
It’s not just the engines though which are reworked and optimised, Alpina actually has its own division of performance gearbox specialists which pair the upgraded transmissions to the designated engines for maximum strength, performance and reliability.
There are certain traits on the exterior and interior of Alpinas which are unique and all trace back to the brands heritage in one way or another. For example, the ‘Switch-tronic’ buttons on the steering wheel. The reason for these? Well, Alpina were the first to mount the shift buttons on the steering so it has become somewhat of a tradition. Along with that there is a very specific set of wheels which have simply become known as ‘Alpinas’. These are the carefully made and engineered hollow 20 spoke wheels. If you look, you’ll see no tyre valve on the wheel itself – instead it is hidden inside the hub cab and connected to a hollow spoke within the wheel. These along with Alpina only exterior and interior colour options and design features make these cars truly one of a kind and to petrolheads, instantly identifiable as something special – each car is also stamped with its build number to certify its exclusivity.
As some of you know, we currently have a 2002 Alpina B10 V8S available on our Bridge Classic Cars Competitions. One of just 145 E39 based V8S’s to be built in 2002, with in that there were just 42 right-hand drive cars produced. Out of the very limited number of V8S’s built, this is number 76 out of the production run.
The car’s creation would be like its other siblings, handbuilt and personalised. The changes though to a ‘regular’ V8 would set it apart.
The V8S’s engine would be specially built for the cars by the Alpina team. Taking the standard B10 engine as its basis, the engines bore would remain the same but thanks to a long through on the crankshaft, the V8S would produce more torque than its E39 M5 rival, developing 375BHP and an impressive 510Nm of Torque. This increase would also give the V8S a displacement of 4.8-litres over the 4.6-litres of the ‘standard’ B10 V8. This engine proved to be quite the powerhouse and would later be used in the Alpina variant of the BMW Z8, before being taken on by BMW as the production engine for the range topping 4.8is engine in the BMW X5.
Along with the increase in power, the Alpina team would turn their attention underneath the car its brakes and suspension.
The B10 V8S would received upgraded and stiffer suspension than the standard B10 V8, this was to work with those hollow 20 spoke wheels, now measuring in at 19” in diameter. To give the car a more planted feel, the Alpina team would make these wheels 8.5” wide in the front and 9.5” in the rear. These wheels would also go to perfectly show off the brake package selected for V8S. Beautiful 4-piston aluminium calipers made specifically for Alpina by brake specialist Brembo along with a set of larger drilled discs to better dissipate heat.
With its performance upgrades and unique package, the E39 based B10 V8S would top out at over 175MPH and achieve that all important 0-62mph dash in just 5.4 seconds (in a luxury 4-door saloon…).
And you could win one of these incredible machines for just a few pounds by clicking here!
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-1970โs, 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 โdoglegโ 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 yearโ confirmed by Tony Willis of the Maranello Concessionaires Archive.
Included in the beautiful Burgundy leather bound history file (which has a highly polished plaque proudly displaying the cars chassis number) includes a copy of the cars original order form which includes the car being specified with optional air conditioning. Along with this wonderful piece of the cars story, is a detailed service history print out from the Ferrari Owners Club. The folder includes correspondence and invoices dating back to the earliest days of the cars life.
In 2023, various works were carried out Haynes Heritage Engineering which included repairs to the sills and several areas of paintwork being rejuvenated.
Enter now for your chance to win this sensational 1980โs supercar with our 1984 Ferrari 308 GTSi.
Full Gallery & Video:
Our 1970 Lotus Europa is now live!
The Lotus Europa is without doubt one of the quirkiest and individual sports cars of the 1970s. A low slung, mid-engined, racecar inspired driversโ 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 yoursโฆ
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 โ Enter now for your chance to win our 1970 Lotus Europa.
Watch the film with our unique 1970 Lotus Europa here:
Our 1979 Ford Escort Mk2 is now live on the Bridge Classic Cars Competitions website for you to win!
This legendary, rear-wheel drive fun machine is loved the world over – from the snowy forests of Scandinavia to the dusty outback roads of Australia, the Mk2 Ford Escort has cemented its place in the heart of petrolheads.
