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Underside – Painting the Sills on the 1970 Bristol 411

July 12, 2022

The 1970 Bristol 411 had some work done to repair some areas of corrosion on its sills. The Bridge Classic Cars team cut out any of the questionable areas and replaced them with hand-fabricated pieces which were then welded into the car.

Now, the whole car has moved in our in-house Paint Shop for the paint and body team to treat, prime and painted the sills on the classic GT car. The team were careful to mask off any areas where the paint was in perfect condition and only work on the bare metal areas.

Stronger Together – Roof and A Post Brackets for the 1956 Jensen 541

July 12, 2022

The workshop team have made new strengthening brackets for the roof and A-Pillar of the 1956 Jensen 541 which is in for restoration.

Rob, one of our restoration technicians, has handmade the brackets which are done specifically for each area of the car to tie the various pieces together. After shaping and test fitting, the A-Pillar support could be welded into the car and then the rear roof bracket was welded into the frame after being bolted to the roof.

All of this is part of the process of getting the classic Jensen body into perfect alignment before it is handed over to our in-house body and paint team.

Plumbed Up – Refitting and Plumbing in the Brakes and Fuel Tank of the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 MkI

July 12, 2022

The 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 has been getting refit and plumbed up by our workshop here at the Bridge Classic Cars Suffolk HQ.

The team have refit and rebuilt the drum brake system for the car along with running the necessary linkages and cable for the handbrake. Along with that, our technician Scott has made up brand new brake hardlines which have been routed throughout the car and neatly tucked close to the body and rear axle not only for aesthetics but for fitment.

After all of the brakes were put together and plumbed in, Scott could turn his attention to the fuel system.

He fit the classic Aston Martins fuel tank, which was test fit and gently bolted down into place before making up the various fuel lines and again, routing them safely and neatly throughout the car.

The Next Stage – Priming the 1958 Jensen 541R

July 11, 2022

The paint and body team at Bridge Classic Cars have been working on getting the 1958 Jensen 541R into the next stage of its journey with the team at our Suffolk HQ.

Previously, the team finished masking up classic GT car ready for the first stage of primer to be laid down onto the car in preparation for its Ice Blue Metallic paint job.

The team made sure to cover the body evenly and thoroughly to get the best start to the paintwork as possible. And now with the car in primer, the team will sand it back to look for any adjustments that need to be made.

Faulty – Diagnosing a Faulty Rear Window Switch and Dial Circuit on the 1970 Jaguar XJ6

July 11, 2022

The workshop at Bridge Classic Cars has been working on diagnosing and fixing a couple of issues with the electrical system of the 1970 Jaguar XJ6.

Firstly, the team carried out a repair on the printed circuit for the instrument dials. Our technician John carefully repaired the circuit before testing the component and found all was working correctly.

Then, he could turn his attention to an issue with the rear heated screen. John traced the fault back to the switch which controls the circuit. The switch was stripped apart, cleaned up and retested. All was ok after the repair.

Changing Places – 1978 MG B GT Back in the Workshop

July 11, 2022

The 1978 MG B GT has been moved from the paint shop at Bridge Classic Cars to our main restoration workshop for the team to begin reassembly of the classic MG B.

As part of its restoration, the car was stripped back to bare metal and any areas of corrosion fixed before our paint and body teams worked on getting the sportscar into the best possible condition. Then, it went into our in-house paint booth/oven to be refinished in its beautiful Blaze Orange colour you see here.

Come Together – Bolting the Roof and Rear Bodywork to the 1956 Jensen 541

July 11, 2022

The restoration workshop at the Bridge Classic Cars Suffolk HQ have bolted the roof and rear bodywork to the new frame of the 1956 Jensen 541 for the first time!

After making the careful and delicate adjustments to the framework and chassis of the classic Jensen, the team could begin the process of mocking up the full rear bodywork onto the car to check for any interference or binding.

Stripped Back – Stripping Down the Bonnet and Windows on the 1959 Jensen 541R

July 11, 2022

As part of the restoration journey, the 1959 Jensen 541R has had its bonnet and windows stripped back by the Bridge Classic Cars workshop team.

The restoration technicians have got everything back to its core components in order to evaluate their condition and operation. Anything that can be refurbished will be worked on to make the pieces as good if not better than new.

Everything removed from the car has been carefully catalogued and put into storage for later in the restoration process.

Good As New – Restored Radiator for the 1905 Riley 9HP

July 11, 2022

Friend of Bridge Classic Cars, Carl, has been down to pick up the restored radiator for our 1905 Riley 9HP from Newquay for the project.

The radiator, which was found during a house clearance, was taken to Newquay Radiators to be restored and reworked so it’s as good if not better than new. This is a massive piece of the restoration journey for 117-year-old Riley and we’re excited to start getting everything back together!

