The Bridge Classic Cars body team have turned their attention to some all-important fibreglass repairs to the rear section of the 1956 Jensen 541.
The entire rear clamshell of the classic Jensen had developed a few issues with the material, so the body team carefully re-glassed the area in order to strengthen the piece and add material in for correcting the shape of the piece.
With fibreglass, its important the layers are built up flat and evenly to make sure it perfectly followed the shape of the panel underneath but also around the area.
The Bridge Classic Cars Competitions teams have been out at our filming location to shoot our latest competition car, a 1973 Triumph TR6.
The team picked a perfect day for it. A series of delicate clouds against the pale blue sky above the Suffolk countryside was the perfect backdrop for the Saffron Yellow classic Triumph. Before this, the Bridge Classic Cars restoration workshop went over the car from head to toe in order to give it the green light to be driven around our filming location.
As the Suffolk air filled with the raspy sounds of the straight-4, the bright yellow drop-top whipped around with an air of excitement and freedom. A tool purely for the joy of driving. And now, we want you to experience this wonderful feeling.
The paint and body team have been working to get the 1987 Daimler Double Six ready for the first coats of dark blue paint to be laid on the panels of the classic saloon car.
To begin, the Bridge Classic Cars in-house team painted the bonnet and boot lid of the classic Daimler. Once these had begun to dry, they were moved into the preparation area to fully cure while the body and wings were moved into the booth.
Then the team could begin to mask up the car ready to lay down the first coats of colour onto the body of the Double Six…
The workshop team have completed the next round of jobs on the classic Bristol 411 in for a left-hand drive conversion at Bridge Classic Cars.
The first stage was to mount the oil filter housing to the opposite side of the engine bay after the conversion. The team have made sure that each component will not interfere with each other and also have enough space to be able to be safely worked on during the service of the car in the future.
Then, the team have carried out the final test fit of the power steering pump to the engine of the classic Bristol using the specially fabricated brackets. These will be taken off the car and finished in matching black to the other bracketry in the engine bay.
Next up, the team will be performing a full brake service on the classic GT car with a full inspection of seals, lines and pistons.
The workshop team at Bridge Classic Cars have been working on the classic 1980 Porsche 924 Turbo.
The first job was to fit the new replacement wiper motor under the scuttle panel. The team carefully undid and removed the mechanism and then pulled the old motor out of the car to check against the new piece. With the piece verified, the team could then work in reverse getting the new motor hooked up and in the car.
Then, the team turned their attention to the rear boot cover. This piece retracts and rolls up normally, but it had developed a bind which caused it to not roll back into the cartridge. Our technician Jon carefully took apart the piece to free it and then carefully reloaded the cover into the cartridge and put it back into the car where when tested worked correctly multiple times over without hesitation.
The Bridge Classic Cars in-house trim team have been working on the doors of the 1986 Daimler DS420 which arrived into our workshop from the USA recently.
The doors are being carefully taken apart so the panels themselves can be repainted. This involved the careful cataloguing and noting of each individual piece that came off the door from the small screw head cover to the large leather wrapped panels. The doors will then be taken into our paint and body team who will carry out a full assessment and then get to work on making the doors of the classic Daimler limo matching the rest of the car.
The interior team at Bridge Classic Cars have worked their way through the teardown of the front seats on the 1955 Jensen 541
With the seats in such a delicate condition, the team had to approach this task with a meticulous and thorough approach to get the classic Jensen’s bucket seats stripped all the way back to the fibreglass cores. The team made careful note of every fixing location and took detailed measurements and notes for the seats reconstruction later down the line.
The interior trim team at Bridge Classic Cars have carefully stripped back the convertible hood frame for the 1969 Morris Minor Convertible.
This piece has been carefully taken apart for the interior team to inspect and assess the hood and trim itself but also for the frame to be sent away for media-blasting.
The team unpicked each seam and fold to remove the hood as intact as possible and also so they could gain access to the wooden spars. Most importantly, the front wood beam which the team noticed was damaged. Once they have had a chance to inspect and assess just just damaged it is, they can begin to work on getting the hood pieces ready for the frame to come back.
The restoration team in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop at our Suffolk HQ have begun to fix the position of the new Power Assisted Steering Pump as part of the carts left-hand drive conversion by our workshop.
With the pump in place, the team could begin to inspect and assess the areas around the pump to make sure that the all-important belt isn’t interfered with or is in the way of anything else. For this, the team have made a custom set of brackets to hold the pump on the engine and perfectly in line with the other pulleys which will drive it.
More images have made their way over to Gary and the guys at Re-Go Autoparts as we continue with the development works on our 1970 Bristol 411. Faced with a lot of challenges so far, Gary has been paramount at assisting with our needs and working alongside us to achieve the desired outcome.
