Search
Close this search box.
My Account
My Account

classic car restoration uk

Out & About – 1966 Opel Diplomat Coupe

May 10, 2022

A close friend of Bridge Classic Cars, Stephen Norman, recently spent a weekend away with this stunning 1966 Opel Diplomat V8 Coupe which forms part of the Classic Opel Collection in Germany.

The 1960s V8 coupe was Stephen’s choice of cruiser for a long weekend away as part of his retirement from the company after 45 years.

Throughout the weekend, the classic Opel wracked up about 300 miles to add to its all original and unrestored 95,000km. Stephen reports the car performed faultlessly and was the object of much fanfare and admiration.

Always lovely to see a classic getting out and being used.

This Just In – 1996 Rover 216

May 10, 2022

This stunning 1996 Rover 216 has arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars restoration workshop for our teams to carry out some work on.

The car has seen little use over the last few months but, the team will carry out a full and comprehensive inspection of the car ahead of its MOT and at the same time perform a full engine and gearbox service for the classic Rover.

Coming Soon – 1997 Rover Mini 1275

May 9, 2022

Coming soon to the Bridge Classic Cars restoration workshop at our Suffolk HQ is this fun 1997 Rover Mini 1275.

The car will come into the workshop for our restoration teams to inspect and assess once it arrives.

Keep an eye out very soon for more on the 1997 Rover Mini 1275.

This Just In – 1940 Morris Gun Tractor

May 9, 2022

The Bridge Classic Cars restoration workshop has welcomed this rare and unique visitor to our Suffolk HQ today. This incredible 1940 Morris Gun Tractor.

This amazing piece of history has arrived at our workshops for the restoration teams to carry out a full inspection ahead of a requested engine rebuild on the classic military vehicle

We’re very excited to show you more about this project very soon here on the Bridge Classic Cars news page.

Clean and Fresh – Replacing the Cambelt and Water Pump on the 1999 Vauxhall Omega

May 8, 2022

The cambelt and water pump on any car are an important and vital component to the engine’s health and well being. The workshop team at Bridge Classic Cars know this so they have replaced those pieces on the 1999 Vauxhall Omega.

Our workshop manager John has many years’ experience working on Vauxhalls so the job fell to him. John removed the timing cover from the engine to expose the belts and water pump which were safely removed and kept for reference against the new replacements. After checking, the new parts were installed back into the 2.5 litre V6 of the Omega and the car run up to temperature to check after all fluids had been topped off and rechecked.

Behind the Scenes – Shooting the 2007 Jaguar XKR

May 6, 2022

The Jaguar XKR is the perfect example of a wolf in sheep’s clothing. An elegant, sophisticated coupe with the heart of a wild animal hidden underneath its long, flowing aluminium bonnet.

The XKR is special in that the 4.2-litre V8 has been fitted with a supercharger to get more power and more torque directly to the rear wheels. Our 2007 Jaguar XKR, is finished in a beautiful bright silver with a contrasting black leather interior, adding yet another level to its hidden talents.

The team at Bridge Classic Cars Competitions were beyond excited to bring this car up to our filming location and shoot the car ahead of its launch. It had been through our restoration workshop to be checked over and given the green light for the team to drive it for filming.

The weather was perfect for this type of car. Bright sun with a few banks of clouds drifting across the Suffolk countryside while the air filled with a V8 rumble only broken by the characteristic whine of the supercharger. The leather seats, modern controls and easy handling made the XKR a perfect car for any occasion.

For lap after lap, Hayley rumbled her way around the film site with the XKR not so much as even breaking a sweat but underneath, you could tell the big coupe just wanted to stretch its legs but was more than happy to lazily drift around the circuit.

And it could be yours! This is the latest competition car. Head over to the Bridge Classic Cars Competitions website now for your chance to win this incredible 2007 Jaguar XKR.

Click here to enter

One-Piece – Repairing the Rear Quarter Panel and Rear Arch on the 1969 Morris Minor Convertible

May 6, 2022

The fabrication team in the Bridge Classic Cars restoration workshop have been working their way through the body repairs on the 1969 Morris Minor Convertible.

This time, the fabricators have turned their attention to the passenger side rear of the classic Morris. The rear quarter panel was showing some heavy signs of corrosion which ran deep into not just the body but several parts of the substructure which needed to be repaired. Along with that, was a corroded inner arch on the care that had to be addressed in order to keep the rigidity of the wing and tying into the rails that sit beneath.

