James Dean was one of the brightest stars of 1950s Hollywood. With dashing good looks and an air of charm and ruggedness, he captured the
It’s been a pleasure having this 1968 Jaguar MkII 2.4 in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop. Our in-house restoration technicians have been hard at work
The 1934 Riley Lynx is in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop today to begin work on the list of jobs that need doing on this
With Christmas only just around the corner, Bridge Classic Cars Competitions is giving you a little stocking filler. Each day on the run-up to the
Our 1976 Mercedes Benz 350SL is back from Derrick Wells, a local Mercedes Specialist, to have a look into some electrical issues with the car.
Over the weekend, Gordon (one of our directors) has been working on installing the newly painted headlight buckets to his 1934 MG PA that is
The next job to be done on the 1968 Jaguar MkII 2.4 by Bridge Classic Cars is to replace the steering coupler. This will help
One of the jobs to be done on the 1968 Jaguar MkII 2.4 was to paint the wheels to a colour matched off white, just
The 1968 Jaguar MkII 2.4 has been in the Bridge Classic Cars in-house paint shop where our paint expert Alan has worked his magic on
Coming soon to the Bridge Classic Cars workshop is this incredible 1974 Pontiac Trans Am Firebird. It seems that recently we’ve been seeing a fair
There’s always a buzz around a new competition car. Especially one as special as this… a 1975 MGB GT V8. This small, V8 powered British
Brian, Kath and Lydia have been working on the next phase of the interior for the 1973 Jaguar E Type Roadster that Bridge Classic Cars
The mid to late 1930s were a heyday of Automotive design. Bespoke, futuristic interpretations of personal transport heavily influenced by art-nouveau and the art deco
Bridge Classic Cars have today welcomed its latest guest to the Pettistree workshop. This 1934 Riley 12/4 Lynx has come to us all the way
Chris and the team in the Bridge Classic Cars in-house paint shop have been busy at work preparing and priming the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4
The restoration technicians at Bridge Classic Cars have been busy working on a couple of jobs on the 1960 Jensen 541S before it goes to
The trim work on the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 is absolutely beautiful. Simple and elegant but there is quite a bit of it. These are
Mauro, has been working on getting all the relevant parts and pieces of the 1956 Jensen 541 ready to be sent out to local, trusted
The windscreen of the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III Roadster is now in the car! This moment has been a long time coming. The
The 1962 Jensen 541S that is currently in at Bridge Classic Cars for some work has been handed over to our technician Tom to begin
In the late 1980s, the Porsche 959 reigned as the technological supreme. A tour de force of engineering and technology proved that Porsche was at
The cylinder head for the 1971 Jaguar XJ6 is back at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop. This has been away at a local specialist to
Jonn, one of our in-house restoration technicians here at Bridge Classic Cars, has been busy preparing both the car and the engine for the pair
Bridge Classic Cars have the honour of being the current caretakers of the incredible 1905 Riley 9HP believed to be one of only three remaining
Jaguar. A legendary name in both performance and luxury. Just the name is enough to conjure images of elegant, long-legged coupes and saloons powered by
Over the coming weeks and months, there are some changes beginning to happen at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop in Pettistree, Suffolk. Apart from our
Bridge Classic Cars have been working on preparing the 1978 Jaguar MkII 2.4 to prepare it for the next phase of work to begin. Dave,
Jonn, one of the Bridge Classic Cars in-house restoration technicians, has been working on cleaning out the engine block of the 1971 Jaguar XJ6 currently
This 1977 MGB Roadster is in with Bridge Classic Cars for a full cosmetic restoration. That does involve a bit of cutting… Scott has worked
Brian, one of our incredible in-house trim experts here at Bridge Classic Cars, has been hard at work getting the interior of the 1973 Jaguar
James Dean was one of the brightest stars of 1950s Hollywood. With dashing good looks and an air of charm and ruggedness, he captured the hearts of movie-goers within the span of his tragically short career. What the public may not have known, was his love of speed. During his short career, he had amassed an impressive stable of sports and racing cars which he would regularly exercise on the public roads which would sadly be his undoing many believe.
On September 30th 1955, Dean had intended to take his latest purchase to a race in Northern California. However, before he had even begun his journey there were signs of something impending. Famously, the legendary actor Alec Guinness would meet Dean shortly after he had taken delivery of his Porsche Spyder. Guinness would later comment in his diary that the car felt ”ominous” and ”looked sinister” while at the time claiming to have said to the young actor ”… if you get in that car, you will be found dead in it by this time next week”. A sense of foreboding drove itself deep into the core of Guinness as his friend laughed it off, got into his car and drove away.