This Just In – 2017 Ducati Scrambler 800 Cafe Racer

July 11, 2022

There’s a new arrival to the Bridge Classic Cars fleet! It’s our director, Craig’s, 2107 Ducati Scrambler 800 Cafe Racer.

This stunning neo-classic will be checked over by the team and a few subtle and personal changes made to the bike. We’re excited to see the upgrades to the bike which Craig has chosen for the bike!

Keep a look out on the Bridge Classic Cars news page for more on the Ducati Cafe Racer soon!

This Just In – 1971 MG B Roadster

July 11, 2022

Just arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars Suffolk HQ is this beautiful dark green 1971 MG B Roadster.

The restoration teams at the Pettistree workshops will go through the car aesthetically and mechanically to put together their report on the MG B.

Keep a look out on the Bridge Classic Cars news page for more on the 1971 MG B Roadster very soon.

First Stage – 1969 Morris Minor Convertible in Primer

July 8, 2022

The body team at Bridge Classic Cars have taken the 1969 Morris Minor Convertible from the preparation area to the spray booth to have its first coats of primer as part of its restoration journey with Bridge Classic Cars.

After cleaning off any dust or debris from the car, the team pushed the classic Morris into the booth in order to get the entire car masked off before laying down the first stage – epoxy.

The epoxy primer was then followed by several coats of polyester primer which will be reworked and sanded back by the team to get the Morris Minor Convertible looking the absolute best it can.

Behind the Scenes – Live Draw of the 1957 MG A Roadster & 1997 Rover Mini

July 8, 2022

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.

The Winners Circle – David Takes Delivery of His 1993 Land Rover Defender 90

July 7, 2022

It’s only been a couple of days since the live draw of our 1993 Land Rover Defender 90 but the Bridge Classic Cars transport team have already delivered the car to its new owner, David, in Scotland.

The team made the trip north from our Suffolk HQ with the off-roader strapped down onto our open trailer, this is only used very rarely when a car physically will not fit in our enclosed transporter. But, the team made the driver to a very excited and expectant David who was thrilled to receive his new Defender.

Refurbished – Refurbishing Pieces from the 1958 Jensen 541R

July 7, 2022

The Bridge Classic Cars trim shop have been working on more pieces of the 1958 Jensen 541R.

Lydia first worked on the seats of the 541R with stripping down the backrests and beginning to re-foam the piece.

Then, it was time to strip down and completely refurbish the centre-console cubby for the interior of the classic Jensen. Stripping everything back to its base components, remaking some parts and cleaning up others in order to get all the parts ready to be retrimmed.

Masked Up – Bodyshell of the 1958 Jensen 541R Ready for Primer

July 7, 2022

The bodyshell of the 1958 Jensen 541R has been moved into the Bridge Classic Cars in-house paint booth.

The team carefully cleaned off any dust, debris or dirt from the classic GT before it was then masked up and cleaned down once more in preparation for the team to begin laying the epoxy primer on the fibreglass shell.

Behind the Scenes – Shooting the 1969 Sunbeam Rapier

July 7, 2022

The Bridge Classic Cars Competitions team have just launched this! Our 1969 Sunbeam Rapier.

The team took the fully inspected Rapier fastback to our filming location to begin getting the necessary photos and videos to bring you the latest competition car.

The bright red coupe looked incredible in the summer sun. Its paintwork is only complemented further by the exceptional black interior and black/silver wheels.

The 1.7-litre 4-cylinder engine pulled strong as it made its way across the ex-airfield. The twin Weber carburettors gave their signature snarl with every blip of the throttle much to the delight of the team. It was a perfect machine for the best time of year. A low-slung and sleek fastback. A micro-muscle car with strong, chiselled looks but on a delicate and nimble scale.

And now, all of this could be yours. Bridge Classic Cars Competitions wants you to win this 1969 Sunbeam Rapier! Head over to the website and get your tickets now!

Or, to check out the official gallery and video, see below:

Smallest of Changes – Adjusting the Body Framework on the 1956 Jensen 541

July 6, 2022

The workshop team at Bridge Classic Cars have worked on the fine alterations to the framework of the 1956 Jensen 541 in for restoration at our Suffolk HQ.

The team have test fit the rear fibreglass clamshell and with that, they could make small changes to the framework which gives the body panels structure and helps to align them. These were carefully cut, trimmed and reframed to get each section of the rear bodywork line up just right onto the new chassis.

First Step – 1958 Jensen 541R Body Panels in Epoxy Primer

July 6, 2022

The first panels from the 1958 Jensen 541R have been moved into the in-house paint booth/oven here at Bridge Classic Cars for its next step into colour.

After numerous hours perfecting the panels and body of the classic Jensen, the pieces were handed over to the paint team for their work to begin. Beginning, with epoxy primer. Each of these parts had several coats of the hard wearing base coat for the team to rework and then repeat the process with several different primers in order to have a perfect base to lay down the Ice Blue Metallic soon.

