Our technician Pete has been completing the final jobs on the recommission of the 1967 Mercedes 250SL ‘Pagoda’ at our Suffolk HQ. This time, Pete has installed the new handbrake cables along with, new discs, the calipers and new captive backing plates.
Once everything was in place and tightened to spec, Pete performed final road tests before signing off the car.
Pete has been working his way through the 1993 Jaguar XJS that is currently on the ramps here our restoration workshops at the Bridge Classic Cars Suffolk HQ. This time, it involves a bit of back and forth to get this round of jobs done on the car.
First up, Pete removed the seats from the car to check a few things however, there is a difference in the new wiring to the originals on the seat. After searching high and low, the original style of harness is not available so the team will be working on adapting the new harness into the seats and ultimately the car. With the seats out however, Pete could adjust the freeplay out of the handbrake – a quarter turn at a time… due to the access to the adjuster but in doing so found a stash of spare change which will be back in the ashtray.
Pete moved underneath the classic convertible to address the old exhaust system. It had rusted out in certain places and had been damaged as it was sitting too low under the car. After sorting out the corrosion issues, Pete could adjust the mounts to tuck the exhaust back up into the body to keep it safe in future and then turning his attention to the new bumpers.
Pete had to take the replacement and add 147mm into the centre, welding it all the way round to ensure the strongest join and getting it to fit up as good as, if not better, than cut of the ends to match the original. The retaining bolts were cut off and replaced with new units and welded into place.
Our technician Steve has been working away on the gorgeous 1967 Mercedes 250SL ‘Pagoda’ that we currently have in our workshop. The car had reportedly developed a knocking or clunking sound which was isolated to the selector rod hitting the gearbox mount due to excessive play in the mount itself.
Steve swapped out the old perished mount, which tightened everything back up and allowed the selector rod the clearance to operate fully and freely.
Our technician Jon has been working his magic on the 1969 Daimler 250V8 which is currently being checked over and repaired in our restoration workshops at the Bridge Classic Cars HQ in Suffolk.
When the car arrived, it was taken out on test and found that under load it would lose 2 cylinders. So, Jon got it into the workshop to check that out and give the whole car a look over with a fine tooth comb. At this point, Jon is tracking down some electrical issues in the classic saloon along with a thorough inspection and test of the cooling system.
”Finish earth wire in boot, tape into loom, connect and test, ok. Carry out cooling system pressure test. Leave at 15psi and check over for signs of leaks. Tighten various jubilee clips but still holding pressure after 10 mins. Check heater valve operation . Lever stiff and won’t stay in position as if cable seized or loose.heater valve moves by hand. Get off ramp. Refit drivers carpet. Strip centre console and check heater cable. Found cable bent up and twisted. Strip and straighten cable both ends. Work cable in and out. Reattach to heater valve. Remount cable to lever and test. Works now. Refit centre console. Check interior lights. No power. But with power probe they all work. Check cigarette lighter socket, no power. Check fuses and found blown fuse. Replace and test, ok now.”
After sorting out the wiring issue, Jon could move onto getting to the bottom of the running issue with the Daimler.
”Take outside and warm up. Still holding back and won’t rev smooth up the rev range. Return to workshop. Check cap and rotor and elec ignition. Remove spark plugs clean and regap. Remove offside carb suction chamber and piston. Inspect, needle a bit green and rough. Clean all parts and remove float bowl lid and suck out fuel. Clean inside and blow through. Set jet depth with verniers. Reassemble carb and check piston free.”
”Continue with carb clean. Repeat yesterday’s work on nearside carb. Needle looks OK on this carb. So clean and blow out. Set jet depth and refit piston and suction chamber. Ignition on and check for leaks, ok. Refit air filters and take outside and warm up. Starts and idles fine but still won’t rev. Check timing 10 btdc, spot on. Check leads fitted in correct firing order. Pull leads off 1 at a time to check for what feels like a misfire. Hard to tell. Adjust carbs, still the same.”