Read the write up here:
”It is a mainstay of the classic car world and a favourite amongst blue oval enthusiasts across the world. From the treelined, snowy forests of Sweden and Finland, to the unofficial streetlamp lined racetracks of the North Circular and as far away as the dusty roads of the Australian outback, the Mk2 Escort has reigned supreme across the globe.
Itโs timelessly fun attitude of light weight, rear-wheel drive and adaptability of purpose make it a perfect addition to any petrolheadโs arsenal.
Bridge Classic Cars Competitions wants to put one of these pint-size prowlers on your driveway with our 1979 Ford Escort.”
”With vibrant and striking red paintwork and a dark interior, this little terror means business thanks to the addition of a 2-litre 4-cylinder engine and having been upgraded with a 5-speed manual gearbox.
The engine is believed to be a 2.0-litre unit according to invoices from the cars history file along with being fitted with a desirable Weber 32/36 DGV carburettor (supplied by FastRoadCars.co.uk and in the spirit of the original fast Mk2, the RS2000) to help this wonderful 4-cylinder breathe. The history folder also includes an invoice from the legendary Burton Power for a 3J Drivelines NXG 22-spline Limited Slip Differential to make this Mk2 hook up and go!”
”With that additional power and performance, the previous owner made the decision to evoke the spirit and attitude of the Sport 2000 model by paying tribute to this much-loved performance model, with a few of their own styling choices, with this particular Mk2.
Now is your chance to win this devilishly handsome and performance minded Mk2 Escort. Enter now and win our 1979 Ford Escort Mk2.”
The classic Austin-Healey holds a special place in the dream garage of many petrolheads. From the humble Sprite to the suave and sophisticated 3000, the Austin-Healey has earned its pedestal.
Bridge Classic Cars Competitions is giving you the chance to win one of these truly engaging and wonderful classic British sports cars with our 1958 Austin-Healey 100/6.
With stunning red paintwork and a complimenting black leather interior and white piping, this โbig Healeyโ has got charm and character which could only come from a long-legged, drivers Healey.
Fitted with a beautiful 2.7-litre inline-six and 4-speed manual gearbox, this soft-top sports car has got the perfect set-up to be enjoyed on a back road blast or a relaxed road trip.
Recently imported from South Africa at the start of 2023, the car has gone through a recommission by the Bridge Classic Cars team which included a full brake system rebuild as well as some mechanical jobs to get this wonderful classic ready for its new home.
During its time in South Africa, the car took part in several grand-touring rallies and drive-outs including most recently in the 2022 running of the Cape 1000.
The vehicle comes with a full UK registration, 742XWA, as well as several folders of workshop manuals and dating letters and certificates from the Austin-Healey Club and the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust.
Enter now for your chance to win one of the most sought after classic British sports cars.
Earlier today, Molly, Freddie, Craig, and Nick headed down to The Tide Mill in Woodbridge (just down the road from the Bridge Classic Cars workshop) for the live draw of our 1977 Volkswagen T2 Van.
The Tide Mill is one of the few remaining mills in the world that still produces flour and has been on the same site for more than 850 years.
During the live draw, lucky winner Alistair Keates had his ticket number, 3015 randomly selected as he became the new owner of this classic VW Van.
To give you an idea of what goes on behind the scenes of one of our ‘on the road’ shoots, the photos below will show you what goes on!
Our 1986 Golf GTI Cabriolet has been in the care of classic car technician Jonn, as he has been inspecting and assessing the car before a new owner will be found through Bridge Classic Cars Competitions very soon.
Jonn cleaned and inspected the rear brakes before making some adjustments and refitting the drum. While working on our Golf, Jonn noticed that there was some interesting wiring in the car and some faulty relays too. This was likely put in when the aftermarket headlights were fitted by a previous owner but is now sorted thanks to Jonn.
The electric windows have not been working correctly since our Golf arrived so Jonn investigated this. He found that the switches were faulty so resolved this to make sure the windows were working as they should.
A new timing belt and tensioner were also fitted in preparation for our 1986 Volkswagen Golf GTI Cabriolet to be won.
