DVLA have made changes to the legalities of black and silver number plates as of 1st January 2021. In their statement, they’ve said; “The change seeks to prevent any vehicle constructed after 1 January 1980 from the ability to display the black and silver number plate despite being recorded in the DVLA’s historic tax class. Those vehicles with a construction date prior to 1 January 1980 will continue to be able to legally display black and silver number plates to avoid any undue costs of replacement.”
From “1st January it will no longer be permissible to fix a new number plate displaying a Euro symbol. Number plates already fixed to vehicles are unaffected. We will also be introducing a new British Standard for number plates produced from 1 September 2021 which will mean all current style number plates that are first fixed to a vehicle from that date must meet the technical requirements contained in that standard.”
It goes without saying, 2020 has been tough for everyone but there have been some positives! Bridge Classic Cars turned 16, we welcomed in more unique and interesting cars, expanded the team and took new ventures.
2020’s Winners
This year we introduced our competitions back in May. With an uncertain year ahead of us, we wanted to provide some excitement to our followers, and what better way than to offer the chance of winning a car for less than £20! It wasn’t easy at first, but now with over 21 winners and up to 4 competition cars running at the same time, we’re doing better than ever. So far we’ve given away £561,197.00 worth of classic cars!
This week we’re delivering our latest winning cars, our 1974 VW Beetle that was won by Colin Knight and our 1995 Jaguar XJ6 who was won by Nick Nicola just before Christmas! We’re being careful to make the delivery as safe as possible, complying with tier 4 guidelines but we can’t wait to see Colin and Nick’s reactions!
1967 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 Race Car Replica Completion
Its been a long restoration, but we were delighted to announce the completion of our very own project, our 1967 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 Race Car Replica. Its come a long way from the decrepit shell we started with in 2017. Every detail, right down to the colour has been custom made and designed. This truly is a Bridge Classic Car. You can see it’s story here.
The Year Of The Jensen
We love every and any classic car and are in turn, we’re equipped to fix and restore any classic too, but 2020 for us was the year of the Jensen. We’ve had eight 541R/541S’s in this year, some of which are still with us being completed. With only 193 Jensen 541R’s and 127 541S’s ever made worldwide, to have so many in at all really is outstanding, let alone all at the same time.
The 541R models were manufactured between 1957 and 1960 when they were later replaced by the 541S that ran from 1960 to 1962. Whilst each car is incredibly unique with its story and bespoke restoration, they are also very similar, and as you can imagine, with 8 very similar cars in at the same time, it took a while to get our heads around which was which when referring to them.
Expanding the team
2020 saw the birth of the Trim Shop. Whilst we’d had individual trim specialists working with us before, we were yet to dedicate a department to it! Last year saw the creation of the Trim Shop, giving the speciality its own workshop and team which continued to grow throughout the year. Originally just Kath and Brian, we have welcomed a new face to the team recently. Lydia has now joined us and is another much-valued member of the trim shop. Having our own trim department allows us to continue keeping all our restorations under one roof, limiting the outsourcing as much as we can.
We’ve also had Ellie join this year, adding to the marketing department. Previously we had just Freddie, and briefly Charlotte doing our marketing, but as the company started to grow, we found the need to take on another set of hands for our marketing and visuals.
One of a kind – Chevron B20
We’ve had some very unique cars in this year, including this original 1972 Chevron B20. Its seen top racing drivers, international races and a big crash in its lifetime and nowWe’re selling this on behalf of the owner but in the meantime, we’re enjoying housing this incredible special car. You can find out more about its history on our blogs.
Introduction of editorial shoots
The latter part of this year saw us start shooting some of our cars in a more editorial and creative style. Whilst we’ve always organised high-quality shoots of all our competition and for sale cars, we decided to add models to some of the shoots to make them a bit different.
Now we have both Freddie and Ellie on shoots, it means we can also get behind the scene insights into our shoots.
Bespoke restorations; A tribute
Another interesting and heartfelt restoration this year was our 1972 Jaguar E-Type Series 3 that we restored. In memory of their late uncle, the owner paid to have a commemorative plaque fitted by the handbrake. We also embedded one of their Uncle’s favourite cufflinks above it as well. As we always say, each restoration is special and every car carries its own stories, but this one was particularly special.