So, after the corroded areas had been cut out of the car, the team could begin to fabricate and weld in the replacement pieces to add back the strength to the necessary areas of the car.

First Step – Preparing the 1999 Vauxhall Omega for a New Heater Matrix

May 6, 2022

The workshop team at Bridge Classic Cars have got to work on stripping the dashboard and some of the centre console of the 1999 Vauxhall Omega in order to get access to the old Heater Matrix.

Because of its location, many parts of the dashboard had to be carefully removed and stored to get access. This included disconnecting multiple wiring connections just to remove the steering wheel alone. Because this is on the newer scale of cars we work on, the team made sure to take note of every single connection with photos taken throughout the process.

Also, taking their time to make sure any pressure clips were carefully unclipped out of their sockets to avoid any damage to parts.

Whilst everything was out, the team took the opportunity of the good weather (and the wet hoover) to try out some of the sound deadening and carpet set.

With this all complete, the next step for the team is to install the new heater matrix into the classic Omega.

Ready for Home – Paint Repairs Complete on the 1996 Nissan Patrol

May 6, 2022

The paint repairs on the 1996 Nissan Patrol that the Bridge Classic Cars paint and body team have carried out on the classic off-roader are complete!

The paint and body team have worked their magic on repairing the damage caused by the roofing tile to the side of the Patrol. After any imperfections were sorted and the panels painted and clear coated, the team gently colour sanded and polished the paint work to get it all looking just right ahead of it going back home to its owner.

Fixing a Leak – Sorting Out the Radiator Leak on the 1985 Jaguar Sovereign V12

May 6, 2022

The workshop team have been working on getting to the bottom of the small radiator leak on the 1985 Jaguar Sovereign V12.

After pressurising the coolant system, the team inspected everywhere in the system for the leak. After looking through each hose and fitting, the team noticed a weep coming from the lower radiator tap. From this, the team ordered up a new replacement.

Once this had arrived, the team got to work refitting the new piece and topping up all fluids before repressuring the system and checking for any leaks. The new tap had done the trick and the system stayed full and under pressure while the team carried on with their inspection which that small leak was the only issue found on the car.

This Just In – 1994 Ford Probe

May 6, 2022

There’s a new arrival at the Bridge Classic Cars restoration workshop at our Suffolk HQ this week. A 1994 Ford Probe.

This classic Ford coupe will be going into the workshop for our restoration teams to inspect, assess and then report back with their findings on the seldom seen Ford. It’s always a fun day when something a bit unusual turns up at the workshop but we’re looking forward to having a deep dive into the car.

Keep an eye out for more on the 1994 Ford Probe here on the Bridge Classic Cars news page.

Good as New – Blending in the Paint Repairs to the 1996 Nissan Patrol

May 5, 2022

The 1996 Nissan Patrol has been in the Bridge Classic Cars in-house paint shop for the team to carry out the colour match following the preparations in the body shop.

The team carefully masked and sanded down the paint/body damage on the classic Nissan before filling any imperfections and flattening down the surrounding areas of the panel so the whole piece can be refinished allowing an even and seamless finish after the paint repairs.

The team then finished off the process of clear coating and then it will go out into the preparation area for sanding and polishing.

Final Coat – 1987 Daimler Double Six in Epoxy Primer

May 5, 2022

The 1987 Daimler Double Six has been back into the Bridge Classic Cars in-house paint booth to have one of the final stages of primer laid down on the classic 4 door saloon.

The paint and body teams have worked their magic on getting the classic Daimler into the best shape it possibly can be before it was taken into our booth/oven for the last stages before colour is put on. The team made sure that each individual panel was fair and straight before meticulously cleaning down every surface and blowing off any dust or fibres which may have been on the body. The final stages of primer are the most crucial as it is what the colour will lay directly onto so the bodywork and the primer needed to be absolutely perfect.

We’re excited to show you the next phase with the Daimler very soon, so keep an eye out on the Bridge Classic Cars news page for more updates.

Piece by Piece – Trim Panels on the 1956 Jensen 541

May 4, 2022

The trim shop at Bridge Classic Cars has been working on building and finishing some of the interior trim pieces for the 1956 Jensen 541.