Classic car technician Brian has been working on the latest car available to win through Bridge Classic Cars Competitions, our 1963 Reliant Scimitar GTE. Brian made and replaced the dash top cover, ensuring that this classic car’s interior looks as good as possible for the lucky winner who is soon-to-be-found.
Brian started by making a paper pattern for the cover before using this to cut the cover out of vinyl.
The dash top was sanded smooth in preparation for glueing and was masked up. The back edge of the new cover was glued in place first followed by the top edge. Brian then folded the vinyl around the front edge and trimmed the excess material off.
Now that the new dash top cover is fitted, our Reliant Scimitar is ready to be won on Tuesday, 6th June.
The reassembly of our very special 1968 Jaguar E-Type has well and truly begun. With the engine going into the future competition car, it has certainly taken a big step in the right direction for it to be won later this year.
The wiring has also been progressing ready for the rebuild to carry on over the next few weeks.
This will very likely be one of our biggest competitions to date and we are extremely excited to see our E-Type continue to make good progress towards being won by its future new owner.
Our very own Molly and our 2000 Toyota Regius Camper were recently featured on the Badass Customs International Facebook Page.
It’s always nice to see our vehicles and stories being shared so we appreciate this a lot.
As part of our Drive It Day event, to raise money for the NSPCC, we held a competition for attendees to guess how many balloons we had put inside our 1973 Triumph Spitfire.
Of all the people who entered the competition, there were several who were surprisingly close. However, the correct answer was……there were 74 balloons in our Spitfire.
The winner, whose guess was the closest, thought there were 76 balloons inside – just two away from the actual number.
The prize of ยฃ150 Bridge Classic Cars Competitions site credit will soon be on its way to the winning balloon counter.
Last night, we held the live draw of our 1994 Rover 216 Cabriolet and our 1989 Rover Mini City 1000 E.
As always, it was a lot of fun finding out who the lucky winners were. The excitement levels are even higher when multiple winners are drawn on the same night.
James Blocksidge was the winner of our Rover 216 with ticket number 1916. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to get hold of James on the phone during the draw but, don’t worry, he will be finding out very soon that he is the new owner of our 1994 Rover 216 Cabriolet.
The winning ticket number in the draw for our Mini City was 3662 which belonged to Adam Hutchinson. Amazingly, when Molly spoke to Adam on the phone, he said that he had only purchased his ticket around 40 minutes before the draw started!
Everyone here at Bridge Classic Cars would like to congratulate James and Adam on becoming the owners of two very cool classic cars. We are sure you will have a lot of fun with them!
Delivery of both cars is coming very soon…
Last week, we told you about the extremely lucky Roger Woodcock who has been fortunate enough to win 2 classic cars through Bridge Classic Cars Competitions.
This is a story where a photograph simply isn’t enough, so Molly and the team took a trip to visit Roger and watch first-hand as he took delivery of his 1987 Volvo 240 GL.
The Volvo looks great parked next to his previous win of our 1975 MGB GT V8.
As you can see in the video, Roger can’t quite believe his luck that he has won 2 classic cars with us.
Little Eva is the name given to our charming 1961 Morris Mini Deluxe.
Since its restoration, Little Eva has joined our personal collection of classic cars. As this lovely little classic has not had the use we had anticipated, we have decided to let her go for someone else to enjoy.
Restored in collaboration with Team C Racing, our Mini was restored to the very highest of standards. To read our full write-up and for your chance of winning Little Eva, enter the draw here.
We welcomed David and Bonnie to the Bridge Classic Cars Suffolk HQ to meet their new classic! The 1997 Rover Mini.
We couldn’t wait to see their reaction to meeting the bright red Mini in the flesh and it didn’t disappoint.
We want to wish them both many happy and safe miles with the little Mini and can’t wait to see the adventures it goes on.
Our 2008 Bentley Continental GT Speed has made its way from the Bridge Classic Cars HQ here in Suffolk all the way up to Scotland with its excited new owner, Terry.
Terry won the stunning Bentley last week with his winning ticket 1630! We want to wish him many happy miles with this masterpiece in luxury and performance.
After being fully inspected and checked over by the Bridge Classic Cars restoration workshop, the team were given the all-clear to get it ready to become our latest classic car competition.