Car Show 2020
Last January, we had our open morning car show that proved to be incredibly popular. After having to cancel our 2021 January open morning show, we hope to organise one for later this year.
2020 has been a challenge for us all. Nobody has been able to avoid the immense challenges that Covid-19 has presented. So how could we not only adapt, but thrive during a Global pandemic?
This year we’ve seen 11 Jensen’s pass through our Classic Car workshop. Having built up a superb reputation for Jensen 541 restorations, we are now one of the most prolific Jensen 541 restorers worldwide. Our expert team of classic car technicians have continued to uphold our incredibly high standards for quality, even with so many disruptions this year.
Formerly specialising solely in the sale and restoration of classic cars, we have had to adapt to an increasingly challenging economic landscape. With 90 percent of our workforce unable to work. Craig and Freddie fast-tracked the launch of Bridge Classic Cars Competitions. Fortunately the launch of our competitions couldn’t have come at a better time. In preparation since January 2020, we were planning to launch a completely new division to the business, for quite some time. We seized the extra time we suddenly have an with the first national lockdown on the 16th March began work on the new division of Bridge Classic Cars.
Bridge Classic Cars Competitions has been hugely successful. We’ve harnessed the power of social media as our primary marketing source and increased our monthly social media impressions from a few thousand users to over 1.4 million unique users every month, reaching classic car enthusiasts across the UK with industry leading innovative digital media advertising campaigns. This has allowed us to move our physical face-to-face car sales into an online space.
Charlotte, friend of Bridge Classic Cars, talented presenter and face of Bridge Classic Cars competitions has connected with classic car enthusiasts across the country in regular live videos. She’s brought an incredible warmth and energy to our brand.
Our customers have won their dream cars by purchasing tickets which cost just a few pounds, changing their lives forever. Here is the moment Colin, winner of our 1966 Ford mustang Competition saw his car for the first time
Our success has been recognised by industry professionals, having recently been named Classic Car Restoration Specialists of the Year at the London and South East Prestige awards from Corporate LiveWire.
We have also been awarded both Best Classic Vehicle Restoration and Maintenance Company and Innovation in Automotive Marketing 2020 at Corporate Vision’s Global Automotive Awards.
We would like to thank you, the classic car community reading this. Our successes are nothing without this community. We are so immensely proud of the wonderful group of enthusiasts we have following our journey and it is with great excitement we anticipate the re-introduction of in-person meetings. But until we meet again, we hope you all stay safe, stay well and we look forward to a brighter future.
As we prepare to shut for Christmas, our workshop team are doing a thorough festive clean. Although we always keep our workspaces clean and sanitised, spending extra time on Friday afternoons, we know it’s essential to give our workshop a deep clean before we head home.
We couldn’t forget to share with you Rosie looking very festive! There’s no need for reindeer here as we’ve got plenty horsepower between all our cars, but we do have the important edition of a Christmas pup who provides festive cheer whilst we prepare the workshop for Christmas closure. You can see our opening times here.
December 24, 2020 12:12 pmPublished by Craig Ranson
The front suspension is back together on our 1958 Jensen 541R. The modifications have concluded with the brake flex pipe has been relocated to avoid touching the wheel.
The suspension spring strength had to be reduced to allow work to be done on it to ensure the component wasn’t under too much pressure.
December 24, 2020 9:14 amPublished by Craig Ranson
The Lada 1200 has had new seat belts added in the back. Our technician Paul has also modified the exhaust rear box to make it shorter as the original, which you cannot buy anymore, was too long.
December 23, 2020 5:34 pmPublished by Craig Ranson
We know this year has presented some challenging and difficult times for everyone but we wanted to say thank you to all our clients and followers who have continued to support us and keep up to date with our projects. With more areas in the South East going into Tier 4 soon, we hope everyone will keep safe.
With only 2 sleeps until Christmas, we want to let you know that our workshop will be closed from 24th December at 5 pm to 4th January 2021. You can still reach us via our phone number over the festive period if needed.