The car had been painted by a legendary signwriter and car stylist named Dean Jeffries who emblazoned its flanks with the racing number 130 and the now infamous nickname for the sports car, Little Bastard. This was while the car was being prepared by James Dean and his mechanic Rolf Wuterich in anticipation for that weekend’s Salinas Sports Car Races in California. Although the original plan had been to tow the 550 Spyder to the race, it was decided it would be street driven to the race to give the young actor more time behind the wheel and to help break in the new engine before it would be pushed even harder on the race track over the coming weekend. On the Friday, the team set out with legendary Hollywood stuntman Bill Hickman driving his pickup truck and trailer trying to keep up with the exotic European racer. Dean was at the controls of the 550 while his mechanic Wulterich sat next to him to keep an eye on the health of the delicate race car.
During that trip, Dean would be pulled over by the police and issued with a speeding ticket. Another omen that this trip maybe should have been put on its trailer for the rest of the journey. However, after taking the ticket, Dean fired up his Porsche and kept going…
Out on the flat desert plains sits an intersection. The convergence of two stories would happen in this space and this time which would change history from that point on and began the legend of the Dean Spyder.
While turning off the highway at around 85MPH, Donald Turnupspeed’s Ford Tudor suddenly turned into the path of the small, fast Spyder. Although the 550 Spyder is known for being lightweight and not particularly overpowered, it managed to send the Ford Tudor almost 40 feet back from the scene of the impact. Wulterich was thrown from the car on impact, and the young actor who had been at the helm at the time of the accident had passed before they reached the hospital with his body at 620PM that night.
Despite the insurance company investigating the crash and then assessing the car, determining it to be a total loss, it was actually bought from a salvage yard and parted out for various street and race cars. But, it would appear something would follow any pieces related to the events of September 30th 1955.
The man who bought the remains of the 550 Spyder was an avid racer himself. William Eschrich raced a Lotus IX in local California sports car races, but from the remains of Little Bastard he would remove the engine for his own use. With so many spares he would also lend the gearbox and some of the suspension parts to his friend and fellow racer Troy McHenry. Here begins the notion of a curse attached to anyone or anything associated with the Dean Spyder. In the 1956 Pomona Sports Car Race, Eschrich and McHenry were competing. When out of nowhere, something went wrong. Eschrich’s Lotus crashed and completely destroyed the car but its owner and driver would survive the horrific impact. However, his friend McHenry would not be so lucky. His car lost control and struck the only tree on the track, killing the driver. So, began the whispered rumours of a curse…
What was left of the Porsche Spyder was quickly sold on. A legend in the LA car scene, George Barris, bought the car with promises of restoring the car for prosperity. However, even the self-proclaimed King of the Kustoms couldn’t save it. But, the notorious hypeman used this to his advantage. He traded in on the horrific beginnings of its curse, the death of Dean. Barris loaned the car to the National Safety Council to be used as a showpiece reminding people of the dangers of speeding and driving unsafely on the public roads. From 1957 until 1959, the mangled wreckage of the Porsche was paraded around for on-lookers to see and be reminded of what happens if it all goes wrong.
In 1959, while in storage, there was a massive fire at the facility. However, Little Bastard was barely hurt. A melted tyre and some scorch marks on its silver bodywork were the only marks yet the building around it was severely damaged. Along with that, before the fire, some tyres were taken off the Porsche and put onto one of Barris’s customers’ cars. Within a few miles, the tyres which had been in perfect condition before mysteriously blew and caused the car to violently career off the road nearly injuring the driver.
From this point, there are several unconfirmed stories about Little Bastard. Stories of it breaking loose from its shackles while being shown at exhibits and injuring bystanders to it falling from its transport and killing the driver responsible for its shipment to and from an exhibition. However, what is known is that at some point in 1960, Little Bastard simply disappeared…
Reportedly, the car had been at an exhibition in Miami for the National Safety Council. After the show was over the car was loaded into a sealed railway container to be shipped out west back to its home of Los Angeles. However, when its transport team arrived to take the car back to it’s storage space, Little Bastard has simply disappeared into thin air. Allegedly the seals on the boxcar were still intact when it was opened by the team and no marks or any evidence was ever found of just how the most famous car wreck of all time had simply vanished. Some claim that Barris, had a hand in the car disappearing, spinning the tale in order to keep the cars now-notorious reputation alive and keep people interested in coming to see the alleged haunted/cursed remains of the 550 Spyder. However, right up until his recent death, Barris denied all knowledge of where the car might be. Even going as far as to issue a $1m reward for any information which may help them find the car.
Wherever the car is, we hope it is finally at peace with its first and only driver in that great racetrack in the sky.
It’s been a pleasure having this 1968 Jaguar MkII 2.4 in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop. Our in-house restoration technicians have been hard at work on the car getting through the list of jobs requested by its lucky owner.
