Search
Close this search box.
My Account
My Account

classic car specialists

Coming Together

January 12, 2023

Our 2022 Bridge C-type Replica has been making good progress recently. Our team of classic car technicians have been busy putting everything together and this

Read More »

An Early Rolls Royce

January 18, 2023

On a visit to the Manchester Science and Industry Museum, we were drawn to the exhibit on Rolls Royce.

In particular, we were very excited to see one of the very first Rolls-Royce motorcars ever built. Dating back to 1905, this very special classic car is one of only three built and is believed to have been owned and driven by Henry Royce himself before it was eventually sold in 1906.

It was a great experience to see this stunning car up close and to see one of the first cars that led to Rolls-Royce being the well-known car manufacturer that it is today.

Henry Royce certainly took what he said and built his company around it:

“Take the best that exists and make it better. When it does not exist, design it.”

We couldn’t have said it better ourselves!

Coming Together

January 12, 2023

Our 2022 Bridge C-type Replica has been making good progress recently.

Our team of classic car technicians have been busy putting everything together and this very special vehicle is starting to take shape.

Despite there still being quite a bit more work to do, it is already very obvious that this is an extremely exciting and great-looking car!

Ipswich To Felixstowe Rally

December 12, 2022

We will be joining the annual rally from Christchurch park in Ipswich to the Felixstowe seafront alongside up to 700 other cars.

This annual event organised by the Ipswich Transport Museum has been running for decades and has been delighting crowds waving from the roadside en route for its entirety.

Following a covid led hiatus, this event returned with gusto last year and was another great success.

The team here at Bridge Classic Cars can not wait to see all the cars in convoy.

For more information, please contact the Ipswich Transport Museum directly

Classic Car Specialists – Bridge Classic Cars

November 17, 2022

Bridge Classic Cars are classic car specialists. We have restored hundreds of classic cars since we first opened our doors back in 2004. Things are very different to how they were back then though.

Classic Car Restoration

Our roots are planted firmly in the world of classic car restoration. Our passion for classic vehicles runs deeply through every member of our workshop team.

We love all classic vehicles regardless of make and model. However, we have cemented ourselves as a world leader when it comes to restoring Jensen 541 models. Over the years, we have had more than 20 of these rare cars come into the workshop. Whether they have been full restorations or if we have been involved in other restoration work, we know the Jensen 541 extremely well.

It’s not just Jensen’s that we restore though. Our current projects include a wide range of classic vehicles and all are in the skilled hands of our classic car technicians.

With close to 400 years of automotive experience between them, even the classic vehicles we restore aren’t as old as the amount of time our technicians have been working on them!

Classic Car Specialists - Bridge Classic Cars Workshop
Classic Car Specialists - Bridge Classic Cars Workshop
Classic Car Specialists - Bridge Classic Cars Workshop

Classic Car Competitions

We pride ourselves on bringing a modern approach to the world of classic cars. We want future generations to look at classic vehicles the same way we do and we want them to find their own passion for them too.

At Bridge Classic Cars we want to make classic car ownership more accessible. That’s why we launched Bridge Classic Cars Competitions. Through this platform, more than £3 million worth of classic vehicles has been won by a wide range of people.

Owning a classic car is something that not everyone is able to do. Through our competitions, everyone has an equal chance of winning their very own classic car and experiencing everything that makes them so very special.

Bridge Classic Cars Competitions - classic car specialists
Bridge Classic Cars Competitions - classic car specialists
Bridge Classic Cars Competitions - classic car specialists

Bringing Classic Cars Into The Modern World

If you ask a classic car owner what makes a car a classic car, you will be given different answers by different people. For us, classic cars aren’t defined by age, they are defined by the feeling you get when you drive them, the craftsmanship that has gone into making them, and the passion you experience every time you see them.

It can be very hard to explain this to someone who has never been around a classic car. That’s why we are so much more than a restoration company, we are classic car specialists. We are bringing classic cars into the modern world.