But until then, have a wonderful Christmas and a happy, and healthy, new year! We’ll be back in the office bright and early on the 4th of January.
December 23, 2020 4:19 pmPublished by Craig Ranson
The suspension on the front of our 1958 541R Jensen is currently being tweaked. The bushings need to be reamed and resized so they fit better. For this, we’re sending the parts away to be completed.
December 22, 2020 4:06 pmPublished by Craig Ranson
Our poor little 1934 Austin Seven Nippy has had some mysterious leaks. The previous engineer had welded the metal and covered the suspected leaking area with sealant. Unfortunately the sealant had not stood the test of time and came off when we were cleaning the engine.
We want to go the next step and discover why the engine is leaking. Our engine specialist Ady aims to coat the inside with a red sealant spray. The purpose of using a red spray is that it will seep through any cracks and identify precisely where the damage is. From there we can weld only the areas needing it rather than a general area.
December 22, 2020 3:54 pmPublished by Craig Ranson
The clutch pedal had worn where the clevis pin goes through which allowed for too much movement on the pedal, so the clutch was not releasing as it should.
The remedy was to weld up the elongated slot and re-drill it to the correct size, unfortunately, the whole pedal box had to be removed to do this operation.
The next step is to test the clutch and check its ready to hit the road again!
December 22, 2020 3:29 pmPublished by Craig Ranson
Great to see the 1967 Austin Mini 850 we worked on making progress back at Electric Classic Cars! Here they show the gear shifter going through forward, neutral and reverse gears in the Tesla powered mini
The Mini came in earlier in the year needing bodywork restoration and a fresh lick of paint.
Supercar Blondie has recently shared a video on Facebook of the James Bond limited edition Goldfinger Aston Martin DB5 that comes with functioning gadgets. In her walkaround, she takes a look at each element of this epic car, which can be bought for a small price of $4million.
Only 25 of these cars have been made and all of them were snapped up straight away, unsurprisingly.
You can see the full YouTube version of Supercar Blondie’s review here:
The DB5 comes with a rear smoke screen and oil slick delivery system, revolving license plates, simulated front machine guns, a bullet resistant rear shield, simulated tire slasher, radar system and a removable passenger seat roof panel as well as many more other gadgets. It really is every child’s dream come true.
It comes as no surprise to find that due to its low level of emissions control and added gadgets, it isn’t road legal, however, if you were to illegally drive it on public roads, you’ll be wanting to take full advantage of those revolving number plates…
With 2020 being a strange, difficult and particularly stationary year for many, we thought we’d set our sights on the new year. To get your petrol head wanderlust minds ticking, we wanted to take a look at some epic road trips, from small and local to long and international. There’s something here for everyone.
When it comes to road trips, there are various ways you may choose to go about it. Some plan theirs around motoring events or cultural checkpoints, others may be all about the landscape of the journey. You may plan your trip with a certain car in mind or with the location taking centre stage. But however you go about it, you’re in for a memory making experience.
Through the Dragon’s Heart: Llandrillo to Llandudno.
We start with a short and sweet route, however, it is not one to be overlooked. Travelling from Llandrillo to Llandudno passing through Snowdonia via the mountainous A55 really is a pass straight through the dragon’s heart. As you wind your way through Snowdonia National park, you’ll encounter rolling hills, might peaks, glacial lakes and darling villages. Stopping off in Cym Idwal for a walk around the lake or up into the peaks is a well-advised stop off. Additionally, taking a lunch break in Betws Y Coed to see Swallow Falls. Finishing in Llandudno rewards you with a traditional seafront, local ice-cream and tea shops, but for the more adventurous, I’d advise driving to the top of the Great Orme where you will be greeted with a stunning view-point. As you wind your way around the limestone headland, you’ll see everything from seals to daring climbing who teeter off ledges above your motor. This route treats you with views that vary from mountains to seaside, with chances to both hike and eat.
At 42 miles long, its another short and sweet road trip. Rather than the more open roads of Snowdonia, this pass travels through Derbyshire’s section of the Peak District. You’ll be experiencing tight turns and forest framed tarmac that leads you through the Pennines and Ladybower Reservoir. Following the A57 you can expect magnificent views of the National Trust’s High Peak Estate.