Our technician Dave has been working on getting the reworked front seats safely and securely back into this classic saloon car. Since the car has also been in our workshop where our master trimmers have been working their craft on the inside of the big Jag. Dave has been carefully working around the incredible work that has been done by Brian and Kath our trimmer so as to not damage or mark any of their work.
With the front seats being so important, Dave has been making sure that all the hardware used to secure them to the car is in the best condition and all the threaded holes are clear and clean-cut to make sure they can be tightened down accurately. So, with that, Dave will get the front seats into the car and then the team at Bridge Classic Cars can work on getting the other jobs on the 1968 MkII 2.4 done.
The 1934 Riley Lynx is in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop today to begin work on the list of jobs that need doing on this amazing classic tourer.
First off for the Riley, is a full service and set up to make sure it’s running in perfect condition. For this, our in-house restoration technician Jonn has begun to inspect and replace the serviceable items on the car. Many will purely need cleaning up as they are in amazing condition but it will still be thoroughly gone over and serviced by Jonn.
There will be more updates very soon on the Bridge Classic Cars news page.
With Christmas only just around the corner, Bridge Classic Cars Competitions is giving you a little stocking filler.
Each day on the run-up to the big day, we will be giving you a discount on our prizes. With 12 sleeps to go, we’re offering you a 12% discount on tickets. Tomorrow, it will be 11% and the day after 10%, so act quickly to get the best discount.
Simply enter the coupon code ‘XMAS’ at checkout for your discount.
Get your tickets at the Bridge Classic Cars Competitions website and maybe you’ll have something shiny and classic under the tree this year.
Our 1976 Mercedes Benz 350SL is back from Derrick Wells, a local Mercedes Specialist, to have a look into some electrical issues with the car.
Now that it is electrical working exactly as it should, it’s time for our Bridge Classic Cars in-house restoration teams to assess the car and come up with a plan to move forward with. First up, it will be mechanically inspected before moving to the other teams for their expert eyes to look over this incredible classic convertible.
The car has so many amazing and wonderful details it’s difficult to capture them but the original Aztec Gold paint looks incredible in the winter sun.
Expect to see more on this amazing 1976 Mercedes 350SL in at Bridge Classic Cars very soon.
Over the weekend, Gordon (one of our directors) has been working on installing the newly painted headlight buckets to his 1934 MG PA that is having some other jobs done by the in-house technicians at Bridge Classic Cars.
The original headlight buckets were chrome but Gordon want some colour matched units for his new pride and joy. So, with the replacements found they were handed over to our in-house paint and body team to perfectly match the oak green paint already on the car.
With the headlights transferred into the new buckets, they would absolutely phenomenal on this classic sportscar!
Expect to see more on the 1934 MG PA Midget here on the Bridge Classic Cars news page.
The next job to be done on the 1968 Jaguar MkII 2.4 by Bridge Classic Cars is to replace the steering coupler. This will help to tighten up the loose steering for its owner.
This job is being done by our master tech, Dave. Dave has a huge wealth of knowledge and experience working on classic cars so a job as delicate and crucial as this was given to him. Carefully, Dave began by removing the shaft from the coupler in order to gain access to the bushes and balls inside the steering box. As opposed to some MkII’s that we have worked on in the past, this MkII remains as a steering-box car.
After removing the original parts from the car, Dave began to check the new replacements would work with the car and were correct. Then, it was a case of getting everything back together and into the car. Dave took his time to make sure that every component cleared the steering box and its boot so it remained happy for many years to come.
After the job was complete, Dave manually checked that the box rotated as it should and also meshed together with as little play as possible thanks to the new parts.
There will be more updates soon as work continues on this stunning MkII 2.4.
One of the jobs to be done on the 1968 Jaguar MkII 2.4 was to paint the wheels to a colour matched off white, just the same as the body. So, it was off to the paint shop under the watchful eye of our in-house paint expert Alan.
Finished in a healthy layer of primer, to begin with, the wheels were then prepared to be put in the booth ready for painting. Alan used our state of the art paint mixing computer to find the closest match possible to the existing paint of the MkII in order to get the best match.
Then, with the right amount of paint mixed up and in the gun, it was time to start laying down the first of many coats to get these wheels to look perfect. Alan took his time to make sure the paint fell evenly and was given enough time in-between coats to achieve the best results straight out the gun. And, as you can see the results are absolutely incredible.
The 1968 Jaguar MkII 2.4 has been in the Bridge Classic Cars in-house paint shop where our paint expert Alan has worked his magic on the rear valance.
The valance had been coated with a thick black stone chip protection across the lower parts, so Alan pulled out his trusty DA sander and got to work. Carefully knocking back the stone chip, Alan exposed the paintwork underneath. Because of the thickness of the protection, Alan had to take it back quite a way. Once the area had been thoroughly cleaned down and smoothed out, Alan could begin his detailed and meticulous work.