He then inspected the ignition system, which had an electronic pick up unit fitted. He closed up the gaps as much as possible whilst also removing and checking each spark plug individually and regapping them to spec, before running the car back up again. Although it had helped the issue, Jon has ordered a new spark tester and will continue with his diagnostics once this arrives.
We’re lucky to have some incredibly talented and skillful friends, such as our friend Mike. Not only is he a sensational driver (who we did a Talking Classics with about his love for 1990s Formula 1 cars, which you can see here) but he also creates beautiful pieces of art and jewelry connected to the world of motorsport. So, when he came in recently he asked if we could photograph some new pieces for him.
First up, is a beautiful pendant made from the oil cooler that was fitted to one of Michael Schumacher’s earliest F1 race cars, a Benetton.
Next up on the list to be shot in the Classic Lounge, were two formula 1 exhaust manifolds. Much like our very own manifold sculpture, these were originally supplied to cars for Sergio Perez and Fernando Alonso – with the Alonso manifold being part of his Renault R29 during the Monaco Grand Prix in 2009. These wonderful, organic, skeletal sculptures are truly amazing to see let alone photograph, and especially when refinished in Blue and Red.
It is probably one of the most charming cars that I’ve ever photographed. It wasn’t just the general feel of the day, the weather, the ambiance or what have you – this little car is just a wonderful thing.
Molly and I set out one morning earlier this month to shoot the car at our usual haunt. The leaves were damp and amber, the chill hung in the air and the the sun would make brief and fleeting appearances through the sparse trees but it was all ok, we had a Morris 8.
A car that was somewhat instrumental in getting Britain on the road, much like the Austin 7, the Tourer was by far the most elegant of the offerings. This one, is no exception. With a hearty serving of double green in its interior and paint work, only broken up with the luxurious black wings, our 1939 Morris 8 just has a way about itself. Not only does it look glamorous, it drives beautifully too.
Fitted with a (speaking in 2024) small 914cc engine, but a 4-speed manual gearbox, the little Morris 8 happily plugs along down a British country road without a care in the world. Recently restored by its previous owner of nearly 30 years, the car feels composed and inspires a confidence in your drive. Are you going to get their quickly? No, but you will find yourself lost in a daydream as you soak up the sights and sounds that surround you inside of its cabin.
No matter your taste in classic cars, a small, fun, lightweight, quirky and sweet prewar convertible should always be on your list… and this one could be yours just in time for Christmas.
Scheduled to be drawn on Christmas eve by the team here at Bridge Classic Cars, our 1939 Morris 8 Tourer has just gone live for everyone to enter.
Our 1976 Jensen Interceptor has had a special delivery at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop in the form of more parts sent over by its owner for our team to organise and assess as the cars restoration journey begins here at our restoration workshops in Suffolk.
December 11, 2024 1:52 pm
Steve has been working on the 1967 Mercedes SL250 ‘Pagoda’ here at the Bridge Classic Cars HQ in Suffolk. This time, he has been servicing the beautiful straight-six.
After removing the various filters, and thoroughly cleaning out their respective housings, Steve gapped the new spark plugs before fitting them to the car and running it up to temperature.
December 11, 2024 1:45 pm
Our fabrication team have been diving into our 1963 Rover P4 deeper and have been finding areas of the classic saloon that need attention. Our technician Rob, has been getting to the root cause of the corrosion issues in the classic Rover.
He has been looking into the right hand A post, and has found a series of previous repairs which will require attention.
So, Rob has been making up next sections to repair the floor and front sill section which have been perfectly shaped and refined in order to fit the car best but also to allow the strongest weld for the car.
December 11, 2024 1:39 pm
Our workshop team have been busy working on the driveline of our 1960 Jensen 541R as it begins the next phase of its restoration journey. Our technician Paul has been working on the pair of 541’s which are currently being restored by our workshop.