Lydia, one of our in-house trimmers, had worked on the ceiling pad and window surrounds as part of the restoration of the classic Jensen. These have been specially made, padded and trimmed to match the rest of the interior being made specifically for this 1956 Jensen 541.

Each piece of the Jensen is bespoke to the car to ensure the best fit and finish for all of our interiors as no two cars are the same. So, these pieces will be safely wrapped and catalogued to be put into storage for the reassembly of the car.

Scraping the Surface – Paint Damage on the 1996 Nissan Patrol

May 4, 2022

The 1996 Nissan Patrol has arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars restoration workshop for our Paint and Body teams to have a look at some damage caused by a falling tile to the classic Nissan off-roader.

Although there are some minor dents in the body, it seems to be mainly damage to the paint work. So, the team will begin preparing the areas ready for its appointment with the spray booth. The team will scan the colour of the car to make sure the paint match is exactly right as it’s been a little since we painted this particular car.

Keep a look out for more on the Patrol very soon.

Final Finish – Door Cards on the 1979 Arrow Ferrari Daytona

May 4, 2022

The trim shop at Bridge Classic Cars has worked on finishing off the final pieces for the door cards of the 1979 Arrow Ferrari Daytona.

The final pieces of brightwork and trims have been put onto the door cards of the Daytona as the finish touches are in the process of being applied. The team have used dozens of reference photos and scale measurements to get them as close to the originals as possible while also improving the fit and finish of the original.

With The Current – Fitting a New 12 Volt Power Supply and New Float Arm on the 1959 Jensen 541R

May 4, 2022

The restoration workshop at Bridge Classic Cars has been working through the jobs on the 1959 Jensen 541R in with us. This time, it was fitting a new 12-volt power supply and fixing the issue with the fuel gauge.

Dave fitted a new auxiliary power supply underneath the dash of the classic Jensen for the owner.

Along with this, Dave has worked on resolving an issue with the fuel gauge. Upon inspecting the float arm inside of the fuel tank, he found it had a previous repair carried out. Once he removed the sender from the tank, the old repair actually fell apart in his hands. The issue was that the arm had actually seized in the sender unit and not giving the gauge reading. So, Dave got some new copper pipe and bent up an exact replica of the original and fit it into the sender.

Bedded Down – Carpets into the 1979 Arrow Ferrari Daytona

May 4, 2022

The trim team at Bridge Classic Cars have been working on fitting down the handmade carpet sets into the 1979 Arrow Ferrari Daytona.

The trim shop has spent a lot of time making sure that each individual piece of the interior fits perfectly and aligns just right with the pieces that join into it. For this, our trim team have test fit all of the pieces countless time making revisions and changes to ensure the whole interior works in its entirety.

With everything working together, the team began the process of getting the final parts of the carpet set and trim panels into place inside the classic Daytona replica.

Behind the Scenes – Shooting the 1985 Porsche 911

May 3, 2022
Behind the Scenes Photos of the 1985 Porsche 911 Shoot

It’s a dream car to many, a hero to some and an icon to all. It’s also the latest Bridge Classic Cars Competition. The 1985 Porsche 911.

After the inspection of the car by the restoration teams and given the green light, the car was released to Freddie, Hayley and Nick to begin the process of shooting this legendary air-cooled Porsche 911. the team headed to our filming location to get to work and just to experience this incredible driving machine.

The day was perfect for it. White clouds broke up the endless blue sky as the late spring sunshine draped itself over the glossy black paintwork of the car. From every angle, the car looked just like it had done in countless bedroom posters for generations. To some, the air-cooled 911s are the purest of their design. A common link shared from its earliest days at the beginning of the 1960s up until the late 1990s. But this one is special.

It has been asked for by so many of our followers, we have been waiting for the right one to come along. The car is finished in gloss black with a black/red interior which looked incredible as the team jumped into the car. Then, without so much as a hesitation after the signature key was turned, the 3.2-litre flat-six spat into life with a satisfying crack before the synonymous rumble filled the Suffolk air. All of us that day knew this was going to be an incredible car.

Freddie and Hayley took the car up to our filming location to start shooting with the classic 911. As it pulled away, you could feel the car wanting to stretch its legs. The potential and promise of a driving experience unlike any other at your fingertips.