French Riviera to Monaco
From glamorous cities to white sand beaches, this route gives you the best of both worlds. Great food, fine wine, European high culture and the mecca of European motorists: Monaco. This route is around 76 miles and can be done in less than a week, leaving time to explore all major locations. Recommended by Vogue, it goes without saying that this trip is filled with stunning visuals worthy of gracing any classic car wing mirror.
Starting in Nice, you could take the quicker mountainous Grande Corniche to Monaco, or if you have time, take the Basse Corniche, the longer coastal route. Once you’ve arrived in Monaco, visiting the Monaco Top Cars Collection and Saint Nicholas Cathedral must be among your top stops. From Monaco, head to Cannes where you can then visit the Lerins Islands. From Cannes, head down to Saint Tropez to enjoy the stunning white sand beaches and crisp blue waters. If you can afford a longer route, head up to Verdon Gorge before heading back down to the coast. This stunning river canyon is well worth the detour.
Portugal to Morocco
If you’re after some sand, sun and wine, then Portugal to Morocco is the way to go. Beginning in Porto and finishing in Tangier, there’s plenty in-between to keep your taste buds going. This is the ideal classic car road trip, with fine wines and great cheeses on the agenda. You’ll need 10-14 days for this trip but it’s well worth the expedition. Travel 42 miles from Porto to Amarante to experience some fines wines and excellent cheeses. Then head to Figueira Da Foz, another 118 miles where you’ll find a bustling coast, ideal for surfers. The next stop takes you 90 miles down the road to Perniche where you can indulge in fresh seafood and a walled historic centre. Travel onwards to Ericeira, another 60 miles where you’ll find a natural harbour between Cascais and Peniche that holds 30-metre high sandstone cliffs and more stunning beaches. From here, travel to Lisbon to discover stunning white-domed cathedrals and bohemian bars. Get back on the road and travel s170 miles south to Algarve where you can explore Cliff Richards wine estate; Quinta Do Miradouro. Algarve to Algeciras is the longest stretch of 235 miles where upon arrival, you can explore more beautiful beaches before taking the ferry to Tangier, Morroco, which serves as a warm introduction to Afro-Arabic culture.
You can see other classic car recommended road trips here.
Route 66
One of the most famous road trips of all time is well worth experiencing. The majority of Route 66 is still accessible and it’s decorated with motels, diners and gas stations. This route, although accessible to any vehicle, is best experienced in an American motor or beat generation VW Camper. Starting in Chicago and taking the highway through Chicago, Pontiac, Springfield, St Louis, Oklahoma City, Amarillo, Albuquerque, Winslow, The Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Joshua Tree, Palm Springs and ending in Los Angeles. This route is the perfect mix between open sky country and historic cities. You’ll experience national parks, bustling cities and beautiful coastlines of LA.
Travellers are advised to stick to Spring or Autumn to avoid summertime ’66 traffic. Guidebooks and maps are essential for this trip as satnavs have been known to lead people astray. This 2,448-mile trip is best enjoyed over 3-4 weeks however you can opt to just explore sections of Route 66 for a shorter road trip.
The Epic Overland: UK to Singapore
This 11,806-mile trip is not for the faint-hearted. This route can be done from London to Singapore or in reverse from Singapore to London in an alternative route. It follows in the footsteps of the historic ‘First Overland’ expedition in 1955 done in a Land Rover 86″ station wagon by the Oxford and Cambridge Far Eastern Expedition team. This epic road trip was the first of its kind and a publicity stunt done by Land Rover in support of their Series One Station Wagons. The original route passed through France, Monaco, Germany, Austria, Yugoslavia, Greece, Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Burma, Thailand, Malaya and Singapore
This iconic expedition was recently recreated in reverse where a modern team ventured from Singapore to London.
Although originally done in a Land Rover, this route could be tackled in any car however a sturdy 4×4 is advised.
The Pan-American Highway
Last but by no means least is the Pan-American Highway. Stretching from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, to Ushuaia, Argentina, this road trip is an epic 30,000 miles. The highway is the worlds longest motorable road and is made up of a network of roads crossing through The USA, Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile and Argentina. You can see a more in-depth look at the route here.
