classic car

Meet The Team: Mike

It’s time for another instalment of meet the team! Today we chatted to Mike, our hard-working accountant, for whom is responsible for making sure we

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TVR Trim

We may soon be welcoming this 1987 TVR 350i in for some trim work. The client who contacted us is currently in the process of

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Gold Jensen Ready To Go

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

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A Unique Arrival

Although we’re a classic car company, sometimes we get our hands on other unique transportation devices, such as this late Victorian bath chair that Gordan

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Competition winners

This week we announced the two lucky winners of our competition. Karl Reilly from Essex won the 1968 Triumph TR3 with his lucky ticket number

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There’s Room At The Top!

Earlier today we were sent these fascinating black and white photographs from an inquisitive gentleman looking into his families history. The car pictured belonged to

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TVR 350i MK2

We have been offered the opertunity to buy this part-restored TVR 350i.The 350i was made from 1983 until 1985. The 350i was fitted with a

Read More »

Meet The Team: Mike

It’s time for another instalment of meet the team! Today we chatted to Mike, our hard-working accountant, for whom is responsible for making sure we have everything we need and keeps us on track. We don’t know where we’d be without him!

Mike is our director Craig’s, Uncle, showing yet again how family-run we really are here at Bridge Classic Cars. Mike has worked with Craig and Gordon for many years from Boots to Inteck and then officially joined us full-time last year after helping out on a part-time basis for a while.

Mike’s first car was a Datsun (Nissan) Cherry, now a much loved classic!

When Mike isn’t pouring over our finances and data, you can find him in his garden, tending to his much-loved flowers and veggies. Mike tells us, “Agapanthus and Peonies are my favourite flowers. For my 60th, I dug myself a new border and planted some more Peonies, Agapanthus and Hydrandreas!”

And Then There Were Three

As the story goes; the car was discovered having been stored in what looked to be a purpose-built building to hide the car during wartime. Whether this was to protect the car from any war damage or to hide it away from sight. Bought recently by Bridge Classic Cars to restore at leisure is our 1905 Riley 9hp. Let’s face it, it is never going to happen without a new owner eager already secured and a definite date in the diary for us to start.

One of only three in existence; one being in Gaydon Motor Museum, our one and one other. Gaydon Motor Museum was kind enough to give us access to allow us to extensively photograph their car to assist us in this relatively simple restoration project.

Simple as there is not much to it and we have as far as we can see most parts to complete. The main part known to be missing is the superb brass radiator. Which can be re-manufactured.

Amazingly, the car benefits from many brand new parts; five newly manufactured wheels, cycle mud guards, top bonnet area, crown wheel and pinion etc. The wooden body is remarkable for its age and only requires repair and sympathetic restoration. This is not destined to be a new 1905 car. It should be restored, original parts repurposed to show the history and origins of the car. We will use all existing parts that we can.

We have running lights, trembler etc and everything to make her what she was then.  The engine has good compression and the gearbox appears to function as we would expect.

The interior will need to be totally renewed but we do have the original to copy and the old will be preserved and framed as a valuable part of her 116-year existence. 

We have a current V5 in our name. Three folders of superb history and manuals. This is totally unrepeatable build and history has already proved that a car such as this is very valuable and a growing asset for any collector, enthusiast, but more importantly a major part of any classic collection.

This is as classic as you can get and the only thing missing (well, the main thing) is an owner. We understand that to most people interested in this timeless classic will also want to follow through on the process of restoration. This is why we’ve set the price as POA (Price On Application). We encourage curiosity about this charming motor and would like to hope that an individual who’s interested in purchasing it, would also want to have it fully restored with us.

You can enquire here or send us an email at info@bridgeclassiccars.co.uk

Rolls Royce’s new Electric Venture

The silver lady may soon be totally electric powered in the form of a possible new model, the Silent Shadow.

Rolls Royce has recently released the prototype image of its new all-electric car. Whilst other brands have scrambled to produce an electric vehicle, Rolls Royce seems to have been playing it slow and steady. The new EV design may have a futuristic utopian flare but Rolls Royce has kept their signature royal boxy elegance.

This stunning Rolls Royce is set to be released to the public in 2022 and will mark the 2020’s with a flare of utopian opulence.

You can see more here

TVR Trim

We may soon be welcoming this 1987 TVR 350i in for some trim work. The client who contacted us is currently in the process of purchasing this beautiful TVR. We look forward to hearing more about this possible project.

The following is what the client has enquired about:

  • New folding hood and targa panel recover, new seals on doors & hood, new rear window. Fitted in a navy blue.
  • Full re-carpet
  • Steering wheel retrim in black leather.