A brief history of Re-Go Autoparts – established in 1985, Rego Autoparts is synonymous with high-quality remanufactured steering components. The Lenco brand carried by the owners of Rego Autoparts has been trading since the 1970’s.
Specialists in the left-hand-drive market, Lenco has comprehensive catalogues listing models of every car manufacturer from Alfa to Volvo, for steering racks, steering boxes and steering pumps.
Lenco is a Certified TecDoc Data Supplier. Since 2004 we have continued to uphold the standards for ISO9001 with incorporation of TS16949, ISO14001 and ISO18001.
Lenco reconditions steering components made by all O-E-manufacturers, e.g. TRW, Koyo, Saginaw, ZF, SMI, Mando, Atsugi, Hitachi, Young-Shin etc.
Specializing in supply to large distributors who in turn service buying groups, wholesalers and garages, Lenco has an extensive range of reconditioned stock in mainland Europe enabling supply of orders quickly and efficiently.
Lenco has a vast stock of ‘old core’ units covering the majority of its catalogue applications, enabling us to supply rare and high-demand applications without hassle. In the unlikely event that we do not have an old unit to recondition, we can recondition the customer’s unit.
Lenco has remanufacturing facilities in the UK and Belgium. In addition to the factories there is a logistics warehouse in Belgium handling the stock and distribution of the combined factory outputs.
Every unit produced by the factories is tested and warranted with a 2-year unlimited mileage.
With the weather getting better and better, the Bridge Classic Cars Competitions team decided to change things up a little bit. For this, we took our latest competition cars down to Beach Street in Felixstowe to find out who the lucky winners were of our amazing 1985 Porsche 911, TAG Heuer Carrera and the 2007 Jaguar XKR.
The setting was perfect by the coast as the late spring sun began to move back towards the horizon. The team set up the cars ready to show everyone online and everyone at Beach Street to look around, including a newly launched 1980 supercharged Mini Van.
After the usual walk around, it was time to find out who’s lucky day it really was. The team input the numbers for the Google Random Number Generator to choose from and then with a single click, it was done.
The winners:
1985 Porsche 911 – Gareth Evans with Ticket Number 4541
2007 Jaguar XKR – William Pearson with Ticket Number 3102
TAG Heuer Carrera – Andrew Parry with Ticket Number 2367
It was a brilliant evening for all and we, at Bridge Classic Cars Competitions, want to say a big thank you to Beach Street Felixstowe for inviting us down and we cannot wait to come back soon!
The paint and body team at Bridge Classic Cars have had the 1987 Daimler Double Six in our in-house paint booth for the first layers of colour to be laid down.
The team have begun the process of colour by first painting the inner sides of panels, doors and also inside the door jams and inner arches of the classic Daimler. Each of these pieces has gone through the same process as the rest of the car in the run up to this huge milestone in the restoration.
Once this stage of paint has cured and hardened, the car will taken out and remasked ahead of its full repaint.
After the strip down and inspection of the brake system on the 1937 Austin Seven, the team have been the process of getting it all back together.
The team began by reassembling the wire and arm system which control the whole set-up checking their action and regressing or tightening anything needed. The team also replace a set of brake shoes on the car which then were adjusted out to where they needed to be for the best brake feel. Once everything is back together and tested, the team will make any last minute adjustments for the classic Austin.
The interior team at Bridge Classic Cars have been busy making new rear matting for the load bay of the 1980 Austin Mini Van.
The team begun by making a paper template to ensure the matting would fit up tightly to the rear arches and meet perfectly in the centre of the classic Mini. Once each side have been marked out and cut from paper, it could then be transferred onto the matting and cut to size.
The next step involved gently keying the load floor inside the car to give it the best surface to adhere to. Then, very carefully it was put into place with the adhesive and left to cure.
The Bridge Classic Cars trim team have been working on the interior of the 1968 Morris Minor Van at our Suffolk HQ.
The team began by removing the shelf underneath the dashboard of the classic Morris in order to carry out some much needed repairs and revisions. The team retrimmed and reformed certain areas of the shelf to make it as good as new for the beautiful classic van and then revised the brackets and fixings so it held into place perfectly.
After that, the team turned their attention to the back of the car. The rear compartment has hardwood boards which make up the floors in the van. These were removed by the team and taken up to our in-house trim shop to be refinished in matching black coverings.
The interior team at Bridge Classic Cars have been working on finishing the firewall/bulkhead on the 1970 Bristol 411 which is having its left-hand drive conversion done at our Suffolk HQ.
The firewall and under dash area of the classic Bristol has been finished off, for the most part, which means the interior team can begin its finishing work. The finishing touch for the modified firewall is the hand-cut and edged hardura panel. This, has been templated and made specifically for the Bristol to work around the various changes which have been made by the restoration workshop.