There are many other epic road trips such as Cairo to Capetown, Cairns to Brisbane, and John O’Groats to Landsend. Whether its a modern car or a timeless classic you’re wanting to take on your adventure, the road is out there.
December 21, 2020 3:54 pmPublished by Craig Ranson
We’re delighted to see that our treasured 1967 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 Race Car has been featured in Car and Classic’s recent online magazine as well as listed on their for sale section.
This beautifully written article by Chris Pollitt really does highlight the hard work our team put into our Jaguar E-Type project.
We, of course, love this car but it’s even more rewarding to see others appreciate it. We hope that from this, our Jaguar will soon make its way to a new home.
If you’re interested in purchasing it, you can see more about its specifications here.
“The build, which was complete this year, took over three years in total. This is down to the fastidious nature of the team at Bridge, and also the desire for this car to be perfect, not rushed.”
“It’s become more than just an E Type. It’s something more. Something exciting, something unique and something so loaded with personality and character it makes other E Types look… muted?”
December 21, 2020 12:38 pmPublished by Craig Ranson
Our 1957 Grey Jensen 541R has had its dash pad rail, roof pad and boot refurbished by our specialists in the trim shop.
Brian has removed the old cover of the dash rail, added more foam and wadding, glued on a new cover, added leather around the brackets and fit it all back onto the dash board.
The ceiling pad has also been refurbished. The old cover has been removed, as have the brackets and vinyl. New wadding has been glued into place over the original foam. Fresh vinyl has been cut and glued on, the edges folded over and the brackets refitted. Once these steps were completed, the ceiling pad was fitted back in again.
The boot lid has had new foam added into its indentations. The carpet has been glued onto the boot lid, leaving holes for the boot support rods and latch.
December 21, 2020 11:48 amPublished by Craig Ranson
Receiving letters like the one below is what makes all our hard work even more worth it. We took on Mike’s lovely 1960 MG A in 2019 as a barn find. In just over a year, we restored it back to its original beauty. Hearing Mike’s story is a treasured reminder of how each and every classic car comes full of fond memories and stories, and it’s our job to keep these vehicles going so they can collect more stories.
The letter reads:
Dear Gordon and Craig,
There are few things in life more gratifying than to sit behind the wheel of your first car, 50 years later and to experience once again the thrill of a 19 year old!
In little over a year, you have transformed my MGA from a wreck into a beautiful machine. I appreciate very much the work you have done for me.
With my thanks and very best wishes,
Mike
P.s Please do post this on your website if you wish.
You can see here what the MG A looked like when we found it and what it looked like afterwards, as well as some sentimental photos of it back in the day.
December 21, 2020 10:43 amPublished by Craig Ranson
It’s Monday meaning it’s time for another Meet The Team instalment! This week we chat to Mauro about what got him into cars.
Mauro’s beginnings with mechanics began from a young age. His father owned a garage where a young Mauro would watch and learn about mechanics. Learning to walk around cars meant that the fascination for cars was imprinted from a young age.
Mauro tells us that he not only grew up watching his father fix cars but also got involved, “I was 5 when I drove my first car and crashed my first car at 9”, he laughs.
“I would go to school with car supplies in my backpack” Mauro explains.
Mauro went on to work for his father’s garage for around 12 years after he left school however they then parted ways and Maurot then got into driving lorries. Mauro’s career in lorry driving took him around Portugal and Spain, driving for transport and logistics companies.
When Mauro came to the UK, he continued to drive lorries for a number of different companies until he saw a job advert for Bridge Classic Cars. At first, he didn’t apply despite being interested but fate meant he saw another advert a year later and decided to go for it. With plenty of experience fixing cars and continuous personal projects, it made sense for Mauro to join our team of technicians in 2019.
“I love to drive. That’s it, I love driving.”
Mauro tells us he’s always had his own projects on the go, buying cars, fixing them up and then selling them on. Mauro’s current project is a Ford F100, an iconic American pick-up truck. “I love American cars, you grow up seeing them on TV so you want them”.
The intricacy of taking cars apart and reassembling them again is what Mauro enjoys the most, “I like to learn everything I can.”