Through our website, our social media channels, and being a visible presence at classic car shows around the country, we are helping a new generation of people fall in love with classics the same way we did.

We create written and video content that opens the classic car world up to a whole new audience. Not only do we live stream the draws for our competitions but we also create entertaining videos of all of our classic car adventures.

Bridge Classic Cars
Bridge Classic Cars
Bridge Classic Cars

Bridge Classic Cars – The Classic Car Specialists

Here at Bridge Classic Cars, we love classic cars. We love restoring them, we love driving them, and we love sharing them with as many people as possible.

We are playing our part in making sure that classic cars will be around for future generations to enjoy. As much as the world continues to move forward at pace, we believe there is a place for classic cars in the future.

Right now, we restore classic cars, we can offer classic car storage, and so much more.

As we continue to bring classic cars into the modern world, we are working on more events, more projects, and sharing as much classic car news as we can.

We Are Bridge Classic Cars

A Visit From Ed Stafford

November 15, 2022

We were lucky enough to welcome explorer and adventurer Ed Stafford to Bridge Classic Cars recently.

While he was here, Ed had a tour of the workshop, he spoke to some of the team about the work they do and some of the classic cars they have been working on, and he was also involved in one of our new projects which is coming very soon.

Everyone here really enjoyed Ed’s visit. He had lots of interesting stories to share, not only about his adventures, tv shows, and upcoming projects, but also about his 2015 Land Rover Defender 110 that was recently stolen and stripped.

Ed is currently working on rebuilding his Defender and, as there is still some cosmetic work to go, we hope to be able to help him out with this in the very near future.

We hope that Ed will be a regular face in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop and we look forward to welcoming him back in the new year.

A Day In The Life Of A Classic Car Technician

October 25, 2022

The classic car technicians here at Bridge Classic Cars spend their days working on a wide range of classic vehicles.

As quite a few of the classic cars that find themselves in the workshop are very rare, it’s not surprising that the technicians have to be creative, experienced, and highly skilled in what they do to make things come together as planned.

A classic car technician is able to look at a classic car in a seemingly ruined state and see beyond what is in front of them. They know how beautiful the shell of a vehicle once was and they know that they can return it to that condition again.

Working on such a range of classic cars provides a lot of challenges. From preparing a Jensen 541R for a repaint to trying to rebuild an ultra-rare 1905 Riley 9HP from pictures, each day provides new challenges, requires new skills, and a whole lot of passion for classic cars.

We are very lucky to have such experienced classic car technicians in our workshop. It’s only through years of experience that the team is able to restore some of the most beautiful, most challenging, and some extremely rare classic cars.

The Bridge Classic Cars workshop tends to be a pretty noisy place to be. Whether it’s the technicians sharing a joke, the body of a classic vehicle being worked on, or the sound of heated discussions about the best way of resolving one of the many problems that have to be faced every day. Whatever the cause of the noise, you can be sure it’s classic car related and that the classic car technicians are hard at work restoring a classic vehicle back to its former glory.

If you’ve never seen a classic car technician in action before, the below photos give just a little insight into what a “normal day” looks like for them.

Classic car technician Scott working on 1979 Arrow Ferrari Daytona
Classic car technician Rob working on Jensen 541R
Classic car technician John working on Morris Minor 1000

Classic Car Storage – How To Store Your Classic Car

October 12, 2022

Looking after a classic car brings some additional responsibilities than looking after a modern car. Something that you may not have considered is classic car storage.

With a newer car, you’ll likely be driving it on a regular basis. However, with a classic, it may be parked up for extended periods of time – over winter for example. Leaving a classic car to sit unprotected can have some very negative consequences. Issues such as rust, corrosion, parts seizing, dead batteries, and locked brakes to name just a few are fairly common.

If you are looking for ways to properly store your classic car, there are some things to keep in mind.

Store Your Classic Car In Your Garage

If you are fortunate enough to have a brick garage at home, then this is likely to be a very good place to store your classic car.