It is of course of beautiful 1968 Morris Mini MkII, and it has one of the most amazing stories of any car we’ve had.
For those who don’t know – this car was delivered brand new to the island of Cyprus where its school teacher took delivery. A few years later, after the invasion of Cyprus, the little Mini was stowed away in a garage. Safe from prying eyes, looters or anyone out to get it. There it sat for 40 years… Alone in a garage. Until it was unearthed and rejuvenated before making its way back to the UK. And ultimately, wound up here at our Suffolk HQ.
The 850cc engine rumbled along the runway as we made our way to the filming location near our safe, secure storage facility. Its simplicity is its greatest charm and its classic shape has made it a favourite with enthusiasts for decades. The car finished in its original colour of Almond Green and tan interior happily zipped around the base.
And now, its time for you to take over the story of the 1968 Morris Mini 850 MkII. The next chapter of this classics Mini journey is with one of you…
Head over to the Bridge Classic Cars Competitions website and get your tickets now!
Or, check out the full gallery and our competition video:
The Alfa Romeo Giulietta – A legendary name in the automotive world for many different reasons. But, one thing the plucky 4-door Italian saloon has done is stand the test of time.
Over three iterations, the name spans nearly 70 years with changes and then-modern influences playing their part in each of the cars.
Where we need to start is more of a question of When. The Giulietta name first appeared in 1954 as it was designated for the beautiful Bertone-designed Tipo 750 and 101’s which personified the aesthetics of La Dolce Vita thanks to its contemporary and flowing design. The Giulietta was available in several variants such as Spider, Coupe and Saloon and proved itself on not just the elegant boulevards and winding roads of the Amalfi Coast but in the towns and cities across Europe. It also won on the racetrack, carrying on the great Alfa Romeo tradition of motorsport. The 4 door saloons – the Berlina’s – proved to be the most popular to buyers. The stunning good looks and practicality meant it ticked a lot of the boxes for potential buyers.
By 1961, the first generation Giuliettas would reach the 100,000 mark. With 39,000 of those being the 4-door Berlinas.
The first generation Giulietta would run until 1965, being phased out by the incoming Giulia which was introduced in 1962.
Over the next 12 years, the Giulietta name would lay dormant in the design offices of Alfa Romeos HQ in Turin. Then, in 1977, the world would be graced with a new radically redesigned iteration.
The Tipo 116 would break cover in 1977. Designed as a ‘small executive saloon’ the Tipo 116 was based on the then-current Alfetta’s underpinnings. Our 1981 Alfa Romeo Giulietta is this generation, the much misunderstood Tipo 116.
The second-generation cars would be based on the then popular ‘three box’ design which would dominate automotive styling from the 1970s to the 1990s. A school of thought that favoured angular, sharp creases but allowed a sense of elegance and purpose.
Powered by the quintessential Alfa Romeo twin-cam 4-cylinder engine, the Giulietta’s were mechanically wonderful. Using the rear-mounted 5-speed Transaxle from the Alfetta, the Giuliettas were well balanced for a front-engined saloon car and in certain environments incredible effective. Outside of Europe, the single largest market for Alfa Romeo was South Africa, where the story of our 1981 Giulietta begins. From 1981 to 1984, the country played host to the production of Giuliettas for their market.
1981, the Tipo 116’s were given an aesthetic update as the markets moved to more flamboyant and excess-driven looks at the dawn of the decade of extremes.
The Tipo 116’s were even more popular than the original cars. Over 360,000 cars would be built when production ended in 1985 before being replaced by the Alfa Romeo 75 (that ran until the early 1990s) which used the majority of the Giulietta/Alfetta engineering.
Then once more, the Giulietta name would be shelved. As it gathered dust in the hallways of the Alfa Romeo archive. Slowly forgotten by all but the groups of enthusiasts who appreciate and understand these often confused cars. But, as the 21st century’s first decade came to a close – the time was right for the name to reappear.
In 2010, the Giulietta name graced the rear hatch of a modern Alfa Romeo. Charged with carrying on the name and modern styling which sits at the core of an Alfa Romeo the Tipo 940 would stay in production until 2020. Being a staple of the Alfa Romeo line-up and help to keep its stake as one of the world’s most formidable auto manufacturers.