This time, Paul has been working on the brake system for the 541R. With the calipers in place, Paul could begin to map out and bend up the hardline needed to connect the brakes from the front, all the way to the back to complete the circuit when ready.
December 11, 2024 12:50 pm
Our technician Steve has been diving into the 1968 MGC Roadster which is currently in the workshop here at Bridge Classic Cars. As part of the cars assessment, the team found that there was a very small weep coming from one of the core plugs in the engine block, so this would need to be addressed. To do that, Steve had to remove the intake manifold, as well as the exhaust manifold, from the car, making sure to safely disconnect all of the carburetor linkages and fuel lines.
After gaining access to the core plugs, Steve carefully replaced each one as well as taking this opportunity to completely flush out the coolant system of the classic roadster. After that was complete and leak checks were all ok, Steve could get the manifolds back onto the car with the new gaskets.
December 11, 2024 12:41 pm
Our 1979 Ferrari 400 has gone into the next round of preparation by our workshop. This time, Jon and Pete have been on the underside of the classic V12 grand tourer to get it back up and running properly.
Jon began by fitting up new front brake pads into the calipers before turning his attention underneath the car. On inspection, Jon noted that there was a very slight blow coming from the exhaust so with that Jon and Pete removed the centre section to inspect it fully and try to find where this blow could be coming from.
After going out on road test, Jon noted that the blow had become a lot better. With that, he has added a bit more paste to the nearside front joint and whilst it cures, he is charging the battery up ready for more test drives.
The little 1970 Fiat 500 has been on the ramps at our Suffolk HQ for the team to get the last few bits and pieces done on the car before it is handed over to our marketing team to become a future competition car.
Jon has recently replaced the track rod ends on the car which was simple enough and then he could readjust the tracking on the car. After that, Jon took the car on road test – and after a small idle speed adjustment – the car is ready for a good clean and then to become a competition car in the near future.
Our workshop are a bit of a dab hand when it comes to Jensen’s – it is without doubt the most frequent car that we have restored in nearly 20 years. The most recent 541 which our team have been working is this beautiful Grey 1956 Jensen 541.
Most recently, Jon has been working on tuning the classic GT car to run perfectly. To do this, Jon stripped down the intake side of the engine by removing the air filter box and housing to gain access to the carburettors. Carefully, he removed them and stripped them down on the bench to remove the pistons and suction chambers, from there Jon could accurately measure the jet depth for each individual chamber, lowering each one slightly in order to richen up the air/fuel mixture, while apart it gave Jon the opportunity to thoroughly clean up the pistons and suction chambers before refitting back onto the car.
With everything back together, Jon could run up the straight-six and begin by firstly tuning the carburettors by ear to get them roughly into the right area before the team deep dive into tuning the car completely. The keys were handed over to Big John, our workshop manager, to perform the road tests.
While out on test, Big John made some notes about some small changes and areas which Jon would need to take a look into once back at the workshop. With the car back at our Suffolk HQ, Jon got the 541 back onto the ramp. From there, he could slacken off the exhaust clamps and apply a small amount of sealer before refitting the pipework back together, and whilst under the car he could adjust the clutch arm to give it more clearance.
November 21, 2024 9:45 am
Our technician Jon recently worked on getting our 1974 Triumph TR6 to head off to its new home after recently being won through Bridge Classic Cars Competitions by Michael.
One of the last jobs to do before it was handed over to our logistics coordinator, Tony, to deliver was to replace the starter motor of the classic straight-six. To do this, Jon had to remove the plenum to gain better access and safely remove the old starter, which once removed allowed him to inspect the ring gear on the car (which was noted to show a bit of wear) but the new starter slipped back into place and Jon could get everything back together.
After testing and being signed off by the workshop, the TR6 was loaded into our enclosed trailer where it could be transported to the winner Michael, who was thrilled to receive his new TR6 – all of his here want to wish Michael many happy miles with his TR6.
