A British icon is going to auction in June! The 1972 Reliant Regal Supervan III is believed to be one of the original ‘Trotters Independent Trading’ vans. Several of these were used during the filming of “Only Fools and Horses”
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Stars and Their Cars (@starsandtheircars) Recently Jordana Brewster, most well known for playing Mia in the Fast and Furious films, had an old friend at her wedding. As their wedding car,
We’ve been sent in these amazing photos of our 1957 MGA Roadster as part of its previous life. The car took part in the Monte Challenge, a classic rally much in the spirit of the original Monte Carlo rally organised
It’s one of the most instantly recognisable classic cars of all time. A car that is so synonymous with a single character it became its own personality. The car which became so connected with Ian Fleming’s character James Bond has
You may have heard about Jaguar re-producing the 1953 Le Mans-Winning Jaguar C-Type. It’s been a conversation in the classic car world for several months now and this weekend, the first one will be out in the public eye for
The future has arrived. A prototype of a flying car just completed it 142nd successful test flight which was a 35minute journey between two Slovakian cities. AirCar is a hybrid vehicle designed to be both driven on the roads and
Our new Mini is having some new interior made up before in comes into us. Kath is working on taking apart the rear seats and recovering them. She begun by removing the old covers, making new vinyl which she mounted
Restomodding is the act of restoring a classic vehicle by adding in modern technology and subtle aesthetic changes to enhance the car’s drive. It’s a controversial topic in the classic car industry as on one hand, it gives people the
Land Rover and IFRC’s new short film series highlights the importance local humanitarian aid.
Today marks the 60th anniversary of Jaguar’s iconic E-Type, known for its long linear styling and irresistible British charm which became synonymous with the sixties. To celebrate this anniversary, Jaguar is releasing six limited-edition matching pairs of restored 3.8 E-Types.
We all remember building snowmen and making snow angels as children in the snow but few of us can claim we’ve built a snow car. A husband and wife from Lithuania decided to re-create a Ferrari LaFerrari out of snow.
Nestled in the centre of France, just a few miles from Clermont-Ferrand is a newly founded school of classic race car training: The Classic Racing Group. Julien Chaffard, a young French engineer and enthusiast has set up the world’s first
Chris is our classic car painter and fabricator. Whilst you can find him fabricating bodywork and smoothing down our cars ready to paint, you’re more likely to find him suited up in the paint shop. He’s recently been working on
Bruce Springsteen stars in Jeep’s Superbowl commercial with a heartfelt message of finding unity and peace. The video is in celebration of Jeep’s 80th anniversary and a call for Americans to find a ‘common ground’. In the film entitled ‘The
With 2021 marking Jeep’s 80th anniversary, they’re releasing special edition versions of the Renegade and Wrangler SUVs. The unique editions will come with an “80th Anniversary” badging, unique 18-inch alloy wheels and Granite Crystal paint. Jeep forged their way into the automobile world in
With the launch of Lotus’ new Type 131, the company are investing £100m into its state of the art facilities in Norwich. Along with the major financial investment, Lotus are also opening up 250 new jobs. With the UK unemployment
A British icon is going to auction in June!
The 1972 Reliant Regal Supervan III is believed to be one of the original ‘Trotters Independent Trading’ vans. Several of these were used during the filming of “Only Fools and Horses” and this is thought to be one of the vehicles that Del Boy and Rodney used in their many schemes of becoming millionaires.
This very special Reliant Regal Supervan comes from a private collector, who has owned it since 2021. Prior to their ownership, John Mansfield of the BBC had the vehicle (along with another identical example that he sold in 2017 for just over £41,000).
With 97,000 miles on the clock and a top speed of 55mph, the yellow van was a prominent feature of the TV show and is easily recognised by its millions of fans.
Along with its storied history, the van has been subject to recent recommissioning works including having new tyres fitted, its brakes overhauled and the fuel system checked through. Also with the vehicle comes a roof rack, market suitcase, fluffy dice, and an inflatable doll that helped create one of the most iconic and memorable scenes in Episode 2 of Series 6 – “Danger UXD”.