What sits at the core of the Giulietta also sits at the core of what it means to be an Alfa Romeo. They develop personalities and dare we say it, even a soul in some ways. They must be understood and cared for in order to be appreciated fully – The most important thing in all of that is to truly understand the car.
Our 2020 Triumph Street Twin has been delivered to its new home!
When we delivered the bike to Barry, he made an incredible gesture with his prize. He immediately gave it to his son!
Barry’s son, also an avid motorbike fan, has been trying to save up in order to get himself a new style motorbike to enjoy. So, as soon as Barry knew he had won he knew exactly who it was going to.
We love things like this, being able to make people’s petrolhead dreams come true but to make two people’s dreams a reality in one go? it doesn’t get much better than that.
The Bridge Classic Cars team have been shooting our latest competition: the 203MPH, 600BHP 2008 Bentley Continental GT Speed. The absolute epitome of style and elegance married with pure power and performance.
Before anyone could take it out and drive it, it was fully checked over by the Bridge Classic Cars workshop team who have the car the green light to head up to The Hangar for filming.
As the 6-litre, twin-turbocharged W12 roared into life on the pad outside our secure storage facility, we all knew this was going to be an amazing shoot. From the first symphonious signs of life, the Bentley quietened down and become all the more civilised. The stunning anthracite paintwork danced underneath the summer sun from any angle, while its quilted beluga black leather gave the imposing long-legged GT car a cabin made for comfort as it made its way along the taxiway.
The 12-cylinder engine made its way along at little more than a whisper, gently pulling along at only a touch more than idle.
Molly was firmly behind the wheel and loving every moment. As the GT Speed made lap after lap of the filming location, you could feel it wanting to stretch its legs. Its inherent need to cover great distances, at wonderful speeds in supreme comfort is so ingrained in a car like the Continental GT. But, it’s also well-mannered and light to the touch with its controls, the linear acceleration (a characteristic of the twin-turbo W12) means that can be trusted and relied on to behave itself in a civilised everyday world.
And with all of that, we want you to experience the majesty that is the 2008 Bentley Continental GT Speed. That’s right, you could be the next owner of this tour-de-force of engineering, style and excellence. Head over to the Bridge Classic Cars Competitions right now and get your tickets for the 2008 Bentley Continental GT Speed.
Or, to check out the full gallery of the car and video take a look below:
This week’s live draw was a very special one. Not only was it for our incredible 1995 Dodge Viper RT/10 but it was the first of a new format for our classic car live draws thanks to our amazing friends over at Bruizer.
The new way of doing the live draws means the ability to swap between multiple cameras during the live stream but also to play in some of our videos of competition cars and updates from our restoration workshop! We’re really excited and hope you are too!
The imposing Viper sat in the centre of our competition building, pride of place. This is one of the most exciting cars we’ve ever had the opportunity to bring to our amazing followers. Molly, Craig and Freddie showed our watchers around the eclectic mix we currently have at our Suffolk HQ. From a 1950 Land Rover Series 1 to a 200 MPH 2008 Bentley and everything you can imagine in between.
But, everyone wanted to know if they had the ticket which would mean they were going to take delivery of the iconic 1990s supercar. As always, our pre-published entry lists go live on our website after the tickets close at 7:10pm. We use Google Random Number Generator to spin the metaphorical wheel of fortune, and find the winner ticket number. After a test run using numbers not included in the entry list, it was time to find our winner.
Molly input the criteria of 1 to 9999 and with one swift touch of a button, the Viper had a new home. The winner was Mike Fairley with ticket number 3938. The ecstatic new owner of the legendary Dodge Viper!
The Bridge Classic Cars team have been working behind the scenes to bring you this, our latest competition car. Our 1981 Alfa Romeo Giulietta.
After being checked over by our in-house workshops and given the all-clear for filming, it was taken over to our filming location at The Hangar. There, it was handed over to Freddie and Molly to get ready for its competition debut.