Keep a look out on the Bridge Classic Cars website very soon for more on the incredible 1958 Jensen 541R.

On the Inside – Inner Arches of the 1978 MG B GT Painted

July 6, 2022

As part of the paint side of its restoration, the 1978 MG B GT has had its inner arches sprayed.

The paint team cleaned down the insides of both the front and rear arches on the classic MG before applying the raptorguard to help protect the metal from any form of moisture which may find its way into the newly refurbished shell.

The team do this on nearly all of our restoration as we’ve found it is the best process to securing the longevity of the inner wings on classic cars.

Small Details – Fitting Pieces Back into the 1970 Bristol 411

July 6, 2022

The Bridge Classic Cars workshop have been fitting back and wiring up some of the smaller features in the cabin of the 1970 Bristol 411.

The team have wired up the headlight switch on the floorboard of the classic GT car and all of its wiring carefully routed beneath the carpet set.

Then, the team could fit the beautiful wooden glovebox back into the dashboard

Coming Together – Progress on the Gearbox Tunnel and Rear Wings of the 2022 Bridge C-Type Replica

July 6, 2022

The fabrication shop at Bridge Classic Cars are making progress on the sheet metal parts of our C-Type Replica.

The C-Type Replica’s gearbox tunnel has had its final shape finished and set, so with that Clinton could then line up each piece and drill the carefully measured holes ready for all of the pieces to be riveted together.

Along with this key piece, he has begun working on securing the inner rear wings to the rear tub of the C-Type Replica. These have to be laid accurately into the rear tub to then have the rear tub line up perfectly with the spaceframe chassis it lays on top of.

What’s the Story? – Why the MG A is a Sports Car Icon

July 6, 2022

Seeing as how our 1957 MG A Roadster is going to be won tomorrow, we thought we would take a look at some interesting facts about the MG A and why it is so important in the world of sports cars.

Firstly, the MG A was born with motorsports at its heart. In the years following WWII, MG wanted to be more involved in competition and gain a presence across the world at every level of motorsport. So, they began to develop sportscars with racing in mind which would ultimately lead to the creation of the MG A.

Another fact about the MG A’s past, it was always intended to be exported. Since the MG TD & TF’s, MG wanted more of a foothold in the American sports car market. Post-WWII, the Americans had experienced these new adventures in speed and handling thanks to the lightweight, nimble and progressive sportscars they had been exposed to during their time in Europe.

The MG A would be a new and radical departure from the pre-war and immediate post-war sports cars. Gone were the days of archaic and traditional handling, only to be replaced by new, modern ways of thinking. Fully independent suspension at the front for better control, and a new sleek and stylish body. Its chassis was an all-new affair, gone were the days of up-right and ‘traditional’ drivers positions – replaced with low-slung bucket seats for better feel.

Even the looks of the MG A are based in motorsport. The styling of the MG A was based on a 1951 Le Mans car. People were so taken aback by this new way of thinking and styling by MG that the car was green-lit for development.

So, in 1955 MG took the decision to debut its new sports car in full competition. 3 MG A 1500 Roadsters were entered into the 24 hours of Le Mans. 2 of the 3 cars would finish, proving their endurance and competitiveness.

From there, the legend of the MG A would only grow further. Beloved by club racers, speed junkies and back-road warriors throughout the generations. The MG A sits in a special place in a petrol-fuelled Shangri-La.

Now, it could be yours to experience all of this history, engineering and beauty rolled into one incredible bright red package. Enter now and you could win our 1957 MG A Roadster live at 7pm tomorrow night here on our Facebook page!

Starting Point – Rust Repairs Begin on the 1986 Daimler DS420

July 6, 2022

The fabrication shop at Bridge Classic Cars have been starting on the rust repairs to the classic 1986 Daimler DS420.

The team have spent some time assessing and inspecting the corrosion on the bodywork of the classic limo before beginning the intricate metal work.

Work began around the rear window frames which saw quite heavy corrosion around the channels. These areas were cut out and replaced with handmade pieces to perfectly fit the size and contour of the car. Carefully they were welded in to avoid any warping of surrounding areas which are heavy with trim.

Then, work could begin on the bottoms of the doors. These had seen quite substantial corrosion, with a whole new bottom lip having to be made by our fabricators and grafted onto the doors itself. Because of the corrosion in the bottoms of the door, the door jam area of the large rear doors also needed work by the team. This area was cut out and then taken back to fresh metal, the surround being used as a template for our fabricator Monty to make a one-off, handmade piece that fit perfectly into the gap.

Keep an eye out on the Bridge Classic Cars News Page very soon for more updates on the 1986 Daimler DS420.