The 1972 Reliant Regal Supervan III will be auctioned on Saturday 17th June by Classic Car Auctions at the Warwickshire Event Centre in The Summer Sale 2023.
Only Fools and Horses was created and written by John Sullivan and has become a beloved British sitcom. First airing in 1981, it ran for over two decades until 2003. The show follows the lives of Derek “Del Boy” and Rodney Trotter, as they navigate the ups and downs of life in Peckham, South London.
Del Boy, played by David Jason, is a lovable rogue and ambitious market trader with dreams of becoming a millionaire. His younger brother Rodney, portrayed by Nicholas Lyndhurst, is more naive and often finds himself caught up in Del Boy’s get-rich-quick schemes. The show’s humour stems from Del Boy’s outrageous and often ill-fated attempts at making money, which often involve the sale of dodgy goods or elaborate cons.
The show won numerous awards including several BAFTAs and has left a permanent mark in British television history.
Recently Jordana Brewster, most well known for playing Mia in the Fast and Furious films, had an old friend at her wedding.
As their wedding car, her and her husband Mason used the 1994 Acura Integra GS-R which was driven by her character in the first Fast & Furious film alongside her late friend Paul Walker in 2001. Also seen are some of the other famous cars from the franchise including Vin Diesel’s original Mazda FD RX7 and the Acura/Honda NSX used in the later films.
We’ve been sent in these amazing photos of our 1957 MGA Roadster as part of its previous life.
The car took part in the Monte Challenge, a classic rally much in the spirit of the original Monte Carlo rally organised by the CRA but now part of the HERO calendar of classic car events.
The results postings for the 2000 edition show that number 47, the number was worn by our 1957 MGA 1500 Roadster, was run by Philip Swain and Frank Lyons in the 2000 edition of the rally. From this results book, we can see that the car managed 45th place overall with a little over 2hrs in accumulated penalties.
It’s always amazing to see the lives of some of the cars in our care before they found their way to us here at Bridge Classic Cars and seeing an MGA used in the way they would have been in period.
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Remember, you can send in your classic car stories! Drop us an email with some photos and your story to marketing@bridgeclassiccars.co.uk
It’s one of the most instantly recognisable classic cars of all time. A car that is so synonymous with a single character it became its own personality. The car which became so connected with Ian Fleming’s character James Bond has supposedly been found.
Famously, BMT 216A went missing in 1997 after it had been stored in a Florida aeroplane hangar by its then-owner. It is claimed that in the middle of the night, thieves broke in and removed the iconic sportscar leaving only a set of tire tracks, the last remaining signs of the 1963 DB5.
There are several stories which as of the time of writing, are still valid as the car has not been verified. The first was that as it left the hangar in the dead of night in 1996, it was dragged onto a trailer and smuggled out of the airfield onto a life still within the US. Others say that as it was pulled away out of the roller doors, it was loaded into a waiting Cargo Plane… very apt for the character who first drove it.
There was also a rumour that because its current owner had put a $2.4m policy on the car and was facing financial troubles. They staged the robbery and dropped the car out in the Atlantic. Many don’t believe the DB5 did meet its watery grave in June of 1997. If the owner had needed to, he could have easily sold such an important piece of film history as well as a true automotive icon.
Previously there’s been reports of it in Russian billionaires front rooms, in a dilapidated barn in South East Asia or the wildest and most shocking one? It’s been hiding in plain sight all these years after being turned back into a regular DB5 (or DB4) and then sold with a VIN change all of which were kept completely undocumented. What’s easier, a stolen DB5 or the stolen Goldfinger DB5 to try and hide?