Carefully, Alan applied the new stone chip to the area to protect the car from any possible marks or damage while it’s being enjoyed by its very lucky owner.
After the area around the new stone protection had been masked off, Alan carefully colour matched a small amount of paint to the rest of the car in order to seamlessly blend the new area into the existing rear panels and behind the rear bumper.
Coming soon to the Bridge Classic Cars workshop is this incredible 1974 Pontiac Trans Am Firebird.
It seems that recently we’ve been seeing a fair amount of classic American muscle cars! This Trans Am Firebird will be coming into us for some interior jobs to be carried out for its very lucky owner as well as a couple of mechanical jobs on the bright red Muscle car.
The in-house restoration teams will go through the car and assess any other items that may require attention before starting work on the list for the owner of the car.
Keep your eyes peeled for more on the 1974 Pontiac Trans Am Firebird soon here on the Bridge Classic Cars news page.
Update: 14/05/2024 – although the works were due to start at the end of 2021, beginning of 2022, the car never came in to our workshops so none of the works we expected to carry out materialised. We have since taken a call from it’s new owner who has gone on to completely restore the vehicle. I bet it looks amazing now! Thanks for your call and hope you enjoy many years with your car.
There’s always a buzz around a new competition car. Especially one as special as this… a 1975 MGB GT V8.
This small, V8 powered British sports car is the latest prize to be won through Bridge Classic Cars Competitions by one very lucky winner. This is the story behind the amazing photos and video of the car.
Although the winter morning was damp and the sun hid its bright rays behind grey lumbering clouds, it couldn’t dampen the spirits of the team ready to shoot the new competition car. The V8 burbled into life after it had been pushed out of The Hangar. Gently, the aluminium V8 warmed up on the tarmac. Making sure the pressures and temperatures were all correct before being driven to the South Loop, Charlotte eased the sports car into gear and pulled away from the shadow of the hangar.
The wonderful noise from the V8 wound its way through the trees in the Suffolk forest. The early morning light left the highlights across its vibrant, rich red bodywork soft but with a certain crispness from the moisture in the air. While photographing the car, you couldn’t help but fall in love with the simplicity of an MGB GT. It does however have a certain elegance and sophistication with that simplicity. The sloping back which then rolls into the bumpers that wrap around its rear and the long elegant bonnet that stretches towards the horizon but not to the scale where visible is difficult. Perfectly useable as a classic or even every day.
The interior shows the story of the car. The seats have a character to them that matches the personality of the car, they show that the car has been used and adored since its earliest days.
As the MGB moved out and Charlotte gently rolled it through the gears, the car has a majesty as it moved. A gracefulness that all MGB’s seem to have but is amplified by the low, ambling noise from its 3.5 litre V8. As the clouds grew darker and the sun drifted further and further away, it was time to take the car back to The Hangar. Ready, for it’s next lucky owner.
This 1975 MGB GT V8 could well be yours. Click the link below and enter now for your chance to win this and other dream classics with Bridge Classic Cars Competitions.
Brian, Kath and Lydia have been working on the next phase of the interior for the 1973 Jaguar E Type Roadster that Bridge Classic Cars calls Fern Grey. Now that the windscreen has been fitted and cured, it’s time to start getting the trim, dash and hood in place.
Using the original dash panels and A-Pillar trims, Brian stripped apart the panels ready to be recovered. The original foam for these pieces was in remarkably good condition so they were refreshed and reused. The trimming in the rich black leather however is all brand new. Brian selected a hide that compliments the rest of the interior but also matches closely what would have originally been used on the E Type’s to trim the pieces with.
Each of the panels and trims was hand-cut and finished by the Bridge Classic Cars in-house trim team to ensure the best fit. Including the dash pad which now that the windscreen is safely in place could be secured to the top of the dash after test fitting multiple times.
With all of the dash and trim around the windscreen fitted, Brian and the team began to work on getting the foldable hood mechanism in place. Checking the mounting points for the front and back of the hood, Brian began the task of gently manipulating the mounts to ensure the best possible fit as well as making sure each of the spars sat level and true. Thankfully after some skilled moving, the hood sat perfectly inside the gorgeous roadster.
The mid to late 1930s were a heyday of Automotive design. Bespoke, futuristic interpretations of personal transport heavily influenced by art-nouveau and the art deco school of design. Elegant answers to a simple question of moving people from one place to another. One of those at the forefront of this was a small French manufacturer by the name of Bugatti.
Bugatti had risen to prominence with its massively successful, lightweight Grand Prix cars along with super luxurious elegant limousines in the 1920s and early 1930s. The founder Ettore Bugatti came from a long line of artisans and craftsmen who plied their various styles and trades to all manner of things, but for Ettore it was cars. By the 1930s, Ettore had begun to step back from his role as the man in charge of Molsheim. His son, Jean would rise through the ranks as a talented designer, engineer and driver in his own right away from his father’s shadow. Culminating in what many believe to be the most beautiful series of Bugattis ever made. The 57SC Atlantics.
