Our director, Gordon, brought along his 1934 MG PA Midget to the 2022 Helmingham Hall Classic & Sports Car Festival this past weekend. The classic
The former owner of our 1966 Jaguar Mk2 3.8 has sent over some photos of its previous life in South Africa! The photos show everything
This Sunday, the Bridge Classic Cars team were at the Helmingham Hall Classic & Sports Car Festival 2022. The team had set up our stand
The latest arrival at the Bridge Classic Cars restoration workshop at our Suffolk HQ is this 1992 Jaguar XJS V12. The classic Jaguar has come
Just arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars restoration HQ in Suffolk is this 1969 Mercedes Benz 220. The classic German saloon will be going into
The 1962 Humber Hawk has left the Bridge Classic Cars Suffolk HQ bound for its new home. The car was bought on eBay and will
The team at Bridge Classic Cars have been working on some updates for the 2017 Ducati Scrambler 800 Cafe Racer belonging to our director, Craig.
To get the bodywork ready for paint, the paint and body team at Bridge Classic Cars have been busy sanding back the high-build primer on
The paint and body team at Bridge Classic Cars have been working on the 1958 Jensen 541R in preparation for the colour stage of its
The workshop team at Bridge Classic Cars have been working their way through some of the smaller jobs on the 1979 Arrow Ferrari Daytona. These
The paint and body team at Bridge Classic Cars have been working on our 2022 C-Type Replica. This time, the team have been working to
The 1969 Morris Minor Convertible has been in the Bridge Classic Cars in-house paint booth to have the last few of its panels finished in
The trim team at Bridge Classic Cars have worked on stripping down and refurbishing the dashboard of the 1958 Jensen 541R. Everything from the instrument
The 1956 Jensen 541 has been worked on in the Bridge Classic Workshop at our Suffolk HQ to have several parts on the car adjusted
The 1959 Jensen 541R in the Bridge Classic Cars restoration workshop has been stripped down even further in pursuit of the car’s total restoration. This
The rear axle and differential on the 1905 Riley 9HP is on their way back to the Bridge Classic Cars workshop after being sent away
The 1972 MG Midget has been in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop to have its several bits of work carried out. Firstly, our workshop team
Just arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars Suffolk HQ is this wonderful 1962 Morris Minor Convertible. The classic Morris droptop has come in for our
With all of the work completed on the 1998 Honda Integra Type R, it’s time for the wonderful 1990s JDM sports car to head home.
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 engine from the 1959 Jensen 541R is due to come out of the frame any day now as part of the restoration of the
The 1969 Morris Minor Convertible has had its engine bay finished in the correct Snowberry White as part of its restoration by Bridge Classic Cars.
The 1968 MG B GT has been in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop to have several new pieces fitted under the bonnet of the classic
Coming soon to the Bridge Classic Cars Suffolk HQ is this rare and unique Banks Lotus Europa. The Banks Europa’s have a redesigned chassis from
The 1984 Lada 1200 has been worked on by the Bridge Classic Cars restoration technicians as part of getting the car into perfect working order.
The 1969 Morris Minor Convertible has been in the Bridge Classic Cars paint booth to have its next stage of primer laid down. After many
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 workshop team at Bridge Classic Cars have been working on several key pieces of the 1978 MG B GT in for restoration with us
The Bridge Classic Cars workshop have welcomed our latest arrival – a 1968 Triumph TR5. The workshop will be carrying out a full inspection and
This 1972 MG Midget has just arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars restoration workshop for our team to carry out a few jobs on. To
Our director, Gordon, brought along his 1934 MG PA Midget to the 2022 Helmingham Hall Classic & Sports Car Festival this past weekend.
The classic pre-war MG was shown just away from our stand next to our lovely 1950 Land Rover Series 1.
The former owner of our 1966 Jaguar Mk2 3.8 has sent over some photos of its previous life in South Africa!
The photos show everything from the car taken back to a bare painted shell to being used as a wedding car and at the top of some of the amazing scenery that surrounded its hometown.
It’s always amazing to see the former lives of our cars!
This Sunday, the Bridge Classic Cars team were at the Helmingham Hall Classic & Sports Car Festival 2022.
The team had set up our stand the day before and carefully positioned our collection of competition and restoration cars to show off to everyone walking past.
Our stand was instantly busy as the gates opened at 10 am on Sunday. Crowds and lines of people waiting to get their tickets for our competition cars or to talk to the team about a project they have. In front of us, the rows of concourse cars laid out an incredible sight.
From an original Lamborghini Countach Anniversary to an Mk2 Jaguar with a leopard print interior. Included in those rows of incredible machinery was a 1960 Jensen 541S – It was Peony Red, the car we had restored for its proud owner on display and mentioned as a finalist in the Best in Show later that day.
In the multiple fields and paddocks, all manner of cars were on show. From new supercars to rarely seen and incredible classics from every corner of the automotive world. There was also amazing food, dancing, bands and stands for everyone to look at.