The Bridge Classic Cars interior team have been making progress on the interior of the 1955 Jensen 541.
Each part of the interior of the car has been entirely made by hand by our trimmers. The team have taken each individual pieces from the kick-boards to the seat bases and turned their skill to not only the strip down but also the evaluation and rebuild. The team carefully strip everything back to their core components before any need repairs are made or wether they will need to be entirely remade for the classic Jensen.
The finish that the Bridge Classic Cars interior trim team can achieve is because of this care and skill from the earliest stages to the final product.
The restoration workshop at Bridge Classic Cars have been working on freeing and fixing the brakes on the 1980 Porsche 924 Turbo.
The car had a concern of the front nearside brake binding on while driving. The team stripped back the calliper and freed it loose. From there, the team inspected the rest of the brakes and began work on the handbrake of the classic Porsche.
Upon inspection, the team found the handbrake shoes were in need of replacement so a new set was ordered and fitted then adjusted to spec.
This beautiful 1973 Triumph TR6, finished in striking Saffron Yellow, has just arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars Suffolk HQ.
The classic Triumph will go through our workshop for our in-house restoration teams to assess and inspect before reporting back on the condition of this wonderful classic sports car.
Keep a look out here on the Bridge Classic Cars news page for more on the 1973 Triumph TR6.
The Bridge Classic Cars fabrication team have been continuing with the metal repairs to the rear arch and valance panel of the 1969 Morris Minor Convertible.
The fabrication team have been working on thoroughly removing the corrosion from around the body shell of the classic Morris. This meant removing panels and closures to be able to inspect, assess and evaluate the condition of the metal structures underneath.
The first stage was to remove the corroded piece at the top of the rear arch. This was meticulously cut out of the car so the team could hand-fabricate a replacement piece that would perfectly fit the car and try to retain as much of the original car as possible.
Once this was in place, the team turned their attention to the rear valance panel. A corner of the piece had become corroded and needed replacement. This piece, like the arch was hand-fabricated to ensure the best fitment and to preserve the originality of the car.
The restoration team in the Bridge Classic Cars restoration workshop at our Suffolk HQ have been making progress on the 1970 Bristol 411 in for its left hand drive conversion.
The team have begun the work by rebuilding and fitting out the modified firewall/bulkhead with the necessary systems moved from one side of the firewall to the other. This has been done for the next stage where the team have fitted up the heater hoses and pipes from the heater box under the dashboard of the classic Bristol.
After this, the team moved to the underside of the car to begin work on several jobs that need to be completed. The first, was to fit the newly fabricated jacking plates onto the car. These could now be fitted after the repairs carried out to the sills of the car and everything being structurally sound.
Next, was a quite badly corroded area in the battery compartment of the classic Bristol. This was cut out with a new plate welded in its place to strengthen the floor of the area.
Whilst under the car, the team noticed some corrosion to boot floor support which had been filled with fibreglass but corroded through to the boot floor on the near side rear of the car. This area was carefully marked and cut out of the car in preparation for the new piece to be templated and welded into the car making the boot floor stronger and sealed.
The workshop team at Bridge Classic Cars have turned their attention to the brake system of the 1937 Austin Seven which arrived recently at our Suffolk HQ.
The team began by first inspecting each of the drums of the classic Austin for any leaks, cracks and the overall condition of the wheel cylinders and adjusters. All of the mechanical linkages were also stripped down and inspected for any sort of binding or rubbing which may cause the braking system to not be as effective as it could be.
Each of the drums were individually stripped back and inspected on the work bench and their conditions noted.
The workshop restoration team at Bridge Classic Cars have been working on completing several jobs on the beautiful 1959 Jensen 541R in with us.
The first job that need completing was to get the moveable front grille working again. The front grille of the 541R is moveable to vary the airflow into the radiator of the car. This whole mechanism is cable operated and needed to be replaced and tensioned in order to get the system working exactly as it should.
Next, the team turned their attention inside the classic 541R. The team had been tasked with replacing the seat belt mounts in the car. These are a vital safety feature of any car so their mounts must be secure, stable and flat in order to have the belts fixed properly into place. Each of the mounts was removed from the car and replaced by the team. The key mounts go through the gearbox tunnel of the classic Jensen, which were cut out and replaced then painted in rust proofing.
There is something about a classic Mini which cannot help but put a smile across your face and that’s before you’ve even driven it. Just seeing one is a sure-fire way to brighten up your day. So, that’s why the Bridge Classic Cars Competitions team have sourced this. A 1980 Austin Morris Mini Van.