Using influences from both Art Deco and Art Nouveau, the Atlantics were a new style for a new type of owner. For this new car and new owners, only 4 57SC Atlantics would be built. Each of them was heavily personalised to their owner’s tastes and styles, their story begins with a special one-off. The 1935 Aerolithe Concept. A magnesium bodied show car which was set to usher in a new era of Bugatti’s by using advanced materials and techniques to blend the worlds of Grand Prix and Grand Tour.
The 4 Atlantics would use this technique to begin their construction, however, they were soon swapped for aluminium bodies made in the same style as the Aerolithe. With the identifiable riveted dorsal fin of the concept car displayed prominently on the Atlantics. Out of those 4 cars, three are accounted for and have gone on to be concours and show winners in their own rights around the world.
The fourth was given the name ”La Voiture Noire” or, The Black Car. It had originally been used by Bugatti as the show car to demonstrate to potential customers and the world the new age of Bugatti under Jean’s leadership and also happened to be Jean Bugatti’s personal car whilst doing so. La Voiture Noire’s early history is well documented.
The cars official Bugatti name is chassis 57453 and was gifted to Bugatti factory driver Robert Benoist for winning the 1937 24 hours of Le Mans and then was later given to fellow driver William Grover-Williams before his return to England just before the outbreak of World War 2. From the outset of the war until 1941, La Voiture Noire was kept as a test car for Bugatti after the death of its master Jean in 1939 whilst testing a racing prototype. But after 1938, no official records have ever been kept of the car. This is where the ghost story begins…
Rumours have circulated for the better part of 80 years about the journey La Voiture Noir would take into its own mystery. The last records speculate the chassis number was changed to 57454 and the whole car was to be dismantled for parts to be used on other projects and what was left was to be boxed up and stored. Other stories say the complete car had apparently made its way south to Bourdeaux, possibly in an attempt to conceal the car away from the factory and the furious pass of the German Army as it began planning its march into Europe on the eve of war. Some have also said it could have been sent as far away as the Middle East to be protected under the eyes of trusted Bugatti owners. But, no evidence or any form of lead has ever been found for the resting place of the car. Rumours of deserted railway cars, french barns, bricked up buildings, fake basements and even burying the car alive have circulated over the years throughout the enthusiasts. Ghost stories and treasure tales handed down from one generation of petrolhead to another. But alas, no news.
Until recently. A mysterious post on social media revealed a very strange looking body sitting in the back of a Connecticut, USA body shop claiming to be the missing Bugatti. However, leading Bugatti experts fervently rebuke that this is in any way La Voiture Noire. It is estimated that if Chassis 57453 (or 57454 if the history is correct) were to be rediscovered somehow, it could expect to fetch anywhere north of $100 million at auction because of its importance.
But, to most diehard enthusiasts, its story remains priceless.
Bridge Classic Cars have today welcomed its latest guest to the Pettistree workshop. This 1934 Riley 12/4 Lynx has come to us all the way from South Africa where it has spent parts of its long life.
The car will be going in to be assessed by our in-house restoration teams to determine what jobs will need to be done to this classic tourer to get it into a useable and safe condition. The Riley is finished in an incredible French blue with a black interior. The 4 door tourer is a wonderful example of pre-war open-top travel in both style and comfort by a long-gone marque.
The car was cherished and used in South Africa being part of the local enthusiast groups and taking part in several classic car rallies. For now, the Bridge Classic Cars technicians will begin to reassemble the car to be able to check and confirm all parts and pieces for the 1930s tourer are there and in good order.
Expect to see more on this amazing 1934 Riley 12/4 Lynx on the Bridge Classic Cars news page.
Chris and the team in the Bridge Classic Cars in-house paint shop have been busy at work preparing and priming the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mark 1 for the next phase in the restoration.
Chris and the team carefully prepared each panel and part individually to make sure they were properly prepped before entering the spray booth. Each part has been given a coat epoxy primer to help seal the material beneath which has been so carefully worked on by the Bridge Classic Cars restoration teams.
With everything primed, it was time to move on to the protective coating on some of the other pieces and parts of the shell. For the most durable protection against road grime and weather, the team here use Raptor Guard. Applied to specific pieces, it helps to protect any of the pieces from moisture and is well worth using for a classic that is destined to be used and enjoyed.
Whilst the primer and the raptor guard on the shell were left to cure, Chris began to prepare and spray Raptor on some of the floor panels, the transmission tunnel and other pieces which will be exposed to the elements.