Morris Minor Delivered Safe And Sound

Saturday dawned as a beautiful (and nippy) sunny day, and what better weather for a long-awaited delivery! Mauro drove the lorry over to drop off our charming 1963 Morris Minor 1000 which was received by its delighted owners.

We offer car transportation, logistics and delivery, so if you’re in need of a helping hand to pick up, drop off or transport your car, you can get in touch on 01473 742038 or email us on info@bridgeclassiccars.co.uk

The Cyan Volvo P1800 Restomod

Made between 1961 and 1973, the P1800 was Volvo’s lightweight sportscar of the 60’s. The original dual carburettor, inline 4 cylinder engine put out a respectable 115bhp.

Cyan have reimagined the classic P1800. The engine has been replaced with a Volvo 2.0L turbo 4 cylinder, putting out 414bhp.

Five speed manual Holinger gearbox, LSD, race suspension and upgraded brakes have all made this a real racecar for the road.

The P1800 is light… very light. Using carbon fibre to save weight, this car tips the scales at just 990kg.

All cars have already been spoken for and have set there new owners back £380,000.

Over 400bhp in a car weighing less than 1000kg sounds like a recipe for a lot of fun! What are your thoughts on Cyan’s resto-mod?

James Bond’s DB5 Comes To Life – December 2020

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…

See the Instagram post here.

Gold Jensen Ready To Go

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.

Final Countdown For The 504

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!

New Arrival – Chevrolet Corvette 1979

For the keen-eyed viewers among you, you may have seen teasers of this beautiful red beast on our socials. This 1979 Chevrolet Corvette C3 will be a competition car in the near future. It’s having a pre-delivery service to ensure it’s running in perfect condition before we release it to be won.

It has a fascinating history, originating from Florida and being shipped over to the UK in 1991.

This muscle car holds a 5.7 litre C3 engine and can really pack a punch.

1979 saw the crossed-flag emblems introduced on the nose of the Corvette whereas previous models did not have this addition. Bucket seats from the 1978 model were carried forward and installed in the 1979 Corvettes.

Arriving to us this weekend in the pouring rain, we had a little drive but didn’t venture out too far. We’ll wait for dryer day…

Keep an eye out for a the release and full photoshoot coming soon!

The Amphicar’s switch around

Two bilge pumps have been added to the Amphicar. The original bilge pump remains in its original position in the engine bay and is still in working condition. The old pump still has its wires connected and can be connected at any point in the future, however, it is currently disconnected from the car. The old pump has been kept in for peace of mind.

A Unique Arrival

Although we’re a classic car company, sometimes we get our hands on other unique transportation devices, such as this late Victorian bath chair that Gordan has purchased!

We’re not sure of the exact history of this wheelchair, however, we know its roughly late victorian, otherwise, its history is an open book!

Gordan originally purchased it as a possible decoration piece for his house but has since decided it would make a great quirky signature piece at our hanger!

Bath chairs themselves were originally designed by James Heath of Bath in 1750. Mainly designed for the elderly in its former years, this wheelchair device later became popular at the seaside. The design enables it to be pushed from the back and steered via the rod at the front.

Competition winners

This week we announced the two lucky winners of our competition.

Karl Reilly from Essex won the 1968 Triumph TR3 with his lucky ticket number 4174. Karl is a triumph lover, already owning a yellow Triumph GT6 so we know our TR3 will be in good company.

Today Karl drove a close relative to their wedding in his new Triumph and we can’t think of a better way to experience your first drive in a new car!

Our second winner was Lee Polley from Hull who won the beautiful 1991 Mini Rover with his lucky ticket 410.

We’ve been so overwhelmed with positive comments from other competition entrees and supporters congratulating the winners.

If you fancy your chances at winning a classic car, you can enter our current draws on our 1962 Triumph TR4 or a suave 1999 Mercedes 280SL.

Click here to enter.

Morgan Plus 4’s 70th Anniversary

In our new feature, Thursday Time capsule, we look at classic cars celebrating significant birthdays in 2020.

2020 marks the 70th anniversary of the classic Morgan Plus 4, a classic that was developed and released in 1950. This highly sought after sports car graced the scene with its 2088cc standard Vanguard engine which was installed on a 4/4 chassis.

To mark its 70th anniversary, Morgan released 20 special edition Plus 4’s in March which sport a Platinum Metallic paint to promote the nuances in Morgan’s iconic visual design. What is particularly unique about this limited edition model is the gold chassis. It is the first time they’ve been developed in this colour, and will also be the last as they commemorate the end of their steel chassis production that has been going since the original Morgan 4/4 in 1936.

These rare models were handcrafted in Morgan’s workshop in Malvern, the UK, which we visited back in September.