Brick buildings are very good at maintaining a stable temperature and keeping the environment relatively moisture-free. Both of these things are important if you want to prevent damage-causing condensation from forming during the colder months of the year.

Before storing your car in your garage, you will want to make sure any gaps are sealed. Big gaps under the door etc, should be covered to stop too much cold air from being able to make its way inside. You should also think about how secure your garage is. Upgrading your locks to a more robust system might be called for if you are worried about the security of your classic car in storage.

Storing your classic car in your garage is not always the best option for you though. Unless you have a window that you can open to improve air circulation, you might struggle to maintain a suitable storage environment. You will also need to look at the temperature. In particular, how much it fluctuates to avoid any heat/cold issues caused to your car.

Store Your Classic Car Outside

If you don’t have a garage to store your classic car in then you might choose to store it outside. If this is the case, you should ideally invest in a car cover that is perfectly suited to your vehicle. Finding the perfect car cover might not be possible though. If you are unable to find a cover that is the exact size of your car, then choose one that is slightly too big. You can use pegs (or similar) to secure it in place to make sure everything is suitably covered and protected.

When storing your classic car outside, it’s important to protect it from direct sunlight. It should also be protected from rain, bird mess, and pretty much any other form of moisture that could potentially damage it.

Lifting your car off the ground during outdoor storage can go a long way in protecting your tyres, wheels, and the underside of the vehicle too.

Use A Classic Car Storage Service

If you want to give your classic car the very best chance of being stored correctly, then using a classic car storage service will likely be your best option.

A professional car storage service can provide the best possible environment for safe and secure classic car storage.

If you’re looking for a car storage service, there are certain things that you should keep an eye out for:

  • Security – perhaps the biggest concern classic car owners have is the security of their vehicles. When in storage, ideally, the facility will offer 24-hour protection. This could be in the form of CCTV, manned patrols, and similar. If you can, full-time manned security will be something to look out for as a preferred method
  • Regular checks – it’s all well and good offering a secure facility to store your classic car but unless your storage provider is going to regularly check on your vehicle while it’s in their care, there’s still a real chance that you will get your vehicle back in a non-running state. Regular temperature, levels and pressures, as well as electrical and mechanical component checks, are the gold standard
  • Environment control – classic cars need lots of love and attention. Stable temperatures and humidity levels are needed, as are optimum air circulation and ventilation. Without this, your classic car could have to face less-than-ideal conditions while in storage.

Bridge Classic Cars Vehicle Storage Solutions

At Bridge Classic Cars, we are passionate about all things classic cars. That’s why we have a safe and secure vehicle storage facility.

Not only is The Hangar monitored by 24-hour security, but we also use Carcoons to make sure your beloved car is stored in the best possible environment. If that isn’t enough, the location of our storage facility is kept secret to avoid it getting too much attention.

As experts in classic car restoration, we have a team of highly skilled classic car technicians who will perform regular checks on cars in our care. We can even collect your car, store it, and deliver it back to you, ready to drive, whenever you choose.

More information about Bridge Classic Cars vehicle storage can be found here. Or you can contact us directly at 01473 742038 or by email at info@bridgeclassiccars.co.uk

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

What Makes A Car A Classic Car? There’s More To It Than Age!

September 29, 2022

If you want to get technical about it, then a car becomes a classic car somewhere between the age of 15 and 40 years old (depending on who you ask!) However, classic cars are more than just old cars. They are special cars. Classic cars are timeless cars, and it seems unfair to label them purely based on their age.

They Were Designed With Greater Freedom

You only have to look at classic vehicles such as our 1987 Lotus Excel or our 1970 MG C Roadster to see how impressive they are to look at. It doesn’t take an expert to see that they look quite different from some of the modern cars we see on the roads today too.

A classic car - 1987 Lotus Excel
A classic car - 1970 MG C Roadster

A big part of this is because classic cars were designed and built in a time when there was less of a focus on safety, emissions, and alike. Instead, it was all about making the car look good and giving the driver an experience they would hold on to anytime they got behind the wheel.