“Over lock down I kept busy by fixing cars in my spare time”.
Mauro has also been the inspiration for our classic car competitions after he won a Mitsubishi Evolution 8 from Dream Car Giveaways.
Mauro’s dream car is a new Nissan GTR, a high-performance sports car and grand tourer.
“I love to drive” Mauro ends with. “That’s it, I just love to drive.”. Mauro explains that he’d love to do a road trip around Europe.
Much like our other Meet The Team instalments, we end with the technicians ‘birth year’ car, a car that hit the scenes in their year. Following Mauro’s love for American cars, we’ve chosen the 1981 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28.
December 21, 2020 9:43 amPublished by Craig Ranson
We discovered what seems to be a wiring issue in the engine of our 1988 Nissan 300ZX. After taking an intensive look, Ady diagnosed the problem to possibly be a cold starting issue with the choke. Although this is situated in the engine, it’s more of an electrics issue.
More news to follow!
December 18, 2020 2:59 pmPublished by Craig Ranson
Our beautiful Gold and Burgundy 1962 Jensen 541S is now finished and will return back to its owner this weekend. We’re delighted at how shiny and new this Jensen looks again!
Our Jensen empire, once standing at a grand total of 8 is now beginning to decrease again.
December 18, 2020 12:59 pmPublished by Craig Ranson
The Black 1960 Jensen 541R is now up and running for the first time. Our workshop manager, John, took it out for a quick spin to see how it runs and determine what needs to happen next.
After taking it for a spin, all that’s left now is to fine tune the clutch, set up the carburettors and ensure the coolant flows well. This beautiful Jensen is nearly completed and we’re all very excited to see it finished and on the road.
December 17, 2020 4:09 pmPublished by Craig Ranson
Our new competition car, the 1979 Chevrolet Corvette has come into the workshop for a small repair. We discovered there was an issue with the power steering wherein a leak had occurred. This was easily resolved by replacing cutting off the cracked part of the hose and reinstalling it as the component was long enough already to amend.
December 16, 2020 12:19 pmPublished by Craig Ranson
We’ve had this 1954 Jaguar MKVII arrive in need of a re-wire and re-spray in order for it to leave feeling and looking brand new! Currently stored up at our hanger, this lovely Jaguar will be coming into the workshop soon.
December 16, 2020 12:11 pmPublished by Craig Ranson
The 504 has had its final checks and tuning before its test run. These final tweaks are to ensure that the car is running smoothly however it’s not uncommon for test drives to uncover more smaller issues. Fingers crossed it passes with flying colours!
December 16, 2020 11:47 amPublished by Craig Ranson
Our Peony Red 1960 Jensen 541S is getting closer and closer to evolving into a beautiful Peony Red classic. Before it can be painted, our workshop technicians Paul and Scott are assembling and fitting the parts before its sent back to the Fabrication bay for it to be properly fitted.
Once the fabrication bay has finished with the body work, it’ll be placed in the capable hands of our paint shop pro, Darren, who will begin the paint and prep process.
Here’s a reminder of the colours we’ve chosen for our Peony Red Jensen. It’s going to be dual-toned, with a grey roof and peony red body. These are the colours requested by the client.
December 16, 2020 10:55 amPublished by Craig Ranson
Our 1984 Lada 1200 has just come out of the fabrication bay where it has undergone some TLC to address its corrosion issues. The sills, floor and underside have been cleaned and an oil wax has been applied to preserve the bodywork. There are still a few more corrections to be done before its ready to go however it’s currently awaiting an exhaust repair.
Our Lada is currently awaiting a new exhaust which should arrive today. Once we have the correct parts, our technicians can start to replace the exhaust.
December 16, 2020 10:29 amPublished by Craig Ranson
What better way to float along the road, than in your Willow Gold Rolls Royce Corniche.
A month or so back we went out to Hintlesham Hall to shoot this stunning Rolls Royce Corniche which we currently have listed for sale.
Sympathetically restored by Bridge Classic Cars’ master vehicle technicians, any poor condition metalwork has been replaced with fresh metal, prior to a full respray. We repainted the car in original Willow Gold but opted to complement this with dual-tone Wendy Brown lower sections.