The restoration technicians at Bridge Classic Cars have been busy working on a couple of jobs on the 1960 Jensen 541S before it goes to The Hangar for its winter storage.
One of the most important jobs to be done was to fit a rearview mirror at the request of the owner. The mirrors for the 541’s did not come as standard, however, because of our history with their restorations, we managed to source a piece for the owners’ peace of mind while driving.
Carefully, the mirror was placed into the door at the right place after dozens of test fits to ensure the part sat properly and also looked right. The detailing on the mirror itself is a beautiful part of its story. With exposed, bright hardware and a simple flat disc but with the base coming to a sharply defined point, it looks completely at home on the 541.
There are a couple of other jobs to have a look at on Peony Red, which will you’ll be able to see about here on the Bridge Classic Cars news page.
The trim work on the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 is absolutely beautiful. Simple and elegant but there is quite a bit of it.
These are the latest pieces of the DB2/4 Mark 1 to be sent out to a local specialist for replating and polishing. This is being done to make sure that every piece of the brightwork on this stunning 1950s sportscar will be uniform and stunning. Although they may seem small, every piece of the car must be perfect to match the work the team here at Bridge Classic Cars have done on the car during its restoration.
There will be more updates very soon on the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 very soon here on the Bridge Classic Cars news page.
Mauro, has been working on getting all the relevant parts and pieces of the 1956 Jensen 541 ready to be sent out to local, trusted specialists for refurbishment.
Bridge Classic Cars have a long history of restoring Jensen 541’s to a very high standard and this 1956 541 is to be no exception. The pieces of the car have been carefully dismantled down to their core components and assessed for condition and originality. Where possible, we try to keep the cars as original as possible but refinished and restored to go back on the car.
The pieces here have also been catalogued and photographed for record as well as detailed records of them being dismantled so that everything and their construction method is accounted for. Each component is dealt with individually to ensure that it safely comes apart and if not, can be taken apart and repaired to the exacting standards that Bridge Classic Cars holds its restorations to.
Soon, there will be more updates on the 1956 Jensen 541 during its restoration, so keep an eye out here on the Bridge Classic Cars news page.
The windscreen of the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III Roadster is now in the car!
This moment has been a long time coming. The curving and elegant windscreen for the E Type is like a jewel in its crown. This completely bespoke Jaguar has been cherished by the in-house restoration teams at Bridge Classic Cars throughout its build so, having one of the final aesthetic pieces complete was a true milestone.
For windscreen removal and installs, we use a local specialist called Car Glass and Trim who we have worked with for many years. Their technicians came out to install the glass into Fern Grey with the same attention to detail and care as our very own technicians. With the windscreen and its seals in place, it was time to let the adhesives cure while Kath and Brian in the trim shop carry on fitting out the E Type.
The 1962 Jensen 541S that is currently in at Bridge Classic Cars for some work has been handed over to our technician Tom to begin preparing the car for its new components.
The first job for Tom is to strip the original wiring harness out of the car as we have ordered an entire new loom for the car to make sure all the electrical system works absolutely spot on. A key point for all classic cars. With such a handbuilt car, Tom has had to almost trace every wire individually from front to back in order to make sure everything is removed and safe. After this, each part of the harness is catalogued and stored just in case.
Next, Tom has removed the steering column which is due to be replaced on this particular car. For that Tom had to carefully remove the entire dash to gain access to the gear linkage which is controlled via the column. With everything disconnected and the dash out of the car, Tom could begin to also catalogue and assess each individual component.
There will be more happening on the 1962 Jensen 541S very soon so keep an eye out on the Bridge Classic Cars news page for more.
In the late 1980s, the Porsche 959 reigned as the technological supreme. A tour de force of engineering and technology proved that Porsche was at the leading edge of sports cars yet again.
There was one issue with the 959 however. It was massively expensive and outrageously complicated. So, with that, Porsche engineers decided to explore the idea of a simplified 959… That is where the Porsche L7 prototype comes in. A leftover of the original 959 Prototype phase. But internally amongst its engineers, it was known by a different name, The Black Bomber.
The Black Bomber would use a prototype 959 body. But apart from that, all manner of things were entirely redone. Mainly, the engine. The 959 was powered by a twin-turbo flat 6 and connected to an electronically controlled 4 wheel drive system that helped to distribute the power out to each wheel where necessary. With this level of complexity and electronics in 1986, the 959 cost the equivalent of £375,000 in today’s money. But, that’s not the whole story. Porsche would actually lose 50% on each car it made so its real cost was around £750,000.
So, what to do? How do you make things easier for a budget-minded version of the car? Porsche kindly asked Audi to lend them a water-cooled V8 and its Quattro four-wheel-drive system to install into the back of the leftover 959 prototype body where the flat-six had once lived.