Recently, we welcomed a new addition to our Suffolk HQ with this stunning 1967 Mercedes 250SL Pagoda which was recently picked up by our transport coordinator, Tony.
Once safely back at our workshops, the team took their time to take a look through the classic German GT car as part of the cars appraisal, where every inch of the care was carefully inspected and evaluated by the team.
The Pagoda, is truly one of the most beautiful classic Mercedes in the eyes of our team and its always a pleasure to have them on the ramps.
Our technician Jon has been working alongside our new technician Pete to carry out the appraisal of the Pagoda. They worked together to get the car started (as it came in as a non-runner) and into the workshop for the pair to get to work on the car.
The team have checked over the car thoroughly both in and out of the car to get a better idea of its condition and areas which will require attention.
Jon has made extensive notes on the car which are as follows:
”Front number plate damaged, drivers door trim and window channel loose, washers not working (pump runs noisy), engine oil black but level OK, Coolant level low and brown and low antifreeze content, Fuel pipes to inline pump starting to perish, intake pipe unsecured, gear position cable on bulkhead insecure and held on with wire, nearside front brake binding, front anti roll bar link rod bushes starting to perish, handbrake cables slack underneath, slight play in both front king pins, all tyres aged and perishing, spare tyre pre-dates others and flat, front pads 20% worn, discs OK, nearside shows some signs of heat but appear OK, Rear pads 10% worn discs OK, fuel pipes from tank to pump aged and deteriorated, fuel pump at rear leaking and requires repair kit and rebuild, torque up wheel nuts, attend to some items so car can be safely moved out, grease all points on car, play in kingpins now gone, adjust handbrake shoes, top up coolant with water, top up screenwash and inflate spare tyre to correct pressure.”
Jon could then move on to checking a few issues with the classic Mercedes such as the heating in the car but to begin with he needed to sort out some of the trims on the car which had come loose or were fitted incorrectly. He removed the chrome weather strips to adjust the clips and have them fit correctly to the car before refitting back into the doors. With the loose window channel, Jon found correct hardware in our stock to get refitted onto the car and then refit the rubber seal back into place.
He then could move under the bonnet of the car to check the coolant and heater system. Firstly, checking the coolant levels and then running the car up to temperature checking for correct operation but at that point noticed that the heater direction lever was broken. Once the car was up to around 80’c Jon noted that the heater began to warm up in the car somewhat. On road test, Jon also noted that the brakes didn’t feel quite right so the car came back into the workshop for some adjustment – his recommendation for the heater system is a full system flush and replacement thermostat as found with the low level, discoloured coolant with very little antifreeze in the mixture.
Nick and I were out filming again, this shoot was a little different. We ventured down the road into the quaint market town of Wickham Market. We had planned to shoot on the market square but unfortunately there wasn’t any spaces. This meant we had to come up with a different plan of action. Whilst looking for an alternative spot Nick noticed a beautiful rustic green garage door. We asked the shop (East Anglian Traditional Arts Centre ) for permission to film and park in front of it, they were happy to oblige and we captured some brilliant pictures. When filming out and about its great talking to passers by about what we do here at Bridge Classic Cars and seeing people smile when they see the classic cars is a definite highlight.
You can with this gorgeous 1971 Mini Cooper S now from the Bridge classic Cars competitions website! Go and take a look.
Our technician Steve has been working his magic on the 1975 Cobra project in our workshops ahead of its inspection and tests. This time, Steve has been working on getting the brake hard lines routed safely throughout the engine bay of the replica.
After working out the best route for the lines, Steve could get them secured to the inner wings and the bulkhead while also mounting up the reservoir and its bracket.
November 4, 2024 2:33 pm
The progress on our 1956 Jensen 541 is flying along as the car heads towards initial road tests very soon around the area of the Bridge Classic Cars HQ. Before then, the team still have a bit of work to do. This time the team have been working on the inside of the classic GT car.
The team have fitted up the steering wheel, the passenger seat and the door card ends into place.