Modern car manufacturers have to compete with other leading car manufacturers. As a result, you get a lot of similar-looking cars. Back when classic cars were built though, designers could break the mould and let their imagination and creativity run wild.

You Can Look After Them Yourself (Sometimes)

This isn’t always true as, sometimes, you will need the assistance of a classic car technician. This is particularly the case if you are trying to restore a classic car. If this is something you are thinking about, it’s well worth working with the highly trained and highly skilled technicians at Bridge Classic Cars to give you a helping hand with your latest restoration project.

A classic car technician at work
A classic car technician working on an MG B GT

However, If you have some level of mechanical knowledge, you might be surprised at how much you can repair, replace, or improve on a classic vehicle. Modern cars tend to be full of complicated electrics, and manufacturer-specific parts. This usually means that nothing can be replaced without plugging the car into a laptop first. Classic cars don’t need any of that.

With traditional tools, a skilled classic car technician can strip and rebuild most components of a classic car. They will be able to do this without a laptop or specialist tool in sight.

They Were Built By Hand

Perhaps one of the most important factors to consider when deciding if a car is a classic or not is whether it was built by human hands or by a machine.

True classic cars would have, at least in part, been built by hand. This is something that can never be replicated by machines. As every hand-built car will have minor differences, each one will be as unique as the people who own them.

When we are working on restoring classic cars, our technicians don’t just rely on made-to-order parts. They fabricate their own to make sure everything fits perfectly and things look exactly how they should.

What Makes A Car A Classic Car?

Sometimes, a car will be deemed a classic or not based on its age (for insurance purposes, etc). However, true classic car enthusiasts know that there is much more to it than that.

Classic cars feel different, look different, and give you an entirely different driving experience. Some modern cars are great. There’s just something about classic cars that makes you want to get back behind the wheel time and time again.

New Into The Workshop – 2000 TVR Chimaera 450

September 23, 2022

It’s always an exciting time when we see the arrival of a new car into our workshop. One of the most recent additions is our 2000 TVR Chimaera 450 in blue.

Once we have finished lovingly staring at this beautiful classic car, our classic car technicians will take control of it in order to inspect and assess its current condition.

While this classic car is with us, it will undergo a full MOT and service, have a new induction hose fitted, and our classic car technicians will investigate an issue with the radiator fan that is causing it to run continuously.

This looks to be an exciting project for Bridge Classic Cars, so expect plenty of updates very soon.

Gaining Access To Corrosion Areas On The 1986 Daimler DS420

September 22, 2022

The team of classic car technicians at Bridge Classic Cars found some areas of corrosion on our 1986 Daimler DS420 a little while ago.

In order to fully inspect all of the corrosion areas, the team have had to gain access to some tricky parts of the car.

Recently, the servo was removed to give our classic car technicians better access to specific areas of corrosion. Once removed, work could begin to resolve some of the corrosion issues as the Daimler continues its journey of restoration.

Working On The 1979 Arrow Ferrari Daytona

September 22, 2022

Scott, one of our classic car technicians, has been hard at work on the restoration of our 1979 Arrow Ferrari Daytona.

From having his head under the bonnet to being under the car itself (and everywhere else in between), Scott continues to restore this incredible car so it can be back on the road where it belongs.

A Classic Car Technician In Action – 1978 MG B GT

September 22, 2022

There has been a lot of work completed on our 1978 MG B GT to get it into its current state.

As it continues to be beautifully restored here at Bridge Classic Cars, our classic car technicians, like Rob, can always be seen working hard to lovingly bring this classic car back to all of its former glory.

Fitting vinyl to interior section

September 15, 2022

The vinyl interior section are now being templated, cut out, glued and shaped into position on our 1958 Jensen 541R.

The dash, A posts and parcel shelf are now all in position.

SOLD through MyClassics.co.uk: 1950 Land Rover Series 1

September 14, 2022

Another lovely classic car has been sold through our new classic car sales platform, MyClassics.co.uk . MyClassics is a completely free sales platform designed for the classic car enthusiast by classic car enthusiasts.