All Sorted – Mechanical Work on the 1955 Triumph TR2

July 6, 2022

The Bridge Classic Cars workshop have finished up the mechanical work on the 1955 Triumph TR2 which is in with us.

To begin with, the team worked on getting to the bottom of a concern from the customer of the car pulling to one side under braking. The team found that the wheel cylinders were leaking quite badly and on one side no longer allowed the shoes to make proper contact with the drums. A new set was ordered along with a complete set of front brakes shoes. Once installed, the team could readjust the brakes and retest. This sorted out the pulling issue on the classic Triumph. At the same time the team adjusted the rear brakes to spec

While under the car, the team discovered several ball joint rubbers had split quite badly. In total, 5 were replaced on the front suspension including the top ball joints and track rod ends.

In the engine bay, the team discovered a leak from the radiator of the TR2. The radiator was removed from the car, having to remove the front fascia from the car to get access. This was sent of to a specialist to be refurbished for the car. Whilst in the engine bay, it was discovered to have some debris (what appeared to be leaves/flowers) inside the sight glass of the carburettor which acts also as a filter. The team cleaned out the fuel lines properly and inspected the tank to make sure everything was all ok and replaced a split in the brake servo pipe.

Whilst awaiting the radiator to come back from repairs, our technician Jon fixed an issue with the seat runner the customer had mentioned. Jon repaired the seat runner the best he could.

Once the radiator returned, the team could get it back into the front of the classic sports car. With the radiator in place, the team could also sort out some wiring which had to be cut for the front fascia to be removed.

After everything was back in place and levels topped up and checked, it was given the all-clear to go back to the customer.

Coming Soon – 2017 Ducati Scrambler 800 Cafe Racer

July 6, 2022

Coming soon to the Bridge Classic Cars workshop is this beautiful Black & Bronze 2017 Ducati Scrambler Cafe Racer.

This bike is for our director Craig, but before that the team will give it a full check over and make sure its in tip-top working order.

Expect to see more very soon here on the Bridge Classic Cars news page.

New Arrivals – Classics in for Storage

July 6, 2022

The Bridge Classic Cars storage facility, The Hangar, received some new residents yesterday.

These classics belong to a good friend of Bridge Classic Cars, Karl. Karl won our 1957 Triumph TR3A as part of our Bridge Classic Cars Competitions. Karl is having some work done on his house so has had his classics sent up to us here in Suffolk to be cared for in our Hangar.

They’re all now covered up, ready and waiting for their owner to welcome them home.

Starting Anew – New Seat Base Foams for the 1958 Jensen 541R

July 6, 2022

The trim shop at Bridge Classic Cars have worked their skill and craft in making the brand new seats foams for the 1958 Jensen 541R. The team discovered what was left of the original cushion material after the covers were removed and could then begin to build them out of new, more modern materials.

Lydia, one of our amazing trimmers, carefully put together the combinations of foams in different thicknesses and densities to give the right amount of support once the seat base is all back together.

Once the pieces had been put together, Lydia could begin to hand shape the foams to their original contours to slip under the new covers which will be made by our in-house team.

Behind the Scenes – Live Draw of the 1993 Land Rover Defender 90

July 6, 2022

Slightly out of synch with the usual competition calendar this week. The Bridge Classic Cars team are bringing you two live draws! This Thursday the 1957 MG A Roadster and 1997 Rover Mini will be won at 7pm on our Facebook page. But last night, we found out who the lucky new owner of our 1993 Land Rover Defender was.

At 7pm exactly, the team went live across the internet. In the hour previously, it almost looked like the Mini was going to be drawn too! But, while we waited to see if this was going to happen Hayley and Freddie took all our amazing followers on a look around the stable of stunning classics which are kept safe and dry in our new competition building. Some of these are customers’ cars which have either been finished by our restoration workshops or are in storage while parts are on their way to our Suffolk HQ.

But, a few of them may or may not be upcoming competition cars…

After going around the eclectic mix of incredible machines, it was time for the team to find out the future of the 1993 Land Rover Defender 90. The competition had actually sold out early that day, so just like all of our competitions the entry lists are published on our website with every ticket number that had been bought with the corresponding name.

To find out who would be getting this stunning Corris Grey off-roader delivered directly to their door, the team use Google Random Number Generator. So, after testing that everything was working correctly with numbers outside the criteria. Hayley entered for the programme to choose between 1 and 3499. With a single click of the button, we had a winner.

Ticket number 2525 – The lucky number allocated to David. As always, we do try to contact the winners live on the Facebook stream but we had to leave David a voicemail to let him know the amazing news.

Remember! You could win a dream classic again this week. Although the 1997 Rover Mini completely sold out overnight, there is still incredible odds on the 1957 MG A Roadster – Enter now and you could be the new owner of this beautiful piece of sports car history.

Or, to rewatch the live draw, check out the video below:

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