As the morning continued, the 911 ran faultlessly. Happily going from an idle to speed and back again over and over while Freddie got the exact shots he needed. On different roads around our shoot, the classic Porsche soaked up any bumps or ruts without so much as a wince or gritting of teeth for either the car or the driver. A short, flat out run or a long-legged cruise would suit this 911 down to the ground. It really is a car for all seasons.

And now, Bridge Classic Cars Competitions wants to give you the chance not only to experience this once. But every time you open the garage door and get in it. So head over to the Bridge Classic Cars Competitions website now and enter for your chance to own the benchmark which all other sports cars have been set against. Trust us, you won’t be disappointed.

Click here to enter now for the 1985 Porsche 911

Or have a look below for the official photos from the shoot!

Official Photos of the 1985 Porsche 911

This Just In – 1999 Vauxhall Omega 2.5 V6

May 3, 2022

This 1999 Vauxhall Omega 2.5 V6 has arrived in the Bridge Classic Cars restoration workshop at our Suffolk HQ for our restoration teams to do an important job on the rare Vauxhall.

The team in the workshop have been asked to replace the heater matrix for the owner. Along with that, the team will also carry out an inspection of the car and report back any findings.

Out & About – Ipswich to Felixstowe Run 2022

May 3, 2022

Gordon, one of the directors here at Bridge Classic Cars, was at the annual Ipswich to Felixstowe run this year.

The Ipswich to Felixstowe run is a must-attend event for any classic car or motorbike enthusiast around the Suffolk/Essex area. All sorts of classic vehicles take part in the run and this year was no exception.

From classic Jaguars to American trucks. Classic Indian motorcycles to a collection of Sinclair C5s. There was something there for everyone and it’s an event we all look forward to attending.

Inspection – Inspecting the 1989 TVR S2 2.9

May 3, 2022

The restoration team at the Bridge Classic Cars have begun their inspection of the 1989 TVR S2 after its live draw last week.

Paul, one of our restoration technicians, gave the car a complete check over and compiled a list of parts that will need to be replaced. Paul found that the starter motor in the classic TVR must be removed and rebuilt for the car and along with that a replacement of some of the fuel lines due to some cracks starting to appear in the surface of the material.

Paul also found that several of the ball joints would also need attention before it leaves our workshop.

Cut Back – Polishing the Body and Painting Final Parts of the 1987 Mercedes 500SL

May 3, 2022

The paint and bodywork teams at Bridge Classic Cars have been working on the final processes of the 1987 Mercedes 500SL restoration.

Alan, one of our painters, has been working on cutting back the grey paintwork on the classic R107 in preparation for its polishing. This has to be done very carefully as to not damage the edges of the lacquer/clear coat on the car. A series of finer and finer wet sandpapers are used until the clearcoat is flat, uniform and flawless and then machine polished to a mirror polish.

Also, the team have painted the final pieces of trim on the car in the heavily durable black that other pieces of the car have been finished in.

Best Fit – Sound Deadening, Carpets and B Pillar Trims on the 1979 Arrow Ferrari Daytona

May 3, 2022

The interior trim team at Bridge Classic Cars have been working on the interior of the 1979 Arrow Ferrari Daytona to get each of the new pieces to work in the car.

The trim team have worked on getting the carpet panels fitted into the car backed with high-quality sound deadening. This means each individual piece had to be tried in place and any adjustments made to make sure that each panel would fit and fit perfectly with the others around it.

With the side panels now in place, the team could get the footwell carpet panels into place and work on finessing the carpets in.

Then work could move on fitting the B Pillar trims. Each of these had test fit and worked on to match the rest of the car.

Freshly Made – The Fresh Chassis for the 1956 Jensen 541 Back at the Workshop

May 3, 2022

Bridge Classic Cars are pleased to unveil the newly completed chassis for the 1956 Jensen 541 has arrived back at our Suffolk restoration workshop.

The newly completed chassis has been made especially for this project as the car will be converted to a left-hand drive. The custom-made bulkhead has not been drilled or cut for the conversion so our workshop team can make sure that all the necessary systems can be worked into the car in real space.

It’s amazing to see this key piece of the project returning to our restoration workshop.

Behind the Scenes – East Coast Mini Club Visit & Live Draw of the 1993 Rover Mini and 2012 Mercedes Benz SLK250 CDI

May 3, 2022

Over the bank holiday weekend, the Bridge Classic Cars team welcomed East Coast Mini Club to our restoration workshops in Suffolk.