The stunning Shahini blue paintwork contrasted against the evergreen backgrounds of the former airforce base. Its characterful Alfa Romeo twin-cam 4-cylinder engine gave every sense of personality and music to the occasion. As Molly took it round the loop, the Alfa behaved beautifully. With the windows down, the sunroof open and the sun beaming down, there weren’t many better places to be at that moment in time.
And, all of this could be yours. You could become the lucky new owner of this stunning 1981 Alfa Romeo Giulietta with Bridge Classic Cars Competitions! Head over to the website by clicking here and get your tickets now.
This was a very specialist live draw at Bridge Classic Cars Suffolk HQ. It was the first live draw of the newest member of our team, Molly.
With the support of the entire team here at our restoration workshops behind her, it was time to start the live stream to all of our friends and followers across the internet.
To begin with, Freddie and Molly went through a bit about her background and how she ended up becoming the newest member of the team here at Bridge. Then, it was time for a look around some of the incredible machinery we have in our competition building. The recently launched Dodge Viper pulling all the attention from everything else in the room… but the team to the chance to have a look around some of the other pieces we have in currently including the wonderful 1950 Land Rover Series 1 being prepared for auction by our restoration workshop.
But, it was time for us to find out who the lucky new owners of our special edition watch and Street Twin were.
First up – the watch. As the team got the Google Random Number Generator up on the screen, the anticipation built. After going through a quick test run to make sure everything was working as it should and so everyone watching along could see clearly, it was time to find out who the lucky new owner of this very special watch was. With number set, it was now down to fate.
With a whir on the screen, the final number appeared. 401. This ticket had been bought by Graham Suttill, the lucky new owner of the REC Icon 1000TTT Watch.
Then it was time to go straight into the main event. Finding out who the new owner of our 2020 Triumph Street Twin was. As Molly reset the number in the random number generator, we wished everyone good luck. And then with one click, it was decided. Barry Druce had just won our 2020 Triumph Street Twin with ticket number 874.
The Dodge Viper – One of the most iconic, raw and visceral supercars of the 1990s. But, why was it so barebones and hardcore? Well, to answer that we have to look back further into the early 1960s.
It all begins with one word. Another car which would become synonymous with its generation – The Cobra. Developed by Carol Shelby in the early 1960s, the Cobra would bring European styling and handling combined with American Muscle thanks to its new heart, a small-block Ford V8 which now sat in the nose of the nimble sports car.
Yes, the Viper is the spiritual ancestor to the legendary Cobra. Even its name is a reference to the sports car/ racer of the 1960s…
In 1988, Bob Lutz was the president of Chrysler (the parent company of Dodge) and underneath him was his Chief of Design Tom Gale. Over a series of conversations, the pair formed an idea to make a modern interpretation of that legendary roadster. The basis was simple, an elegant but imposing exterior styling with the all-important manual gearbox fitted to a monstrous engine. The American contingent could handle the engineering underneath the car, but for the exterior it would need a European flair.
To create the visual flair of the Viper, Chrysler turned to the best in the business at cars with a huge presence. Lamborghini. At the time, Chrysler owned the supercar manufacturer so the job of creating the Viper’s curvaceous and ample proportions was done in Italy. Meanwhile, the engineering team had decided on the engine for the project. It couldn’t be a V8, by that point it was almost a given that ”real” supercars had more than a V12 but what could they use?
Well, Dodge mentioned they had a V10 they could use… and that’s how it happened. To give the car ”heroic proportions” the Viper would be fitted with an 8-litre V10 that had originally been developed for use in the upcoming Ram Pickup Trucks. The engineering team took this concept and remade it in aluminium to keep the weight off the nose of the car which would send all of its 400BHP and 450lb/ft of torque directly at the rear wheels of the supercar.
This was the basis of one of the most legendary supercars in its own right.
The first generation of the car would break cover in 1991 as the official pace car at that year’s Indianapolis 500. Then, in 1992 the car would be shown at the Detroit Auto Show (home turf of Dodge) to massive applause and carrying its official name of the Viper RT/10. The final car would harken back to the days of the Cobra with absolutely no frills whatsoever. A removable canvas roof (later cars could be ordered with a full hard-top), pop-out windows and no airbags… The Viper RT/10 was all business but still had a decent stereo.