However, a recent statement by Art Recovery International (a company that specialises in the finding and securing of lost or stolen collectables) stated that a car bearing many of the identifying marks of Chassis DP/216/1 had been spotted in a private collection in the Middle East. What are those identifying marks? Well, this particular car was the DB5 fitted with the swathes of gadgets needed for the stunt team while shooting the James Bond 007 film Goldfinger (which we have talked out previously here). Also, during this brief encounter, the whistleblower made a note of the cars VIN and according to some it exactly matches that of the missing ’63 DB5.
How would it have gotten out of the US? Lots of ways. Piece by piece or even in an illegal shipment completely off the books. Some say the car was in fact stolen to order instead of an opportunistic crime and the would-be robbers hoped they could get rid of the car, with something this identifiable and recognisable it would have to have been specially ordered.
In the statement, Art Recovery International’s Christopher Marinello said they were hopeful that the car will be recovered soon. Adding that ”I’m hopeful that the possessor will come forward voluntarily before I have to make an announcement” whilst talking to The Telegraph stating that with all investigations they give those in possesions of the items time to come forward before being publicly outed.
But, what if this is indeed the missing Goldfinger DB5? What could it be worth? Well, current estimates have claimed that if the car were to be returned and come up for sale at any point it could fetch as much as £18.5m.
Either way, we’ll keep our eyes and ears out to see what the final outcome is in this new development.
You may have heard about Jaguar re-producing the 1953 Le Mans-Winning Jaguar C-Type. It’s been a conversation in the classic car world for several months now and this weekend, the first one will be out in the public eye for everyone to see.
There will only be a small number of the cars produced and they’ll come with a pretty high price tag…
Most of the design and build will be like the original, however, there will be a few changes due to modern-day safety standards. The new C-Types will be made of a thicker gauge metal because the originals were made so thin they could practically fall apart after racing. As well as that, there will be a built-in removable roll hoop, a safety lining in the fuel tank, a fire extinguisher and a smaller steering wheel than the original, to make it easier for the driver to control. Harnesses will also be able to be securely mounted thanks to a new rear cross member.
We’re extremely familiar with E-Types now, having had so many in our workshop, we’re looking forward to seeing how the new C-Type looks.
The future has arrived. A prototype of a flying car just completed it 142nd successful test flight which was a 35minute journey between two Slovakian cities.
AirCar is a hybrid vehicle designed to be both driven on the roads and flown however it does need a runway to take off. Its able to fly about 600 miles and can transform into an aircraft in just under 3 minutes.
Klein Vision, who have developed have said that the BMW powered vehicle can get to a maximum cruising speed of 118mph thanks to its 160hp engine.
Two people can ride in the AirCar as long as the total weight is under 200kg.
Klein said that the recent test flight has turned ‘science fiction into a reality’ with experts predicting flying cars will be on the market as soon as 2030.
Our new Mini is having some new interior made up before in comes into us. Kath is working on taking apart the rear seats and recovering them. She begun by removing the old covers, making new vinyl which she mounted on 12mm scrim foam. Kath then made up some piping, sealed the edges and trimmed off excess foam. Next up, Kath cut out the calico to sew into the base for attached the foam to. Once she’d sewn up the flutes and sewn in the calico, she could attach the piping along each side.
Restomodding is the act of restoring a classic vehicle by adding in modern technology and subtle aesthetic changes to enhance the car’s drive. It’s a controversial topic in the classic car industry as on one hand, it gives people the chance to enjoy classics without the hassle of outdates and old mechanics and in many cases makes them faster and easier to drive, however many argue that it destroys the classic car and removes what makes it iconic – which is the time piece mechanics.
Although restomods often come with a heavy price tags, it does allow drivers to not only enjoy a more accessible classic but also gives room to a highly customable vehicle.
The middle ground can be found in cars such as the brand new Morgan Plus Fours and Nissan Figaro‘s which retain the original classic styling but are being produced with today’s technology, creating an original classic with the modern luxuries.
Both restomods and modern remakes like Morgan’s still come with controversy with many classic car enthusiasts debating the authenticity of these new classics and arguing that part of the allure of a classic is in its mechanics and the way it drives.