So, what ever happened to the 965 programme? It was killed off. with a recession looming over Germany towards the end of the 1980s as well as a confusing market placement (between the 959 and Turbo) meant that Ulrich Bez shut the development down. 15 prototypes of the 965 had been created with various engine choices and setups, but after cancelling the programme all were destroyed. All except one…
The Black Bomber. The Audi V8 powered car would live in the shadows after being hidden in the archives for a few years. Then, towards the end of the 1990s, it was pulled out and used to develop the first water-cooled 911 – the 996. Finally fulfilling its birthright to give the world the best sports car it could.
If you want to, check out the film that Porsche has made taking you around the elusive 965 stored away in its museum.
The cylinder head for the 1971 Jaguar XJ6 is back at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop. This has been away at a local specialist to be assessed and repaired ready for the car.
Some may remember that our in-house restoration teams found a large chunk of material missing from the leading edge of two valves in the front cylinder. Also, it was discovered along with this that a blown head gasket had been what caused the misfire and running issue noted on the straight-six.
In preparation, Jonn had cleaned up the entire engine block which was discovered to be completely packed with sludge in every coolant galley and water jacket. Jonn has spent hours clearing out all the debris and flushing through the engine block to ensure all is ok when the engine is finally fired up for testing.
Now, it is down to Paul to install the cylinder head on top of the straight-six. For that, he will prepare the new head gasket and double-check all tolerances before the head is finally bolted down.
Expect to see more on the 1971 Jaguar XJ6 here on the Bridge Classic Cars news page very soon.
Jonn, one of our in-house restoration technicians here at Bridge Classic Cars, has been busy preparing both the car and the engine for the pair to be reacquainted.
Previously, after testing the 1973 MG B GT V8 our technicians found metal shavings in the oil after it was drained as part of our testing procedures. Since then, Jonn has replaced the bearings which had been found to be deeply grooved as well as fixing a problem with the oil pickup which had caused the issue in the first place.
Since that, the engine has been prepared to go back into the front of this beautiful purple sports car.
Keep an eye out here on the Bridge Classic Cars news page for more updates very soon on the 1973 MG B GT V8.
Bridge Classic Cars have the honour of being the current caretakers of the incredible 1905 Riley 9HP believed to be one of only three remaining in the world.
The car has many unique brass pieces which make up its antique charm. These irreplaceable pieces are being documented and catalogued ready to be sent off for refurbishment for the project. The pieces will be sent to a specialist of early brass automotive parts to be brought back to their former stunning glory.
Although the car is now 116 years old, it is an amazing reference piece for our restoration teams to look back on and see how these types of vehicle were handmade.
Jaguar. A legendary name in both performance and luxury. Just the name is enough to conjure images of elegant, long-legged coupes and saloons powered by the now infamous XK straight-six engine. But, what is the story behind this incredible powerhouse which lived 1000 different lives?
Debuting in 1949, the XK straight-six came with a sizeable 3.4-litre displacement, it was the brainchild of four very important icons in the Jaguar world. Sir William Lyons, William Heynes, Walter Hassan and Claude Bailey. The introduction of this engine however stretches back nearly a decade before. During World War II when the company still went under the name SS Cars, the team were actively seeking and developing replacements for its engine lineup so, during its wartime efforts they worked on the new powerplants for its post-war cars. Jaguar had begun to produce and develop the engine just after the nightmares of war had begun to subside at the end of the 1940s. The cornerstone of these engines was to be higher output, higher quality and higher style, thus the XK Inline-Six was born.
The XK engines first saw service in 1947 with the 3.2-litre units (XJ 6 Cylinder) but during testing of the engines, it was found they severely lacked low-end torque, so the blocks were bored out to 3.4 litres (XK 6 Cylinder) and were destined to be the beating heart of one of the most beautiful cars ever made, the XK120 which broke cover at the 1948 London Motor Show. This would then see the engines fitted to the upcoming MkVII’s and countless other models over its production run.
The cast-iron engine blocks were not the lightest but were highly durable. The construction techniques developed for this engine would push other manufacturers to refine and develop new and improved engines to try and match the level that Jaguar was achieving. Jaguar fitted special vibration dampers to the crankshaft of the engine to absorb and limit the number of frequencies travelling through the crankshaft and ultimately the XK’s split case engine design.
In 1951, Jaguar began work on developing the idea of a smaller displacement but still useable version of XK straight-six. The results for the 2-litre engine were mixed and by 1954 the engine had grown to become a 2.4-litre unit. The engine itself was actually shorted than the bigger displacement engines but remained under the same name and architecture. These engines would be put forward to power the upcoming stylish and sleek saloon, the MkI. The road engines were entirely carburetted until 1978 (the first year of road engines being fuel injected for the US market) but would use a combination of two or three SU’s. Webers or Zenith carburettors except for the MkII 240 which had a set of downdraught Solex units.