Morgan Plus 4’s have been in and out of production since 1950 but were most recently revived after a break in 2005. The new production Plus 4’s feature a BMW powered engine instead of the popular Ford engine.

Our Morgan 4/4

Although we haven’t had the pleasure of working on a Plus 4, we have had several 4/4’s in, which are the older model to the Plus 4. Morgan released their 4/4 as a groundbreaking vehicle in 1936 which premiered their steel chassis technology and have been in production, without breaks since.

The 4/4 is the worlds longest running production car, with the 4/4 standing for ‘4 cylinder, 4 wheel’ as it was the first of its kind in Morgan’s development as they moved away from the bike powered 3 wheels.

Although there’s little difference between the 4/4 and the Plus 4, the latter of the two was developed to be faster and more powerful, making it less mainstream and typically a touring option.

The MGTD ‘to do’ list is almost complete

Pete has been working on our beautiful classic 1951 MG TD. Pete has just finished fitted the new steering rack into the car. ‘The steering rack presented a few challenges”, Pete explains. “Due to the length of rack, I’ve had to dismantle the rack before installation. Once it’s in position it can then be re-assembled”. Superb ingenuity Pete! Working on cars of this era presents many challenges. But no job is too daunting for our expert team!

After completing the steering rack, Pete has installed a brand new stainless steel exhaust. The new exhaust sounds lovely, we cannot wait to hear what the vehicles owner thinks!

There’s Room At The Top!

Earlier today we were sent these fascinating black and white photographs from an inquisitive gentleman looking into his families history.

The car pictured belonged to his Father and was used in the 1959 British film ‘Room At The Top’. We were asked to try identify the car’s make and model from just these two pictures.

We’ve told him what we think the car is. But can you identify it?

Barn Find: 1960 AC Aceca BE 812

Arriving into our Suffolk workshops very soon we have our very special and rare 1960 AC Aceca BE 812 barn find.

The car has been dry stored since it was taken off the road in 1985. Previously owned and residing in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia the car was shipped to the UK in 1962 and has remained with the same owner ever since.

We will be working alongside the family who own this beautiful car to assess it’s current condition and come up with a plan which may see the possible return to the UK roads in the not too distant future.

1968 Triumph Vitesse: One for the future

On Thursday of last week we had a visit from a lovely little 1968 Triumph Vitesse. The owner is considering a full concours restoration with us so brought the car in for a full assessment and to discuss a possible future plan. We hope to see the car later this year, all being well.

1967 Austin Mini 850 – new panels

Antony has been working tirelessly on fitting up the new panels this week. The new floor pans area, the new rear area and back panels are not fitted. The car is now coming together beautifully and we’ll soon be able to hand over to the paint shop for preparation.

1977 Triumph Spitfire Respray

Our 1977 Triumph Spitfire is now in colour!

Very rare to find a Spitfire finished in black but with the smooth lines and elegant shape black really does finish off the car beautifully.

Whilst in the early stages of preparation we discovered heavy corrosion in the doors. New metal had to be applied to the doors and the boot area.

The car was then prepared and treated in epoxy primer before the black top coat was applied.

2003 Lotus Elise Hardtop Retrim

Kath has done a lovely job restoring the hardtop for our customers Lotus Elise. She’s applied the brushed black nylon to the roof and re-insalled the plastic trim. The roof is now looking fabulous! Great work Kath!

Does your interior need a freshen up? Get in touch today to see how we can help rejuvenate your vehicle.

1997 Hudson Motor Company Mark IV Minor Repair

This lovely HMC Mark IV popped in to see us briefly to fix some sticking brakes and loose headlights. It was in and out within the hour and is now back on the road with its loving owner.

1960 MG A Suspension and rear axle

Paul has continued work on our lovey 1960 MG A. He’s fitted the rear axle with brakes. The leaf spring suspension and a fuel pump have also recently been installed onto the car. The MG is now ready for the half shafts and brake drums to be fitted next.

For sale soon: 1971 MG B GT

Up for sale soon is this lovely 1971 MG A GT. This car really is a lovely example. To make an early enquiry, contact our friendly sales team on 01473 742038.

Triumph TR6 Panels in paint

The boot and doors off our Triumph TR6 complete restoration are now being prepared in the paint shop by Darren. They have been ground back to bare metal and had the badly corroded areas removed. From there, we’ve welded in fresh metal which will be ground back and sanded down to a smooth finish.

TVR 350i MK2

We have been offered the opertunity to buy this part-restored TVR 350i.
The 350i was made from 1983 until 1985. The 350i was fitted with a Rover V8. Producing 190bhp the TVR gets up to 60 in a very swift 6 seconds.