“We compare it to an old federation house, or terrace house – you want one of these pretty old houses but you also want air-conditioning and internet and good plumbing.” says the owner of Modern Classic Cars in the Sydney suburb of Padstow.
The most popular restomod company is Singer, a USA based company that specialises in air-cooled Porsche 911s. David Brown Automotive got its fame for creating the Mini Remastered series.
Our stunning 1967 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 Race Replica is a restomod that packs a punch. Still with its original E-Type styling, we’ve re-designed it to give more power and speed as well as custom styling.
This of course then leads you down the rabbit hole of Electric conversions, rally conversions and hot rods. There are many things you can do with a classic and still enjoy them but where is the line drawn between a classic and a vintage style kit car? At the end of the day, here at Bridge, we understand it is the personal value of the car that means the most and the memories it allows you to have.
You can find more restomod inspiration here.
We’re all used to seeing Police, Traffic Officers, Mountain Rescue and the occasional Ambulance Land Rover, but what many people may not realise is that the use of Land Rovers in local community response units, such as emergency responses to humanitarian aid, is vital to their functioning.
Land Rover and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) are set to release a series of short films shot on GoPro’s by volunteers in the Red Cross to show their work. Land Rover supply vehicles to response teams to help reach people across the world.
Land Rover and IFRC have worked together for 66 years and form one of the longest running corporate/humanitarian relationships. Throughout this partnership, Land Rover have supplied vehicles and offered experience and expertise. No other automotive company is better suited to the work IFRC do, which often leads workers to hard to reach corners of the world, places where off-road vehicles are vital.
The films will premiere on IFRC’s Facebook Live alongside a panel discussion on the future of crisis response. The first film premiers tonight.
We have seen during this year, like no other, that the future of emergency response is local. Communities have gone above and beyond to support each other and their most vulnerable people.
However, the capacity to respond locally varies vastly by country and area. International organisations like ours need to work with local communities leveraging our National Societies and put their expertise and resources towards strengthening local capacity and addressing inequality.
NENA STOILJKOVIC
IFRC UNDER SECRETARY GENERAL FOR GLOBAL RELATIONS, HUMANITARIAN DIPLOMACY AND DIGITALIZATION
Each film focuses on “life-changing moments of humanity and crisis, from the streets of Italy, where homeless people are more vulnerable than ever, to the communities still rebuilding their lives after the devastating Australian bushfires in 2020. Local teams also teach life-saving skills to people in remote Mexican communities and support those hit hardest by coronavirus in the UK.”
This last year has been exceptionally challenging for people all over the world and Land Rover is prouder than ever to work with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
These films capture the commitment of the IFRC’s staff and volunteers and the vital importance of going above and beyond to support people at a local level.
FINBAR MCFALL
LAND ROVER BRAND DIRECTOR
Today marks the 60th anniversary of Jaguar’s iconic E-Type, known for its long linear styling and irresistible British charm which became synonymous with the sixties. To celebrate this anniversary, Jaguar is releasing six limited-edition matching pairs of restored 3.8 E-Types. Inspired by the iconic 9600HP and 77RW examples that featured in Geneva’s 1961 Launch.
The limited-edition 9600HP E-types will be finished in a timeless Flat Out Grey paintwork with Smooth Black leather interior as well as unique 1961 tribute details. The six 77RW E-Types will come in a classy Drop Everything Green styled with Suede Green leather interior and will also come with 1961 tribute details.
All models will come with limited editions 60th details such as a commemorative 60 logo on the bonnet badge, fuel cap, chassis plate and tachometer clock face which has been designed in conjunctions with Julian Thomson, the Jaguar Design Director.
Along with the limited edition badge, these 60th anniversary E-Types also come with bespoke designed and engraved centre consoles by artist King nerd to celebrate the grandeur of road trips taken by Jaguar test driver Norman Dewis and PR man Bob Berry who are to thank for E-Types 1961 launch.