Families lined the shaded driveway, nestled under a long row of oak trees as the sun grew higher throughout the day as the concourse cars would do their exhibition runs. Filling the Suffolk countryside with every type of engine noise imaginable.
At the Bridge Classic Cars stand, the line of people didn’t stop. We love seeing our friends, new and old, so it was always a pleasure for the team to have a chat and enjoy the atmosphere.
As the afternoon went on, it was time to do our annual live draw from the Heveningham Hall Classic & Sports Car Festival. This time, it was for our beautiful 1971 MG B Roadster.
Molly and Freddie went live on our Facebook page to find out who the lucky new owner of the classic sports car. With the tickets having sold out several days before and the entry list being live, it was time to fire up the Google Random Number Generator. As Molly and Freddie hit the button, the future of the MG B was decided. The winner was Richard Hancox with ticket number 1027.
To check out the full gallery from the 2022 Helimgham Hall Classic & Sports Car Festival 2022 have a look below:
The latest arrival at the Bridge Classic Cars restoration workshop at our Suffolk HQ is this 1992 Jaguar XJS V12.
The classic Jaguar has come in for our restoration teams to look into and inspect. The teams will be assessing what is needed to be on the car which has been laid up in a garage nearby for a little while.
Keep a look out on the Bridge Classic Cars news page very soon for more updates.
Just arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars restoration HQ in Suffolk is this 1969 Mercedes Benz 220.
The classic German saloon will be going into the various departments for our restoration teams to inspect and assess before compiling their findings and reporting back on the car.
Keep a look out on the Bridge Classic Cars news page very soon for more on the 1969 Mercedes Benz 220.
The 1962 Humber Hawk has left the Bridge Classic Cars Suffolk HQ bound for its new home.
The car was bought on eBay and will be recommissioned but kept visually very similar to how you see it now according to its new owner!
We’re excited to see what becomes of our 1962 Humber Hawk in the future.
The team at Bridge Classic Cars have been working on some updates for the 2017 Ducati Scrambler 800 Cafe Racer belonging to our director, Craig.
To start with, the team have changed the mirrors on the bike to a style and set up that works better for Craig’s riding position while then removing the carbon racing plates below the seat for a different style which is coming very soon.
To get the bodywork ready for paint, the paint and body team at Bridge Classic Cars have been busy sanding back the high-build primer on the bodywork.
This is all in preparation for getting the classic convertible ready to be finished in its original colour of Snowberry White.
The paint and body team at Bridge Classic Cars have been working on the 1958 Jensen 541R in preparation for the colour stage of its work with us.
The team have been sanding and finessing each individual panel in the pursuit of absolute perfection we aim to achieve on all of our restoration projects. Chris, one of our paint and body technicians, has been using varying sandpapers and abrasives to get into every shape and curve across the body of the classic GT car.
The workshop team at Bridge Classic Cars have been working their way through some of the smaller jobs on the 1979 Arrow Ferrari Daytona.
These little jobs are as crucial as the larger bits of work in the restoration of a classic car to make sure that every little piece and part of the car is fit perfectly and work correctly when needed.
The paint and body team at Bridge Classic Cars have been working on our 2022 C-Type Replica.
This time, the team have been working to get the sills of the classic Le Mans racer into both epoxy and high-build primer.
The 1969 Morris Minor Convertible has been in the Bridge Classic Cars in-house paint booth to have the last few of its panels finished in high-build primer.
Before laying down the primer, the team have carefully cleaned down each piece of the classic convertible before being put onto the painting jigs and masked up and cleaned down once more to remove any contaminants.
Then, several layers of the high-build primer were laid down and left to cure in the booth.
The trim team at Bridge Classic Cars have worked on stripping down and refurbishing the dashboard of the 1958 Jensen 541R.
Everything from the instrument cluster to the wooden structures has been completely stripped back to their core components to be inspected, refurbished and reassembled as part of the car’s aesthetic restoration. Any metal pieces were completely stripped and cleaned down before being sprayed in hardwearing black.
The 1956 Jensen 541 has been worked on in the Bridge Classic Workshop at our Suffolk HQ to have several parts on the car adjusted and refined.
Our technician Rob first fabricated the new handbrake bracket/mount. This was bent up and shaped before the original piece was cut off the frame and the new piece welded on after having its hole and mounts put in.
Then it was time to move to the outside of the car and finesse the one-piece fibreglass bonnet. Rob has worked on adjusting the panel in every axis possible to get the unit to sit properly on the car. Once roughly in shape, Rob made new strengthening brackets which mount inside the fibreglass clamshell.
The final piece was to adjust and finesse the flange on the gearbox tunnel to perfectly meet up with the large single-piece gearbox cover that mounts up to the firewall.
The 1959 Jensen 541R in the Bridge Classic Cars restoration workshop has been stripped down even further in pursuit of the car’s total restoration.
This time, our technicians have been working on completely clearing out the engine bay. To begin with, all of the simple and easy pieces were removed from the car to be inspected and catalogued. Then, with everything out of the way, the straight-six engine and its gearbox could be gently removed from the car.