It’s easy to see why this classic Land Rover sold so quickly. The chassis is in amazing condition and the vehicle has a warm, charming patina fitting for that of the original go-anywhere, do-anything workhorse.

If you are in the market to either buy or sell a classic car, be sure to head to MyClassics.co.uk .

Fixed – Repairs and Undersealing on the 1969 Morris Minor Convertible

September 9, 2022

The 1969 Morris Minor Convertible has been back up on the ramps at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop to have a few key jobs sorted out.

The first was to cut out and repair a small rust hole in the underside of the car. Our technician Dave carefully made a patch panel to perfectly fit the car before full welding it in and grinding back.

Once that was complete then the team could begin spraying the underseal to keep the underside of the car in perfect order.

Together – 1958 Jensen 541R In Full Bodywork

September 9, 2022

The 1958 Jensen 541R has worked on getting all the panels onto the car to double-check fitment after paint.

The team have put the one-piece clamshell bonnet and both doors and boot lid onto the classic GT cars to begin adjusting and checking over everything to make sure there’s no interference and damage any of the paintwork.

It’s incredible to see the car together as a whole and see all of the various lines and curves which blend into one another on the body of the car.

Refinish – 1981 MG B GT LE Repainted After Bodywork

September 9, 2022

The Bridge Classic Cars paint and body team have finished with the complete repaint of the 1981 MG B GT LE.

Following its time with the fabrication team, the body was worked on and perfected by the body prep specialist before being taken into our in-house paint booth/oven. The team then laid down several coats of stunning brilliant silver to get the bodywork and paintwork looking absolutely perfect.

Winner – 1960 Jensen 541S ‘Peony’ Wins at Classic at Glemham 2022

September 9, 2022

The 1960 Jensen 541S ‘Peony’ which was restored by the Bridge Classic Cars in-house team has won Best Restored Car at Classic at Glemham 2022.

It’s amazing to see the reception and accolades that this particular Jensen has been chalking up since being completed by the workshop here at our Suffolk HQ. We can’t wait to see what it does next!

Winners Circle – Winners of the 1997 Rover Mini Come to Meet Their Car

September 9, 2022

We welcomed David and Bonnie to the Bridge Classic Cars Suffolk HQ to meet their new classic! The 1997 Rover Mini.

We couldn’t wait to see their reaction to meeting the bright red Mini in the flesh and it didn’t disappoint.

We want to wish them both many happy and safe miles with the little Mini and can’t wait to see the adventures it goes on.

In Order – Fitting and Fixing Trim Pieces on the 1978 MG B GT

September 9, 2022

The workshop team at Bridge Classic Cars has been working their way through several pieces of trim on the 1978 MG B GT.

This is a full ground-up restoration on the classic MG B, so the team is going through every single piece on the car, starting with the quarter light window.

The team have been repairing the mountings for the quarter light window which Rob has carefully cleaned up and replaced the hardware and get fitted back into the car after cleaning up and polishing the brightwork.

With the window frame now complete in place, Rob could fit up the door cap onto the door.

Then, it was time to get the rear bumpers back together. Each of the pieces has been inspected and test fit before being finally built up and installed onto the car.

Finishing Touches – Finishing The Seat Pockets and Rear Seat Bases on the 1958 Jensen 541R

September 9, 2022

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

The team have been working on finishing up the amazing fluted rear seat bases. Each line of the fluting has been carefully stitched by hand by Lydia closely following the original as a reference. The covers are now finished and stretched around the bases.

After that, Lydia could work on getting the handmade seat pockets attached onto the back of the front seats before trimming the hoop base and fitted it to the underside of the seat back.

Piece by Piece – The 1969 Morris Minor Convertible Coming Back Together

September 9, 2022

The restoration and reassembly of the 1969 Morris Minor Convertible by the Bridge Classic Cars team has been progressing.