The big draw to the Viper by potential owners? That engine. European performance with American reliability, it was the perfect combination. To add to the driver-focused, total performance attitude of the RT/10 engineers removed the anti-lock brakes and traction control to put the driver in complete and total responsibility of this fanged beast. When you add together the lightweight bodywork and its tubular spaceframe underpinnings, paired with the ferocious drivetrain – The Viper RT/10 could, in the right hands, be launched from a complete standstill to 60 miles an hour in under 5 seconds. In the early 1990s, that was only achievable by the most serious of racecars and the highest echelons of the supercar world. If you were feeling brave enough, your courage firmly placed in your right foot and in the right situation you would see over 160MPH on its speedometer placed perfectly in the driver’s view.
Our 1995 Dodge Viper RT/10 comes towards the end of the production run – Just before the change over to 2nd generation. The original RT/10’s are regarded by many to be the most driver-focussed and emotive of all the generations of this Detroit supercar. And Bridge Classic Cars wants you to experience this rare and unique breed of the supercar.
Click here to get your tickets and enter the draw to win our 1995 Dodge Viper RT/10.
The latest competition from Bridge Classic Cars, our 1995 Dodge Viper RT/10, has been featured in the East Anglian Daily Times recently.
Previously, our 1948 Morris Minor MM Lowlight was featured in an article by EADT and was won by Matthew Sugden who is an Ipswich local! So, with this competition, the team at EADT have run the story of how we’re giving someone the chance to own one of the most iconic supercars of the 1990s for just a few pounds.
You can get your tickets here or read the full article here.
The time had come. As the glorious 8-litre V10 fired into life, the rapturous noise bouncing off the walls of the legendary Bentwaters Hush House you could feel the excitement of the team build.
It was finally time, to shoot our latest competition – the legendary 1995 Dodge Viper RT/10.
After being inspected by the Bridge Classic Cars workshop and cleared for filming, it was taken over to our secure storage facility, The Hangar, for the team to start work.
The Hush House, an old engine testing facility on the base, has been the background for several of our own photoshoots as well as a basis for photoshoots by major racing teams and manufacturers. The 2022 Williams F1 livery was revealed with the images of their F1 car in its extractor tunnel.
As Freddie, eased the Viper into the tunnel, the noise only grew in its ferocity and volume. The team then got the car perfectly into position before filming the all-important reveal sequence, giving you the first glimpses of this 1990s supercar icon. From there, Craig along with Freddie, eased the car down the ramps and out of the tunnel to get everything set up to let the Viper stretch its legs on the ex-American Air Base.
As Craig ran the Viper through the gears on the old turning circle, the supercar flexed its muscles. The sight and sound of this bedroom poster come to life was enough to have the whole team smiling as it accelerated past the camera car.
And now, it could be yours…
That’s right! Bridge Classic Cars are giving you the chance to own one of the rawest and most visceral supercars to have ever existed for just a few pounds. Head over to the Bridge Classic Cars Competitions website now and get your tickets for the 1995 Dodge Viper RT/10.
Or, to check out the full gallery and video have a look below!
After its full check-over by the Bridge Classic Cars workshop, the latest competition car was given the green light to go off for a very special shoot.
The soft and warm light of a summer’s evening set the perfect backdrop for a drive in a classic roadster. The delicate rays of light dancing over its British Racing Green paintwork only highlighted the timeless shape and sophistication of our 1971 MG B Roadster.
The location only added to that air. The stunning Helmingham Hall here in Suffolk, where our MG B Roadster will be won in just over 2 weeks’ time.
The team transported the car into the grounds of the country estate which would be used as the location for this shoot. The team jostled the car into position, perfectly framed by the brick archway of the entrance to the main house, before it was let loose on the grounds with Lucy and Lily at the helm of the classic roadster. The beautiful 1.8-litre 4-cylinder happily singing past the rows of oak trees that line the estate’s meandering roads.
With the roof down, the MG B’s beautiful black interior set a wonderful contrast against its driver and passenger. Highlighting the depth and grace of these much-loved sports cars.
It could have been a scene from a 1970s arthouse film – The amber hues from the building’s glorious red brickwork falling on the parched grass only to be shocked by the richness of the green on the car.