The interior is a lovely place to be and we have completed no works in this area. The Magnolia seats piped in brown and the woodwork is aged to compliment the whole car. Comes with lambswool over mats. It also has the benefit of LPG but we have not tested this and it will be tested prior to sale. If required, we can remove the LPG system.
The 8-track player and radio are in situ.
The engine and gearbox are superb. There are no unwanted noises from anywhere on this car. She is silky smooth and changes gear effortlessly.
Although not required, it will be MOT’d prior to collection after sale. She has an extensive history and has covered just 71,000 miles from new.
Mechanics and engineering has always traditionally been a male dominated industry but Laura Kennedy from Spanners With Manners has broken the mould.
Laura founded London’s first all-female garage with the vision to make the industry more inclusive
Laura talks in her interview about struggling to be accepted onto apprenticeship schemes due to her gender and discovering unjust pay gaps despite her qualifications. “There’s been a lot of sexism in the workplace,” Laura explains.
When the owner of the car sales and repairs company that she worked for told her that he wanted to retire, she took the move to create her own inclusive all-female garage with the aim to create a space for female mechanics to learn and customers to visit.
Creating an environment for people to learn is an important part of progressing the car engineering industry as many parts of the trade would otherwise die out if skills weren’t passed down. Equally creating a friendly and open space for clients to feel that they are welcome is just as important. Taking this approach to engineering in turn encourages the clients to get more involved with their cars and the industry as it becomes more accessible.
Caroline’s Cars in Norwich was the first all female garage in the UK and took pride in being a female run and owned company. Although it has sadly shut down this year, it had been running since 2003 and strove to increase diversity and equality in the car engineering industry. In the Engineering UK report of 2018, it stated that 12.37% of engineers are women, with hopes that the figure will rise with more businesses like Spanners With Manners and Caroline’s Cars.
December 15, 2020 11:50 amPublished by Craig Ranson
Our 1963 Morris Minor 1000 is also in its last stages of restoration. We’re currently adjusting the suspension and applying some final tweaks to the mechanics.
The Morris has also had a new Engine Stabiliser installed which stops the engine from moving. The old element had deteraireted over time so we replaced it with a brand new component.
December 15, 2020 9:58 amPublished by Craig Ranson
Our 1958 541R Navy Jensen is almost ready to leave again. We’re currently waiting for the wheel to come back after being cleaned as its currently sitting in overspray. We also have a few paint corrections to finish and polish as well as road testing it.
We’ve serviced it for some general faults too which we are waiting on approval or dismissal from the customer. These are faults we’ve found that don’t need immediate attention but could be corrected with a service.
December 15, 2020 9:33 amPublished by Craig Ranson
Fernando Alonso wowed audiences this weekend with his demonstration lap in his 2005 R25 v10 Formula 1 car that won him the 2005 world championship.
Viewers who found the weekends race otherwise fairly tame counted Alonso’s appearance as the highlight of their F1 experience.
2005 was the last era of V10 before Formula 1 moved to the more efficient Turbo Charged V8’s. The newer V8 engines are quieter, smaller and more efficient than their raucous 2005 predecessors however they don’t carry the same iconic roar.
Alonso suggested that the screaming v10 engine is what modern F1 is missing, as it evokes such emotions with its sound that the new machinery cannot match.
“It is something that we are missing honestly,” Alonso said after his lap.
“I think not only the fans, everyone in the paddock, we miss the sound. We miss the Formula 1 that we got in love with when we were kids and we were watching television.
“So now, to witness this car at this circuit, I think it was pretty special for everyone in the paddock.”
Alonso’s demonstration lap stood as a powerful sign off for the last race of the season. In a tweet on Saturday, Alonso expressed his excitement for the car and for his return with newly re-named Renault next year.
This car still sooooo fast. Now with the slick tires even more. What a feeling. What a weekend it will be. More laps tomorrow. Best way to Thank @RenaultF1Team for this era ,and Welcome Alpine @alpine_cars for the future 💙 #f1#v10#Renault#Alpine#RSspiritpic.twitter.com/0ubBkR7ANP
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