November 4, 2024 2:19 pm
Our paint and body team have been working their magic with the Dino 246GTS we have at our Suffolk HQ for restoration. Like all of our restoration projects, the team here are obsessed with the details as that is where we strive for perfection and the 1973 Dino 246GTS is no exception.
Chris, our head painter, has been heading up this project with the cars next round of priming. With the car safely in the booth he can begin the process of masking off the areas which don’t require his razor sharp eye and steady hand.
Our technician Jon has been busy working on getting our 1960 Triumph TR3A back up to scratch here at the Bridge Classic Cars HQ. To Begin with, Jon checked the roof on the classic sports car to make sure it fit and there was no damage along with checking the side screens. With the side screens, he noticed that the drivers side screen would not fit correctly due to the mirror on the A pillar.
Next up, Jon could get the car up onto the ramp to check for any leaks over night. The next morning, he noted a few small drops of oil which were traced back to the sump and the lower bolts in the front cover. So Jon cleaned down the area and began removing the bolts from the areas to then get them properly cleaned ready to be resealed and cured. After that he could move onto the next job on the list – the exhaust.
Upon inspection Jon noted that the exhaust was too short for the car. So, he began the journey of lengthening the pipework to get it to fit correctly under the car and to fit the correct rear silencer/section. He began by carefully tack welding a new piece of stainless tube into place before removing the whole system from the car for our fabricator Clinton to completely weld up. While that was being done, Jon carefully ground a new bonnet key for the car and then once the exhaust was back, fit everything back up to the car ahead of its road tests. During the tests, Jon found the carpet section behind the pedals moved, so he glued the section back down before leaving it to cure.
Jon has been busy in our workshop! In this update, he has began repairs on the 1977 Triumph 2500TC which is in with our team at our Suffolk HQ to be recommissioned. First off, was a couple of simple jobs such as fixing a brake/stop light and replacing the windscreen wipers before Jon could move onto the more serious jobs.
To begin with, Jon started to look into the cooling system on the car. Looking into the system, he found that it had quite a lot of debris and corrosion in areas so he carefully removed all of the hoses to inspected them for damage or wear, before carefully blowing them out and cleaning them on the bench before taking the classic Triumph outside to run water through the system and flush anything left over out of the engine.
Once flushed, Jon could remove the thermostat and check it over before cleaning it out thoroughly and refitting it along with the newly cleaned hoses and getting the car back on a ramp.
Our workshop is well versed in all things Jensen 541 – having restored over a dozen of these classic GT cars (with 2 more in our workshop currently going through their restoration journey). So, when it comes to getting this beautiful 1956 Jensen 541 back up and running the team were eager to jump in.
Our technician Jon has been working on this particular car. He has been stripping down the interior in order to gain access to the gearbox as part of the team prepping for a clutch replacement. Jon has carefully gone through the systems to make sure that everything is undone as well as assess each component for its condition and operation.
As part of the clutch replacement, Jon has also serviced and inspected the car thoroughly which involved a repair to a HT lead and new spark plugs for the straight-six. While the car is up in the air, it gave Jon the chance to remove all of the wheels to inspect and strip down the brakes. All of the brake shoes were due for replacement, so they have been removed and are off to be refurbished. This exposed the backing plates for Jon to take a closer look at, cleaning up the units and repainting areas which had bare metal exposed.
Our technician Steve has been working on the 1975 Cobra Replica, checking off the jobs needed to get the ready for its inspection and certification. At this point, Steve has been working on the throttle cable to control that thunderous V8 that lives under the bonnet.
After test fitting, Steve noted that the access hole for the cable in the bulkhead/pedal box doesn’t actually land anywhere near the accelerator pedal. So, Steve had to remove most of the pedal assembly to redrill a new access hole for the cable to run.
Whilst working under the dash, Steve has worked his magic on the heater for the car. After testing the unit and pressurizing the system, he could strip it all back down and paint it in matching black ahead of it being installed back onto the car.