The magical nature of a roadster in summer is something all enthusiast drivers can appreciate. That feeling of letting the outside in, noticing the sights and sounds missed when completely enveloped in the steel and glass canopy of a coupe. Driving purely for the love of driving, nowhere to really go and no time to be there.
This sense of freedom, the air of sophistication and the theatre of life in a classic convertible could be yours. You could win this 1971 MG B Roadster! Head over to the Bridge Classic Cars Competitions website and get your tickets now for this amazing car. The live draw is due to take place at the Helmingham Hall Festival of Classic and Sports Cars on August 4th 2022.
Get your tickets now and be in with a chance of winning this truly breathtaking classic. Or, to check out the full behind-the-scenes gallery and video see below:
Last night, the Bridge Classic Cars team found out who the lucky new owner of our stunning 1969 Sunbeam Rapier was! Let’s take a look behind the scenes with Craig, Freddie and Nick.
The Sunbeam Rapier Fastback is one of the best-kept secrets in the classic car world. Gorgeous styling, good performance paired with sturdy and reliable engineering. Our beautiful vibrant Red Rapier Fastback proved to be hugely popular, by the time the competition ended at 7:10 PM last night, only 900 of the 7750 tickets remained. And, it was our lowest ticket price ever at just ยฃ3! But it was a lot of car for a very small outlay.
As the team went live on our Facebook page at 7PM, everyone began to join in with the comments section coming alive with greetings and messages of luck to each other.
After the introduction, Craig handed over to Nick for a quick tour with Freddie around the workshop to take a look at some of the work the Bridge Classic Cars workshop team have been doing over the last week. Then, at 10 past 7, the entries closed.
Whilst the team waited for the final entry list to be posted up online (which is done with all of our competitions) they took along around some of the other cars in the competitions building, some of which you will see more of very soon…
Then, it was time for the live draw. As always, we used a Google Random Number Generator to choose a winner from everyone who entered randomly. After a quick test to make sure the number generator was working correctly and messages of ”all clear” flashed away on the live stream, Craig input the numbers to be chosen between. 1 and 7750.
One final word of good luck from the team, and with a single click the future of the Rapier Fastback was confirmed. It would be heading to its new home with Chris. Who’s winning ticket of 5993 was selected by the random number generator.
As always the team give the winner a call. After a few rings, Chris answered. Although having your dinner interrupted isn’t always ideal, when Craig told him he was now the proud new owner of our 1969 Sunbeam Rapier, you could hear the excitement in his voice.
Last night the live draw of the 1957 MG A Roadster and the 1997 Rover Mini from Bridge Classic Cars.
The Mini was so popular it had sold out by Wednesday morning!
Going into the live draw though, there were still quite a few tickets remaining on the classic MGA. But, as the live stream began at 7pm on our Facebook page people were still getting their last-minute tickets before the competition closed at 7:10.
As always, the team gave all of our viewers a look around the other classic cars in our new competition building. Including some very special upcoming competitions… make sure to sign up to our mailing list to get the inside scoop on what’s coming!
But, it was time to find out who our very lucky winners were!
As always the entry lists are published beforehand on the website. The Mini list had been up for several days, so as we waited for the MGA list to go live, the team ran the draw for the 1997 Rover Mini.
We use a google random number generator to pick a winner. Hayley at the controls of the laptop, made sure that everything was working just as it should do with a few tests and the commenters gave the team that the stream was coming through nice and clear. So, the team set the numbers between 1 and 3999.
And just like that, the winner had been decided. 2228 – A ticket which had been allocated to David Renn.
As the fate of the Mini was being decided, the entry list for the MG A went live.
Next, we had to find out who had won our amazing 1950s sports car. Not all of the 6666 tickets had sold when the competition closed, so as the team again used the random number generator to find a winner – it took a couple of tries to land on a number which had been allocated to one lucky person.
That happened to be Stephen Walton with ticket number 6294.
We want to wish both winners congratulations on their new dream classics.
Bridge Classic Cars are award winning Classic Car Restoration and Maintenance specialists. Your pride and joy is in safe hands with our expert Classic Car Technicians. Take a look at our awards here.
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