“Sixty years after its unveiling at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1961, the talented team at Jaguar Classic are releasing the ultimate birthday present to the E-type: The E-type 60 Collection. The attention to detail demonstrates how this project has been a labour of love for our designers, engineers, craftspeople and partners. Exquisite detailing combined with enhanced usability ensure these E-types will be coveted and enjoyed for decades to come by their discerning owners, starting with a once-in-a-lifetime Coventry to Geneva pilgrimage for our six customers and their guests in Summer 2022.”
Each limited edition motor features a specially developed close ration five speed manual gearbox with a 3.8 litre in-line six cylinder Jaguar XK engine.
In the summer of 2022, the 6 customers and their guests till take part in a once in a lifetime Coventry to Geneva road trip experience to parade the new motors.
We all remember building snowmen and making snow angels as children in the snow but few of us can claim we’ve built a snow car.
A husband and wife from Lithuania decided to re-create a Ferrari LaFerrari out of snow. Every detail was covered from the colour (done in an environmentally friendly paint) to the aerodynamic shape. It took two days of dedicated craftmanship from the couple to create the iconic red beast. At the end of the masterpiece, the wife, Donata Bugiene, said “Now no one can deny that there is a Ferrari in our yard.”
The Ferrari is a real size, made to the dimensions of the original Ferrari LaFerrari,” said Bugiene.
The life-size replica of Ferrari’s LaFerrari supercar (image taken Jan. 31, 2021. (Photo credit: Donata Bugiene)
Nestled in the centre of France, just a few miles from Clermont-Ferrand is a newly founded school of classic race car training: The Classic Racing Group.
Julien Chaffard, a young French engineer and enthusiast has set up the world’s first full-service curriculum school for open-wheel racing. The company consists of only 6 employees with all of them under the age of 30. The light and young energy reflects Julien’s laid back, easy to like aura. The courses allow engineers and enthusiasts to get involved and learn how to drive these classic machines.
The school hosts its classes in the nearby legendary Circuit de Charade which was the home to the 1965 and 1972 Formula One championships and has a history with Jackie Stewart, Jim Clark, and Jochen Rindt gracing its circuit with their victories. Close to the home of Michelin, the stunning track has been carved from the mountains and features dramatic elevation changes. Sir Stirling Moss, former F1 racing driver claimed, “I don’t know a more wonderful track than Charade.”
Their classes run through the summer, starting in spring and concluding in autumn. Within these courses, individuals learn how to drive and handle exact replicas of the much revered Formula Fords that were manufactured by the Crosslé Car Company, which won the European Championship in 1969. These replicas have been made by Crosslé itself which still stands as the UK’s oldest racing manufacturers. As well as these classes, participants are also welcomed into the Classic Racing school’s club house that’s decorated by timeless memorabilia and a luxury bar.
The school offer three types of programmes to racing enthusiasts; an ad-hoc styled track Day for those want a chance to sit behind the wheel of a classic single-seater, a Racing School for the more dedicated students who can join get involved in several events during the year, or a Competition Experience.
With the art and trade of classic race car driving, and in tern engineering, slowly dying out, the only way to resurrect it, is to involve the next generations. With much of the engineering found in these classic motors spurring the ground breaking mechanics of the cars we see on tracks today, the best way to advance the industry is to get involved in its past.
If you fancy your chance at becoming a classic race car driver, or are an enthusiast, we’ve got just the car for you! Our 1972 Original Chevron B20 72-2 is up for sale and is thought to be one of just a few in existence. You can view the car for sale here and take a look at our blogs about it here.
You can see the full interview with Petrolicious here as well as their stunning photos;
Check out the racing school’s website here:
Chris is our classic car painter and fabricator. Whilst you can find him fabricating bodywork and smoothing down our cars ready to paint, you’re more likely to find him suited up in the paint shop. He’s recently been working on turning the Peony Red Jensen, peony red, a long-awaited and much-anticipated metamorphosis.