The gearbox for our 1960 Jensen 541R project is back in the building. The transmission had been with a trusted specialist for a rebuild as part of the project to get this incredible classic GT back on the road.
October 21, 2024 8:02 am
The Bridge Classic Cars workshop team have been going full steam ahead with preparing the 1979 Ferrari 400. Our technician, Jon, has been heading up the project from the moment the car came into our workshop a couple of months ago.
To begin with, Jon has had to replace the heater valve nestled deep under the scuttle of the classic Ferrari and on the back corner of the glorious V12. Once the new heater valve arrived, Jon had to make some modifications to get the unit to fit and operate correctly while also modifying the clamp attachment before getting it ready to fit back into the car.
After it was back in the car, Jon could begin testing. The first stage was to refill the coolant and pressurize the system to check for any leaks and then he can began to tune and check over the V12, but on a brief start up Jon noted that the car is now running on all 12 cylinders.
With the engine now ready to run, levels topped off in both the V12 and the automatic gearbox, Jon could turn his attention to making sure the luxury classic GT car stopped. He inspected each individual caliper as well as tracing all the brake lines and pipes back to check for corrosion, pinches or leaks. Once Jon got to the nearside front caliper, he noticed a very slight weep when the caliper was under pressure. Upon inspection, he found that previous to the car coming to us someone had stripped out the threads on the caliper and retapped it from 7/16th to 1/2 inch, Jon found a suitable bolt and had our technician Paul turn it down in a lathe to make a suitable union.
While waiting for Paul to machine the bolt, Jon stripped down the speedometer which he found small shards of plastic obscuring the warning lights. Once he had cleaned out the unit, he reassembled and got it back into the car.
With the new union suitably modified, Jon could remake the brake line which runs to the caliper. After bending up new pipework, he found that with the new union in place the top brake pipe would not tighten where someone had previously modified the unit and the threads were very badly worn.
The Bridge Classic Cars Suffolk HQ is always a busy place – with classics and modern cars coming in and out of our workshops every week. Last week, we welcomed 2 more brand new arrivals. A 1956 Jensen 541 and a 2007 Porsche 911 Carrera S. Both of these stunning cars will be looked at and taken care of by our restoration technicians.
1956 Jensen 541:
2007 Porsche 911 Carrera S:
Our paint and body specialist Alan has been working on getting the 1951 Austin Devon Pickup back into tip top condition. He has been working the panels and making sure that not only are all the gaps perfect but also the cab panels are perfectly level and curved where they need to be.
Our amazing workshop manager, John, has been working on the 1979 Volkswagen Type 2 Bay Window which is in our workshops for a couple of jobs.
This time, John has been rebuilding the carburettor of the classic aircooled Volkswagen chasing down a slight dead spot. John completely cleared out the entire carburettor including spending meticulously inspecting and cleaning out the jets. After that, John fitted up the new gasket and filter kits before getting it back on top of the flat-four engine.
September 30, 2024 10:01 am
The workshop team at the Bridge Classic Cars Suffolk HQ have been working their way through our classic 1979 Ferrari 400, recommissioning each system of the car.
This time, Jon has been continuing his work on the underside of the Maranello masterpiece with the exhaust system. He has to make several new sections of the rear of the exhaust which involved cutting, slotting and clamping the replacement pieces to the back boxes, while also having to remake 1 of the original exhaust mounts.
Next up, Jon moved over to the offside of the classic Ferrari to get the exhaust and oil cooler sorted out. To begin with, Jon had to modify the mounts to add some extra clearance, before installing the exhaust system. With that now in place, Jon could fit up the rear anti-roll bar links before moving onto getting the gearbox oil cooler into place with some modifications to the hoses and pipework to get everything safely fit back into the car, which included sleeving some of the pipework in what could become contact areas over time as well as putting heatwrap on the pipes to protect them from the exhaust which run close by.