Beneath its humble and unassuming green paintwork though, lies a true athlete. Being a workhorse, the Mini Van was originally fitted with 998cc 4-cylinder engine. It’s previous owner however has fitted the pint-sized prowler with a 1380cc supercharged engine with a sports exhaust system so the whole world can hear about it. The team were very excited to shoot this particular car!
As the team pulled the classic Mini out of our secure storage facility, The Hangar, it happily sat idling in the late-spring sun. After it’s check-over by the restoration workshops at our Suffolk HQ, and given the full green-light, the team could take it out onto the airfield to shoot what needed to be done. The Mini pulled away perfectly, it wasn’t savage or had a throttle like a hair-trigger. It was actually rather civilised. With the sliding front windows open and the engine happily buzzing along this is the type of classic you could quite happily use for longer journeys or even on your commute to work when the weather is nice.
The reversed Cooper S wheels allow for more rubber to be placed under the Mini, which has had recent suspension and steering work done to it by the previous owner, and you can really tell there’s more contact with the tarmac that rushes under your feet. The short, sharp steering gives you all the feedback you need and when you need the brakes, they are right there when you want them.
The interior, is sparse and utilitarian. The single Cooper S style instrument panel is the only form of distraction in an otherwise purposeful setting. A perfect place to be when you experience the pull and whine of the Vmaxscart Supercharger fitted to the car…
But now, Bridge Classic Cars Competitions wants you to experience this. The 1980 Austin Morris Mini Van could very well be yours! One lucky winner will soon be taking delivery of the classic Mini just in time for summer. And it could be you… All you have to do is head over to the Bridge Classic Cars Competitions website and enter now for your chance to win the 1980 Austin Morris Mini Van.
The workshop team at Bridge Classic Cars have been working on sorting out a few electrical issues with the 1980 Porsche 924 Turbo.
The team first began with wiring in the front spot lights. This involved an in-depth pin grip and continuity testing through both the dash and bay harness to find why the front spot lights weren’t working correctly. After some wiring repairs and securing the necessary wiring from the lights to the switch, all worked perfectly and allowed the team to move onto the larger job at hand.
One of the concerns for the car was the heater valve and its controls working incorrectly. For this, our technician Jon removed the entire heater valve from the car in order to inspect it for any faults and its operation. The valve itself worked but on the interior panel, the controller for the heater had fallen into the dash itself from behind. Once this had been carefully pulled through from the dash, the team discovered it had seized and was in need of repair.
After this had been carried out, the team retested and got the heater system working just as it should.
The Bridge Classic Cars team recently at the pleasure of attending the final Barons Auctions event at Sandown Racecourse before their move.
The team went to look at all the cars on display. A wonderful mix of modern and vintage with something there to suit everyones taste. From beautiful original Mini’s to a brand new Mini Cooper S JCW which was being auctioned for charity. That’s always the wonderful thing about Barons, they cater to all tastes and styles with a fair few Bentley’s and Rolls Royce’s going across the auction block at this particular event.
We’re excited to see what the future holds for our friends at Barons Auctions and we wish them the best of luck with this new move and new way of auctions in the future.
The Bridge Classic Cara restoration technicians have been working on the 1996 Rover 216 Convertible in our workshops recently.
The team have carried out a full service on the car as well as a full and thorough inspection. Whilst completing the service, the team have also carried out of some vital maintenance work on the car. This included replacing the cam belt and water pump, along with replacing the cap and rotor.
The jobs remaining is a new catalytic converter along with a new exhaust sensor.
This beautiful 1968 Morris Minor Van has been in the Bridge Classic Cars body shop to have its new brightwork kit fitted to get it looking even better!
The Morris Minor Van’s original chrome had begun to pit and tarnish, so the team sourced a new replacement kit for the front end of the classic Van. Carefully, each of the pieces was removed from the fascia of the Morris in order to remove the front grille from the car.
The front grille pieces were taken to the bench and also cleaned up and certain pieces of panel work straightened to get the car in the best shape possible. Then, each section of brightwork was refitted to the car in a specific order until the front of the classic Morris Minor Van looked near enough brand new.
The finishing touch was the new bright, shiny hubcaps.
The paint and body teams at Bridge Classic Cars have been busy preparing the body and panels of the 1987 Daimler Double Six for the final stages of high build primer.
The classic Daimler, which is in with our restoration teams, has been worked on extensively by our paint and body team to get the classic saloon in to perfect condition before the first layers of paint. The body shop have meticulously sanded down, cleaned and prepared each individual part at every stage of its journey into the in-house paint booth.
This step, which is one of the final stages before colour, is the use of high build primer on all panels and in all visible areas or areas which have been worked own by the body and fabrication teams including the inside of the door jams and the all important in arches. With the high build primer now on the car, it will be taken back out of the oven to be inspected and any adjustments made before the next stage begins.
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