The team are working on getting all the various parts, trims and panels back onto the classic Morris. Scott has carefully and methodically reinstalled the either new or refurbished parts onto the car whilst also hooking up the various electrical and cable systems as he goes.

Inside – Working on the Interior of the 1958 Jensen 541R

September 9, 2022

With the paint shop now finished with the 1958 Jensen 541R, the Bridge Classic Cars trim team can begin working on the interior of the car insitu.

To begin with, the trim shop have made new wooden bases for the front seats of the classic 541R which have been made specifically to fit each individual seat perfectly. Along with that, the team could make the new rear window trim rib, which was cut and refined by hand to ensure the best possible fit of the arch by the rear window of the classic GT car.

The trim shop then used the old door cards to begin templating for the new handmade pieces for the aesthetic rework of the 541R. Brian has carefully refined each door card to fit tightly into the door while also leaving enough room for the material which will wrap around the fibreglass panel.

Then finally he could make the kick panels. These were template and then transferred to ply wood.

Checking Over – Fixing Oil Leaks on the 1934 MG PA

September 9, 2022

As part of the scheduled checks on the 1934 MG PA, the Bridge Classic Cars workshop have been going through to get a couple of small oil leaks fixed on the car.

Jon, our technician, has gone through the bolts on the underside of the classic MG to cinch down all the gaskets and seals as we had noticed a few minor oil leaks underneath the car while it’s been in the building. With everything tightened down, the car could be run up to temperature and checked over.

Smallest Detail – Find the Fuel Leak on the 1953 Armstrong Siddeley Hurricane

September 9, 2022

The Bridge Classic Cars workshop have been going through trying to diagnose the fuel leak issue on the 1953 Armstrong Siddeley Hurricane.

Jon, one of our amazing technicians, has carefully and entirely stripped down the carburettor once against to investigate it in finer detail. After total inspection, he found the end of the jet tube had actually splintered and broken, completely falling off when it was removed from the carburettor.

The team have ordered up a new jet and jet tube to rebuild the carburettor with again and to begin testing once more.

At Home – Our 2008 Bentley Continental GT Speed at Its New Home in Scotland

September 8, 2022

Our 2008 Bentley Continental GT Speed has made its way from the Bridge Classic Cars HQ here in Suffolk all the way up to Scotland with its excited new owner, Terry.

Terry won the stunning Bentley last week with his winning ticket 1630! We want to wish him many happy miles with this masterpiece in luxury and performance.

Spotted – The 1979 Arrow Ferrari Daytona Photographed On Its Way Home

September 8, 2022

The 1979 Arrow Ferrari Daytona was spotted by a member of local classic car group, East Coast Retros, on its way back to our Suffolk HQ.

The Daytona had a short trip out to one of our trusted specialists to check over a couple of the systems on the car before the team fire it up for the first time and begin to test the car properly.

Fixed – Fixing the Exhaust on the 1969 Morris Minor Convertible

September 8, 2022

The workshop team have been working on the underside of the 1969 Morris Minor Convertible recently.

The team have been cleaning up the exhaust flange thoroughly and then resealed the downpipe and allowing it to cure after being correctly secured and tightened down.

Also, the team have found some areas of corrosion on the underside of the car which will be repaired and fixed up by the team.

Updates – Working on the 1991 VW Transporter T4

September 8, 2022

The workshop team at Bridge Classic Cars have been working their way through the list of jobs on the 1991 Volkswagen T4 Transporter.

The first job, was to work on the rear suspension on the T4. The rear sat considerably higher than the front, so the customer has asked the team to sort it out. Thanks to the bountiful aftermarket, the team will be replacing the set of springs for the camper. The heavy-duty, stiff springs will be taken out of the car and replaced with a new set of lowering springs which allow the same support but lowering the ride height at the back of the van.

After that, the team could work on getting the cold start sorted which had been reported by the customer as not working. The team found the cable had seized but after being reworked the team got it to start working again and tested.

Finally, the team have reshimmed the power steering and adjusted the alternator belt.

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.