The club were doing their annual charity run with this year’s run being in aid of the Addenbrookes Charitable Trust which had helped 2 of its members in need of their expert help. So, to help out the East Coast Mini club raised nearly £900 through a raffle and an auction to help their Transport Unit with fundraising.

After the meet was done, a few of the members stayed around for the live draw of our 1993 Rover Mini and 2012 Mercedes SLK250CDI. A few of the members even had tickets for the Mini!

Hayley and Freddie gave everyone joining in on the live stream a look around our competition building and the beautiful classics that we have in. We were also joined by our friend Simon’s all-electric Mini which has recently starred in a Discovery Channel series and appeared in a video with YouTuber PetrolPed.

But it was then time to find out who the very lucky new owners of the 1993 Rover Mini and 2012 Mercedes SLK250 CDI. Both had completely sold out before the draw and the Mercedes actually sold out nearly a week before its scheduled draw!

First, was the Mercedes. The pre-published entry list was checked and Hayley set the numbers in the Random Number Generator. And, with one single click, we found who the winner was. Number 3204 belonging to Andy Wells.

Then the car everyone in the room was waiting for. The 1993 Rover Mini.

As the entry list was checked and the number generator reset, the anticipation built. With a few words of good luck and a single click, it was done. The new owner of the Mini was Jake Lees with ticket number 614.

Reinstalled – Putting the Hydraulic System Back in the 1963 Morris LD

April 29, 2022

The hydraulic system of the 1963 Morris LD, which arrived back at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop recently, has been put back into the classic van.

Our restoration team have worked on putting the brand new master cylinders and from there, the team could begin getting everything else back into place. Next, the team have installed the new wheel cylinders along with new front shoes. With that, the brake system of the LD was complete with several new pipes also made for the system.

However, the team did discover during the installation that the clutch slave cylinder was in need of a rebuild. So, it has been removed and set off to be refurbished.

Clear Out – Cleaning Out the Sills of the 1958 Jensen 541R Navy

April 29, 2022

The 1958 Jensen 541R Navy has been with the Bridge Classic Cars restoration team to have the final part of its work completed by our workshop team.

Part of the work is to clean out and inspect the sills of the classic Jensen 541R. The team have a series of areas where they know road dirt and debris can build up and in the long run cause issues so as part of its work, we have cleared out these areas.

The team also checked over a suspected fuel leak that couldn’t be identified and all was found to be ok on inspection. And with that, all levels were checked and topped off before being made ready to go home to its owner.

Good as New – New Brake Pads and Gearbox Oil for the 1970 Jaguar E-Type

April 29, 2022

The beautiful dark green 1970 Jaguar E-Type Series 2 has been in the Bridge Classic Cars restoration workshop recently for the team to do a couple of jobs on the car.

First up, was to replace the front brake pads with a customer-specified pad compound from our friends over at EBC Brakes. The owner of this E-Type uses this car quite a bit and the car has been known to see some serious track time, so a set of EBC Green pads were chosen for the car.

After that, the team performed a gearbox service for the classic Jaguar. A full oil change for the big overdrive gearbox, and along with that the team could clean up some pieces and look into an ongoing issue with the overdrive unit itself. The restoration team removed the various springs and plungers for the overdrive unit and could get them on the bench to clean and inspect them closely. On inspection, the technician noted nothing of concern but once back in the car did make a record of the overdrive being sluggish to engage. The car will return to us later for some more pieces of work and the team can completely go through the overdrive system at that time.

But, with that, the work needed for the 1970 Jaguar E-Type Series 2 was complete and the car was ready to head back home to its owner. Always a pleasure seeing this car in our workshops.

Finishing Work – Cleaning Up the Welds on the New 1970 Bristol 411

April 29, 2022

The restoration workshop at Bridge Classic Cars have been working on finishing the welds on the 1970 Bristol 411’s new sills.

The fabrication team have been working alongside the restoration technicians to get the new sills into the classic Bristol. Although as much is done as possible during the process of welding to ensure the pieces sit properly and flush, some finishing is needed to make sure there is no valley between the two pieces. This is achieved with subtle heat and a series of body working tools.

Along with that, the team have started to fabricate the new closing panels underneath the 1970s GT car.

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.

As seen on
As seen on the Daily Mail
© Bridge Classic Cars Holdings Ltd, T/ as Bridge Classic Cars. Registered in England and Wales with company number 5047706.