Chris’ expertise in fabricating comes from experience when he worked at a friend’ father’s body shop. There he worked with a wide variety of cars all whilst learning on the job. It’s there he found his love for it, “I enjoy the hands-on aspect of it.”
Chris tells us he has a love both fabricating and painting but wants to learn a bit more about engines and electrics of cars, “I’d like to learn a bit more about the engines, I know a lot of the other bits but I’d be interested in learning more about the electrics and engines”.
In his spare time Chris enjoys spending quality time with his family and when the weather allows, playing cricket and golf. Chris’s dream car is either a 1967 Mustang or a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Hard Top Estate.
Bruce Springsteen stars in Jeep’s Superbowl commercial with a heartfelt message of finding unity and peace. The video is in celebration of Jeep’s 80th anniversary and a call for Americans to find a ‘common ground’.
In the film entitled ‘The Middle’, Springsteen drives a 1980 Jeep CJ-5 convertible, and seen stationary is a 1965 CJ-5, still present with its ‘Willys’ badge.
In a statement, Global Chief Marketing Officer for Stellantis, Olivier Francois, said, ‘The Middle’ is a celebration of the Jeep brand’s 80-year anniversary and, more timely, it is a call to all Americans to come together and seek common ground as we look collectively to the road ahead.”
With 2021 marking Jeep’s 80th anniversary, they’re releasing special edition versions of the Renegade and Wrangler SUVs. The unique editions will come with an “80th Anniversary” badging, unique 18-inch alloy wheels and Granite Crystal paint.
Jeep forged their way into the automobile world in the height of world war two. Jeeps were designed to be nimble and versatile on the battlefield, tackling any terrain and light enough to be pushed when stuck. Although there are many versions of the founding story of Jeep, there are a few facts that remain trusted.
The American Military put out a request to American automobile designers to come up with an appropriate vehicle however the only responses they received were from two, small companies: Willys-Overland Motor Co and Bantam Car Co. However the American Military had it’s concerned so it invited Ford Motors to join the assembly.
All companies produced a vehicle that was intended to meet the specifications however both fell short in varying aspects. The Willys Quad had a powerful 60-hp Go Devil four-cylinder engine which put it head and shoulders above the other in terms of power. The Ford Pygmy unique and advanced craftsmanship, as it was designed with a flat hood and flat fenders that the War Department saw as useful and intuitive features. Bantam, who has previously provided a vehicle design that subsequently failed, produced an updated design that became the lightest and most fuel-efficient of the three.
In 1941, Willys-Overland Motor Co. received their first contract to produce the Willys MB for the American military that featured design aspects from each contribution. A second contract was then awarded to Ford to keep up with the demand. Bantam was given a contract to build trailers used alongside the Jeeps.
After the war, the designs were adapted for civilian use, and so the Jeep franchise grew but not without gaining the ‘Jeep Curse’ as it chewed up and spat out several owners over its long history.
Back in 2018, in the midst of the Beast From The East, we worked on a 1944 Ford GPW Willys’ Jeep that had an issue with a valve stuck open. This model was one of the original American Military Jeeps and an absolute pleasure to work on. Even at 77 years old, nothing could stop this little Jeep.
With the launch of Lotus’ new Type 131, the company are investing £100m into its state of the art facilities in Norwich. Along with the major financial investment, Lotus are also opening up 250 new jobs.
With the UK unemployment rate rising to 5% as of the latest ONS (Office Of National Statistics) figures.
CEO, Phil Popham said: “Despite the continuing global challenges, Lotus has emerged from 2020 strong and on track.”
The jobs will be in engineering and manufacturing for Lotus Cars and Lotus Engineering, which is due to open in Warwick later this year.
This year also marks the death of the Elise, which began production in 1995. Exige and Evora models are also due to be cut later this year too.
You can view their press release here.