Every single piece that comes off the car has been safely put into storage.
The rear axle and differential on the 1905 Riley 9HP is on their way back to the Bridge Classic Cars workshop after being sent away for blasting.
The process that was suggested would preserve some of the 117-year-old Patina and help to show the originality of the car.
The 1972 MG Midget has been in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop to have its several bits of work carried out.
Firstly, our workshop team have completely serviced the classic roadster and along with that have replaced the points and condenser in the distributor.
Next up, the team wanted to look into a small leak from the front carburettor which had been noted. When inspected, our technician Jon found one of the carburettor jet tubes had become seized in the Cold Start position and caused the leak. After gently freeing off the tube, he reassembled the unit and tested it. All ok.
Then it was time for Jon to lower the fuel tank out of the car to get to the bottom of an issue with the fuel sender. After removing the unit from the inside of the tank, Jon could carry out the necessary repairs and refit everything back into the car.
Just arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars Suffolk HQ is this wonderful 1962 Morris Minor Convertible.
The classic Morris droptop has come in for our interior trim team to work on.
Keep a look out on the Bridge Classic Cars news page for more updates very soon on the 1962 Morris Minor Convertible.
With all of the work completed on the 1998 Honda Integra Type R, it’s time for the wonderful 1990s JDM sports car to head home.
The team at Bridge Classic Cars have revitalised the car for its owner, with several mechanical jobs and some in-depth paintwork done on the car we had to get some final photos with the car.
To take a look at the entire project from the very start, click here.
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 engine from the 1959 Jensen 541R is due to come out of the frame any day now as part of the restoration of the car by Bridge Classic Cars.
For this, the team have been preparing all the surrounding areas to make sure the engine cannot get hung up or caught on anything on its way out of the classic GT car.
The 1969 Morris Minor Convertible has had its engine bay finished in the correct Snowberry White as part of its restoration by Bridge Classic Cars.
After having its high build primer laid down and left to cure, the team masked off the engine bay of the classic Morris to lay down several coats of Snowberry White onto the car. This will be left to cure and harden before moving onto the rest of the bodywork.
The 1968 MG B GT has been in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop to have several new pieces fitted under the bonnet of the classic sports car.
To start with, the team have fitted a new electric fan to the radiator to help keep the engine cool which being enjoyed by its owner.
Then, the technicians have fitted a new brake servo for the car and replumbed it into the system and tested.
Coming soon to the Bridge Classic Cars Suffolk HQ is this rare and unique Banks Lotus Europa.
The Banks Europa’s have a redesigned chassis from the standard Lotus style which adds rigidity and some adjustability in certain areas. This particular car has been modified and customised by its owner to suit their needs, fitted with a 2-litre transverse Vauxhall engine, it makes this Banks Europa even more of a rarified piece in that apparently very few were set up to run transverse engines.
This car will be coming into our Pettistree workshop later in the year for our technicians to carry out several jobs on the classic Banks Lotus.
The 1984 Lada 1200 has been worked on by the Bridge Classic Cars restoration technicians as part of getting the car into perfect working order.
To start with, the team have replaced the engine mounts which had begun to crack and perish. The replacement pieces are slightly taller than the previous units but are a much closer match to what would have originally been fitted. These were fitted and secured down to the frame before the engine was put back perfectly into place.
After discovering the crack in the top tank of the radiator, the team have carefully removed the radiator from the core support of the classic Lada. This has been sent off to a local, trusted specialist to be repaired.
The 1969 Morris Minor Convertible has been in the Bridge Classic Cars paint booth to have its next stage of primer laid down.
After many hours of prep, the classic Morris Convertible has had several layers of high build primer to help build up the surface before it is eventually finished in colour and clear. This stage of primer will also be gently and carefully rubbed back to ensure a perfect surface for the next phase of work.
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 workshop team at Bridge Classic Cars have been working on several key pieces of the 1978 MG B GT in for restoration with us at our Suffolk HQ.
Firstly, our technician Rob has made up an all-new rear bumper box section for the classic MG. This piece was heavily corroded so the team made a new piece which made up the rear bumper and crash structure in the car.
Next, the team got to work on the front cross-member. This, over time, had developed some hairline cracks in the thinnest areas near the mounting tabs. So, Rob has carefully and methodically rewelded these areas making sure to add in material to strengthen certain parts of the component.
The Bridge Classic Cars workshop have welcomed our latest arrival – a 1968 Triumph TR5.
The workshop will be carrying out a full inspection and assessment on the classic Triumph convertible and reporting back their findings.
Keep a look out on the Bridge Classic Cars news page very soon for more updates on the 1968 Triumph TR5.
This 1972 MG Midget has just arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars restoration workshop for our team to carry out a few jobs on.
To begin with, the classic MG will have a full service before the team turn their attention to getting the roadster running properly. Also, they will carry out a full inspection and assessment of the car.
Keep a look out on the Bridge Classic Cars news page very soon for more updates.
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.