From this, all the subsequent Jaguar XK straight-sixes were laid out. Short block engines would make up the smaller displacements such as the 2.4 and 2.8-litre engines and the longer, more torquey powerplants would go anywhere from 3.4 to 4.2 litres by the end of its production. Jaguar officially retired the XK 6-cylinder in 1992 replaced by the newly developed AJ6 platform it used alongside the faithful XK until the AJ6 was then also retired in 1996.
During this incredible engines lifetime, it would see all manner of changes and applications. From racing to agricultural work. Le Mans to Leicester and beyond. This incredible piece of not only industrial design but of engineering excellence and durability should be remembered and revered for the legend it surely is.
Long live the XK Straight-Six.
Over the coming weeks and months, there are some changes beginning to happen at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop in Pettistree, Suffolk. Apart from our new workshop extension, the changes have already started to begin.
The trim shop, where Brian and Kath create some of the most incredible automotive upholstery you have ever seen, is now accessible from our in-house paint booth and vice versa. This allows for better movement around the building and also a better flow for the restoration teams.
There are more changes coming soon to the building but you’ll have to wait and see. Keep an eye here on the Bridge Classic Cars news page for more updates on our very special workshop.
Bridge Classic Cars have been working on preparing the 1978 Jaguar MkII 2.4 to prepare it for the next phase of work to begin.
Dave, one of our most experienced in-house restoration technicians, has been working on removing the interior and other parts of the car to begin working through the mechanical jobs on this stunning MkII. Carefully, as each piece is removed from the car, it is then catalogued and safely stored for later during its rebuild.
For now, it’s carefully assess the areas of attention for the owner and coming up with a plan to deliver the best result.
Expect to see more on the 1968 Jaguar MkII 2.4 here on the Bridge Classic Cars news page very soon.
Jonn, one of the Bridge Classic Cars in-house restoration technicians, has been working on cleaning out the engine block of the 1971 Jaguar XJ6 currently in our workshop.
In the last update, Jonn had discovered the block of the straight-six packed with brown sludge.
Jonn has been working on thoroughly cleaning out every passage inside the engine as well as cleaning up the threads of the head studs. Jonn has methodically worked his way through the entire engine from front to back, cleaning and flushing through any remnants of the dirt.
With this complete, Jonn is confident that the engine block is now completely clear and ready for the next stage of the work to begin.
This 1977 MGB Roadster is in with Bridge Classic Cars for a full cosmetic restoration. That does involve a bit of cutting…
Scott has worked his magic on the passenger side of this amazing sports car over the last few weeks. Carefully removing any corroded metal on its flanks so that the new wings can be grafted in and secured. Now, it was time for Scott to begin work on the driver’s side. Much the same as the other, Scott only cut where was needed to remove the material and give enough room to comfortably weld the new panels in with very little distortion from the heat.
Using a thin cutting disc, Scott managed to create clean and precise cuts to remove firstly the original rear wing and then the structure and wheel arch behind it. These are needed to be removed and replaced with brand new pieces as part of the car’s aesthetic restoration.
Now, with the wings all on and cleaned up. It’s time to move forwards.
Brian, one of our incredible in-house trim experts here at Bridge Classic Cars, has been hard at work getting the interior of the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series III Roadster.
Brian and the trim team are going full force at the interior of the E Type we know as Fern Grey in preparation for its completion. Brian began by lining and fitting the new boot liner to the Roadster.
The boot of the E Type is actually rather large. This is due to its design as being a long-distance grand tourer. Carrying 2 people in as much comfort, luxury and speed as was possible was the name of the game when it came to the E Type’s original design brief. Throughout its development, that always remained the same. Brian, finished the boot of Fern Grey in a beautiful soft camel colour to compliment the smooth green of the bodywork.
Next, Brian and the trim team got to work on the convertible hood for the E Type. This is being entirely built from scratch around Fern Grey. Using original templates, Brian has managed to recreate the padding for the top rail where it will meet the elegant, wrapping windshield of the E Type.
Whilst working on his next piece of the puzzle, Brian has wrapped the transmission tunnel in the vibrant green carpeting that is found throughout the entire car from front to back. Hand edged in leather that matches the exterior, this gives another level of sophistication and style to Fern Grey that helps to compliment all the small details.
Small details such as the cubby/armrest. Brian has worked really hard on getting the fit and finish of the armrest cubby to such a level it almost deserves a story of its own. The entire assembly was handmade by Brian to ensure the best fit and the best surface on which to wrap the green leather. Neat, precise cuts in every opening allow for a brand new feel to this and the trims to fit tight and close to the cubby.
Expect to see much more on Fern Grey in the coming weeks here on the Bridge Classic Cars news page.
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.
